Pakistan Studies Timeline (O Levels)
Pakistan Studies Timeline (O Levels)
Pakistan Studies Timeline (O Levels)
Partition of Bengal is an important event that gave impetus to the Muslim Political movement in
India.
In 1905, the province of Bengal was divided into two parts by the Viceroy of India Lord Curzen
due to administrative issues. Muslims were very happy on the partition as this had enabled them
to promote their life conditions but Hindus retaliated furiously saying it the division of motherland.
The Congress joined the anti-partition movement.They started widespread agitation, violence
and boycott of foreign goods.
First World War (1914-1918): In 1914 the First World War started. The Britishers and her allies
fought against Turkey. The Khalifah of turkey was greatly respected by the Indian Muslims as
the centre of global fraternity and the leader of Muslim Ummah.
The Indian Muslims observed all these developments very keenly. They were depressed over
the plight of their Muslim brethren and infuriated against the British rulers.
Jinnah did a lot to unite the two nations along with the recognition of the rights of Muslims.
Meeting of both parties held at Lucknow in 1916. The constitutional proposals were approved:
1. One Third seats for Muslims in the Imperial Legislative Council.
2. Separate Electorate
3. Half members of the Executive Council to be elected by the Imperial
Legislative Council.
4. Commissioned ranks of the army for Indians.
5. Expansion of Provincial Legislative Councils.
6. Half members of the Governor’s Executive Council be elected by
Provincial Legislative Council
7. Weightage to minorities in provinces.
1. Separate Electorate
2. One Third Muslim seats in Central Legislature.
3. Unofficial bill, if opposed by three-fourth members of a community, it will
not be passed.
The Khilafat movement was a religio-political movement launched by the Muslims of British
India for the retention of the Ottoman Caliphate and for not handing over the control of Muslim
holy places to non-Muslims. Turkey sided with Germany in World War 1. As it began to lose the
war,concerns were expressed in India about the future of Turkey. It was a peak period from
1919 to 1922 casting demonstrations, boycott, and other pressure by the two major
communities, the Hindus and the Muslims. Being brothers, the Indian Muslims realized their
religious duty to help the Muslim country.
Main Points of khilafat movement:
1. Ottoman Khilafat should be kept intact.
2. Territorial solidarity of Turkey be preserved.
3. Control of holy the places should not be given to non-Muslims.
Rowlett Act, 1919:
Rowlett Act was a black law introduced in India. To the law, the government got authority to
persecute any Indian and the arrested had no facility of legal assistance and right to appeal just
as the ‘Lettres de Cachet’ in France before the French Revolution. Jinnah resigned from the
central legislature as a protest.
The people gathered in Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar but General Dyer opened fire to disperse
the throng that cast a huge human casualties (379). It is considered one of the great tragedies
in India. In 1940, by killing Governor Punjab, Sir Michaal O’ Dayer, ‘Ram Muhammad Singh
Azad’ got revenge of the Indian massacre.
The Nagpur Session of the Congress (Dec. 1920) approved non-cooperation with Government
but Jinnah opposed and left the Congress because he was against the use of extra-
constitutional means of protests.
Backdrop:
The Khilafat movement brought Hindu-Muslim communities to cooperation. The leaders made
the efforts to revive harmony for preparing constitutional proposals.
1: Delhi Muslim Proposals: March 1927
Important Muslim leaders on the initiative of the Quaid met in Delhi to discuss constitutional and
political issues. The major demands were:
_ Punjab and Bengal: statuary Muslim majorities
_ No Weightage in provinces
_ Sind to be separated from Bombay
_ Constitutional Reforms in NWFP
Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal ranks amongst the Muslim intellectuals who left a deep impact on
history. He inspired Muslims of the Sub-Continent and beyond. He infused a moving spirit and
identity in the Indian Muslims. He presented a framework of their political future and talked how
that would help to achieve the goal of Ummah. He presented a vision and dream in his
Allahabad
Address.
Round Table Conference (1930-1932):
As the Muslim league and Congress rejected Simon Proposals , the British government decided
to invite Indian leadersfor a discussion on the future constitution of India.Three sessions of this
meeting were held.
• First Round Table Conference (November 1930 to January 1931)
• Second Round Table Conference (September 1931 to December 1931)
• Third Round Table Conference (November 1932 to December 1932)
Muslims were represented by Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal among many other eminent
Muslim leader. All Muslim demand sincluding separate electorate were opposed by Hindus.
After the Second Round Table Conference the findings and recommendations of the British
government were formulated inta a “Communal Award” and were announced on August 1932.
The Communal Award, August 1932:
Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal Award:
1. Separate electorate for all minorities of India.
2. Weightage to minorities
3. No Muslim majorities in Punjab and Bengal as was followed in Lucknow Pact
4. One third representation for Muslims in Central legislature
5. One fourth representation for Muslims in services
6. Sind to be made a province
Poona Pact, September 1932:
The Congress expressed strong reaction against the right of separate electorate to the Indian
minorities, especially to low caste Hindus whom Gandhi named Harijan (sons of God).
Dissonance in Gandhi is conspicuous that he observed fast unto death on the right to the ‘sons
of God.’ An agreement with low caste to surrender the separate electorate right was concluded
to save Gandhi’s life.
In July 1937, Congress formed governments in 6 provinces. In NWFP, Khudai Khidmatgar and
Congress formed a coalition government. In the Muslim majority provinces, the Muslim League
could not form the governments. The Muslim League desired to be in government in the U.P.
but
the Congress consented to a conditional support:
1. Dissolve AIML Parliamentary Board
2. AIML members not to function as a separate group
3. AIML members to express allegiance to the Congress
Definitely the above-mentioned terms were a device to subvert the existence of the Muslim
League. Therefore, no agreement was possible on this issue.
Congress Raj (1937-1939):
The Congress ruled badly. The period was marked with political corruption and high
handedness of the party over the government. Muslim students were offered no opportunity to
learn about their own history, culture and religion. Muslims said it was a well calculated and pre
planned conspiracy meant to destroy their national identity. In addition to all this, at certain
places oppressive measures were adopted against large Muslim communities.
Viceroy declared India at war with Germany on September 3, 1939. The Congress objected
strongly to the declaration of war without prior consultation with Indians. The Congress Working
Committee suggested that it would cooperate if there were a central Indian national government
The World War II started in 1939 that required heavily men powered battlefield. The
British who always believe in bargaining announced an offer in August 1940 with
following main points:
1. Expansion of the Viceroy’s Executive Council and the setting up of National Defense
Council
2. Special importance to the views of minorities in the revision of the constitution.
3. Power could not be transferred under a system that will not be acceptable to large and
powerful minorities in India.
4. Dominion Status: the ultimate goal
5. Cooperation of Indians for the war
Congress rejected it and started Non-Cooperation movement 1940-41. Lahore Resolution
remained the ultimate goal for the Muslim Leagues.
The British government passed the Indian Independence Act on July 15th 1947. The Act
reaffirmed the principles envisaged in the Third June Plan. Mountbatten appointed a Boundary
Commission headed by Cyril Radcliff for demarcation of boundaries in the Punjab and Bengal.
The Boundary Award was completed and submitted to the Viceroy on 10th August and