Historical and Legal Documents Submitted to M.A. Jinnah

Sub title : Appeals from the Oudh Restoration Mission for Inclusion in Pakistan

Subject: Oudh (Awadh) Restoration | Kingdom of Oudh | British Annexation | Historical Treaties | M.A. Jinnah

Date of publication: 1947

Language: English

Page: 62 p.

Source: National Archives of Pakistan

Serial no: 28023

Keyword: Oudh Restoration -- Awadh -- M.A. Jinnah -- Pakistan -- British Annexation 1856 | Treaty of 1801 -- Treaty of 1837 -- Princely State -- Muslim State -- Historical Claims -- June 1947 -- Oudh Restoration Mission

Abstract: A comprehensive dossier prepared by the Oudh Restoration Mission and addressed to M.A. Jinnah in June 1947. It presents a detailed legal and historical case for the restoration of the former Kingdom of Oudh as an independent, self-supporting Muslim state, arguing that its annexation by the British East India Company in 1856 was illegal and violated prior treaties (notably 1801 and 1837). The documents include extracts from treaties, official British correspondence, legal opinions, and minutes from figures like Lord Dalhousie, Colonel Sleeman, and Queen Victoria’s 1858 proclamation. The appeal positions Oudh as a vital corridor between western and eastern Pakistan and seeks Jinnah’s support for its revival as part of the Pakistan movement.

Description: This file contains a meticulously compiled political and legal brief from the Oudh Restoration Mission to M.A. Jinnah, making a passionate case for reviving the erstwhile Kingdom of Oudh as an independent Muslim state within the framework of Pakistan. The dossier leverages 19th-century treaties, British parliamentary debates, and colonial administrative minutes to argue that the annexation was a breach of contract and that the lapse of British paramountcy in 1947 creates an opportunity for rightful restoration. The cover letter from June 1947 explicitly requests Jinnah’s advocacy, comparing the cause to his support for Kalat. This collection is a fascinating example of how historical grievances and legal arguments were mobilized during the Partition era to advocate for territorial reconfiguration in support of Muslim political aspirations. SCANNED BY: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF PAKISTAN.

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