 The period after World War I was marked by British reforms such as the Montagu – Chelmsford Reforms , but it also witnessed the enactment of the repressive Rowlatt Act and strident calls for self @-@ rule by Indian activists . The widespread discontent of this period crystallized into nationwide non @-@ violent movements of non @-@ cooperation and civil disobedience . The idea for a separate religion @-@ based state was introduced by Allama Iqbal in his speech as the President of the Muslim League in December 1930 . Three years later , the name " Pakistan " as the name of a separate state was proposed in a declaration made by Choudhary Rahmat Ali . Like Iqbal , Bengal was left out of the proposal made by Rahmat Ali . 
