A Socio-Historical Analysis of the Social Conditions of the Four Provinces before the Creation of Pakistan

Abstract

This article will look into the socio-economic and cultural status of the four provinces which became later to be Pakistan before the formation of the state in 1947. It claims that, the pre- partition society in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and the North-West Frontier Province was mainly influenced by the colonial policies, feudal organization and even regional social tradition. The paper brings out how the Mughal land allocation system underwent a gradual transformation into a strict feudal system under British dominion where huge estates were offered to the loyal landlords so as to remain in political control and secure collection of revenue. Consequently, the social inequality was heightened especially amongst the Muslim communities, as they were now facing educational and economic degradation following the year 1857. The paper also examines the unique social set up in each of the provinces. The political instability and economic misery increased the role of pirs and religious elites in Sindh. Balochistan was mostly tribal and semi-nomadic and the authority was concentrated with the hands of tribal chiefs and sardars. On the same note, the North-West Frontier Province still had a robust tribal and customary legal framework founded on Pashtunwali, and a formal colonial government was minimal. On the contrary, canal irrigation, urbanization and British administrative reforms resulted in a relatively higher economic growth in Punjab, but still, social stratification and landlord domination remained. The concluded study relies on the fact that the backward socio-economic status, educational inequality and preponderance of feudal and tribal institutions in these regions all played a highly important role in the political awareness of the Muslims and an impetus towards the need to have their own homeland. Therefore, the article gives a broad historical context of the social situation that shaped the development of Pakistan.