The developments leading to the creation of Pakistan → A two-nation theory - From the late 1930s, the Muslim League began
viewing the Muslims as a separate “nation” from the Hindus.
→ Provincial elections of 1937 - The provincial elections of 1937
convinced the League that Muslims were a minority, and they would
always have to play second fiddle in any democratic structure. It feared
that Muslims may even go unrepresented.
→ Rift between Congress and Muslim League - In 1937, the Congress
rejected the Muslim League's proposal for a joint Congress-League
government in the United Provinces. This annoyed the League.
→ Wide mass support base for Muslim League - In the 1930s, the
Congress failed to mobilise the Muslim masses. This allowed the
Muslim League to widen its social support. It sought to enlarge its
support in the early 1940s when most Congress leaders were in jail.
→ Failure of talks - At the end of the Second World War in 1945, the
British opened negotiations between the Congress, the League and
themselves for the independence of India. However, the talks failed as
the League saw itself as the sole spokesperson of India's Muslims, and
the Congress could not accept this claim since a large number of
Muslims still supported it.
→ Provincial elections of 1946 - Elections to the provinces were again
held in 1946. The Congress did well in the “General” constituencies but
the League's success in the seats reserved for Muslims was spectacular.
This led to more demands for a separate nation for Muslims.
→ Failure of talks again - In March 1946, the British cabinet sent a
three-member mission to Delhi to examine this demand and to suggest a
suitable political framework for a free India. This mission suggested that
India should remain united and constitute itself as a loose confederation
with some autonomy for Muslim-majority areas. But it could not get the Congress and the Muslim League to agree to specific details of the
proposal. Partition was now more or less inevitable.
→ Mass agitation and riots - After the failure of the Cabinet Mission, the
Muslim League decided on mass agitation for winning its Pakistan
demand. It announced 16 August 1946 as “Direct Action Day”. On this
day riots broke out in Calcutta, lasting several days and resulting in the
death of thousands of people. By March 1947, violence had spread to
different parts of Northern India.
→ Partition- Finally, the demand for the Partition of India was finalised,
and “Pakistan” was born.