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Nation:
A group of people with a union of language, history, emotion, ideal, tradition and custom is
called as nation.
Two Nation Theory
The two-nation theory in its simplest way means that cultural, political, religious, economic and social
dissimilarities between the two major communities, Hindus and Muslims of the Subcontinent. These
differences of outlook, in fact, were greatly instrumental in giving rise to two distinct political ideologies
which were responsible for the partition of the sub-continent into two independent states.
The two-nation theory means that the Hindus and the Muslims are two different nations. On the basis
of two-nation theory the Quaid-i-Azam demanded the partition of India into two states, a Muslim state
to be called Pakistan and the other Hindu India that is Bharat.
Evolution of Two Nation:
Theory Concept of Muslims as a Nation developed before the establishment of Pakistan. Pakistan
was the product of this concept of nationhood rather than Pakistan creating a concept of nationhood.
Retrospectively the Muslim nationalism emerged with the advent of Islam that introduced new
principles pertinent to every sphere of life. It pledged the redemption of the humankind establishing a
benign society based on Qur‟anic teachings. The beginning of the Muslim nationalism in the Sub-
Continent may be attributed to the first Indian who accepted Islam. The Arab traders had introduced
the new religion, Islam, in the Indian coastal areas. Muhammad bin Qasim was the first Muslim invader
who conquered some part of India and after that, Mahmud of Ghazna launched 17 attacks and opened
the gate to preach Islam. The Muslim sufi (saints) like Ali Hejveri, Miran Hussain Zanjani etc. entered
Sub-Continent. They, rejecting the vices in the Indian society, presented the pure practical picture of
the teachings of Islam and got huge conversions. Qutub-ud-Din Aibuk permanently established Muslim
dynasty in India that followed Sultanate and Mughal dynasties. Thus a strong Muslim community had
emerged in India who had its own way of life, traditions, heroes, history and culture. Islam could not be
absorbed in Hinduism. Deen-e-Ilahi, Bakhti movements, etc. created reaction amongst the Muslim
ulama to preserve the pure Islamic character and save it from external onslaught. Role of Sheikh
Ahmad Sirhindi and others is noteworthy. Equality and social justice inspired conversions to Islam.
The British won over the Muslim rulers due to the industrial and scientific developments and modern
war strategy. The War of Independence (1857) was a shattering setback to the Indian Muslims who
were held responsible for the rebellion by the British. The Muslims were put into the backwardness
with the help of Hindus. This was one of the outstanding motivations that paved the way to declare the
separate identity of nationalism, the Muslim nationalism. The Muslim scholars sought to reform the
teaching of Islamic law and to promote its application in a Muslim society. The prominent name among
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them is Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-98) who awakened and guided his community well in time. His
educational drive, the Ali-Garh movement, proved to be the best means of social mobility for the
Muslim gentry under colonial rule.
In 1885 the Indian National Congress was founded to indicate the beginning of the Indian nationalist
movement under the British. The Congress worked and helped the British rule. Sir Syed advised the
Muslims not to join it because, he thought, the Muslims were not in position to involve into the anti-
government activities. It has been argued that Sir Syed's fear of Hindu domination sowed the seeds for
the "Two Nations Theory" later espoused by the All-India Muslim League, founded in 1906 and led to
its demand for a separate state for the Muslims of India. Sir Syed argued that modern education and
non-political activities might be the key to Muslim advancement. The Ali-Garh movement produced
educated leadership who could protect the Muslims‟ rights on the Western political lines.
All India Muslim League had been founded in Dhaka to promote loyalty to the British and to protect
and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India. Thus the concept of „separate
electorates‟ was put forward to dawn a new day for the Indian Muslims
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Two-Nation Theory
In beginning Sir Syed believed in Indian Nationalism but later due to Hindi-Urdu controversy, Sir
Syed‟s faith in a united India was shaken and he began to advocate the two nation theory. He made
the Muslims realize that they are separate nation. Their religion is very powerful. Muslims should
demand for separate homeland of their own.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was the first Muslim leader who used the word “NATION” for the Muslims of
Sub-continent. According to Sir Syed in India there exist two nations, the Hindus and Muslims. They
could not live together and that as the time would pass the hostility between the two-nation would
grow. Sir Syed was of the view that Hindus and Muslims are two separate nations because their
religion, history, culture and civilization were different from each other.
Sir Syed‟s political views could be summed up as:
1. That India was a continent, not a country.
2. That it was inhabited by a vast population of different races and different creeds.
3. That among these, Hindus and Muslims, were the major nations on the basis of nationality,
religion, customs, cultures, cultural and historical traditions.
4. After the British quit, they could not share the political power equally. That was simply
impossible and inconceivable.
5. The Indian National Congress was not acceptable to the Muslims.
6. Muslims could not accept a democratic set up of western type because with a one to four ratio
of population, they could be enslaved by the Hindus.
7. There would be a disastrous civil war if the Congress persisted in its policy of yoking together
the two nations.
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The above discuss leads us to conclude that Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was the staunch believer and
eminent preacher to Two-Nation Theory; on account of which, he may be called the real founder
to two ation theory in sub continent.
Allama Iqbal and Two-Nation Theory
Allama Iqbal was a great poet, philosopher and a politician. Iqbal had a sensitive heart and a deep-
thinking inquisitive mind. He was dismayed at the pathetic conditions of the Muslims in general
and of the Indian Muslims in particular.
Allama Iqbal delivered historical address at Allahabad.
“The units of Indian society are not territorial as in the European countries. India is a continent of
human groups belonging to different races speaking different languages and professing different
religions. Their behaviour is not at all determined by a common race-consciousness.
” Under such circumstances, Allama Iqbal proposed a separate state of the Muslims. In his
presidential address to the Allahabad session of the Muslim League in 1930, he said:
“Personally I would go further…. I would like to see the Punjab, North WestFrontierProvince, Sindh
and Balochistan amalgamated into a single state. Self-government within the British Empire or
without the British Empire, the formation of a single consolidated North-West Indian Muslim state
appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims at least of North WestIndia.
” Allama Iqbal claimed that the Muslims were a separate nation in every respect. His own words in
this regard were as follows:
“We have a population of seven crore among all nations of the sub-continent, we are the most
united. In fact, of all the nations inhabiting the country, Muslims are the only true nation according
to the most modern definition of the world.”
In short the prophecy of Iqbal acted as a spur for the Muslims of India who craved out an
independent state Pakistan for themselves, Seventeen years later (Allahabad Address 1930) on
14th August 1947.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Two-Nation Theory
Quaid-e-Azam‟s struggle also based on two-nation theory: Quaid-e-Azam said:
“Difference in India between the two major nations, the Hindus and the Muslims are thousand
times greater when compared with the continent of Europe.
” Quaid-e-Azam further said:
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“India is not a national state. India is not a country but a Sub-continent composed of
nationalities, the two major nations being Hindus and the Muslims whose culture and civilizations,
language and literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of value and
proportion, laws and jurisprudence, social moral codes, customs and calendar, history and
traditions, aptitudes and ambitions, outlook on life and of life are fundamentally different. By all
canons of international law we are nation.
” In 1940, Muslim League embraced the creed of Chaudhry Rehmat Ali and the historic session on
March 23, 1940 in Lahore demanded the establishment of Pakistan. On that occasion, Quaid-
eAzam in his presidential address said:
“Islam and Hinduism are not religions in the strict sense of the word, but are, in fact, different
and distinct social orders… The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies,
social customs, literatures. They neither inter-marry nor inter-dine together and, indeed, they
belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions.”
He refuted the claim of All Indian Nation Congress that India had only one single nation, in the
name of Indian by the following statement.
The history of the last twelve hundred years has failed to achieve the unity and has witnessed,
India always divided into Hindu India and Muslim India. Quaid-e-Azam made the English ruler
realize the fundamental deep rooted spiritual economic, social and political differences. He said
that their efforts would frustrate which they were making to bind all Indians through central
Government.
Importance of Two Nation Theory
The Two-Nation Theory served as the basis of demand for Pakistan by the Muslims in British
India. There are two major nations in British India. The Muslims are not a community but a nation
with a distinctive history, heritage, culture, civilization, and future aspirations.
The Muslims wanted to preserve and protect their distinct identity and advance their interests in
India. They wanted to order their lives in accordance with their ideals and philosophy of life
without being overwhelmed by an unsympathetic majority.
Initially, they demanded safeguards, constitutional guarantees and a federal system of government
with powers to the provinces for protection and advancement of their heritage, identity and
interests. Later, they demanded a separate state when neither the British nor the Hindu majority
community was willing to offer those guarantees and safeguards.
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