[Gandhiji in thought]

"A Bengali Muslim speaks the same tongue as a Bengali Hindu does, eats the same food, has the same amusements as his Hindu neighbour. They dress alike. His (Jinnah's name) name could be that of any Hindu.When I first met him, I did not know he was a Muslim."Vivisect me before you vivisect India."

Gandhiji's reaction to the 2 nation theory was one of bewilderment and incredulity. He described the 2 nation theory as an untruth; in his dictionary there was no stronger word.

A change of religion did not change nationality; the religious divisions did not coincide with cultural differences. "A Bengali Muslim", he wrote , "speaks the same tongue as a Bengali Hindu does, eats the same food, has the same amusements as his Hindu neighbour. They dress alike. His (Jinnah's name) name could be that of any Hindu.When I first met him, I did not know he was a Muslim". "Vivisect me before you vivisect India" was Gandhiji's anguished comment.

The "2 nation theory" attacked the entire basis of Indian nationalism. The Hindu communal leaders also advocated this theory by asserting that only the Hindus of India constituted the nation. The demand for a separate state was opposed by large sections of Muslims. Many Muslim organizations were also opposed to the demand for a separate state and fought against communal tendencies and for the freedom of the Indian people.