2. The Lahore Resolution of 1940

• The Lahore Resolution, formulated during the All-India Muslim League's general session held in Lahore from March 22 to March 24, 1940, marked a significant milestone in the quest for an independent state for India's Muslims.
• Although the resolution does not explicitly mention the term 'Pakistan' and has been subject to debates regarding its implications for a single or dual nation, Pakistan reveres it as a pivotal moment in its history.
• Subsequently, on March 23, 1956, Pakistan adopted its inaugural Constitution, marking the transition from the Dominion of Pakistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This constitutional milestone solidified Pakistan's identity as a sovereign nation.
• Additionally, the iconic Minar-e-Pakistan, constructed between 1960 and 1968, stands as a monument at the historic site where the Lahore Resolution was passed.
• The text of the resolution is prominently engraved at the base of this monument, symbolizing the enduring legacy of Pakistan's struggle for independence.

The Lahore Resolution, adopted during the All India Muslim League's session in 1940, outlined crucial principles essential for any workable and acceptable constitutional plan for India's Muslims. These principles emphasized the need for geographical regions to be demarcated into contiguous units with necessary territorial adjustments. The key points of the resolution included

1. Formation of Independent States: The resolution proposed that regions where Muslims were in a numerical majority, such as the North-Western and Eastern Zones of India, should be grouped to form "Independent States." These states were to have autonomous and sovereign constituent units.
2. Safeguards for Minorities: It emphasized the necessity of providing adequate and effective safeguards for Muslims and other minorities in regions where they were a minority. These safeguards were meant to protect their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative, and other rights and interests, with consultations held with the respective minority communities.

The wording of the resolution, particularly mentioning "North-Western and Eastern Zones of India" and "Independent States," led to debates, especially among Bengali leaders, about whether it implied the creation of two separate states to the east and west of India. Despite this ambiguity, the Muslim League and its prominent leader, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, firmly asserted that the Lahore Resolution advocated for the establishment of two distinct countries—one for Hindus and another for Muslims.

4. Lead-up to the Lahore Resolution

The Lahore Resolution of 1940 was not an isolated event but a culmination of significant developments in India's political landscape during the early 20th century. Leading up to this historic resolution were several key factors:

1. Demand for Representation: Until the early 1930s, many Muslims in India were advocating for better representation and the protection of their rights within the Indian Union. The separate electorate granted to them in the Government of India Act of 1935 was seen as a step in this direction.
2. Growing Separatist Sentiments: However, as the 1930s progressed, voices calling for a complete separation from India gained strength within the Muslim community. The Lahore Resolution emerged as a response to these escalating demands for a separate Muslim state.
3. Khaksar Tragedy: The context of the Lahore Resolution session was marked by the Khaksar tragedy, where members of the Khaksar movement, fighting for India's independence, were attacked by the British on March 19, 1940, in Lahore. This incident fueled sentiments of nationalism and self-determination among Muslims.
4. Jinnah's Landmark Address: The Lahore session featured a landmark address by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, solidifying his position as the leader advocating for a separate nation for Muslims. Jinnah's speech during this event underscored the irreconcilable differences between Muslim and Hindu aspirations, laying the groundwork for the eventual creation of Pakistan.

Observance of Pakistan National Day in New Delhi

Pakistan National Day is commemorated at the Pakistan embassy complex in New Delhi, typically around March 23. The event is attended by foreign diplomats and Indian dignitaries, with a Minister or Minister of State often invited as the chief guest. The celebration includes the playing of national anthems of both Pakistan and India, followed by speeches delivered by the Pakistan High Commissioner and the chief guest, highlighting the bilateral relations and shared history between the two nations.