Pakistan is for the elite Muslims to preserve their privileges

Pakistan is being demanded in the name of Muslims so that the present housetop-shouters of Muslim League may enjoy dictatorial rights in the said areas, eat, drink, and be merry and always keep the down-trodden Muslim masses under their heels by frightening them with the slogan of Islam in danger.

So wrote S.M. Rahman to M.A. Jinnah, from Subzi Mandi in Delhi, April 5, 1946.  This letter is included in the Jinnah Papers, Volume XIII (#13), edited by Z.H. Zaidi.  Further excerpts below.


S.M. Rahman wrote: (emphasis added)

"Due to the lack of political development in the Muslim masses, the task of shaping their political future was a trust in the hands of those better developed and occupying a higher social and economic position.  For a considerably long time in the past, the methods adopted by our leadership (the Muslim League) were considered to be right and good since creation of separate electorates, reservation in Govt. jobs and other preferential treatments were all that brought satisfaction and advantage to the supporters of our our leadership and which they could not get otherwise under free and open competition.

"But with the end of the War and other natural developments in the country, the situation has by far changed.  The Muslim masses, who are the real backbone of Muslim community, have also gained some political development to think independently of their old leaders and champions.   The complicated issue of Pakistan raised by the old leadership has started creeping into the brains and minds of Muslim masses also.

"As a religious issue and slogan, 'Pakistan' may appeal [to] the masses but when they come out of that sphere and have to deal with social, economic and inter-political [party] problems, it brings all confusion and disappointment to them. Due to more education, rational, religious thinking and broad inter-political ideologies, the old appeal of Islam in danger holds no ground now.   The time has come when Muslims should start thinking of themselves first as normal human beings and then as religious devotees and never in terms of fanatic religious goondas!  The teachings of our holy Book were framed never to create the sort of ideas which our political leadership has started to push into Muslim brains.

"It is still time that our present political leaders should start thinking in rational ways and for the benefit of the Muslims in general and not only for a few privileged top shouters of Islam in danger.  It is not Islam that is in danger.   It is their privileges and self-interests that are in danger.   They know well that under an international political development every individual shall have a right to take part in the government.  They are afraid that under one united Indian Govt. the housetop-shouters may be bypassed by the newcomers from the so-called lower ranks of the Muslim masses and those who have a more rational outlook in their political ideas.

"Pakistan is being demanded in the name of Muslims so that the present housetop-shouters of Muslim League may enjoy dictatorial rights in the said areas, eat, drink, and be merry and always keep the down-trodden Muslim masses under their heels by frightening them with the slogan of Islam in danger.

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"You, being in the privileged position of holding the present sole leadership of Muslim League, have all the responsibility for that and it is your duty to bring a change which is so necessary in the rustic brain of the Muslim League, otherwise the time is not far away when you will have to see your own political death, along with that of your sole monopoly of Muslim representation.  You will see the results of your political efforts shaping the same way as did Hitler's, Mussolini's and Tojo's.  Do you think that extreme and fanatical political ideologies, just as Hitler and Mussolini had, can ever survive? No and never.  It is a rigid law of nature and it holds good for every human being, irrespective of his being a Muslim or Hindu or Sikh or Christian....

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S.R. Rahman points out the difference in culture in the constituents of Pakistan, and points out that even every district of Punjab has its own culture, customs and language.   He warns that the Muslim League is provoking the Hindus, and the last straw will be when Jinnah demands a corridor between the Eastern and Western wings of Pakistan.  

"With the creation of Pakistan there shall be permanent ending of Hindu-Muslim political inter-relationship.  Hindus shall be far bitter in their feelings against the Muslims.   Their resolve shall be to build military strength far more than that of Pakistan.   Their natural development in science and industry shall be a net asset to them in achieving their success.  The result will be that when your majesty raises the issue of a corridor, which you will and must, a clash will occur.  The result is evident and that is the death of the Muslim community.   You along with your imperial Pakistan, dictatorial powers and all plans of rule over the Muslims of India shall see your fate sealed in an unknown grave where nobody will even shed a tear, for your being responsible for all the loss and calamity which you will bring to so  many human beings and particularly the Muslims.

"I pray before Allah the Great that He may send some light to you to take mercy upon the Muslims or He may put you off your brain and allow you rest in some asylum so that all the ten crores of Muslims may get relief from the chronic disease which you have created and which is taking a fatal turn for them all."

"Long live the Indian Muslims!

Yours very sincerely,

S.M. Rahman

M.A., LL.B