Pakistan In Search of Identity Pakistan In Search of Identity MubarakAli AAKAR PAKISTAN IN SEARCH OF IDENTITY MubarakAli © Mubarak Ali, 2011 First Published in India 2011 ISBN 978-93-5002-099-9 Published by AAKARBOOKS 28 E Pocket IV, Mayur Vihar Phase I, Delhi 110091 Phone: 011 22795505 Telefax: 011 22795641 [email protected]; www.aakarbooks.com Composed by Limited Colors, Delhi 110 092 Printed at Mudrak, 30 A Patparganj, Delhi 110091 Contents Foreword 7 1. Consciousness of Muslim Identity in 'South Asia Before 1947 13 2. Pakistan's Search for Identity 25 3. New Religious Trends After Partition 49 4. History, Ideology and Curriculum 65 5. Development of the Discipline of History in Pakistan 72 6. The Khilafat Movement: Islamisation of Politics 92 7. Religion and Politics: Integration, Separation and Conflict 105 8. Politicisation and Commercialisation of Religion: The Case of Pakistan 122 9. Karachi: Living City, Dying Culture 130 Index 143 Foreword Throughout the course of her history since independence, Pakistan has faced a persistent crisis of identity. Seldom can one find a country in the comity of nations whose intelligentsia and often the common people be seen speculating about the basis and rationale of their country. In the case of Pakistan, it is a common observation that our intelligentsia spares a major part of its time and the newspapers and periodicals spend a lot of their space on discussing the questions such as why did the country come into being? What purpose has it served? What can ensure its survival? Will it hold itself together against all divisive and centrifugal tendencies? Expressed in others words, Pakistan has for long suffered from an existential crisis. Soon after independence, Pakistan had to opt for one of the two paths for its future identity. One was to realise that though the Two Nation theory was useful and conducive for the realisation of a Muslim state in the subcontinent (thereby negating the Congress's assertion of a united Indian nationalism), the theory came to outlive itself once that country came into being. A continued assertion at the Two Nation theory would have implied that in future, a minority within Pakistan could have made a similar claim of separate nationhood as did the Muslims in India. Moreover, the continued assertion of the Two Nation theory would have 8 Pakistan in Search of Identity anchored Pakistan in the pre-partition situation preventing it from dissociating itself from a communal past and building itself on original and future-oriented foundations. The other choice was to continue to assert the permanence of the Two Nation theory in which case Pakistan was likely to permanently need India as an essential reference for its nationhood, and a raison d'etre for its existence. Moreover, the Two Nation theory would have created cleavages in Pakistan's politics and would have cut its society to the core. Certainly, the wiser ones among the Pakistani leadership, particularly, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, opted for the former. In his famous 11 August 1947 speech, he proclaimed his vision of Pakistan and presented the noble idea that by shunning the differences of caste, creed, language and ethnicity, we could build a truly Pakistani nation. He also highlighted the importance of the neutrality of the state with reference to the citizens suggesting that it was only after the ending of the angularities of the majority community and the minority community that a true concept of nationhood could be evolved. Unfortunately, overlooking the forthright and enlightened perception of nationhood as articulated by the founder of the country, his successors adopted the latter course preventing a positive and constructive view of nationhood. As a result, Pakistan did not succeed in evolving a true national identity free from the pre-independence hangover of communal antagonism. Pakistan's malaise did not end here; unfortunately, the ruling elite of the country failed to evolve a consensus among them over the crucial political issues, and in the absence of this consensus, they decided to use religion to court the support of the people and provinces who were seeking their rights and their rightful place in the country. Islam was thus designated as the basis of Pakistan's identity. Once Islam was demoted from the status of a religion to that of an Foreword 9 ideology, the pertinent question could be raised as to what kind of a state with Islam as its ideology would take shape and who would determine whether or not the state had become truly Islamic. This gave a pre-eminence to the class of clergy who in the context of the traditional religious society of the country asserted its decisive role in statecraft. It was, therefore, suggested that the ulema alone could determine the validity of an Islamic law. The ulema also claimed that it was they who could properly interperet the teachings of Islam. The successive governments legitimised their rule through the use of Islamicslogans while the values of justice, compassion and brotherhood as professed by Islam were never translated into