Pakistanis and Muslims in many countries organized functions recently to mark the 127th birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. I recall the famous words of a prominent Western writer about Jinnah: “India would have won independence even if there had been no Mahatma Gandhi. The Communist revolution in Russia would have succeeded even if there had been no Lenin. Similarly, the Chinese revolution would have succeeded even if there had been no Mao Zedong. But there would not have been any possibility for the creation of Pakistan if Muhammad Ali Jinnah had not been there.” Several prominent figures from the Pakistani expatriate community as well as some Saudi personalities attended a seminar to commemorate this great leader, organized recently by the Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) in Jeddah. The speakers shed light on the profile and personality of the leader who was able to unite Muslims in the subcontinent and engender in them the spirit of sacrifice for a separate nation of their own. He succeeded in convincing the obstinate Hindu leaders of India that it was necessary to create a separate state for Muslims, even though these leaders had earlier rejected the very thought of dividing India. Together with other leaders of India, Jinnah was able to convince the British colonial rulers first to grant independence for India and then to agree to the partition of the subcontinent and the creation of the new state of Pakistan. The speakers also drew attention to the present situation of Pakistan and asked whether it could realize the ambitions of Quaid-e-Azam. They also recalled the pathetic condition of Biharis living in squalid camps in Bangladesh. The speakers demanded the Pakistan government to repatriate the stranded Pakistanis by reviving the endowment that was set up for that purpose by the Makkah-based Muslim World League. Quaid-e-Azam was born in Karachi and received his education there. In 1893 he left for Britain for higher studies in law at Lincoln's Inn in London. He earned the coveted distinction of being the youngest Indian to be called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn. Immediately after graduation, he practiced as a lawyer and within a few years became one of the most famous lawyers of Karachi, thanks to his efficiency, intelligence and bravery. The industrious Jinnah formally began his political career in 1905 by joining the All India Congress Party and he worked as secretary to the Congress Party president. His first political speech was delivered in Calcutta in 1906, and after several years he became a member of the Legislative Council. His performance on the floor of the house was outstanding, and as a result, he was sent to London to make efforts for securing independence for India. In 1920, Jinnah quit the Congress Party and became president of the All India Muslim League. Even then, he remained a staunch advocate of India's unity. But with the passage of time, he became convinced that Muslims were being systematically sidelined and that he had to take a strong position to protect their rights. Consequently, Jinnah submitted his famous “Fourteen Points” wherein he put forth proposals that would satisfy a broad range of Muslims, such as calling for mandatory representation of one-third of the seats in the Central Legislative Council for Muslims. He also called for a constitutional amendment to ensure the protection of their religion, culture and language. Later, Jinnah left active politics and settled in London continuing his legal practice for a number of years apparently because of differences of opinion with some leaders of the Muslim League, in addition to a few other reasons. The Muslim League leaders sent a delegation to him to convince him that the Muslims of India were in dire need of his leadership. As a result, he came back to India, demanding the partition of India and proposing the formation of a Hindu – Muslim Federal Union. By 1940, Jinnah had come to believe that Indian Muslims should have their own state. In that year, the Muslim League, led by Jinnah, passed the Lahore Resolution or the Pakistan Resolution, demanding a separate nation. The year 1944 witnessed the exchange of a series of letters between Jinnah and Mahatma Gandhi with regard to political developments. Quaid-e-Azam painstakingly explained the basis of the demand of the creation of Pakistan in these letters. In one of these letters Jinnah said: “We maintain that Muslims and Hindus are two major nations by any definition or test of a nation. We are a nation of a 100 million. We have our distinctive outlook on life. By all the cannons of international law, we are a nation.” Jinnah's call for an independent Pakistan had an overwhelming response from Muslims and they voted en masse in favor of the Muslim League in the provincial elections held in 1946 and subsequently the British rulers found that they must agree to the partition of the country. In 1947, Jinnah announced the birth of the new nation of Pakistan and he became the first governor general of the country. Liaquat Ali Khan took over as the first prime minister of Pakistan. As the governor general, Jinnah worked to establish the new nation's government and policies, as well as to help the millions of Muslim migrants who had emigrated from India to the new nation of Pakistan after the partition. He personally supervised the establishment of refugee camps. Jinnah also had to confront India over Kashmir, which had a Muslim majority population, but whose ruler was a Hindu, who decided to join India. This angered Jinnah and the Pakistanis, and that resulted in the first war between the two countries. As a result of the war, a major part of Kashmir was taken by India. Eventually, the United Nations intervened and called for a ceasefire. The UN Security Council also passed a resolution calling for a referendum on the status of the territory. But unfortunately, the referendum was not held and Kashmir still remains divided between India and Pakistan. Quaid-e-Azam died on 12 September 1948 after a life full of hard work, tough struggle and remarkable achievements. Perhaps the best words with which I can conclude this article about this great personality are those of the renowned American writer and historian Prof. Stanley Wolpert who admitted: “Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah did all three”. May Allah forgive Quaid-e-Azam and reward him for his contributions to his country and people.
— Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi is a former Saudi diplomat who specializes in Southeast Asian affairs. He can be reached at [email protected]
