QUAID-E-AZAM IN GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S HOUSE

QUAID-E-AZAM IN GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S HOUSE

A Dakota (DC-3) aircraft of Viceroy of India’s Flight, carrying Governor-General (designate) of Pakistan,his sister and the two Aides-de-Camp touched down at Mauripur airstrip on the evening of 7th August 1947 amidst unprecedented scenes of enthusiasm and rejoicing, ever witnessed before. There was a mammoth crowd waiting to welcome their leader and now the Governor-General (designate) of the largest Muslim state in the world. The aircraft had hardly stopped and the pilot, anRAF Squadron Leader, was still going through the drill of switching off its two engines when the hitherto seemingly disciplined crowd, became hysteric and disregarding all rules of safety engulfed the aircraft like a swarm of bees. It was a fascinating spectable but the vantage point to enjoy such a sight could be any but the cockpit of an aircraft with its engines running. It was a frightening sensation for me as a Pilot because I could visualize the consequences of such intimacy between the running engines of an aircraft and people. I sat tense in my seat, praying to God, to spare any such disaster. My fellow passengers, unmindful of the tragic consequences of such a rush on the aircraft, sat in their seats and enjoyed the enthusiastic welcome. A scenario that I would love to experience again and be a part of it.

Quaid-e-Azam watched all this scene from his aircraft seat window. I guess, he did not approve of this indiscipline and I was right. The door of the aircraft was flung open and all was set for the Governor-General (designate) to disembark. Ahsan whispered to the Quaid, “All is set for you to alight Sir”. The Quaid-e-Azam sat still and said, “No: I don’t like this. I don’t like this. Let them clear the area first”. There was an uneasy hush in the aircraft.

There were no formal ceremonies. It was the arrival of a Public leader and the reception was also a public reception, a free for all. Welcoming over, Quaid-e-Azam drove to the Government House, now re-designated Governor-General’s House. There is something about this house for me, now that whenever I drive past on what is known as Aiwan-e-Saddar Road or look into the House,sitting in the Chandni Lounge from top of the Hotel Pearl Continental, I get nostalgia. Memories of this House are still stored fresh in the computer of my brain. Quaid-e-Azam’s first entry into the Governor-General House is as clear to me today as if it was only yesterday. I remember his car entering gate No. 1, the main gate opposite YMCA, guards presenting arms and the car casually wheeling along the slightly arched drive way leading to the main portico. After going a little distance, the car stopped, Quaid-e-Azam alighted and gracefully walked through, what we may term as civilian guard of honor, formed by the entire house-hold staff of G.G. House, standing on both sides of the drive way. Quaid-e-Azam acknowledged their welcome greetings by raising his hand in his familiar style. He was flanked by Miss Jinnah and myself on either side. Thus in this formation the Governor-General (designate) entered the portals of what was to be his seat of Government for the next thirteen months.

I am privileged to be his Aide-de-Camp for the first seven months of his tenure as Governor-General. I had the good fortune to witness from the grand stand and be a part, of coming into being and the historic initiation of a new state on the map of the world.

Lucky were the people who had the honor to be in the camp of the Quaid and struggled for freedom of Muslim India under the undaunted and scrupulous leadership of Father of the Nation. They deserve ou gratitude and we salute them. It is only because of their efforts and sacrifices that we, today have our own country and can aspire to reach the pinnacle of the highest rung of the ladder and call ourselves President, Prime Minister, Commanders’ of Armed Forces and so on, otherwise wewould have been reduced to hewers of wood and water in a United India.

The theme of this composition is, Quaid-e-Azam in the Governor-General House and it scans the period from 7th August, 1947 to 11th September, 1948. This time frame may broadly be classified as pre-oath taking and post-oath taking periods. In this pre-oath taking period of seven days – 7th August to 14th August, 1947, three important functions were held, functions of major historic significance and in these functions, the Governor-General (designate) in his speeches out lined guide lines of future policies of the new state. His address to the members of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan (11th August, 1947) was most significant. It is a piece of literature, high mark of his legal genius and a masterpiece of his constitutional mind. It is the Magna Carta of Pakistan. In this address he covered all aspects of Pakistan’s internal and external policies. It was in this soul searching address that he uttered these memorable words, “Everyone of you, no matter to what community he belongs…no matter what is his color, cast, creed, is first, second and last, a citizen of this state, with equal rights, privileges and obligations…”

The post-oath taking period 14th August, 1947 to 11th September, 1948, may be further bifurcated into two, more or less, equal periods, where the first half spanning from 14th August 1947 to April, 1948 was full of activity when the Quaid made momentous decisions and took very active interest in the development of the nascent State. The second half of this period was comparatively quiet because of the ill health of the Governor-General. In June 1948, he was moved to Ziarat where he was laid up and advised complete rest. In between, on 1st July, 1948 he did come down to Karachi once, for the opening ceremony of the State Bank of Pakistan. It was indeed very brave of him to undertake that journey because at that time he was distressingly very unwell.