the state policies. Itis quite understandable why this ideologicalengineering did not pay dividends and compelled the country to grope towards an ambiguous destination. Theauthor of this book, Dr. Mubarak Ali,has taken pains to investigate the multifarious ideological crises of Pakistan. Without subscribing to any preconceived notion, he analyses the issues of ideology and identity purely from historical and political points of view. His approach is objective and rational and he studies the issues of state formation in Pakistan and Pakistan's quest for nationhood in a scientific manner underlining the socio-economic causes operating behind the political events. He begins with the examination of the emergence of the Muslim consciousness about their identity in the socio-cultural environment of pre-partition India. He then moves on to examine how the issue ofidentity resurfaced in Pakistan after its independence. He examines the various trends, both secular and religious, which continued for years to combat each other. The policies of the state, its efforts in securing legitimacy through employing religious propaganda, the construction of an official religious ideology and the implications of all these moves also come under critical scrutiny. The author 10 Pakistan in Search of Identity endeavors to analyse the integrating as well as separating aspects of the co-relationbetween religion and politics. He sheds light on the political economy of Islamisation and explains how in a growing environment of commercialisation, the politicisation of religious affiliationsimpacts the societyin a negative way. Theviews expressedin the chapters of this book would certainlyinvite debateand would encourageothers tobuild up on what has been concluded here or, while contesting this,comeup with better argumentsand betterexplanations of the issues addressed here. The author of this book deserves our thanks for addressing the above issuesin a bold and rational manner. Dr. Mubarak Ali is a prolific writer who has created for himself a prominent niche among the historians of our country. In the last three decades,he has written with great persistence and courage on matters which have been rendered sensitive by the uncritical thinking prevailing in our society. Dr. Mubarak Ali has to his credit quite a few contributions which may not be overlookedby a judicious mind. First, he had the courage to take the discipline of historyout ofthe strictconfinesofour so-calledprofessional historians,most ofwhom have chosento isolatetheir work from a wider and vibrant society. Dr. Mubarak Ali has brought history to the commonpeopleby not only shifting the focus of history from the coteries and courts to the commonpeoplebut alsobyproducinghisnarrativesin lucid language. No wonder his writings are so popular among students, political workers and general readers. Secondly, the fact that he has indicated through his writings that a clearerhistoricalpicture maynot undermine the wider and multifarious aspectsof societyat a givenperiod of time has given to his historicalwritingsan edgeoverthosewho have approached the past through the limited scope of political history. Dr. Ali's writings on culture,arts, beliefs,attitudes, Foreword 11 behaviour, etc., together with the study of politics, gives a comprehensive and more trustworthy picture of the past. Thirdly, Dr. Mubarak Ali has off and on produced a very strong critique of official historiography and has shown its inconsistencies and tendentiousness. He is quite convincing when he suggests that once confined in an ideological straitjacket of a state, history losesits rationale and creativity; it freezes the mindset of the people rather than liberates them. Finally, Dr. Mubarak Ali has taken to history writing -or, to be more precise, his way of history writing-as a mission. He writes not only books but also produces a well received journal, titled Tareekh, and has been able to build a team of young historians who may not appear very influential at the moment but, given time, would certainly make themselves noticeable on the academic and intellectual landscape of the country. For years, we have lamented the absence of critical historical inquiry in our intellectual discourses but it seems that the same would not remain our fate. We see a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel, and one does not hesitate to suggest that among those who would, at the end of the day, be commended for clearing up the foggy horizon for the truthful portrayal of our history, Dr. Mubarak Ali would certainly have a prominent place. In the production of this book, the young research staff of Pakistan Study Centre has made a useful contribution for which I remain grateful. I am particularly thankful to my young colleague Yasir Hanif for preparing the index of the book. Dr. Syed Jaffar Ahmed Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi, Karachi 1 Consciousness of Muslim Identity in South Asia Before 1947 The question of Muslim identity in the Indian subcontinent may be analysed on the basis of social,religious, and political consciousness.