Not many people are aware of the friendship built on mutual respect that was a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity of India—the friendship between Lokmanya Tilak and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. When Tilak, as the President of Home Rule League, was leaving for England to press for India’s demand for Swaraj, Jinnah had proclaimed that there was no man more fitted to voice the opinions of Indians other than Tilak who had devoted his whole life to the cause of his country. Trace the events that led to Jinnah demanding Partition of the country and the establishment of Pakistan. The relationship between the two countries till date is a proof of the discord sowed by the British. What in your opinion, can be done to improve relations between the two countries.

The demand for the partition of India and the establishment of Pakistan can be traced back to a series of events:

1. Two-Nation Theory — The Muslim League, under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, proposed the Two-Nation Theory, which asserted that Hindus and Muslims were two distinct nations and should have separate homelands.
2. Lahore Resolution (1940) — The Lahore Resolution, which later came to be known as the Pakistan Resolution, called for independent states in the Muslim-majority areas of India.
3. Mountbatten Plan (1947) — The final plan for independence, proposed by Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, included the partition of British India into two dominions, India and Pakistan.

In my opinion, improving relations between India and Pakistan would require several steps:

1. Both countries should engage in constructive diplomacy and maintain open channels of communication.
2. Efforts should be made to resolve longstanding disputes through peaceful means.
3. Encouraging cultural exchanges and people-to-people contact can foster mutual understanding and goodwill.
4. Cooperation on Common Issues such as climate change, water scarcity, and regional instability can build trust and improve relations.