On this day we commemorate the anniversary of the ‘Pakistan Resolution’ passed on March 23, 1940 by the All-India Muslim League. This resolution for the first time categorically adopted the idea of the partition of British-ruled India, and demanded a separate homeland for the Muslims in the Muslim majority regions.
Let us bring together in this thread the knowledge we have of this historic day, family recollections and stories, informative material and pictures etc. Thank you. 
Before we discuss the effects of the Pakistan Resolution, we must know the reason, conditions that made our great Quaid declare that Muslims are a separate nation. For the Guppies interested in reading the original text, please continue reading. That fateful day, 23rd of March, was the first official articulation of the Pakistan movement. For those visiting Minar-e-Pakistan or planning to visit should realize that the monument is dedicated to the Pakistani nationhood. Without the courage of the Quaid, the Muslims of then India, your ancestors and mine, we could never have had the first Islamic nuclear power and the next leader of the world. To me, Pakistan encompasses our unity and strength but also our shortcomings and divisions, please take a moment to think about the country, blessed by unparalleled beauty, a remarkable spirit that allowed us to develop from scratch, but most importantly, the power and the jazba of the Pakistani people. We must never forget the blood that was spilled for Iqbal’s vision, I for one, will forever stand with my fellow Pakistani, Muslim or Christian, Sindhi or Punjabi, man or woman. Pakistan Zindabad :jhanda:
Source: http://paknews.com/main1mar-23.html
Pakistan Resolution 1940
In the Lahore Resolution the Muslims resolved to march towards the goal of Pakistan. It was a crude shock to the Congress. They were at a loss to find that Muslims of Hindustan (British India) who lived like the
Hindus, dressed like them, and ate like them, could claim to be a different nation. The Quaid-e-Azam, however, made it clear as follows:
"Mussalmans (Muslims) came to India as conquerers, traders and preachers and brought with them their own culture and civilization. They reformed and remoulded the sub-continent of India. Today, the hundred million Mussalmans in (British) India represent the largest compact body of Muslim population in any single part of the world. We are civilization, language and literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, value and proportion, legal laws and moral code, customs and calendar, history and traditions, aptitude and ambitions, in short we have our distinctive outlook of life and on life. By all canons of international law we are a nation."
TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION
While approving and endorsing the action taken by the Council and the Working Committee of the All-India Muslim League, as indicated in their resolutions dated the 27th of August, 17th & 18th September and 22nd of October, 1939, and 3rd of February, 1940 on the constitutional issue, this Session of the All-India Muslim League emphatically reiterates that the scheme of federation embodied in the Government of India Act 1935, is totally unsuited to, and unworkable in the peculiar conditions of this country and is altogether unacceptable to Muslim India.
It further records its emphatic view that while the declaration dated
the 18th of October, 1939 made by the Viceroy on behalf of His Majesty’s Government is reassuring in so far as it declares that the policy and plan on which the Government of India Act, 1935, is based will be reconsidered in consultation with various parties, interests and communities in India, Muslims in India will not be satisfied unless the whole constitutional plan is reconsidered de novo and that no revised plan would be acceptable to Muslims unless it is framed with their approval and consent.
Resolved that it is the considered view of this Session of the All-India
Muslim League that no constitutional plan would be workable in this country or acceptable to the Muslims unless it is designed on the following basic principles, viz., that geographically contiguous units’
are demarcated into regions which should be constituted, with such
territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which
the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and
Eastern Zones of (British) India should be grouped to constitute
“independent States” in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign.
That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards should be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in these units in the regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultations with them and in other parts of (British) India where the Mussalmans (Muslims) are in a majority adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specifically provided in constitution for them and other minorities for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them.
This session further authorises the Working Committee to frame a scheme of constitution in accordance with these basic principles, providing for the assumption finally by the respective regions of all powers such as defense, external affairs, communications, customs and such other matters as may be necessary.
** 10 ideas to commemorate March 23
by Samana Siddiqui **
Most Pakistanis and Pak-Americans are familiar with August 14 as a national holiday for Pakistan. But there is another date in our history which receives less attention than it should: March 23.
March 23, known as Pakistan Day, is an occasion observed to commemorate the passage of the famous resolution of the All India Muslim League in Lahore in 1940. This was when a demand for a separate independent state for the Muslims of South Asia was made.
Pak-Americans can use March 23 as an occasion to educate Pakistanis and non-Pakistanis about the country and share our heritage to promote better understanding and bridge-building between different communities. Here are some ideas that can help.
** 1. Understand why this day is important **
Knowing the history and facts behind the March 23 resolution is critical for any Pakistani who wants to have a better grasp of his or her history and culture.
If you aren't already familiar with it, surf the net, check out the library and talk to those who know about March 23, 1940. Try to understand why and how it was important to the millions of people who later made the dangerous trek from India and Pakistan seven years later, losing their lives, family members and homes.
