A few days ago, a contentious map of pre-partition India began making rounds on the internet, this map claimed to depict territories from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Balochistan to the North-East as Sikh majority regions, referred to as Guruistan. However, it’s essential to clarify that this map is not an official representation of pre-partition India but rather a proposal crafted by Choudhry Rahmat Ali, a radical Islamist and Pakistani nationalist who played a key role in advocating for the creation of Pakistan.
One such misleading tweet with the map was sent by @sajournal1.
Ali’s Vision of a Divided Subcontinent and Guruistan in pre-partition India
Ali authored several pamphlets wherein he referred to himself as the “Founder of the Pakistan National Movement.” In these publications, he included various maps of the Indian subcontinent, proposing potential names for the new nation he envisioned. Among these names from pre-partition India were Haideristan, Siddiqistan, Faruqistan, Muinistan, Maplistan, Safiistan, Guruistan and Nasaristan. Notably, Safiistan and Nasaristan were intended for the island of Sri Lanka, not the Indian subcontinent.
Ali’s vision (PDF) included renaming the entire Indian subcontinent as ‘Pakasia,’ or more commonly as ‘Dinia’ (an anagram of “India” with the position of ‘d’ changed). Dinia included three main areas: Pakistan, Osmanistan (representing Hyderabad Deccan and neighbouring regions), and Bangistan (representing Bengal). He went further to suggest that the Muslim-majority provinces of Eastern Bengal and Assam in East India be formed into Bangistan, an independent Muslim state for Bengali, Assamese, and Bihari Muslims. As for the princely state of Hyderabad, Ali proposed that it become an Islamic monarchy known as Osmanistan. Furthermore, Ali assigned new names to the surrounding seas, referring to them as the Bangian, Pakian, and Osmanian seas, in place of the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean, respectively. And for Sikh-majority he proposed ‘Guruistan’ and included all the areas of Sikh-majority pre-partition India in it.
Intent & Conclusion
The recent circulation of this proposal map of pre-partition India is an attempt by propagandists to distort the historical record. The intent behind circulating this map is to fuel misinformation and promote anti-India agendas, particularly in relation to the Khalistan movement. It is being used to further their agendas, including support for the Khalistan movement. However, it is crucial to emphasize that this map was a product of Choudhry Rahmat Ali’s personal vision and was never endorsed or recognized as an official representation of India before partition.
In conclusion, the map depicting pre-partition India as Guruistan is not an official map but a proposal crafted by Choudhry Rahmat Ali, a proponent of Pakistan’s formation. It is essential to distinguish between historical documents and personal visions when considering such maps. Following a precise analysis and fact-checking, our team has reviewed the claim. You can refer to the findings of this inquiry in the Twitter thread below.
Claim: The 1933 map of pre-partition India which declared Sikh majority territories as Guruistan.
Fact: Choudhry Rahmat Ali’s map is not an official representation of pre-partition India; it is a personal proposal that has been misused for propagandist purposes.
