question_answer

Study the given passage and answer the questions that follow:

I have no hesitation in declaring that if the principle that the Indian Muslim is entitled to full and free development on the lines of his own culture and tradition in his own Indian home-lands is recognised as the basis of a permanent communal settlement, he will be ready to stake his all for the freedom of India. The principle that each group is entitled to free development on its own lines is not inspired by any feeling of narrow communalism ... A community which is inspired by feelings of ill-will towards other communities is low and ignoble. I entertain the highest respect for the customs, laws, religions and social institutions of other communities. Nay, it is my duty according to the teachings of the Quran, even to defend their places of worship, if need be. Yet I love the communal group which is the source of life and behaviour and which has formed me what I am by giving me its religion, its literature, its-thought, its culture and thereby its whole past as a living operative factor in my present  consciousness ...'

(a) Name the person whose feelings have been expressed in the passage given above.

(b) Do you agree with the fact that if all groups are given the option of development on their own lines then there would be harmonious relations among all communities? Give two arguments in favour of your answer.

                                                                                                           [Foreign 2008]

Answer:

(a) Sir Muhammad Iqbal, (then) the president of the Muslim League.

(b) In a country where all groups are given the option of the development on their own lines it is an ideal situation which would certainly lead to harmonious relations among communities provided each group entertains highest respect for customs, laws, religions and social institutions of other communities.

But in practice, this does not happen. People of one community fight with people of other communities on the minor issues threatening the very foundation of the nation. Muslim League itself began to feel that the development of Muslim community is possible only at the cost of others. When a community becomes more important than nation and general welfare, then harmonious living is not possible.