04-10-2004, 08:28 PM
II
It is true that in the month of April 1940 a Conference of Muslims was held in Delhi under the
grandiloquent name of " The Azad Muslim Conference." The Muslims who met in the Azad
Conference were those who were opposed to the Muslim League as well as to the Nationalist
Muslims. They were opposed to the Muslim League firstly, because of their hostility to Pakistan
and secondly because they did not want to depend upon the British Government for the protection
of their rights 39[f.39] They were also opposed to the Nationalist Musalmans (i. e. Congressites out
and out) because they were accused of indifference to the cultural and religious rights of the
Muslims. 40[f.40]
With all this the Azad Muslim Conference was hailed by the Hindus as a Conference of friends.
But the resolutions passed by the Conference leave very little to choose between it and the League.
Among the resolutions passed by the Azad Muslim Conference the following three bear directly
upon the issue in question.
The first of these runs as follows :â
" This conference, representative of Indian Muslims who desire to secure the fullest freedom of the
country, consisting of delegates and representatives of every province, after having given its fullest
and most careful consideration to all the vital questions affecting the interest of the Muslim
community and the country as a whole declares the following:â
" India will have geographical and political boundaries of an individual whole and as such is the
common homeland of all the citizens irrespective of race or religion who are joint owners of its
resources. All nooks and comers of the country are hearths and homes of Muslims who cherish the
historic eminence of their religion and culture which are dearer to them than their lives. From the
national point of view every Muslim is an Indian. The common rights of all residents of the country
and their responsibilities, in every walk of life and in every sphere of human activity are the same.
The Indian Muslim by virtue of these rights and responsibilities, is unquestionable an Indian
national and in every part of the country is entitled to equal privileges with that of every Indian
national in every sphere of governmental, economic and other national activities and in public
services. For that very reason Muslims own equal responsibilities with other Indians for striving
and making sacrifices to achieve the country's independence. This is a self-evident proposition, the
truth of which no right thinking Muslim will question. This Conference declares unequivocally and
with all emphasis at its command that the goal of Indian Muslims is complete independence along
with protection of their religion and communal rights, and that they are anxious to attain this goal
as early as possible. Inspired by this aim they have in the past made great sacrifices and are ever
ready to make greater sacrifices.
"The Conference unreservedly and strongly repudiates the baseless charge levelled against Indian
Muslims by the agents of British Imperialism and others that they are an obstacle in the path of
Indian freedom and emphatically declares that the Muslims are fully alive to their responsibilities
and consider it inconsistent with their traditions and derogatory to their honour to lag behind others
in the struggle for independence."
By this Resolution they repudiated the scheme of Pakistan. Their second Resolution was in the
following terms:â
"This is the considered view of this Conference that only that constitution for the future
Government of India would be acceptable to the people of India which is framed by the Indians
themselves elected by means of adult franchise. The constitution should fully safeguard all the
legitimate interests of the Muslims in accordance with the recommendations of the Muslim
members of the Constituent Assembly. The representatives of other communities or of an outside
power would have no right to interfere in the determination of these safeguards."
By this Resolution the Conference asserted that the safeguards for the Muslims must be determined
by the Muslims alone. Their third Resolution was as under:â
" Whereas in the future constitution of India it would be essential, in order to ensure stability of
government and preservation of security, that every citizen and community should feel satisfied,
this Conference considers it necessary that a scheme of safeguards as regards vital manors
mentioned below should be prepared to the satisfaction of the Muslims.
" This Conference appoints a board consisting of 27 persons. This board, after the fullest
investigation, consultation and consideration, shall make its recommendations for submission to the
next session of this Conference, so that the Conference may utilise the recommendations as a
means of securing a permanent national settlement of the communal question. This
recommendation should be submitted within two months. The matters referred to the board are the
following:
"1. The protection of Muslim culture, personal law and religious rights.
" 2. Political rights of Muslims and their protection.
" 3. The formation of future constitution of India to be non-unitary and federal, with absolutely
essential and unavoidable powers for the Federal Government.
