Pakistan and Modern World - Summary

SUMMARY

This essay is a speech delivered by Liaquat Ali Khan, during his visit to America in 1950, in his capacity, as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He was thanking the teachers and the students of the University of Kansas City, for conferring on him, an honorary degree of law.

In his speech, Liaquat Ali Khan told the Americans, the reasons for the demand and creation of Pakistan. Before the creation of Pakistan, India was ruled by the British. The sub-continent consisted of one hundred million Muslims and there hundred million Hindus. Long experience and history had taught the Muslims that, under a dominating majority of three to one, freedom from the British rule would mean for the Muslims, not freedom, but simply a change of masters.

Religion was not the only difference that made the Muslims a separate nation. There were other very serious differences which separated the Muslims from the Hindus. The Hindus believe in a caste system, while the Muslims believe in the equality of all men. The Muslims believe in the right of private ownership for everyone, whether man or woman. The Muslims have laws of inheritance and economic institutions while the Hindu laws are designed, to promote the accumulation of wealth. Most importantly, the Muslims feared that under the Hindu domination, their culture would be completely wiped out. It was for these reasons that the Muslims demanded a country of their own.

The demand, as we can see now, was a very just one. There were vast areas in the subcontinent, where the Muslims were numerous enough to form a nation of their own — a nation much bigger than most nations in the world.

Therefore a separate homeland for the Muslims meant freedom and self-government. The demand for Pakistan also promised for the Hindus, freedom from the constant discontent of a large and unmanageable minority. It was under these circumstances that came into being. If it were not so, the differences between the Hindus and the Muslims would have led to unimaginable troubles and problems.

Our prime minister desired that the west should share its great fund of knowledge (science and technology), skill and experience with countries like Pakistan otherwise the Asian people would remain backward. The other duty of the west should be to show that democracy is international in nature. The west should also not avoid its responsibility, to maintain peace in the world and condemn aggression everywhere and take steps to prevent them. If the west fulfills these obligations, only then, the people of Asia, would be able to progress and prosper.