The history of partition has always been seen through the skeptical lenses of Indian nationalism, where the elite Muslims felt threatened of losing their generational wealth, raising demand for a separate state in the name of the two-nation theory to defend it. This view of partition and other such views which debunk the Muslim nationalism have been clearly pulverized by Khursheed Kamal Aziz, also known as K.K Aziz, in his book The Making of Pakistan: A Study in Nationalism.

K.K Aziz’s diction of writing represents clear, logical, and well-concluded arguments that keep the readers hooked to the passages. Rather than describing the chains of events, he connects them with the theoretical lens of nationalism, which he clearly explains in the introductory part of his book. He considers nationalism as the state of mind, a consciousness that develops over a span of time. He summarizes this logic in the following words: “We know that we are a nation, therefore we are a nation”. It is this state of mind that the reader should keep in mind throughout the reading to understand the genesis of Muslim nationalism in India. Without it, one cannot understand the driving force behind different events. 

He provided 13 common beliefs that construct this creed of nationalism. The first 3 are the emotional bases of nationalism: common group feeling, love for fellow nationals, and common hostility to others. The next 3 represent a political and social apparatus of nationalism, which are the possession of common territory, sovereign government, and the common social, moral, or economic institutions. The next 4 work as the spiritual equipment for any nationalism, such as cultural characteristics, religion, common history, and heroes. The last 3 represent the time loop of affinity, which are the glorious past, contemporary devotion to the group at present, and aspiration for future prosperity. Through the coming chapter of K.K. Aziz’s book, these features of nationalism are clearly articulated, which will help any reader in tracing why, when, and how the events gave birth to Muslim nationalism in India.

In Chapter 1 of the book, The Historical Factors-I, K.K Aziz argued that the alienation in the post-mutiny period sowed the first seed of Muslim Nationalism in India. This chapter further tracks the circumstances and personalities that led to the future events, such as Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and the feeling of separatism. This was further aggravated by the Partition of Bengal........

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