"The provision of safeguards for the economic, social and cultural rights of Muslims and for their
share in public services
" The board will be empowered to fill up any vacancy in a suitable manner. The board will have the
right to co-opt other members. It will be empowered also to consult other Muslim bodies and if it
considers necessary, any responsible organisation in the country. The 27 members of the board will
be nominated by the president.
"The quorum for the meeting will be nine.
" Since the safeguards of the communal rights of different communities will be determined in the
constituent assembly referred to in the resolution which this Conference has passed, this
Conference considers it necessary to declare that Muslim members of this constituent will be
elected by Muslims themselves."
We must await the report 41[f.41] of this board to know what safeguards the Azad Muslim
Conference will devise for the safety and protection of Muslims. But there appears no reason to
hope that they will not be in favour of what I have guessed to be the likely alternative for Pakistan.
It cannot be overlooked that the Azad Muslim Conference was a body of Muslims who were not
only opposed to the Muslim League but were equally opposed to the Nationalist Muslims. There is,
therefore, no ground to trust that they will be more merciful to the Hindus than the League has been
or will be.
Supposing my guess turns out to be correct, it would be interesting to know what the Hindus will
have to say in reply. Should they prefer such an alternative to Pakistan ? Or should they rather
prefer Pakistan to such an alternative ? Those are questions which I must leave the Hindus and their
leaders to answer. All I would like to say in this connection is that the Hindus before determining
their attitude towards this question should note certain important considerations.
In particular they should note that there is a difference between Macht Politic 42 [f.42] and
Gravamin Politic 43[f.43] ; that there is a difference between Communitas Communitatum and a
nation of nations; that there is a difference between safeguards to allay apprehensions of the weak
and contrivances to satisfy the ambition for power of the strong: that there is a difference between
providing safeguards and handing over the country. Further, they should also note that what may
with safety be conceded to Gravamin Politic may not be conceded to Macht Politic. What may be
conceded with safety to a community may not be conceded to a nation and what may be conceded
with safety to the weak to be used by it as a weapon of defence may not be conceded to the strong
who may
use it as a weapon of attack.
These are important considerations and, if the Hindus overlook them, they will do so at their peril.
For the Muslim alternative is really a frightful and dangerous alternative.
It is true that in the month of April 1940 a Conference of Muslims was held in Delhi under the
grandiloquent name of " The Azad Muslim Conference." The Muslims who met in the Azad
Conference were those who were opposed to the Muslim League as well as to the Nationalist
Muslims. They were opposed to the Muslim League firstly, because of their hostility to Pakistan
and secondly because they did not want to depend upon the British Government for the protection
of their rights 39[f.39] They were also opposed to the Nationalist Musalmans (i. e. Congressites out
and out) because they were accused of indifference to the cultural and religious rights of the
Muslims. 40[f.40]
With all this the Azad Muslim Conference was hailed by the Hindus as a Conference of friends.
But the resolutions passed by the Conference leave very little to choose between it and the League.
Among the resolutions passed by the Azad Muslim Conference the following three bear directly
upon the issue in question.
The first of these runs as follows :â
" This conference, representative of Indian Muslims who desire to secure the fullest freedom of the
country, consisting of delegates and representatives of every province, after having given its fullest
and most careful consideration to all the vital questions affecting the interest of the Muslim
community and the country as a whole declares the following:â
" India will have geographical and political boundaries of an individual whole and as such is the
common homeland of all the citizens irrespective of race or religion who are joint owners of its
resources. All nooks and comers of the country are hearths and homes of Muslims who cherish the
historic eminence of their religion and culture which are dearer to them than their lives. From the
national point of view every Muslim is an Indian. The common rights of all residents of the country
and their responsibilities, in every walk of life and in every sphere of human activity are the same.
The Indian Muslim by virtue of these rights and responsibilities, is unquestionable an Indian
national and in every part of the country is entitled to equal privileges with that of every Indian
national in every sphere of governmental, economic and other national activities and in public
services. For that very reason Muslims own equal responsibilities with other Indians for striving
and making sacrifices to achieve the country's independence. This is a self-evident proposition, the
truth of which no right thinking Muslim will question. This Conference declares unequivocally and
with all emphasis at its command that the goal of Indian Muslims is complete independence along
with protection of their religion and communal rights, and that they are anxious to attain this goal
as early as possible. Inspired by this aim they have in the past made great sacrifices and are ever
ready to make greater sacrifices.
