2.2 THE AGRARIAN REFORMS SINCE INDEPENDENCE

During the last years of the colonial era, numerous congresses and commissions called for agrarian reforms and worked out appropriate suggestions. If, prior to independence, the demand for agrarian reforms was part of the strategy of the leading parties to gain power, independence fostered not only a favourable climate for such measures, but helped the new governments to legitimize their power. Not only the motivation, but the measures, too, were very similar in India and in Pakistan. However, each time, they were enforced more rapidly and strictly in India, whereas Pakistan showed more regard for the landowning strata.