Ideology of Pakistan in the light of Statements of Allama Iqbal

 Ideology of Pakistan in the light of Statements of Allama Iqbal

Prelude

Allama Iqbal, the poet, philosopher and a great thinker with the help of his poetry tried to awaken the Muslims of the sub-continent. He believed in the separate identity of Muslims as a nation.

In 1930, Allama Iqbal presented his mature political opinion on the political fate of Indian Muslims in his presidential address at Allahbad at the annual session of Muslim League. He said:

"I am fully convinced that the Muslims of India will ultimately have to establish a separate homeland as they could not live with the Hindus in the United States."He also said:

"India is a continent of human beings belonging to different races, speaking different languages and professing different religions ...., I, therefore demand the formation of a consolidated Muslim state in the best interest of India and Islam."He stressed on the formation of a separate State by saying:

"I would like to see the Punjab, NorthWest Fronties Province, Sindh and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single State self-government within the British empire or without the British Empire, the formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim state appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims at least of Norht West India."

Ideology of Pakistan in the light of Statements of Allama Iqbal

Prelude

Allama Iqbal, the poet, philosopher and a great thinker with the help of his poetry tried to awaken the Muslims of the sub-continent. He believed in the separate identity of Muslims as a nation.

In 1930, Allama Iqbal presented his mature political opinion on the political fate of Indian Muslims in his presidential address at Allahbad at the annual session of Muslim League. He said:

"I am fully convinced that the Muslims of India will ultimately have to establish a separate homeland as they could not live with the Hindus in the United States."

He also said:

"India is a continent of human beings belonging to different races, speaking different languages and professing different religions ...., I, therefore demand the formation of a consolidated Muslim state in the best interest of India and Islam."

He stressed on the formation of a separate State by saying:

"I would like to see the Punjab, NorthWest Fronties Province, Sindh and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single State self-government within the British empire or without the British Empire, the formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim state appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims at least of Norht West India."

Ideology of Pakistan

Definition of Ideology

Science of ideas, visionary speculations, manner of thinking, characteristic of a class or individual, ideas on the basis of some economic, social or political theory or system is called Ideology. It contains those ideals, which a nation strives to accomplish in order to bring stability to its nationhood. Defining ideology, George Lewis says:

“Ideology is a plan or program which is based upon philosophy.”

Ideology of Pakistan

Pakistan is an ideological state and the ideology of Pakistan is an Islamic ideology. Its basic principle being:

“The only sovereigner is Allah.”

Islam acted as a nation building force before the establishment of Pakistan. Ideology of Pakistan basically means that Pakistan should be a state where the Muslims should have an opportunity to live according to the faith and creed based on the Islamic principles. They should have all the resources at their disposal to enhance Islamic culture and civilization. Quaid-e-Azam once said:

“Pakistan was created the day the first Indian national entered the field of Islam.”

From the above statement, it is clear that Ideology of Pakistan is an Islamic one.

Two Nation Concept

The fundamental concept of Ideology is that Muslims should get a separate identity. They should have a separate state where they could live according to Islamic rules and principles, profess their religion freely and safeguard Islamic tradition. On one occasion Quaid-e-Azam said:

“The Muslims demand Pakistan where they can rule in accordance with their own system of life, their cultural development, their traditions and Islamci laws.”

Thus, this fundamental concept of Ideology led to the concept of two nations in the Sub Continent and resulted in the formation of Pakistan.

Factors creating the Idea of a Separate Homeland

Ideology of Pakistan was created when Muslims of Indo-Pak Sub Continent developed a specific attitude of mind that they are different from Hindus. This was due to the injustices done to the Muslims by British and Hindus. Some of these are:

1.                Anti Muslim Campaign

The Hindus and British joined hands to destroy the faith, belief, customs and national importance of Muslims because Muslim rebellion was creating much problem for both.

2.                Inacceptance of British Rule

Muslims had been ruling the Sub Continent for ages. Therefore, they could not resist any power over them. When British came to rule the Sub Continent, Muslims were the only nation who opposed them. Thus, in order to gain power, British had to crush the Muslims collectively.

3.                Hindus Betrayed Muslims

In the beginning, Hindus appeared to be on Muslim’s side, but later on their hostility was exposed as they opposed various steps taken by British Government which purely benefited for  Muslims.

4.                Refusal of Muslim identity

British wanted to implement parliamentary system in Sub Continent in which the majority was the power and authority. Due to Hindu majority it was probable that if British left India undivided, it would fall under the Hindus rule. Further more, Hindus did not accept the separate identity of Muslims and thus, there were no chances of freedom even after the British rule.

5.                War of 1857

In 1857, Muslims and Hindus tried to expel the British out of India but failed. Later due to Hindu conspiracies, Muslims were held responsible for it and hence were crushed further by Britishers.

6.                Sir Syed’s Idea

Sir Syed for the first time put down the idea that Muslims are a separate nation. He convinced Muslims to unite themselves in order to have a separate social and political identity.

Basic Points of Ideology of Pakistan

1.      Muslims are different from Hindus in every aspect, their culture, civilization, customs and religion all are entirely different.

2.      The Muslims need a free state for protection of their separate where they can live in accordance with their faith, belief and follow the Islamic codes.

Importance of Ideology in National Life

Ideology is a motivating force for a nation, which is striving hard to bring stability and homogeneity to its nation hood. It provides the binding force to the scattered groups in a society and bring them close to each other on a common platform. Ideologies impel their adherence to follow a joint linked action for the accomplishment of their goal. Ideologies give shape to the revolutions and create new cultures and civilizations. They stress on their adherents to insist on the realization of their ideal through total transformation of society.

An urgent agreement with each other on the ideals is most vital pre-requisite of an ideology.

Conclusion

The fundamental concept of the ideology of Pakistan is that Muslims are a separate nation having their own culture, literature, religion and way of life. They cannot be merged in any other nation. They should be able to develop their culture and religious traditions in an Islamic State and they should be able to create a true Islamic society for themselves.

Thus the ideology of Pakistan which developed through the period of Mohd Bin Qasim and others and followed by political leaders like Quaid-e-Azam was materialized in 1947.