Pakistan Journal of Social Research ISSN 2710-3129 (P) 2710-3137 (O) Vol.3, No. 3, September 2021, pp. 468-475,doi.org:10.52567/pjsr.v3i3.270 www.pjsr.com.pk 468 HINDU-MUSLIM RELATIONS AND BRITISH POLITICS: THE EMERGENCE OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN SOUTH ASIA Ghulam Shabbir Lecturer, Department of History & Pakistan Studies University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan. ghulam.shabbir@uog.edu.pk Azmat Ullah Assistant Professor, Department of History Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan azmat.wzr@gmail.com Khizar Jawad Assistant Professor, Department of History FC College University, Lahore, Pakistan. khizarjawad@fccollege.edu.pk ABSTRACT This research paper presents the historical background of Hindu-Muslim relations from their early period to the arrival of Europeans. It's an apotheosis of the social, cultural, and religious relations of the two communities, which from centuries living together and finally decided to partings of the ways. It also manifests the acme of Hindu-Muslim cooperation before the arrival of the western forces in India; especially the British. It is a brief analysis of the two prominent communities of India, the Hindu, and the Muslims. Further, it also emphasized on the factors which led these both communities towards the detestable environment. Which later became the prime reason for the Hindu-Muslim communalism and both nations living on together for hundreds of years were ready to part their ways. In this bitterness, the role of the British policy 'divide and rule' is also highlighted. Key Words: Hindu-Muslim Relations, Muslim Invaders in India, British Policy of Divide and Rule, Modern Education. INTRODUCTION INTERACTION OF HINDU-MUSLIM KINGS Long before Islam Arabs had trade relations with India and after the advent of Islam, they preached their religion through trade interaction. The second phase of this collaboration started in the 7 th century, with the start of military campaigns in eastward. On the issues of prisoners Islamic State had some apprehensions with Raja Dahir (663-712 A.D), His kingdom was conquered by Umayyad forces, and he was killed in the Battle of Aror at the bank of river Indus near modern days Nawabshah, the last ruler of Brahmin dynasty. The Eastern theatre of war was in the meantime moving under Muhammad bin Qasim (695-715 A.D), belonged to the Saqifi clan of the Taif area, the father of Qasim, Qasim bin Yousaf, died when he was young. His paternal uncle Hijaj bin Yousaf, a notorious governor of Umayyad, played an important role in the learning of Qasim, especially in the art of war and governance of a state. Before the conquest of Sindh, Qasim was married to the daughter of Hijaj, her name was Zubaidah, in 710 he was advancing with considerable Army, 'of which 6000 were Syrian, this son of law of al-Hajjaj subdued Makran, pushed on through what is now termed Baluchistan and in 711-712 reduced Sind' (Hitti, 2002). Qasim also conquered the seaport of Daybul and in 713, extended his conquest as far north as Multan in south Punjab. This led to the permanent occupation of Sindh and Southern Punjab, but the Umayyad dynasty did not enhance their extension policy in the East. After this invasion, 'the rest of India remained unaffected until the close of the tenth century, when a fresh invasion begin under Mahmud of Ghaznah (971-1030)' (Hitti, 2002).