August 7, 1947 is the cut-off date from the past for the purposes of our topic, it is date when Quaid-e-Azam entered the G.G. House and with this move a new chapter was unfolded. Duel responsibility that of leader of his people and Governor-General of the State devolved on his shoulders. It required distancing himself to some extent from his political involvements to enable him to attend to the affairs of the State. It did not mean a clean break or that the old guards ceased to exist for him, no, nothing ofthe kind, stalwarts like Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, Sardar Abdurrab Nishtar, Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din and others were very much there and their talent, dedication and services were now all the more needed to run the affairs of the State.

The Quaid-e-Azam was now Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Governor-General of Pakistan. That was the difference. The transition in relationship with his former Muslim League cabinet and now theCabinet of Government of Pakistan was smooth. They were his men then and they would always be his men here after. To them he was Quaid-e-Azam, the Great Leader and the esteem, love and regards they always had for him was voluntary and from their hearts and this new position or designation of Governor-General made no difference in respect of his authority over them and the respect and regards that his colleagues nurtured for him. In intelligence, intellect and political acumen, he was way above his political associates in the Muslim League and they were all conscious of it. They always looked up to him for a lead. I may be permitted to say that they were overwhelmed with his personality out of respect and admiration, like an old time school boy is, or let us say,was, afraid of his teacher with emotional attachment and admiration. It may not be true of present day school boys but then we are talking of the older generations. This explains many things like the decorum, propriety and a kind of nervousness on the part of his colleagues, when in his presence.

A person of the stature of Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din abhorred the very thought of displeasure of Mr. Jinnah.Khawaja Sahib as Chief Minister of East Pakistan on one of his routine consultations visits to the Federal Capital came to see the G.G. for any last minute instructions before his return to Dhaka, the next day. It was usual for Khawaja Sahib to drop in the A.D.C’s Office, after his meetings with the G.G., for a cup of tea and a few minced meat patties, that he relished. This time, like always, we had arranged some patties from café Grand from across the road. After his scheduled meeting, the Chief Minister East Pakistan visited us as usual and while he was enjoying his patties, there was a buzz from the G.G. I executed myself and rushed to attend to the boss. Knowing Khawaja Sahib’s routine, the G.G. inquired, “Is Mr. Nazim-ud-Din still with you?” I replied in the affirmative, he then instructed me, “Alright; ask him to see me at ten tomorrow morning”. On my return I conveyed G.G’s wish to Khawaja Sahib. He was not prepared for it and spontaneously said, “Oh, no, it is not possible…very important meetings with foreigners are already programmed for me at the other end…” I politely tried to convey to him, “Well sir, the G.G. desires to see you tomorrow. About the administrative arrangements like reservation of your seat to Dhaka etc, we will take care of it and you don’t have to worry about that”. In the meantime G.G. called again. After giving me some instructions, when I was about to leave he asked me if I had informed “Mr. Nazim-ud-Din” about his meeting tomorrow. I replied, “Yes sir, but Khawaja Sahib feels that he is rather committed at the other end including a meeting with a foreign delegation about some projects in East Pakistan”. The G.G. cut me short and said, “Go and tell him, I will see him tomorrow at 10 A.M. sharp.” I came back to politely suggest to Khawaja Sahib once again to postpone his departure as G.G. wishes to see him on some important matter but he would not take the hint.

In the end I had to tell him that he had no option. On his repeated insistence I repeated G.G’s words in direct speech and this upset Khawaja Sahib, extremely. He was flabbergasted and said, “Yes, yes. It is no problem. The meetings can easily be postponed, what is there in it. You are right. Please arrange my air passage for the day after”.

 Another gentleman politician, the tall, soft speaking, sports loving and beatle (Pan) chewing Nawab Iftikhar Hussain of Mamdot, Chief Minister of the Punjab, was so very shy to face the Quaid that he would never open his lips when in the presence of Mr. Jinnah but his devotion and loyalty to his leader, like that of his late father, was total.

