This volume seeks to analyse the evolution of Muslim nationalism from 1877 to 1937. This exercise has resulted in highlighting certain trends which have been so far either ignored or underplayed, at any rate in India. It, for instance, shows that two nation theory was an old as the movement for Muslim awakening and solidarity and almost all its leaders firmly believed in it. Similarly the idea of Pakistan, instead of being born in 1933 with Rehmat Ali's forceful espousal of it, is shown to be steadily circulating, particularly in the Punjab, since mid- 1920s. Again, contrary to what has been generally imagined so far, Jinnah as well as Iqbal had become converts to that idea, as early as June 1937, before even the beginning of any serious talk for the installation of a so-called coalition government in U.P., and not after its failure. On the other hand, the volume also reveals the strength of the growing sentiment of Hindu nationalism in 1920s, particularly in the Punjab and Bengal. The situation created by the juxtaposition of the two nationalisms is underlined by Lala Lajpat Rai's declaration in 1924 that in view of the general Muslim attitude a divided India might provide the only solution to the communal problem. Equally significant was Gandhi's repeated assertion in 1924-5 that he saw no solution of that problem except through prayer.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Introduction; I. Early Assertion of Muslim Nationhood, 1877-1998; II. Political Organization, Constitutional Recognition and After, 1898-1912; III. Pan-Islamism to Indian Nationalism, 1912-1922; IV. The Communal Backlash and Resurgence of Muslim (along with Hindu) Nationalism, 1922-1927; V. The Widening Gulf and Emergence of Pakistan Idea, 1927-1932; VI. Further Widening of the Gulf and Spread of the Pakistan Idea, 1932-1937; Appendix I. Syed Ahmad Khans Speech at Meerut, 16 March 1888; Appendix II. Muslim Leaders Address to the Viceroy, Lord Minto, and the Latters Reply, Simla, 1 October 1906; Appendix III. Lala Lajpat Rais Solution for the Hindu-Muslim Problem, 1924; Appendix IV. The Aga Khan on the Future Constituion for India, 1928; Appendix V. Muhammad Iqbals Letters to M.A. Jinnah, May-June 1937, and the Latters Comment on their Historical Significance, 1943; Appendix VI. Jawaharlal Nehrus Letter to Rajendra Prasad on Ministry-making in U.P., 21 July 1937; Bibliography; Index.