The idea of Pakistan or two Nation theory was based on practical issues that was faced by Muslims more seriously than other communities in the subcontinent. At that juncture of history the Muslim community was more vulnerable in a land where they lived in scattered form from Khyber to Bengal and due to lack of communication and transport system of the time plus the huge rivers that obstructed easy access to different parts of the sub continent was a colossal task and the Muslims after ruling over south Asia for many centuries had grown lazy and did not work as hard as the Hindus did. The arrival of the British colonizers added more pressure to this level of Muslim activity and they were regarded as enemy to Muslim culture for the Farangis did many things that were beneficial for the Hindu businessmen than the Muslims who were totally ignorant of the ABC of financial matters. They felt proud of the fact that they had been rulers of Hindustan and held vast landed property and this point had made them idle to such an extent that they looked down upon trade, learning tricks of business, principles of management etc and at the same time they did not have a flair for learning even after the Britons entered the arena; they listened more to the high priests and abstained from schools and modern education. This phase was a longer one and therefore, tolled upon Muslim community. The lands that they held began to be sold to Hindus for the loans that the Muslims had taken from them on interest which multiplied within years and tracts of lands had to be surrendered to the loan givers and thus a good number of Muslim population became landless and destitute.
But those Muslim families who had not sold their lands thought otherwise and preferred to be closer to the British rulers and kept their lands and received certificates of loyalty from the British authorities and also made efforts to get modern education. Their tenants were allowed to work in the agriculture, abstain from any kind of schooling and remain indebted to them. The feudal system of the Muslim community however survived and by the time the Pakistan movement had reached its fever heat they showed allegiance to All India Muslim League and made monetary contributions to promote the movement. They had dreamt that in that way they could maintain their position as Land Lords and play role. The leaders of the Pakistan movement did not dare to estrange them at that critical juncture of history; they needed all kind of help from all kind of Muslims- rich , middle class and poor as well as artisans of all kinds. The presence of the feudal Lords in the lines of the Muslim League was thought a strength but it was a temporary one as in the post partition period they joined hands against all other classes and kept their hold over national politics, used the votes of their tenants in the elections and reached the Assemblies and outwitted all other classes as by that time there was no Industrial class of any position in the field to challenge them and this feudalism continues today and is stronger than ever. As long as Feudalism continues there will be no real democracy in Pakistan and for that change an agrarian reform is a need of the time to bring better democratic and balanced system to counter the gulf that widens day by day between the rich and the poor. Feudalism and democracy are incompatible and cannot pull together otherwise things will happen as they do now in our system. This is not a democracy but a game of numbers; real democracy will come when our literacy rate is higher and winning margin for a candidate is above 50 % by an amendment in the constitution.
Prof. Rahmat Karim Baig
Chitral
