So, how was Pakistan to become a nation-state with no major ethnic nationality, rather a state joining several diverse ethnicities, in the name of one religious identity? And the uniting force, the basis for identity politics, that could be played was a Hindu majority, calling for the Subcontinent to be freed as Hindustan! There were two majority nations in the Subcontinent, Muslims and Hindus — and the Muslims needed to be free not only of the British but also of the Hindus. So, the question is: was Pakistan born in a state of confusion? Was there a reason why there were no ‘young movements’ in the Subcontinent when they had reached right up to Afghanistan as the ‘Young Afghans’.

Source: The Nation June 17, 2022 04:40 UTC