In the decades leading up to the formation of Pakistan, the involvement of the Muslim press in shaping political awareness and communal consciousness proved indispensable. At a time when colonial authority and the Congress Party held the reins of power, the Muslim community struggled to assert itself politically and culturally. It was through newspapers and journals that Muslim voices found space to breathe, organize, and counter the dominant discourse. These publications connected leaders with the broader public, stirring a sense of purpose and urgency. Rather than being passive recipients of political change, Muslims were transformed into active participants, rallying around the idea of a separate homeland. Through editorials and articles, the press ignited discourse, often raising questions others avoided and offering perspectives others ignored.
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At a moment when many Muslims were unsure of their future in a united India, the Muslim press provided clarity and direction. Editors and writers crafted arguments that addressed immediate concerns such as language, employment, education, and religious freedom, all while presenting historical context that reinforced Muslim identity. They brought to light longstanding grievances, including economic marginalization and underrepresentation in civil services. Rather than allow these concerns to fester in silence, the press articulated them boldly. Through reasoned analysis and pointed critique, newspapers like Zamindar and Al-Hilal highlighted the everyday implications of British and Congress rule for the Muslim population. In doing so, they generated not only awareness but also resistance.
Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar's Al-Hilal gave a powerful voice to the Khilafat Movement, linking religious duty with political struggle, and inspiring resistance against colonial authority. This was not simply journalism, it was activism through the pen. By linking the fate of Indian Muslims with that of the broader Islamic world, Al-Hilal expanded the Muslim imagination beyond the subcontinent, urging them to think globally while acting locally. This fusion of faith, politics, and historical perspective helped build a mass movement that was both informed and determined.
Moreover, when Congress ministries assumed power in several provinces between 1937 and 1939, the Muslim press swiftly responded to what it described as systematic efforts to undermine Muslim culture and institutions. The adoption of Hindi in schools, the dismissal of Urdu from official communications, and the exclusion of Muslims from administrative posts became recurring themes in Muslim publications. Rather than accept these changes passively, journalists exposed them, framing them as part of a broader plan to absorb Muslims into a Hindu-majoritarian framework.
Zamindar exposed the cultural and political marginalization of Muslims under Congress ministries by reporting on language policies that replaced Urdu with Hindi, thereby igniting widespread anxiety about cultural erasure. This kind of journalism contributed directly to the increasing popularity of the two-nation idea. It was no longer an abstract theory debated in elite circles but a lived experience for many Muslims who saw their identity threatened.
In parallel, the Muslim press played a vital role in amplifying the message of the All India Muslim League. Since the mainstream press rarely offered space to Muslim League leaders or their perspective, a parallel media network became essential. It was in this context that Dawn was founded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to communicate directly with the people. Not only did it offer coverage of League events, it also published in-depth commentary on political developments, cultural issues, and legislative battles.
Dawn served as the official platform of the All India Muslim League and regularly published Jinnah’s speeches, League resolutions, and commentary that clarified the party’s objectives to both Indian Muslims and the British administration. It was through these columns and features that many ordinary Muslims came to understand what was at stake, and why political independence tied to cultural preservation was so critical.
Another central function of the press was to challenge the narratives put forth by Hindu-majority publications, which often painted Muslims as obstructive, backward, or irrelevant. By highlighting Muslim contributions to India's intellectual, cultural, and political life, the Muslim press offered a counterpoint rooted in pride and historical continuity. It emphasized that Muslims were not a minority to be assimilated, but a nation deserving of self-determination. Writers frequently drew on examples from Islamic history, jurisprudence, and cultural achievements to strengthen their claims.
Nawa-i-Waqt argued in its editorial response to the June 3rd Plan that while the idea of partition was initially mocked and maligned, persistent press coverage exposed its inevitability, making the demand for Pakistan irreversible. By offering this kind of narrative consistency and ideological reinforcement, the press helped convert abstract political positions into mass sentiment.
In addition to newspapers, individual journalists also played defining roles. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, through Zamindar, relentlessly criticized both British repression and Congress policies. He highlighted instances of Muslim disenfranchisement and rallied public support around the Muslim League. His pen became a weapon, not just to inform, but to awaken. Likewise, Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman, who later established Jang, began his journalistic journey by publishing content that resonated with the Muslim public’s growing political consciousness. His newspaper emerged during a time of intense political mobilization, offering timely coverage that catered to the hopes and fears of Muslim readers.
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These efforts, though often met with censorship, financial hardship, and political pressure, demonstrated the sheer determination of Muslim journalists to support the political awakening of their community. Even when facing bans, confiscations, or threats, these publications persisted. Their commitment was not to commercial success, but to a cause that they believed was just, urgent, and transformative. Their editorials were often more than commentary, they were calls to action. Their headlines did not merely report events, they helped shape them.
Ultimately, the role of the Muslim press in the struggle for Pakistan cannot be viewed as a supplementary effort. It was central to the political transformation that occurred in the 1930s and 1940s. By informing, educating, and inspiring, it built a foundation of public opinion that was necessary for any mass movement to succeed. It transformed isolation into solidarity, confusion into clarity, and despair into resolve. The press did not wait for events to unfold, it helped direct their course. In this sense, the creation of Pakistan owes as much to the printing press as it does to the political stage. The newspapers of that era were more than instruments of communication, they were instruments of change.
