Dr Ayesha Jalal’s Sole Spokesman gives a perspective on Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision for a united Indian subcontinent.
Dr Jalal argues that Jinnah’s primary goal was not to partition India but to secure a federated structure where Muslim-majority regions would have parity with Hindu-majority areas. He aimed for a Pakistan that included Muslim-majority provinces, particularly undivided Punjab and Bengal, negotiating with an all-India centre on equal terms.
Despite Jinnah’s efforts to keep Bengal united, Congress leaders, especially Nehru, opposed the idea, leading to eventual partition.
Interestingly, Jinnah expressed that both Pakistan and Hindustan would need to collaborate for mutual security, as neither could stand alone against external threats. Even as Jinnah was faced with the likelihood of partitioning Pakistan, he continued to advocate for a common defence arrangement with India.
Dr Jalal’s work clarifies that Jinnah’s strategy was shaped by his desire for parity and security for Muslim-majority areas under a common Indian framework.