SP Singha: Indian Christian Leader Who Supported Muslims at Partition and Was Betrayed by Pakistan

Dewan Bahadur Satya Prakash Singha (1893–1948) was a prominent Punjabi Christian politician who served as Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly during the period leading to India’s partition in 1947. Aligned with Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s fanatic and murderous Muslim League, Singha actively supported the demand for Pakistan, believing Christians would be safer in a Muslim majority Pakistan than a Hindu-majority India.

He said: “At the time of partition of the subcontinent of India, in the entire country, the Christians should be counted with Muslims.”

Singha along with other Christian members contributed votes that helped tilt Punjab toward joining Pakistan. He viewed Muslims as potential allies against Hindus, emphasising a sense of brotherhood between the two communities.

However, shortly after partition Singha was sacked as Speaker because the role was deemed suitable only for a Muslim in the new Islamic Republic. He died in October 1948, a year after partition, broken and bitter. Jawaharlal Nehru allowed Singha’s famiy to migrate to India in 1958. Many Christian families who supported India’s breakup, were allowed to move to India.

Over time, Christians in Pakistan (now around 1.8% of the population) have faced discrimination, blasphemy law accusations, forced conversions, and occasional mob violence. Today, Christians are mostly confined to sanitation work in Pakistan.

In contrast, Christians in India (about 2.3% of the population) are thriving. In Kerala they are the wealthiest community.