By TwoCircles.net special correspondent,
Lucknow, regarded as Constantinople of the East is known worldwide for its communal harmony, Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, multi cultural identity and brotherhood. But very few realise that this Lucknow was instrumental in changing the identity of Mohammad Ali Jinnah from a secular person to a communal leader who later carved out Pakistan, a separate country by dividing India.
Prior to the Lucknow incident, Jinnah was regarded as secular by one and all. He wore western dresses and was seen as a learned person. It was Lucknow which changed his attire. The year was 1937 when Jinnah addressed a meeting in Qaiserbagh, Lucknow. It was in this meeting that he relinquished his three-piece suit and wore Sherwani. Not only this he took the cap from Raja of Mahmoodabad and put it over his head which later came to be known as the Jinnah Cap. Perhaps, the seeds of partition of country were thus sown in Lucknow.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah [Photo Courtesy: qal.org.pk]
Why did Jinnah choose Lucknow for this act? The story is no less interesting. In the 20th century Lucknow had a distinct identity of communal harmony. Both Hindus and Muslims lived in complete harmony. However, Muslims irked over raw deal to them from Congress had already founded the Muslim League in 1906. Congress too was witnessing internal conflict between hardliners within the party. In 1907 during the Surat convention of Congress, the internal division was clearly evident. In 1908, Bal Gangadhar Tilak was put behind bars by Britishers for six years. In 1914 when Tilak was released he started the Home Rule Movement along with Annie Beseant and Jinnah. Meanwhile in 1914, the First World War broke.
However Tilak wanted to give a united blow to the Britishers. For this it was imperative that internal bickering should be sorted out. Tilak then worked for patching up the differences between Muslim League and Congress. Where this deal should be struck? Again Lucknow came into picture and in 1916 both Congress and Muslim League entered into a pact where it was decided that they will contest the elections of central and provincial assembly by seat sharing. This was known as Lucknow Pact. Prior to it, in 1899, Lucknow had hosted the Congress convention.
Many changes came in the independence movement. In 1919, Mahatma Gandhi came into picture of the independence struggle. Things went on at their own pace when in 1928 Jinnah went to London reportedly annoyed over a report by Nehru. He dissociated himself from the movement.
In 1937, elections were held and both League and Congress contested the elections in 11 states included United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). It was decided that they will form the government jointly after the elections. But Congress got the majority in the elections and formed the government. It did not include Muslim League in the government. The League leaders asked for two ministerial berths for them including one for Lucknow’s Khaliquz Zaman. He was a former Chairman of Local Bodies and a known face in Lucknow. Congress denied. Zaman later wrote a book—Pathway to Pakistan. Muslims had overwhelmingly voted for Congress during the elections but they were annoyed when Zaman and one more Muslim was not included in the ministry.
Meanwhile, in 1937 Jinnah returned from London. Muslims welcomed him at every railway station. Perhaps, Jinnah had made up his mind and he arrived in Lucknow same year to address a meeting—the result was a transformed Jinnah in new attire. Within three years, Jinnah was instrumental in passing a resolution at Lahore in 1940 for carving out Pakistan by dividing the country.
He succeeded in making it a reality in seven years.