Pakistan and the Modern World | Modern English Essays

Author’s Introduction

Liaqat Ali Khan (1895-1951) was the 1st prime minister of Pakistan after its independence in 1947. He was entitled called Quaid- e-Millat and Shaheed-e-Millat. He was born into a well-off Muslim family. He was a statesman, lawyer, and political theorist.

He got his education from Aligarh Muslim University and Oxford University England. Being an excellent companion of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he joined the All-India Muslim League. His day and night work with Quaid-e-Azam for the independence of Muslims was remarkable.

His love love for Pakistan is undeniable. An Afghani national Said Akbar assassinated Liaqat Ali Khan at Company Bagh Rawalpindi while he was addressing 500,000 people.

Summary

Liaqat Ali Khan’s “Pakistan and the Modern World” is an extract from a speech that he delivered at Kansas University in 1950 when he was invited by America to tell why Pakistan was created and he visited The U.S.A.

On the occasion of being conferred an honorary degree by the University of Kansas, he made a speech to introduce Pakistan. In his speech, Liaqat Ali Khan explained to the people how Pakistan came into being.

What were the circumstances that forced Muslims of India the demand a separate independent country and how did their struggle bear fruit?  He openly pointed out all the social, religious, economic, and even geographical factors involved in the creation of Pakistan.

From cradle to death the life of a Hindu and a Muslim differ in every respect. It’s impossible to reconcile these irreconcilables’.

He compared the Muslims’ struggle for a separate homeland with The Independence War of America. He reminded them of the hardships and hurdles which they faced in the struggle for independence.

He also elaborated to the Americans that Pakistan was a new democratic state that came into existence on 14th August 1947. It is a new country on the map of the world. Before independence, the Muslims and Hindus lived together in a united India.

He explained clearly in his speech that The Muslims and Hindus remained together for a long time but could not become one nation due to many religious, political, social, cultural, and moral values.

Both Muslims and Hindus have different approaches to life. The heroes, culture, histories, ideology, and literature were also different. The Hindus were in the majority and dominated.

The Muslims were afraid that after the English, the Hindus would rule over them and they would be forced to live a subjugated life forever because they were in a minority.

He further explained to the audience that due to the differences, The Muslims of India demanded a separate homeland where they could lead their lives according to Islam.

Despite living combined for many centuries, both nations could not mix up. The Hindus were 300 million in number, while The Muslims were 100 million in number. Therefore, the Muslims didn’t want to live as a minority in India.

Moreover, both nations had conflicting ideologies, opposite creeds, and distinct approaches toward life. The Muslims believe in the oneness of Allah, the Almighty, and follow the teachings of the Holy Quran as well as the preachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad( PBUH).

Whereas, the Hindus believe in various gods, and caste systems, the Muslims accept the equality of all men and women. The Muslims consider the private ownership of property, inter-marry, and even dining together while the Hindus believe in the accumulation of wealth in one hand.

In the strong leadership of Quaid e Azam and the Muslim League, the Muslims of India made Pakistan, an independent state. Liaquat Ali Khan told them that the name of the new democratic state was named Pakistan. It was a new democratic sovereign country.

In addition to these fair and genuine reasons for an independent country, Liaqat Ali Khan also threw light on some difficulties faced by Pakistan. He explained to them the challenges in the fields of science and technology of the newly-born state. He elaborated on the true meaning of liberty.

His point of view about Pakistan was that the people are peace-loving, and hard-working and want to get rid of poverty, hunger, ignorance, diseases, unemployment, etc. The severe difficulties and problems faced in the early years were a hard test of the abilities of Pakistani People.

Therefore, he urged Americans to accept Pakistan as a new state and to help Pakistanis in the fields of education, art, science, and technology so that it could emerge as a new state on the world map.

If the Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent are able to establish an independent state, they’ll be helping humanity to build a better and happier world order

Important Questions and Their Answers

Question. 1

Explain the circumstances that led to the creation of Pakistan.

Answer 

In 1950, when Liaqat Ali Khan, The former prime minister of Pakistan visited America and made many speeches He introduced Pakistan to the modern world. In one of his speeches, he explained the nature of the Muslim struggle for a separate homeland. In the last part of his speech, he threw light on the demands that our freedom made on us.

• Religious differences
• Caste system
• Economic set up
• Concept of freedom
• Administrative grounds

Religious Differentiation

Both Muslims and Hindus are distinct on religious grounds. Hindus are polytheists (those who have a belief in many gods). Muslims are monotheists (those who believe in one GOD). So to combine both nations was a great mistake and the peace would be disruptive not only for them but for the whole world.

Caste System

Hindus believe in the caste system. They are divided into many castes but Islam rejects the caste system. Muslims have faith in the equality of all human beings. How it could be possible for two separate nations to live in one place?

Economic Set Up

Hindus’ economic setup is opposite to Muslims. Hindus believe in an unearned amass of wealth. They accumulate wealth and apply interest to wealth while Muslims believe in the circulation of wealth in the form of spending and circulating money. Islam has no concept of unearned amass of wealth towards which Liaqat Ali Khan attracts the attention of Americans.

