Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah – Man of great vision in South Asia
We have, undoubtedly, achieved Pakistan and that too without war and practically by moral and intellectual force and with the power of pen which is no less mighty than the sword and so our righteo
us cause has triumphed.” These are the words of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and Father of the Nation, broadcast from Lahore on 30th October, 1947 after the creation of Pakistan. These words not only sum up the entire history of the Pakistan Movement, but are also an indicator to the personality and finding philosophy of the ‘Great Leader’ without whom this new sovereign state would not have come into being on the 14th August, 1947.The Quaid-i-Azam or the ‘Great Leader’, as the nation called him to show their reverence and gratitude, transformed politics into statesmanship by bringing into play the elements of sincerity of purpose, truthfulness and indomitable courage in standing by the high principles of moral integrity and a wisdom which is granted only to those whom destiny makes immoral. His mind and heart were clean and therefore he never adopted devious means even in the face of treacherously dicey situations or while dealing with difficult and slippery adversaries wherein persons with lesser faith in their principles and a weaker commitment to their cause would have been tempted to ‘stoop to conquer’, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was not the one who could be tempted, persuaded or pressurized to deviate from his righteous path. He was a selfless leader. His people knew fully well that worldly gains or personal benefits had no place in his scheme of things. After all, he was the man who, in his will, gave over his entire poverty in India to a Bomby school and to a hospital.
On becoming the first Governor General of Pakistan, he made it known to one and all that he wanted to build Pakistan into a modern, forward looking democratic state based on the concept of equality, fraternity and social justice. He unfortunately did not live long to guide the Pakistani nation and to shape the destiny of the newly born state in accordance with his own ideals and dreams. Already tired, exhausted and sick, he, much against the advice of his doctors, was unwilling to take rest or minimize his responsibilities. He knew that his people and country needed his guidance and he was ready to lay down his life in their service. The long and strenuous struggle for the creation of Pakistan had drained out his entire energy and it was only his strong will which was carrying him through.
The author of the book ‘Freedom at Midnight’ says, “ He made on effort, whatsoever , to follow his doctor’s advice . He was not going to let his rendezvous with death cheat him of his other rendezvous with history. With extraordinary courage, with an intense and consuming zeal that sent his life’s candle puttering out in a last harsh burst of flame, Jinnah longed for his life’s goal.” The great leader departed on the 11th September , 1948 after fulfilling his mission of creation of Pakistan.
Born in Karachi merchantile family on 25th December 1876, he received his early education in the city of his birth. Later, he joined the Lincoln’s Inn to become the youngest Indian barrister to be called to the bar. Quickly he rose to a position of great prominence and became an outstanding lawyer. Believing firmly in freedom and independence, he joined the Indian Congress, a political party professing to struggle against the alien rule. Later, getting disillusioned with its unjust policies towards Muslim, he left the Congress, joined Muslim League, in 1916, and became president of the All India Muslim League, a political party dedicated to the independence of India and the welfare of Muslims. Initially, he endeavoured to bring the Congress and Muslim League together to ensure Hindu – Muslim unity and was instrumental in signing of Congress-League Pact in 1916, a joint scheme for post-war reforms. For a long time, he considered a Hindu-Muslim settlement as a precondition for Indian freedom. To achieve this he participated in several unity conferences, formulated the famous “Fourteen Points” in 1929 as minimum Muslim conditions for any constitutional settlement and attended two Round Table Conferences called by the British Government in 1930 and 1931 to devise a new constitution for India.
The decade from 1920 to 1930 was a decade during which Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah saw many ups and downs. Faced with chronic Muslim disunity. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was despaired and thought of quitting politics. He went into self exile in 1931 in London only to return three years later at the persuasion of Indian Muslims to take command of the reunited Muslim League.
From then onwards there was no going back for him. During the next few years he organized the Muslims of the sub-continent, brought them on one political platform and broadened his mass support base. Gradually Muslims of India became a power to be reckoned with and by 1939 he had become their sole spokesman.
In 1940, he spelled out the concept of Muslim nationhood, asserting that: “We are a nation, with our own distinctive culture and civilization, language and literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of value and proportion, legal laws and moral code, customs and calendar, history and traditions, aptitudes and ambitions, in short, we have distinctive outlook on and of life. By all canons of international law we are a nation.” And on that basis he demanded the setting up of an independent Muslim homeland in the predominantly Muslim northwestern and eastern India.
Despite the vehement opposition of the Congress and the antipathy of the British to his demand, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah organized his movement so adroitly that the Pakistan Movement continued together momentum. Within seven years of the demand, Pakistan was established as a sovereign independent state and Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, then 70, became its first Governor General on 14th August, 1947.
His last message to the nation on the 15th August, 1948, on completion of the first year of his Governor Generalship was-----“Nature…has given you Everything. You have got unlimited resources. The foundation of your state have been laid and it is now for you to build as quickly and well as you can. So, go ahead and I wish you God-speed.
