Okay, this is my perception only. I have not researched this much but I would like to get some pointers.
My perception is that in years just before partition, the top leadership of Indian Muslim League was primarily composed of landlords and nawabs etc whereas the leadership of Indian National Congress was mostly composed of middle-class professionals.
Right or wrong?
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
Right.
just google ‘Nawab Muslim League’ and you will know the names of many nawabs who formed leadership of Muslim League. If you go through the leadership after partition (especially in rural areas of Pakistan), it was with feudal families like Jatois, Sardars, etc
Some names of Muslim League leadership in Sindh:
Sindh`s role in Pakistan movement - - DAWN.COM
Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah, Mohammad Ayub Khuro, Mir Bunde Ali Khan Talpur, Pirzada Abdul Sattar, Mohammed Hashim Gazdar, Peer Elahi Bux, Miran Mohammad Shah, Mahmoud Haroon, Kazi Mohammad Akbar, Khan Sahib Ghulam Rasool Jatoi, Sardar Kaisar Khan Gazdar, Mir Jaffer Khan Jamali, Sardar Nabi Bux Soomro, Ghulam Mohammad Wassan, Sardar Noor Mohammad Bijarani, Ghulam Nabi Dheraj and Agha Badruddin
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
The common thing is, the leaders in both parties were, mostly Lawyers, who studied Law in London and were, memeber of Bar in Lincoln inn
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
I think that is not true.
There were Nawabs, Sardars, Rajas, as well as common folks in both INC and AIML. AIML's biggest leader, QA, was not a nawab. Nor was Iqbal.
However, most Muslim league leaders from present-day Pakistan were landlords. And the situation has not changed much till now.
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
There were many nawabs who were true to the cause of muslims. Having said that muslim middle class was not well established at that time anyway.
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
I think that is not true. There were Nawabs, Sardars, Rajas, as well as common folks in both INC and AIML. AIML's biggest leader, QA, was not a nawab. Nor was Iqbal.
However, most Muslim league leaders from present-day Pakistan were landlords. And the situation has not changed much till now.
Agree that Qaid e Azam was not a feudal / nawaab, but Muslim League had to make compromises with feudals to be strong. As icono said, Muslim middle class was not established, probably there was no option available. But, unfortunately, this trend still continues
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
The common thing is, the leaders in both parties were, mostly Lawyers, who studied Law in London and were, memeber of Bar in Lincoln inn
Mr Jinah and who else?
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
Mr Jinah and who else?
Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Jinnah,Liaqat ali khan
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Jinnah,Liaqat ali khan
We have been told that Mr Jinah selected Lincoln inn, as it had name of the Prophet as one of the top most influential person on its walls. Don't know why Gandhi and Nehru selected this place :D
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
We have been told that Mr Jinah selected Lincoln inn, as it had name of the Prophet as one of the top most influential person on its walls. Don't know why Gandhi and Nehru selected this place :D
Gandhi and Nehru selected Inner Temple, not Lincoln's Inn.
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
We have been told that Mr Jinah selected Lincoln inn, as it had name of the Prophet as one of the top most influential person on its walls. Don't know why Gandhi and Nehru selected this place :D
For Gandhi, Prophet was always a big person, and he always included quranic verses in his prayer meeting.
For Nehru, he was socialist, and all these religious things never mattered, he was as secular as Jinnah was communalist.
Gandhi and Nehru selected Inner Temple, not Lincoln's Inn.
What is difference between two??
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
For Gandhi, Prophet was always a big person, and he always included quranic verses in his prayer meeting.
For Nehru, he was socialist, and all these religious things never mattered, he was as secular as Jinnah was communalist.
What is difference between two??
Was Jinnah always a communal?
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
May be, he was not at communal ever. He was a lawyer, and lawyers generally doesn't have fixed side.
May be he thought he can build his career by being communal representative of his section.
I can see no difference between him and Syed Ali shah Gilani of Kashmir
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
Or may be he understood that INC was not sincere to muslims and would not do anything to uplift them.
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
May be, he was not at communal ever. He was a lawyer, and lawyers generally doesn't have fixed side.
May be he thought he can build his career by being communal representative of his section. I can see no difference between him and Syed Ali shah Gilani of Kashmir
I think there were definitely some reasons behind his turning from 'ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity' to communal leader, though reportedly he never came with a statement against non-Muslims. But definitely, like every statesman, he had to compromise on certain matters which include entertaining feudals to penetrate Muslim majority areas.
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
I asked the question because there is one theory of partition that says that the British wanted to keep a foothold in South Asia even after they left. Now, keeping a few major landlords in their pockets could ensure they had some control over the proposed 'Pakistan' which would be much easier than controlling hundreds of middle class and well educated politicians in (united or partitioned) India.
The planning was so detailed that the landlords were selected and promoted who owned or bestowed upon them land which was irrigated by rivers and canals rather than rainfall, ensuring they continued to prosper without a lot of exposure risk from weather-induced fluctuations in agri-economy. Hence you find many 'Sirs' in IML.
I am not sure how accurate this theory is, though.
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
sounds justified, except a question. What did they do to keep hold in post partition India?
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
I think there were definitely some reasons behind his turning from 'ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity' to communal leader, though reportedly he never came with a statement against non-Muslims. But definitely, like every statesman, he had to compromise on certain matters which include entertaining feudals to penetrate Muslim majority areas.
From British point of view, they were all 'communal' in their own ways. Likes of Nehru, Gandhi and Moulana Azaad all opposed Britain's proposal to form an all Indian Constitution and Intern Government that promised equal representation of Muslims and grouping of six majority Muslim provinces. There's actually a quote by Gandhi where he declares that "equality for Muslim (in all India intern government) is worse than Pakistan. While Moulana Azaad called Muslim equality "a dangerous innovation and an evil step". Even the members of British Cabinet have admitted that it was Congress leaders opportunistic and tyrannical behaviour that forced Jinnah to take a stand.
In a nutshell, Jinnah wanted greater Muslim equality even if it came through divided Indian while Congress wanted a united Indian even if it embodied deeper communal inequalities. However, without a doubt, the failure of Britain to secure and promise an equal and effective system was the main reason behind Jinnah's rise.
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
I think there were definitely some reasons behind his turning from 'ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity' to communal leader, though reportedly he never came with a statement against non-Muslims. But definitely, like every statesman, he had to compromise on certain matters which include entertaining feudals to penetrate Muslim majority areas.
Ideological battles can be justified anyway. Jinnah was instrumental in Lucknow pact, between league and congress. But arrival of Gandhi on the scene changed congress forever, it also terminated Jinnah's carrier. When Chowdhary Rahmat ali proposed this idea to Jinnah, Jinnah said it was impossible. Jinnah reinvented himself as leaders of muslims in India politically.
Re: Muslim League and INC at the time of partition
BTW What was the reason that INC couldn't attract feudals? Were there any big leaders in INC who also got titles of Sir, etc?