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Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, used to talk about Hindu Muslim unity in the beginning,
But in 1920, Gandhi and Congress decided that they would do a non-cooperation movement against Britishers. Jinnah refused and said that this is not the right time. But nobody listened to him.
This thing was very disheartening for him personally and he left Congress. He then started giving his full focus to the All India Muslim League.
And put allegations on Congress that it is a Hindu supporter party only. Then the rivalry between Congress and Muslim League started. The British always took advantage of such situation.
Jinnah was offered the powder of making a new country. The collective. Collective. Started increasing. Majority Muslims started demanding a separate Muslim nation and even today we fight as if our history is so different.
1. Communal Tensions:
- Over time, tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities had been growing, fueled by historical grievances, economic disparities, and religious differences. This created a deeply divided society where trust between the communities eroded.
2. Rise of Muslim Nationalism:
- Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the All India Muslim League began advocating for a separate Muslim state, arguing that Muslims needed their own nation to protect their rights. The demand for Pakistan grew stronger, especially as Muslim leaders felt marginalized by the Congress Party, which they perceived as being dominated by Hindus.
3. British Divide and Rule Policy:
- The British colonial administration often played off Hindu and Muslim interests against each other to maintain control over India. As the independence movement gained momentum, the British increasingly saw partition as a way to manage the conflicting demands and to exit India without further conflict.
4. Political Disagreements:
- Gandhi’s vision of a united India, where Hindus and Muslims could live together harmoniously, was not shared by all leaders. Jinnah’s insistence on the Two-Nation Theory, which argued that Hindus and Muslims were two distinct nations, became irreconcilable with Gandhi’s ideals.
5. Failure of Negotiations:
- Several attempts were made to negotiate a power-sharing arrangement between the Congress and the Muslim League, but they all failed. The most notable was the Cabinet Mission Plan in 1946, which proposed a united India with autonomous provinces, but this was ultimately rejected by both parties.
6. Mounting Pressures:
- By 1947, the situation had become increasingly volatile. Communal violence was spreading, and the pressure to find a quick solution to prevent further bloodshed was immense. The British, eager to leave India, set a rapid timeline for independence, which left little room for reconciliation.
7. Gandhi’s Isolation:
- By the time of partition, Gandhi found himself increasingly isolated within his own party. Key Congress leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel, had come to the conclusion that partition was inevitable. Gandhi’s calls for unity were overshadowed by the practical realities on the ground.