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Book No. – 8 (Political Science)
Book Name – Indian Political Thought (Himanshu Roy/ M.P. Singh)
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. Nationalism and Constitutionalism
2. Religion, State and Secularism
3. Islam and State
4. Conclusion
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LANGUAGE
Jinnah: In Search of Political power
Chapter – 22
Table of Contents
Nationalism and Constitutionalism
- Mohammed Ali Jinnah is a controversial figure in modern Indian history; often considered a villain for his role in creating Pakistan.
- He initially advocated for Hindu-Muslim unity to oppose British divisive policies and was a staunch secularist.
- After 1937, he proposed the two-nation theory, arguing that Hindus and Muslims were separate nations unable to coexist.
- His political ideas evolved from being the apostle of Hindu-Muslim unity to supporting the two-nation theory.
- Jinnah was influenced by John Morley’s liberal and secular ideas, especially his book On Compromise.
- He was also inspired by John Stuart Mill, Burke, and other key thinkers.
- Jinnah joined the national movement as a liberal nationalist, attending the Indian National Congress in 1906 as a secretary to Dadabhai Nauroji.
- He was a vocal critic of racial prejudice and the colour bar, advocating for individual rights and self-determination.
- Jinnah strongly opposed British rule and advocated for constitutional methods for India’s emancipation.
- Despite being Muslim, he opposed the separate electorates system, believing it threatened the core of Indian nationalism.
- He remained a critic of the Muslim League and its communal politics until 1912, opposing the idea of separate electorates.
- Jinnah condemned all forms of communalism (Hindu or Muslim) and believed that communalism would hinder India’s national liberation movement.
- He moved a resolution against extending separate electorates to municipal and local bodies.
- In 1912, Jinnah attended the Muslim League’s council meeting as a Congressman, supporting the League’s broader outlook on self-government.
- He joined the Muslim League in 1913, but insisted his loyalty to the League would never mean disloyalty to the national cause.
- Jinnah emphasized that the future of India depended on the harmonious relations between Hindus and Muslims.
- He consistently advanced nationalist and patriotic arguments at Muslim League meetings, promoting the unity of India.
- Jinnah was instrumental in the 1916 Pact between the Congress and Muslim League, ensuring both held their sessions at the same time and place.
- He played a significant role in uniting moderates and extremists in both parties.
- As president of the Muslim League, he pushed for the idea of a unified India, emphasizing territorial patriotism and self-governance.
- Jinnah urged Congress to recognize Muslim anxieties and ensure Muslims receive sufficient representation in legislative councils.
- He believed this would align the Muslim League with Congress to push for unified national demands.
- India for the Indians was Jinnah’s central political concern; he warned Muslims not to harbor mistrust or division against Hindus.
- In a 1917 address to the Muslim League, Jinnah emphasized cooperation between Hindus and Muslims, asserting the country should be governed by its people, not by any one community or foreign power.
- He urged Congress and the Muslim League to collaborate on a reform scheme for a unified India and then demand it from the British.
- At the Delhi War Conference in 1918, Jinnah criticized Gandhi’s loyalist stance on recruitment for the British army.
- He linked India’s participation in the war to the British promise of constitutional reforms and demanded a full responsible government for India within a definite timeline.
- Jinnah opposed British assurances, criticizing their shallow promises to Indian nationalists and called for immediate action.
- Gandhi, though a supporter of non-violence, agreed with Jinnah’s position regarding the British war efforts.
- Jinnah opposed the Rowlatt Bill (1919), calling it a ‘Black Bill’ and condemning its violation of civil rights and constitutional principles.
- He resigned from the Imperial Legislative Council, denouncing the bill as a coercive measure.
- Jinnah criticized the British government for denying basic constitutional rights and violating justice principles during peaceful times.
- At the Nagpur session of Congress and the Muslim League in 1920, Jinnah opposed Gandhi’s Non-cooperation Movement, calling it impractical and dangerous.
- Jinnah believed Non-cooperation would not destroy the British Empire and appealed to Gandhi to reconsider.
- Colonel Wedgwood praised Jinnah’s strength of character, claiming that India would gain independence if more leaders like him existed.
- Jinnah was a strong advocate for civil liberties, individual rights, and equal justice.
- He defended the deported editor of Bombay Chronicle, B. G. Horniman, arguing for constitutional protection of personal freedoms.
- In a 1926 meeting with the Raja of Mahmudabad, Jinnah emphasized that Indians should prioritize their national identity over religious identity.
- In the 1937 session of the Muslim League, Jinnah pushed for complete independence for India and appealed for unified cooperation with Congress.
- He called for a government of the people, by the people, for the people, emphasizing honesty of purpose.
- Addressing students at Osmania University, Jinnah described himself as a nationalist and a liberator of India, asserting his practical approach to politics.
- Jinnah maintained that despite shifts in the definition of nationalism, he remained committed to India’s freedom and the national cause.