	Sign In Sign-Up

Allama Iqbal’s Presidential Address 1930

Prelude

On December 30, 1930 the annual meeting of the All India Muslim League was held at Allahabad. Allama Iqbal presided over the meeting. On this occasion he delivered his famous historical address which proved to be a milestone in the proceeding to make a demand for an independent Muslim state.

Main Points of the Address

N.W.F.P, Sind, Punjab and Baluchistan should be combined in one state.

The Muslims are entirely a different nation from Hindus. Their way of living and social manners are totally different from the Hindus. Their religion is entirely different in nature from other religions. Thus the Muslims should get a state of their own in the area of Muslim majority where they may be able to cultivate their own religious and moral traditions.

Importance of the Address

Iqbals’s speech at the League session created a mild flutter but generally it was not taken seriously. Though he had, in detail explained the basis leading to demand a separate homeland. He mentioned that Islam was not simply the name of a few creeds, the oral recognization of which would make our ideal Muslim. It had given its followers, the concept of a particular and unique political society which covered all the phases of their life.

Even though the Muslims of South Asia were disorganized and lay scattered in different parts of the region, yet their central position was the same. They had the same culture, the same history and the same civilization. These elements gave similarity and agreement to all the Muslims of the Sub Continent on the one hand and made them quite distinct from the Hindus on the other.

In his presidential address, Allama Iqbal said:

"I would like to see the Punjab, North West Frontier Province, Sind and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single state. Self Government within the British empire of without the British empire, the formation of a consolidated North West Indian Muslim State appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims at least of north West India."

The greatest historical significance of Iqbal’s Allahabad Address was that it washed away all political confusions from the minds to the Muslims. Thus, enabling them to determine their new and clear cut destination and work out a definite program to achieve their goal.

Some writers have taken Iqbal to mean that he only wanted a consolidated Muslim unit without the federation of India but this does not seem to be correct. He pleaded that there should be no central government and the provinces should be autonomous and independent dominions.

Allama Iqbal’s idea that the Muslim formed a separate nation and they had a right to lead their lives on their own was readily accepted by all Muslim circle. The demand gradually gained popularity and ultimately developed in the form of Pakistan Resolution in 1940.

Conclusive Sentences

It is on his Allahabad address that Allama Iqbal is known as the dreamer of Pakistan. His address proved to be a milestone in the history of the Sub Continent and the creation of Pakistan.

Top