Trends in Punjab Politics: 1925-1947

Authors

  • Samina Yasmeen

Abstract

This article gives a background of the province of Punjab and a detailed analysis of its politics from the end of the nineteenth century, when, in 1877, the landlord community brought forward, its first political association – Lahore Indian Association – representing all communities, till the time when the British finally decided to establish an organised political party to promote and protect their interest there. Their rapport with the rural elite of he Punjab helped them in achieving this goal, i.e. the creation of the Unionist Party. The success of this party depended on careful balance of interests of Hindu Jats and Muslim landlords. How this party dominated the political scene of the Punjab from the time of its creation in 1923 to 1946 is carefully narrated in this article. In 1946, the Muslim League won 79 out of 86 Muslim seats and emerged as the single largest party in Punjab, a province that held the key to the future of India. This article shows how failure of the Unionist Party was the major cause which paved the way for the partition of Punjab and the creation of Pakistan.

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Published

2020-02-18