Creating a New Medina

*Creating a New Medina: State Power, Islam, and the Quest for Pakistan in Late Colonial North India* by Venkat Dhulipala examines the ideological and political foundations of the creation of Pakistan, focusing on how Muslim leaders in British India envisioned and worked towards the establishment of a new Islamic state. The book explores the role of Muslim intellectuals and politicians in shaping the idea of Pakistan, particularly through the lens of Islamic thought and the concept of a “new Medina” — a reference to the early Islamic state founded by Prophet Muhammad in the city of Medina. Dhulipala argues that the vision of Pakistan was deeply rooted in the political and religious aspirations of Indian Muslims, who sought to create a state that would not only protect their rights but also be a model of Islamic governance. The book provides an insightful analysis of the political and religious dynamics of late colonial India and sheds light on how the concept of Pakistan evolved from a political idea to a nation-state, offering a new perspective on the history of the subcontinent and the partition of India.