Concept of Freedom

Hindus were in the majority and Muslims were in the minority before partition. If the English Left India, the Hindus would rule over the Muslims because they were less than Hindus. This was also the cause that led to independence for the Muslims.

Administrative Grounds

Another important difference between both nations was that the whole area of India was too large to be managed. It was tough for the English to manage it. Therefore, It became the cause of independence for Pakistan.

The creation of Pakistan was necessary for the peace of Asia. Religious, cultural, economic, and social differences sparked disputes between the two nations in their daily lives. Due to these reasons, the Muslims of India started to struggle for a separate homeland where they could live independently.

Question. 2

What difficulties Pakistan had to face soon after its creation? How were they overcome?

Answer

Pakistan came into being on 14th August 1947,. At the time of partition, there was a great disturbance between Pakistan and India. The Muslims of sub-continent India faced many problems at the time of migration. They had to leave their property and homes in India.

At that time, they were very poor. The armed groups of the Hindus and the Sikhs were on their way to Pakistan. The men, women, and children were slaughtered by the Hindus and the Sikhs. The Muslims could not fight with them as they were armless.

However, they settled in Pakistan as a nation under the great leadership of Quaid-e-Azam. At the creation of Pakistan, the nation had to suffer great difficulties. The nation had no capital, no flag, and no military equipment. The military of Pakistan was disbursed.

The share of Pakistan was allocated only in paper and in reality, Pakistan got very few resources. There was no industry in Pakistan. There was no able number of doctors, scientists, engineers, highly qualified persons, and businessmen in Pakistan.

There were no sufficient arrangements to fulfil the basic needs of seven million homeless refugees who arrived from India. Liaquat Ali Khan assured the Americans that despite these worst conditions of life, unity, determination, and firm faith saved the country and the nation successfully. They are fully conscious of maintaining their freedom.

And no freedom has any real value for the common man or woman unless it also means freedom from want, freedom from disease, freedom from ignorance. This is the main task that confront us if we are to take our rightful place in the modern world.

Question. 3

What kind of similarity does Liaqat Ali Khan point out between the beginnings of Pakistan and the early days of America?

Answer

On his visit to America in 1950, he delivered a very forceful speech at the University of Kansas. In his address, he pointed out to the Americans the reasons for the birth of Pakistan. In his speech, he talked about the deep difference which the Muslims of India had with the Hindus in the religious, social, and economic fields.

These differences between the two nations resulted in deep animosity and affected their life. The Muslims demanded a separate state where they could live according to their religion and culture. Liaquat Ali Khan told the Americans that there existed a great similarity between Pakistan and America regarding the freedom movement.

Firstly, America began mainly as an agricultural country just as Pakistan is today. The American progress in the fields of agriculture and industry is all due to its dedicated and selfless leadership.

Pakistan is also having a selfless, sincere, and dedicated leadership. The people of Pakistan like the Americans are peace-loving and hard-working. Pakistan is very hopeful to march on the road to progress like America.

Secondly, Americans believe in democracy, the rule of law, and civil liberty. The people of Pakistan are also lovers of democracy, peace, and the rule of law. America made rapid progress in every field of life. Pakistan too hopes to progress in every field of life very soon.

Thirdly, Like the Americans, the people of Pakistan believe in moral values. They are desirous to promote peace and happiness to the people of the world. America is already doing a lot to promote peace and prosperity in the world.

The rulers of Pakistan are already working for the welfare of the masses. It is with the cooperation of the Americans in the economic and social fields that Pakistan is expected to become a stable and prosperous country.

Liaquat Ali Khan promised that like the Americans, the Pakistanis would work to preserve their liberty, uplift their masses, and make their full contribution to the security and happiness of mankind. So, we find great similarity between Pakistan and the early days of America.

Question. 4

How does Liaqat Ali Khan define the role of the Western World, especially of America in the promotion of world peace?

Answer

In his speech to Americans, Liaqat Ali Khan reminds them of the great love that America and the Western World have to play in the development of Pakistan. He tells them that Pakistan is a newborn democracy.

It is a poor country. It expects the powerful countries of the West and especially America to share their great fund of knowledge, skill, and experience with Pakistan and other Asian countries.

He reminds the Americans that they are very hardworking, dedicated, and energetic people. He tells them that the peace and prosperity of Pakistan will contribute a lot to world peace. The people of Pakistan have to learn much from them. They must fight against ignorance, violence, and aggression.

They must fight against the forces of evil and darkness. He asks them to come forward and play their role in promoting peace and order in the world. America has made progress in every field of life. The quality of life in America is very high.

But this is not so in Pakistan and other Asian countries. There is a great difference in the standard of living of the Americans and that of the Pakistanis. This disparity in their mode of living is very distressing. He hopes that America will do everything to remove this inequality.

Liaquat Ali Khan tells Americans that true democracy is international. It is very necessary for the maintenance of world peace. The Americans must make stable the roots of democracy in Pakistan. A stable democratic Pakistan will ensure peace in Asia.

America and the Muslim World are rich in knowledge, experience, and skill. They must share their knowledge and skills with the people of backward countries. Pakistan is in great need of their help in the fields of industry, science, and technology.

Expectations of Liaqat Ali Khan from the Western world