PESHAWAR, Aug 09 (APP):The spirit of Pakistan Independence day is palpable in the narrow lanes of historic Qissakhwani bazaar as national flags, green stickers, badges and miniature models of iconic national landmarks drew crowds of children, students and families on Sunday. For 66-year-old Rehman Gul, a roadside seller of national flags, badges and Independence Day accessories, the festive atmosphere brought a welcome surge in business. His wooden handcart, laden with …
1940 Pakistan Resolution paved way for independent homeland as national flags, badges captivate youth
PESHAWAR, Aug 09 (APP):The spirit of Pakistan Independence day is palpable in the narrow lanes of historic Qissakhwani bazaar as national flags, green stickers, badges and miniature models of iconic national landmarks drew crowds of children, students and families on Sunday.
For 66-year-old Rehman Gul, a roadside seller of national flags, badges and Independence Day accessories, the festive atmosphere brought a welcome surge in business.
His wooden handcart, laden with green and white flags, stickers, badges and other patriotic items, became a popular stop for children and students moving through the bustling bazaar.
“The enthusiasm of people, especially youth and children, is overwhelming,” Rehman Gul told APP, smiling as customers gathered around his cart.
“The demand has increased so much that I have sent my son to Lahore to bring fresh stock so that we can meet the requirements of customers on eve of Independence Day of Pakistan.”
Pushing his wooden cart through the narrow streets of the old city before reaching Qissakhwani, Rehman Gul said the demand was not limited to national flags and badges. Young customers were also showing keen interest in miniature replicas of historical buildings and national monuments, particularly Minar-e-Pakistan, Quaid Residency and Islamia College Peshawar.
“The children are not only buying flags but also ask questions about the monuments and want to take their models home,” he said.
The sight of children choosing flags and badges, often accompanied by their parents and teachers, gave the historic bazaar a distinctly festive look.
Among the customers was Sidra Qaisar, principal of a private school in Qissakhwani, who purchased around 1,000 stickers and national flags for her students.
“I purchased 1,000 stickers and national flags for my students upon their request so they can celebrate Pakistan Independence Day in a befitting manner,” she said.
Qaisar said such activities provided students with an opportunity to learn about the country’s history beyond classroom lessons.
“Children learn better when history is connected with activities and symbols that they can see and touch. The national flag and these monuments create a sense of curiosity among them,” she added.
Her young son also asked her to buy a miniature model of Minar-e-Pakistan. She obliged, leaving the stall with the model in hand and a smile on his face.
“I wanted this model because I have read about Minar-e-Pakistan in my school,” the child Ishaq Khan said. “I want to keep it in my room and tell my friends about it.”
For many consumers, the celebration was not merely about purchasing flags and decorative items. Parents said the occasion provided an opportunity to introduce younger generations to the political struggle and sacrifices that preceded the creation of Pakistan.
Minar-e-Pakistan, whose miniature replicas are among the popular items being sold in Peshawar, was constructed in Lahore to commemorate the historic Lahore Resolution, widely known as the Pakistan Resolution, passed on March 23, 1940, by the All-India Muslim League.
The resolution is regarded as a defining moment in South Asian history as it gave political expression to the demand for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent.
The historic document emerged against the backdrop of growing political, social and economic tensions under British colonial rule. It became a major milestone in the transformation of Muslim political consciousness and ultimately influenced the political developments that culminated in the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
Professor Dr. AZ Hilali, former chairman of the Political Science Department at the University of Peshawar, described the Lahore Resolution as a historic document that marked a turning point in British Indian politics.
Speaking to APP, he said the resolution was passed after deep-rooted socio-economic inequalities, class disparities and political grievances faced by Muslims under colonial rule.
“It symbolized a collective rejection of domination and inequality in a Hindu-majority political structure,” Dr Hilali said.
He said the resolution also represented an important transformation in Muslim political consciousness by bringing diverse communities together around a common political objective.
According to Dr Hilali, the document provided a political framework for a separate Muslim state under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
He said the resolution generated hope among Muslims by articulating aspirations linked to social justice, economic equality and freedom of belief and expression. It also envisaged constitutional safeguards for minorities and greater provincial autonomy.
“An important feature of the resolution was its emphasis on provincial autonomy rather than excessive centralization, reflecting the concerns that centralized political power could marginalize Muslim-majority regions,” he explained.
The political environment preceding the resolution was shaped by growing dissatisfaction among sections of the Muslim community with the policies and functioning of the Indian National Congress governments formed after the 1937 provincial elections.
Between 1937 and 1939, Muslim political leaders raised concerns about cultural, educational and religious policies, which contributed to increasing mistrust between the Muslim League and Congress.
Policies and initiatives such as the promotion of Bande Mataram and the Wardha education scheme were viewed by many Muslim leaders as evidence of an emerging cultural majoritarianism.
“In that context, the Muslim League rejected the concept of a single political identity for the entire Indian subcontinent and increasingly advocated a separate political identity for Muslims,” Dr Hilali said.
He added that the Pakistan Resolution made it clear that no constitutional arrangement would be acceptable to Muslims without their consent.
“The resolution proposed that geographically contiguous Muslim-majority areas in the north-western and eastern zones should be reorganized into independent states comprising autonomous and sovereign units,” he said.
The resolution continued to influence subsequent constitutional and political negotiations, including the debates surrounding the Cabinet Mission Plan, which attempted to offer a loose federal arrangement but failed to secure lasting agreement among the major political parties.
Historians regard Pakistan Resolution as a watershed in the political history of the subcontinent because it transformed the demand for Muslim political safeguards into a more clearly articulated political objective.
In Peshawar, however, the significance of Pakistan Independence Day is also closely linked with the role played by the province in the Pakistan Movement.
Dr Hilali said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah visited Islamia College Peshawar three times, where he addressed students and sought to mobilize the people of the then North-West Frontier Province (now KP) in support of the Pakistan Movement.
He said the participation of students and young people was particularly significant because the younger generation became an important force in spreading political awareness and mobilizing public support.
Back at Qissa Khwani Bazaar, the historical discussion appeared to have found a contemporary expression in the enthusiasm of young customers.
For shopkeepers and street vendors, the surge in demand has brought a commercial boost. For parents and teachers, the flags, badges and miniature monuments have become tools for connecting children with the country’s history.
For Rehman Gul, whose handcart has become a small but colourful symbol of the day’s celebrations, the most encouraging aspect is the interest shown by children.
“When children come to buy flags and ask about our history, it makes me happy,” he said. “Pakistan was achieved after great sacrifices, and our younger generation should know about those sacrifices.”
Dr Hilali stressed that remembering the Pakistan Resolution should go beyond ceremonial celebrations.
“Pakistan was created after a lot of sacrifices by our forefathers, and it is our collective duty to work for its strengthening in all fields of life,” he said.
As the crowds continued to move through the historic lanes of Qissa Khwani, green flags fluttered above the handcarts and children proudly carried their purchases home—a reminder that, decades after the Pakistan Resolution, March 23 continues to find its expression not only in official ceremonies and historical discussions but also in the everyday enthusiasm of ordinary citizens.