Swashbuckling Mr. H.S. Suharawardy would not appear before Mr. Jinnah, in his usual care free dress and flamboyant swagger. In September 1947 when he crossed over to Pakistan after his sojourns in the Ashrams of Bengal along with Mahatma Gandhi, he came to see the G.G. He was dressed in a cream color sherwani with all its buttons open, as usual. His hair disheveled. I conducted him to G.G’s study but before I could open the door for him, he held my hand an asked me, “Please wait” and hurriedly buttoned up his sherwani right upto his neck, combed his hair with his fingers and then offered to proceed.

This, always had been the pattern of relationship between ‘the Great Leader’ and his colleagues in the party.

Quaid-e-Azam was not a man of pomp or show and there was no showmanship either in public or in private. As G.G. he always drove out of the House with only one pilot escort, riding on a motorcycle in front and with one break down car in the rear. This was all the cavalcade that comprised the entourage of the creator of the nation state. No roads were blocked and No traffic was stopped for Governor-General’s car. About fifteen minutes before G.G’s departure, the traffic police on the intended route was forewarned by a police sergeant riding on a motorcycle about the expected drive past of the G.G. Thus alerted, policemen controlling traffic on road interactions, on sighting Governor-General’s Pilot escort from a distance, would then stop the crossing traffic, on intersections only, thus giving a free run to G.G’s car. He stuck to his principles till the last whiff of his life and this is how he rode even on his last drive on that fateful afternoon of 11th September, 1948 from Mauripur airfield to the G.G. House. It is not known, even if the Pilot escort was there to lead him in, on his last journey. Only an ambulance carried the stretcher of the ailing Governor-General, almost on his death bed. There was no break down ambulance or no second car. According to Miss Jinnah’s book ‘My Brother’ the ambulance carrying Father of the nation ran short of fuel and the dying “Manof Destiny”, the architect and creator of the biggest Muslim state in the world, lay helplessly on the road side for over an hour, in that humid heat of September, with flies buzzing all over him and a desperate sister struggling to waive them away and waiting in anguish for help. This was not only callous but criminal negligence and height of incompetence that cannot be pardoned.

This was how we repaid our benefactor, our gratitude to the man who galvanised us into a Nation and got us a homeland. We have now the audacity of making it a ritual of paying hypocratic lip service on his death anniversaries and birthdays without scant regards to his  ideals. Shame be upon us!

Quaid e azam in governor general house.

articles on the life of quaid e azam

QUAID-E-AZAM AS GOVERNOR-GENERAL (DESIGNATE)

QUAID-E-AZAM 

AS GOVERNOR-GENERAL (DESIGNATE)

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah wasGovernor- General (designate) from 7th August, 1947 to 14th August 1947. During these seven days he attended many social functions and met a large number of Muslim League workers and elite of the city. However, most important of them all was his historic and soul stirring address to the members of the constituent assembly on 11th August, 1947. I was in attendance.

 

Constituent Assembly of Pakistan met for the first time in Sindh Assembly building on 11th August, 1947 and unanimously elected Quaid-e-Azam as its first president. The President elect then delivered his historic speech, a master-piece of his legal genius and constitutional mind. He briefly highlighted salient features of policies to be followed by government of the new state.

He reminded the constituent Assembly of its two main functions, viz. framing of the future constitution of Pakistan and of functioning as a full and complete sovereign body as federal legislature. About the treatment of minorities and their status in social and state affairs, he stressed on the principle of equality in these words: “…everyone of you, no matter to what community he belongs, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what is his colour, caste, creed, is first, second and last a citizen of this state with equal rights, privileges and obligations…We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are equalcitizens of one state…All these angularities of the majority and minority communities, the Hindu community and the Muslim community—will vanish. You will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindusand Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense, as citizens of the state.”

 

This address of August 11 and subsequent addressof August 14 at the Pakistan’s constituent assembly taken together are the Magna Carta of Pakistan. Here the point to remember is that whereas he spoke of the “rights and privileges”, he also made them conscious of their “obligations” to the state. He told them that it is no one way traffic—always take, take and take but you have certain commitments to the State as well.

 

Mr. John F. Kennedy said the same thing, some 14 years later, in his inaugural address as President of the USA in 1961, when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country!” Quaid-e-Azambeautifully summed up all that in 1947 in one word “obligations”.

