A core idea in the subcontinent's history, the 'two nation theory' was crucial to the 1947 partition of India. It proposed that Muslims and Hindus were separate nations, possessing distinct customs, religions, and traditions, necessitating independent states for their protection.
The 'two nation theory' is accurately understood through the lens of the Principle of religious majorities.
This principle dictated that regions with Muslim majorities should form their own state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a key proponent of this idea, which underpinned the establishment of Pakistan as a Muslim-majority nation.
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| Formation of States | Year |
| (A). Maharashtra | (I). 1952 |
| (B). Punjab | (II). 1963 |
| (C). Nagaland | (III). 1966 |
| (D). Andhra Pradesh | (IV). 1960 |