Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day today, 14th August. Back in 1947 on the same day, the British Indian Empire made a kind of division, thus creating two independent states as we know today, India and Pakistan. Initially it was East and West Pakistan with the former gaining its own independence and becoming known as Bangladesh.
The journey of Pakistan gaining its independence and freedom was full of struggles and sacrifices. The Pakistani dearly remember their late leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who became a symbol of fight and determination.
Going back to the time when India and Pakistan were one, the continent faced high conflicts especially on the borderlines. The tensions were such that sadly, hundreds and hundreds of soldiers and civilians lost their lives on both sides. One of the turning points came after the War of Independence in 1857, when the question about the safety and the rights of the Muslim minority rose, following clashes between the two groups and their religious beliefs.
In 1906, the All-India Muslim League was created. The main goal was to create a separate state for Muslims. The same year, on October 1, a delegation of 36 Muslim leaders presented this demand to the viceroy of India in Simla.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948), who was a reputed lawyer and politician first, became the force and strength of this League from 1913 till 1947.
Another figure of the Independence was the visionary Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938), who gave an historical speech during his presidential campaign in 1930, on December 29th. He mentioned there, the importance and need of a separate territory for the Muslim minority.
The British parliament introduced the Indian Independence Act in July 1947, which led to the creation of separate interim governments for India and Pakistan on July 20th.
On August 14th, 1947, the vast British Indian subcontinent decided the final separation, giving their agreement to the formation of two independent nations of India and Pakistan. Pakistan became an Islamic Republic later.
The great efforts of leaders like Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and visionaries like Allama Muhammad Iqbal made the way for the creation of a sovereign nation called Pakistan today.
Amongst the two prominent leaders who played a dominant role in writing Pakistan's history, a few contemporary figures contributed into keeping the values of the struggles but are not credited enough:
Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar (1878–1931) was a prominent Muslim leader, journalist, and poet. He was one of the founding members of the All India Muslim League and played a crucial role in the Khilafat Movement alongside Mahatma Gandhi.
Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai (1907–1973) was a Pashtun nationalist and political leader. He advocated for the rights of Pashtuns and was an important figure in the Khilafat Movement and the Indian National Congress. He also played a significant role in the merger of the Pashtun areas into Pakistan.
Fatehyab Ali Khan (1936-2010) was an active participant in student politics, He was a vocal critic of military regimes and worked for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. He was a founding member of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and remained a strong advocate for human rights and democratic principles.
As Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day with fireworks, great parades and the national anthem echoing in all the streets of the country, The Crazy Creatives extend their warm wishes to the Pakistani community here and outside of IF. May peace prevail always, despite differences.
Credits:
MochaQueen | Quantum-Dot | Leprechaun
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