1890 ; A 14 years old boy sees a lawyer wearing a black gown in a court of law, and tells his father;” Baba, I’ll become a barrister”. He was Jinnah the founder of our nation, Pakistan, who was recommended ,to be sent to England for education, by Fredrick Croft, a British businessman and a family friend.
1894; Jinnah becomes a Barrister -at-Law at the age of 18, which stands a record to that day. His determination, so remarkable!
Young Jinnah strives and establishes his law practice, in his early twenties. His journey to his political height begins at his early thirties, when he is elected as a representative of the Legislative Council of the Viceroy.
Having joined the struggle for the Muslims of India, through joining the Muslim League, Jinnah becomes one of the most respectable people of India, before reaching forty.
Although deeply despaired Jinnah ,settles in Britain after the early demise of his beloved wife, yet, his attentions get more focused to Muslim independence, especially, when he realizes that Indian Muslims, are looking at him as a saviour ; his early fifties!
Leaving behind his blooming practice behind in Britain, Jinnah returns to India and establishes the Indian Muslim Federation. His sincerity breathes a new life into the Muslim League; his sixties!
His words: sounds logic” Even if we have to go through fire and blood, we must march on the freedom, otherwise, we ‘ll forever remain poor, weak, illiterate, and slaves of Hindus”.
With his convincing and winsome manners along the sincere advices and help of his companions, Indian
Muslims regains their lost confidence.
1940; the true leader, ruling the hearts and minds of students, becomes “Quaid-e-Azam”, “the great leader“, for everyone. “The word failure is unknown to me”, he says.
Quide-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah not only fights like a sword for his people but shields the vulnerable Indian Muslims against the anti-Muslim propaganda, by starting his English newspaper, DAWN. He gives up the presidency of the Muslim League, in favour of yearly elections, which eventually leads to a resounding victory of the League in the general elections.
Jinnah forgets his own self and become restless.
Why? “I’m awake, because my nation is sleeping” he responds to a journalist inquiring about his being awake at late hours.
Similarly, he answers to his worried sister who already believed that there is no word like “holiday” for the active mind of his beloved brother.,” Fatima! Have you ever heard of a general going on vacation, while his army is at war?”
Later in life, he justifies himself, like this,” I’m an old man and I have all the luxuries of life. Why am I toiling hard? It is for you, for the poor of the nation”,
He says at another occasion.( At a stage,he orders his fortune to be distributed to some educational institutes, though)
Jinnah’s determination remains un-beatable when he says” No power on earth can prevent (the creation of) Pakistan! “. His sincerity sensed and judged by the non-muslims , equally, as Gopal Gokhle stated; “ If India ever attains freedom, it will be because of Jinnah…
He succeeds in his struggle of sincerity and announces the great news of freedom to Indian Muslims with his magical words; “PAKISTAN ZINDABAAD!” (Long live Pakistan!) At his age reaching the seventh decade!
Jinnah accomplishes a mission, which Allah destined his life for, despite of some failed assassination attempts by his opponents ,before breathing his last at these words” I have completed my mission.” He leaves several important messages for the new-born country concerning every institution by his expertise.
Amongst them are;
“Pakistan not only means freedom and independence but the Muslim Ideology which has to be preserved,
“If we want to make this great State of Pakistan happy and prosperous we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people, and especially of the masses and the poor….”
“ Democracy is in the blood of muslims…”“The prosperity and advancement of a nation depend upon its intelligentsia…”
“ Scholarship should come first and then the politics..” (to students)
“ Rise from the dust, so that our clothes remain usoiled and our hands clean clean for the greater tasks that fall to them..”
“Expect the best, Prepare for the worst.”
“No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you…”
“You have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of Islamic democracy, Islamic social justice and the equality of manhood in your own native soil. With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve.”
***
Jinnah’s personality was a true reflection of the Motto he established for the newborn nation called Pakistan, precisely,” Unity, Faith, and Discipline“.
He had the same majestic stance; he admired a horse for, who runs with his head held high and chest prominent! He won the race like an eminent horse -rider, with the true sportsmanship, w governing his horse
with his will-power while relying on his “horse’s power”!
He has always been so assured of himself that he said” I first decide, what is “right” and I do it. People come around me and the opposition vanishes.” His deep-rooted insight always strengthened his mission, as he believed” Pakistan was established when the first Indian accepted Islam and the Hindus called him “the untouchable”.
In fact, Jinnah’s life gave meanings to what was in scripted on his early school” “ENTER TO LEARN, GO FORTH TO SERVE”.
***
Famous people, from around the world gave tributes to this great leader in such words. I quote only a few of them, here.
“The force of Jinnah’s convictions and his imitable style struck large audiences into wonder and agreement,” Hector Bolitho. He also said” To doubt Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s sincerity was to question the law of his life,”
Field marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck “M.A. Jinnah is such a smart man. How could he not make history? I admire his tremendous personality and his inexorable determination,”
“ Jinnah was faultless in both ethics and virtue” Said Sarojani Naidu
About his uncanny convictions Lord Mountbatten could not resist to say;”To the end of his life, he made no effort to court popularity or to please the press,..”
“Gandhi was an instrument of power, Jinnah was power,” stated the physician who incidentally had treated both leaders.
Gandhi himself stated;” The singlemindedness and persistent integrity ofMuhammad Ali Jinnah gave him the victory over all his adversaries,..”
Whenever I try to look into those bright eyes in his photo image, it reminds of his friends’ word .How truly Liaqat Ali Khan said ”Jinnah’s eyes were “the twin lamps of truth’. only the honest could look into him straight in the eyes,..”
There was a time, when every Pakistani used to idealize this great hero, but, today;
Do we remember our leader? Do we care to follow him?
Are we really taking care of this God-gifted land we achieved through Jinnah?
Jinnah “A neat, charismatic, well-mannered, Young man, a master of logic. The most intelligent man…” as Lord Montego Chelmsford called him, once.
Or,…” The most important man in Asia,..67, tall, thin, elegant, with a monocle on a grey silk cord and a stiff white collar,’ as Beverly Hill Nichols, described him in her interview titled” The Dialogue with a Giant”.
Or, a simple-at-heart and a straight-forward human being who insists” I have no desire for any position or title. You may simply call me Jinnah or Mr. Jinnah!”
SW
