Pakistan celebrates 78 years of independence as a homeland for Muslims, its founding vision increasingly affirmed by present-day realities. Born out of the struggle to preserve Muslim identity and rights, the country's creation stands as a historic safeguard against marginalisation — a concern that persists in today's political climate.
The Partition of British India in August 1947 remains one of the most significant and debated events of the 20th century. It was driven by the unwavering resolve of leaders like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, whose foresight anticipated the challenges Muslims would face in a Hindu-majority India. Rising Hindutva ideology and growing hostility toward Indian Muslims today echo the very fears that justified Pakistan's formation.
Before independence, British India was home to nearly 400 million people, with Muslims forming about 25 percent of the population. Efforts to unite Hindus and Muslims under one political framework repeatedly failed. The collapse of the Cabinet Mission Plan confirmed that a single state could not protect Muslim political, cultural, and religious rights.
Jinnah's Two-Nation Theory argued that Muslims and Hindus were distinct nations with unique traditions, laws, and aspirations. Initially an advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity, Jinnah's experiences with Congress leaders convinced him that equality was unachievable without a separate state.
The Lahore Resolution of 1940 crystallised the demand for Pakistan, aiming to safeguard Muslim autonomy. Decades later, incidents such as the Babri Mosque demolition and attacks on Muslim heritage in India validate Jinnah's warnings.
Pakistan's journey, despite challenges, remains proof that its creation was not only justified but essential. Its history continues to resonate as a beacon for Muslim identity and self-determination.
Source: (https://muslimnews.com.ng/2025/08/14/pakistan-at-78-a-homeland-for-muslims-its-purpose-proven-by-history/)