** 2. Share this knowledge with your family in a family meeting **
Your parents may already know about March 23 but your siblings may not.
Hold a family meeting early in March or on March 23 (which falls on a Saturday this year, so everyone can most likely make the time for this) to share what you've learned about this momentous day and what it means for you and your family.
Even better, maybe you can get the younger kids to put together a short speech or read aloud the Pakistan Resolution about the occasion to educate or remind everyone about why it's important. This can even be in the form of a skit, a poem or a song.
** 3. Organize a Pakistan Day event at your school **
This is especially important for the colleges with Pakistan Students' Associations (PSAs). Organize an exhibition featuring posters on Pakistan. Include other cultural artifacts on display such as Pakistani clothing, artwork, photos of the country as well as samplings of Pakistani food (samosas are usually a hit).
Another activity you can include in the event is a quiz game to test everyone's knowledge of all aspects of Pakistan. Gather questions and answers about geography, history, economy, politics and more. Once you've got everything, get one person to be the emcee. Include prizes for winners and post all questions and answers after the game on a board outside the PSA office so everyone can keep learning.
You can end the day's activities by hosting a dinner with a keynote speaker discussing what Pakistan means to Pak-Americans.
** 4. Hold a video discussion about Pakistan **
If you can find a good video about Pakistan, even a travelogue, organize a movie night on March 23 as a way to familiarize non-Pakistanis with the country, its culture and history. Serve refreshments and charge a minimal fee or no fee at all. The point is to educate others about our heritage.
** 5. Do a project or presentation for class about the March 23 resolution **
If you're taking a class that falls under the "South Asian Studies" rubric, you can take the initiative and ask your teacher if you can prepare a presentation or project about March 23 or Pakistan Day for extra credit.
Pakistani children in elementary and high school can also suggest this to Social Studies teachers, who would probably welcome the opportunity for students to share their culture and heritage.
The presentation should not just be academic though. If possible, introduce photos of Pakistan, clothing, food, etc. to make it come to life and spark students' interest.
Alternatively, you can do a book report about some aspect of Pakistan.
** 6. Set up a display table with books about Pakistan **
Set up a display table at your school with books, articles and posters about Pakistan. You can, for instance, have videos about the geography of Pakistan playing near a table with books and articles that present basic facts about Pakistan, its history, etc. Have as many free articles available for distribution as possible.
** 7. Write in campus newspapers **
If you think your student newspaper is more suitable to line the birdcage with, think again. This publication is a great way to promote ideas to an open-minded audience. Most newspapers have a letters to the editor section, or opinion/editorial section where articles by any student can be published. For March 23, have a PSA representative write a column about what the day means not just historically, but also for Pakistanis living in America. It can also briefly discuss some of the current challenges the country is facing.
** 8. Set up a library display **
Even the most non-academic of students would be attracted to a well-thought out and properly planned display on March 23 and its connection to Pakistan. While not everyone goes into the library, hundreds, if not thousands of students, teachers and staff walk by it everyday. Don't lose this opportunity to set up an attractive display of posters, free pamphlets and more to share Pakistani history and culture.
** 9. Make bedtime story night for your kids a story about Pakistan **
Do you read to your kids at night before they go to bed? If so, talk to them a bit about Pakistan, but make sure to not just present the dry facts, but capture the feelings of the Muslims who fought to push the resolution through as well as the struggle for Pakistan in general.
** 10. Send a donation to Pakistan or to a Pakistani cause **
Write out a check on behalf of the whole family or your PSA to a local charity that's doing work in Pakistan or a place that's helping local Pakistanis (i.e. a women's shelter). Send a card with it signed by all family or PSA members.
** For those who don’t know what is Pakistan Day? ** :jhanda:
This is in the memory of an event occurred on 23rd of March 1940. The famous Pakistan Resolution (Qarardad- e Pakistan or the then Qarardad-e Lahore) was put forward in the Annual General Convention of the All India Muslim League on this day. It was a three day public meeting (22nd of March to 24th of March 1940) attended by the delegates from all over India. On its second day i.e 23rd of March 1940, The famous Qarar- dad-e Lahore (later known as Qarardad-e Pakistan) was put forward to the delegates by Sher-e Bengal (the lion of Bengal) Maulvi Fazal-ul- Haq. It was then debated by the representatives of the delegates and eventually was passed on 24th of March 1940, the last day of the convention. The summary of the “Qarardad” was that there should a be separate homeland for the Muslims of India, comprising Muslim majority areas. The name Pakistan was invented later. The man who had a vision of the issue ten years ago (1930), died two years before the resolution was put forward. The place of convention was given his name (Iqbal Park) later. Earlier it was known as Minto Park.
