Presidential Address delivered extempore at the Fifth Annual Session of the All-India Muslim Students’ Federation at Nagpur on 26th December, 1941

(Detailed Text)

“…My chief object is to address particularly my young friends. The All-India Muslim Students’ Federation was started about four or five years ago and I would, my young friends, draw your attention in the first instance to your constitution. The aims and objects of your constitution, which you must always keep in front of you and faithfully and loyally abide by, are to organize the Muslim Students of India into a corporate body through provincial autonomous units and safeguard the interests of the Muslim students community. You know that the Muslim students community has at times and particularly in these days got to safeguard their own interests. You may have many complaints. You may have many grievances. But it is by being in a corporate body that you can have your grievances redressed. I find that you have in that direction made many efforts and you had to face many troubles. That is one of your aims and objects. Secondly, your aim is also to rouse the political consciousness amongst the Muslim students and to prepare them to take their proper share in the struggle of the freedom of the country. It is because of this that I have accepted the honour of presiding over your session to day. It is because of this that I want to tell you what are the issues in front of you. I want to tell you that the language of your own constitution – namely, to prepare you to take your proper share in the struggle for the freedom of the country. And, as such, let me shortly tell you that your Federation has made a remarkable progress in the last two years. I hope that you will grow, and grow still more. You must remember that I have repeatedly said that you are not expected to take active part in the political developments that are taking place from day to day, from week to week and from month to month; your primary duty to yourselves, to your parents and to your nation is that you should concentrate your attention on your studies while you are students. Remember that if you fritter away your precious and valuable time in other activities, while you are students, that time frittered away, that time wasted, will never come back. But, while that is your primary duty to yourselves, to your parents and to your nation, at the same time you must keep yourselves abreast of the political, social and economic developments in the country-not only in this country but the world at large. It is for this reason that I have always willingly accepted any invitation from the gathering of Muslim students.

Now, with regard to your domestic affairs – how you should devise ways and means of further consolidating your organization and creating solidarity and unity among the Muslim students all over India. You will, I have no doubt, apply your mind now and after full deliberation pass such resolutions as you think proper.

Next, you must remember, side by side with this preparation of yours for the future responsibilities which are bound to fall on your shoulders, that there is All-India Muslim League organization which is growing, and it is growing by leaps and bounds all over India. The Muslim League, during the last three years has made not only remarkable progress but a miraculous progress. You must, therefore, keep abreast of the movements and activities and developments of the All-India Muslim League and its policy and programme. My young friends, today you compare yourselves with what was the position of the Muslims even three years ago. Five years ago it was wretched. Ten years ago you were dead.

And within three years, as I said, you have succeeded in awakening the political consciousness of Muslim India from one end to the other end of this sub-continent. The Muslim League has given you a national flag. The Muslim League has given you common platform. The Muslim League has given you a goal which in my judgment is going to lead you to the promised land where we shall establish our Pakistan.”

“…I urge upon you, my young friends and other present here, is that the key is in your hands. Do not depend upon anybody. You know, I will not preach aggressiveness. The Muslim League has always been on the defensive. I have always said it. It is no concession and it is no favour”.

“…The Muslim says: Give me those parts of India where we are in majority and where I have got my homeland. Let me live there under my own rule and I undertake to protect the non-Muslim minority. You live in the Hindu India proper and you can protect the Muslim minority. You have three-fourths. But they do not want three-fourths. But they want the whole. How are they going to get the whole?”

“I think I have taken all this trouble in order to make my young friends understand the true position in the country, because, I regret to say, I find a colossal amount of ignorance among the Muslim intelligentsia and student community.”

“In the end I say to you one thing more. Muslims, you must maintain complete unity and solidarity amongst yourselves. Nobody can help you if you quarrel among yourselves, and you will go asunder. Therefore, maintain unity and solidarity. I want you that, however much you may be moved, however much you may feel wronged, whatever may be your grievances, you should not resort to individual action which will prejudice our cause and precipitate matters… Keep yourselves absolutely united and solid and wait. When the order comes from the All-India Muslim League then I will be the first to march with you. At no time was it more necessary than at this very critical and dangerous time that you should implicitly pledge and selflessly surrender yourselves to our watchword – Faith, unity and discipline”.