An Overview of Ayesha Jalal’s Book Self and Sovereignty

Abstract

This article critically examines the book Self and Sovereignty by Ayesha Jalal, focusing on its historical, political, linguistic, and ideological interpretations regarding Muslim identity, nationalism, and the creation of Pakistan. The study highlights Jalal’s analytical and critical historiography while also identifying several areas where the reviewer fundamentally disagrees with her interpretations, particularly concerning the Two-Nation Theory, Muslim nationalism, the role of religion in politics, and the ideological foundations of Pakistan. The article discusses the book’s treatment of Hindu-Muslim relations, the Urdu-Hindi controversy, the role of the press, the politics of Punjab, the Khilafat Movement, and Muslim political consciousness in colonial India. It further evaluates Jalal’s views on Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, secularism, and Islamic identity, arguing that her secular perspective overlooks the ideological and religious motivations behind the Pakistan Movement. Despite these disagreements, the paper acknowledges Jalal’s scholarly style, intellectual depth, and powerful prose, concluding that her work remains an important contribution to South Asian historiography and debates on Muslim identity and sovereignty.