** Yaadgar-e Pakistan **
Picture of Minar-e-Pakistan:- http://www.pakistanpage.net/gallery/main/hb/lhr5.html
Yaadgar-e Pakistan or Minar-e Pakistan is a Minaret at the place of convention. It is a very high tower, probably 110 feet or more high. There is an electric lift as well as stairs to go near the top of it. It gives a good view of surrounding. If you are comming to Lahore by road from North (i.e. Gujranwala, Gujrat, Islamabad, etc.), the first important and prominent thing you will see after crossing Ravi’s Bridge is the Minar-e Pakistan.
Pakistan Zindabad:jhanda...
what use is this 23rd march anyway?
why still celebrate it, when we have forgot every single lesson which our ancesters wanted us to learn..
while we are learning our all lessons from AMERICANs and following their democratic rules.
are we still pakistanies or another colony of Great america ?
time to think rather celebrating..
Re: what use is this 23rd march anyway?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by FlameZz: *
why still celebrate it, when we have forgot every single lesson which our ancesters wanted us to learn..
while we are learning our all lessons from AMERICANs and following their democratic rules.
are we still pakistanies or another colony of Great america ?
time to think rather celebrating..
[/QUOTE]
Take your fundoism and disgruntled view somewhere else... Our leader Jinnah wanted to see us as a free Islamic nation without the fundamentalism and extremism which people like you want to promote in Pakistan. We should celeberate 23rd March with dignity, for it reminds us that we have come a long way...
[list=1]
[thumb=B]P0608011.JPG[/thumb]
Minar-i-Pakistan, Lahore, the landmark where the historic Pakistan Resolution was passed.
Muslim League had been trying for the last 25 years, to reach an honorable agreement with Congress on the following two principles:
[li]Congress rule should recognize Muslim League as the representative body of the Muslims of India.
[/li]
[li]The Muslims of India should not be taken as a mere minor community; on the other hand they should be recognized as a nation.
[/li]
However, the recent two years of Congress rule proved that it worked on the basis of hostility against Muslims.
A resolution adopting the “Two Nation Theory” had already been passed by the provincial Muslim League at Karachi in October 1938. The Two Nation theory stated that the Hindus and the Muslims were two distinct nations.
It was finally at it’s annual meeting held at Lahore on March 23, 1940, that the Muslim League for the first time categorically adopted the idea of partition of India as it’s final destination. The resolution that came to be known as the Pakistan Resolution was moved by the Bengal’s Chief minister, A. K. Fazlul Haq
[thumb=B]P0608022.JPG[/thumb]
Quaid-i-Azam is presiding over the session while Choudhry Khaliquzzaman is seconding the Resolution.
Jinnah’s address on this occasion gave clear expression to the basic concept underlying the resolution. He said:
**“Hindus and the Muslims belong to two different religions, philosophies, social customs and literature. They neither inter-marry nor inter-dine and, indeed they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their concepts on life and of life are different. It is quite clear that Hindu and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, different heroes and different episodes. Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other, and likewise, their victories and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built up for the government of such a state.”
“Mussalmans are a nation according to any definition of nation. We wish our people to develop to the fullest spiritual, cultural, economic, social and political life in a way that we think best and in consonance with our own ideals and according to the genius of our people.” **
[thumb=B]P0608031.JPG[/thumb]
Quaid-i-Azam, Liaquat Ali Khan and Nawab Muhammad Iftikhar Hussain Khan of Mamdot at the Lahore Session in March, 1940.
On the basis of the above mentioned two nation theory, the resolution which was moved declared:
**"No constitutional plan would be workable or acceptable to the Muslims unless geographical contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary, that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in majority as in the North-Western and Eastern zones of India should be grouped to constitute independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign.
That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in the units and in the regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights of the minorities, with their consultation. Arrangements thus should be made for the security of Muslims where they were in a minority." **
[thumb=B]P0608021.JPG[/thumb]
Pakistan as visualized by Choudhary Rahmat Ali.
Congress reaction was hostile to the resolution. However, with the coining of the word “PAKISTAN” by Choudhary Rahmat Ali, as the name of the country which was to be formed by this resolution, it soon became a household word.
From then onwards, the Muslims of India, instead of seeking alliance with the Hindu community, set on the way leading to the destination of complete independence of the Muslims of India
[/list=1]
Citizens to be honoured with medals on Pakistan Day
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_23-3-2003_pg7_45
ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf will distribute the Pakistan Civil Awards to the recipients at the Investiture Ceremony being held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr today.
The list of the recipients is as under:
NISHAN-I-IMTIAZ
HILAL-I-IMTIAZ
SITARA-I-IMTIAZ
SITARA-I-KHIDMAT
TAMGHA-I-SHUJAA’T
TAMGHA-I-IMTIAZ
Parade has been cancelled.
pakistan zindabad, the parade was cancelled cos’ the pakistani’s wanted to show their respect for the iraqis in the current iraq situation
:k: