23rd March The day leaders dream to build a separate country; Pakistan
As the word, Pakistan is said aloud, a sensational wave of proudness run all over the body. We all are proud to be Pakistani, we bleed green and most important Pakistan for us is not just a country but a dream of our forefathers. The dream was seen by the leaders well aware of future circumstances.
No one could have imagined that the piece of land where so many ethnicities are living together for centuries would become rivals and stand against each other as a result of foreign influence. The land on earth which had peace despite cultural enrichment faced the worst of the alliance of harmony and peace. Though the sub-continent was ruled by different emperors, despite differences, they had a mutual agreement to keep their empire peaceful. The differences among the emperors turned out to be the golden opportunity for the British Raj, they helped those differences to grow more, they cultivated the hatred among the emperors which was based on cultural diversity and religion. The politics grew dirtier with the passage of time and the internal clashes among the common people became the mass conflicts affecting the societies.
The circumstances were slipping from the hands of people of the sub-continent and at that moment the wise leaders foresaw the future of Muslims of the Sub-continent. They knew that Muslims will not be able to battle against the clever tricks played by the alliance made by the Hindus, British and other minorities. The urge to get a separate land for Muslims grew stronger and stronger as time passed. Everyone by the time had understood that Muslims and Hindus are two different nations that cannot live together and share the same piece of land.
The struggles to get freedom, the war of independence from the British government was not easy, it took decades for the leaders to get recognition, it was a different battlefield where Muslims had to fight without weapons. It was a war which was needed to be a win on the basis of ideology, determination and sacrifices.
23rd March
On March 23, 1940, all the founding fathers of Pakistan came together to discuss the future of Muslim nation residing in the Hindu dominant sub-continent. This meeting was held at Minto park and this is where for the first time Quid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah put forward his demands for a separate country for the Muslims. The Pakistan resolution was moved by the –then Bengal chief minister AK Fazlul Haq also known as Sher-e-Bangla and was seconded by Chaudary Khalilquzzaman. The main agenda discussed in the resolution was to put forward a demand for a separate country for Muslims where they can practice their religion freely without the interference of Hindus and the British government.
The resolution read as:
“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”
This resolution not only introduced the idea of a separate land for Muslims but the foundation of the first constitution of Pakistan was also laid to this day. This document has been referred to as the “Father Document of Pakistan”
23 March was declared as the Republic day of Pakistan and a national holiday was observed in the country but with the martial law in Ayub khan’s reign the name was changed to Pakistan day due to the end of democracy but the holiday is still observed.
On this day, Quaid proved that he is the sole representative of Muslims in the sub-continent. He also showed the world that the Congress claim of representing Muslims as well as Hindus is wrong also the only solution to all problems of Muslims is a separate land where they can live free from the clutches of the British government and interference of Hindus. These demands were quite a shock for Hindu leaders Nehru and Gandhi because they were not ready to accept Muslim’s demands and now with the resolution made by all Muslim leaders the situation became unfavorable for them.
In 1930, Allama Muhammad Iqbal in his Allahabad address envisioned a separate homeland for Muslims and since then this became Muslim ideology. Quaid very well understood that Muslims cannot prosper in the same society as that of Hindus because they were not only different religiously but Hindus were a very biased nation when it came to caste, color and creed.
The Quaid’s two-nation concept was not just a vision revolving around a theoretical state rather it was based on the idea of a separate country where Muslims could live freely and prosper under Islamic law and rules. Although Quaid envisioned a separate country for Muslims according to the situation of then India if we see the situation of present India the way minorities and Muslims are being treated it is clear that Quaid could see that the situation will never change and one can still endorse his vision.
23rd March is the day when the scattered thoughts of different leaders gathered at one place to get a proper shape. The dream which was envisioned by Allama Iqbal was not a blurry idea now, instead, it was decided that dream was soon going to become a reality. A reality where every dream, every wish will be fulfilled. After the resolution passed on 23rd March, the Muslims of the sub-continent accelerated the campaign to get freedom. The resolution motivated the Muslims to get a separate land and hence in every household the message of the All-India Muslim League was clear and crisp. Everyone was focused to get freedom. Freedom to follow a religion and culture of their own choice. Freedom from slavery.
March 23- Pakistan day is important because everyone who worked day and night to put this country on a world map provided us with freedom. Freedom to live freely, to breathe, to do what we believe in. Where countries are still struggling to get independence or are fighting civil wars; Pakistan is a free state and its citizen are free to live their lives according to their own wishes.
March 23, 1940, marked a day in history that lays the foundation of Pakistan’s independence. All sacrifices and struggles of Muslims are acknowledged to this day. After this day, the leaders working hard to accomplish the dream of Pakistan achieved multiple milestones in the coming years. In 1942 the Muslim League was focused and clear to get a State for Muslims. In 1944, Quaid e Azam was assertive and talked about the State for Muslims called Pakistan. In 1946, the demand to have a separate land was discussed and clarified by the convention of parliamentarians from majority regions in United India held in Delhi.
As the citizens of this country, we should unite and remember the struggle and reignite the spirit of Resolution day so that the younger generation know it’s worth and not just see it as a holiday.
To celebrate this day, Minar e Pakistan has been constructed at Minto Park Lahore, the construction was completed in 1967. Every year a Parade is organized in Islamabad where the president of Pakistan is invited as chief guest. Other important bodies of state- prime minister, cabinet ministers, military chief of staff and chairman joint chiefs are also present. A full inter-service joint military parade is live broadcasted on all news channel throughout the country. The military showcase its power and capabilities during the parade.
It is important for the young generation to know the history of this day in order to make them realize the importance of freedom and independence. Once they learn about the rich and dark history and struggle behind this day and making Pakistan a separate state free from Hindu and British government then only, they will realize the significance of Pakistan day and their country.
It is very important to enlighten the world about the principles on which our ideology is based, it helps to get acknowledgment and to ensure that the world knows about our country’s power and capabilities. But it is more important for our youth to know this because they have to take the responsibility of running this country and they should be aware of its history.
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