Islamia College Lahore: Cradle of Muslim Political Leadership (1900–1947)

Abstract

This article explores the pivotal role of Islamia College Lahore in shaping the political consciousness and leadership of Indian Muslims during the colonial period from 1900 to 1947. As an institution founded under the aegis of Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam Lahore AHIL, Islamia College functioned not merely as a center of higher education but as a dynamic incubator for Muslim political leadership. It provided an intellectual and ideological space where students imbibed nationalist sentiments, engaged with Islamic modernism, and became actively involved in anti-colonial and pro-Muslim League politics. The study highlights how the college’s curriculum, faculty, student societies, and connection with key political movements fostered a generation of leaders who later played significant roles in the Pakistan Movement. By examining archival sources, speeches, memoirs, and institutional records, the article situates Islamia College Lahore within the broader context of Muslim political mobilization in colonial Punjab, demonstrating how educational institutions served as critical arenas for the negotiation of identity, ideology, and leadership.

Keywords: Islamia College Lahore, Muslim Political Leadership, Political Mobilization, Student Activism, Colonial Punjab, Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam, Pakistan Movement