"The Conference unreservedly and strongly repudiates the baseless charge levelled against Indian
Muslims by the agents of British Imperialism and others that they are an obstacle in the path of
Indian freedom and emphatically declares that the Muslims are fully alive to their responsibilities
and consider it inconsistent with their traditions and derogatory to their honour to lag behind others
in the struggle for independence."
By this Resolution they repudiated the scheme of Pakistan. Their second Resolution was in the
following terms:â
"This is the considered view of this Conference that only that constitution for the future
Government of India would be acceptable to the people of India which is framed by the Indians
themselves elected by means of adult franchise. The constitution should fully safeguard all the
legitimate interests of the Muslims in accordance with the recommendations of the Muslim
members of the Constituent Assembly. The representatives of other communities or of an outside
power would have no right to interfere in the determination of these safeguards."
By this Resolution the Conference asserted that the safeguards for the Muslims must be determined
by the Muslims alone. Their third Resolution was as under:â
" Whereas in the future constitution of India it would be essential, in order to ensure stability of
government and preservation of security, that every citizen and community should feel satisfied,
this Conference considers it necessary that a scheme of safeguards as regards vital manors
mentioned below should be prepared to the satisfaction of the Muslims.
" This Conference appoints a board consisting of 27 persons. This board, after the fullest
investigation, consultation and consideration, shall make its recommendations for submission to the
next session of this Conference, so that the Conference may utilise the recommendations as a
means of securing a permanent national settlement of the communal question. This
recommendation should be submitted within two months. The matters referred to the board are the
following:
"1. The protection of Muslim culture, personal law and religious rights.
" 2. Political rights of Muslims and their protection.
" 3. The formation of future constitution of India to be non-unitary and federal, with absolutely
essential and unavoidable powers for the Federal Government.
"The provision of safeguards for the economic, social and cultural rights of Muslims and for their
share in public services
" The board will be empowered to fill up any vacancy in a suitable manner. The board will have the
right to co-opt other members. It will be empowered also to consult other Muslim bodies and if it
considers necessary, any responsible organisation in the country. The 27 members of the board will
be nominated by the president.
"The quorum for the meeting will be nine.
" Since the safeguards of the communal rights of different communities will be determined in the
constituent assembly referred to in the resolution which this Conference has passed, this
Conference considers it necessary to declare that Muslim members of this constituent will be
elected by Muslims themselves."
We must await the report 41[f.41] of this board to know what safeguards the Azad Muslim
Conference will devise for the safety and protection of Muslims. But there appears no reason to
hope that they will not be in favour of what I have guessed to be the likely alternative for Pakistan.
It cannot be overlooked that the Azad Muslim Conference was a body of Muslims who were not
only opposed to the Muslim League but were equally opposed to the Nationalist Muslims. There is,
therefore, no ground to trust that they will be more merciful to the Hindus than the League has been
or will be.
Supposing my guess turns out to be correct, it would be interesting to know what the Hindus will
have to say in reply. Should they prefer such an alternative to Pakistan ? Or should they rather
prefer Pakistan to such an alternative ? Those are questions which I must leave the Hindus and their
leaders to answer. All I would like to say in this connection is that the Hindus before determining
their attitude towards this question should note certain important considerations.
In particular they should note that there is a difference between Macht Politic 42 [f.42] and
Gravamin Politic 43[f.43] ; that there is a difference between Communitas Communitatum and a
nation of nations; that there is a difference between safeguards to allay apprehensions of the weak
and contrivances to satisfy the ambition for power of the strong: that there is a difference between
providing safeguards and handing over the country. Further, they should also note that what may
with safety be conceded to Gravamin Politic may not be conceded to Macht Politic. What may be
conceded with safety to a community may not be conceded to a nation and what may be conceded
with safety to the weak to be used by it as a weapon of defence may not be conceded to the strong
who may
use it as a weapon of attack.
These are important considerations and, if the Hindus overlook them, they will do so at their peril.
For the Muslim alternative is really a frightful and dangerous alternative.