 

The last social function of Quaid-e-Azam in life, as Mr. Jinnah, was the banquet he gave in honour of Lord and Lady Mountbatten of Burma on 13th August, 1947 after their arrival in Karachi for Independence Day ceremonies.

 

The next morning, on 14th August, 1947 Pakistan emerged as a sovereign state when the union jack was hauled down and Pakistan flag was hoisted at the top ofSindh Assembly building.

EMERGENCE OF PAKISTAN

EMERGENCE OF PAKISTAN

It was 14th August 1947, the D-day. The dawn of the day saw hectic activities all around. City of Karachi was all decked up and ready to see the rising sun of freedom. Enthusiastic crowds delirious with joy thronged the city streets, dancing and prancing. They were jubilant,happy and shouting Pakistan Zindabad slogans.

The main attraction of the day was the state-drive, culminating in the Proclamation of Independence and hoisting of Pakistan Flag atop the National (Sindh) Assembly building. The route of the state-drive fromGovernor-General’s house to the Constituent Assembly building was lined up by jubilant crowds on both sides of the roads. Balconies of all the buildings enroute werecrowded with women and children waving flags and shouting Zindabad slogans. At the Constituent Assembly building, the venue of the event of the proclamation of independence, there was lot of activity with members in their sherwanis and lounge suits hurrying to their seats and other distinguished visitors filling up visitors galleries much before the scheduled time. It was a full house and the visitiors galleries were overflowing. Lady Mountbatten and Miss Jinnah sat in the Governor-General’s box.

Governor-General’s Bodyguards with lances intheir hands were posted on the steps leading up to theThe Author with Quaid-e-Azam When he landed atMauripur Airport, Karachi on August 7, 1947.

main entrance of the Assembly building and along the corridors around the main hall. Capt. Sahibzada Yaqoob Ali Khan Commandant of the Body-guards and Maj McCoy the Comptroller were already there, checking the deployment of Body-guards and reception arrangements, respectively. Outside the premises of the Assembly, all roads leading to the Assembly were chocked with people,many perching on tree tops, and telephone poles and other vantage points. They were all there to see the history being made.

At 8 am, Gul and myself left for the Assembly building. We took a pilot escort to lead us in order to getus through any possible traffic jams. We sped through the designated State - drive route, which was thronged withenthusiastic crowds eagerly awaiting the appearance of the State-coach. Simple people in the streets were so eagerly expectant that at quite a few places as we drove by they took the Governor-General house car with a pilot escort as the real State-drive procession and broke into spontaneous applause and shouts of ‘Zindabad’. We had timed the state coach to reach the Assembly in 50 minutes and accordingly gave a specific speed to the Adjutant of the body-guards, who was leading the mounted contingent and to the ‘coach’ car driver to be maintained through out the drive.

The open car, carrying the last Viceroy of India and Governor-General (designate) of Pakistan led by the lonepolice pilot on a motor-cycle followed by the mounted contingent of Governor-General’s Body-guards left the House at 8.10 A.M. sharp. All along the route, ceremonial arches and gates were erected and people raised voice furious slogans, “Pakistan Zindabad, Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad” and showered maunds of flower petels on the coach. Body-guards in their scarlet and gold ceremonial uniforms with lances in their hands and riding their well trained and beautiful charges were a big attraction for the crowds, it was a spectacular pageant, like of which they had never seen before. They applauded and with fullthroated abandon Body-guards had made their mark.

A “Wembley” like roar in the distance indicatedthe approach of the procession and as the cavalcade turned in for this final run up to the outer perimeter gate of the Assembly, the roar travelled with it indicating the approximate distance being covered. There was excitement all around and every one was anxiously waiting. Then the buglers posted on top of the Assembly building, heralded the arrival of the state-coach. All eyes turned to the perimeter gate and the first to emerge through the gate was the police pilot and then the Adjutant of the body-guards riding on his white mount leading his contingent. The much sought after state-coach followed.

There was a sudden burst of cheers and the whole air ranted with ‘Zindabad’ slogans. The Body-guards aligned themselves to make a straight pass in front of the Assembly entrance steps, where we were all waiting to receive the Coach. The clattering of the hooves of the horses made enchanting noise. First, the Bodyguards passed by the steps and stopped some distance away giving enough room to the State-coach to be on the exact spot in front of the entrance of the Assembly building.
The coach stopped in front of the massive stone entrance to the Assembly. It was right at the stroke of 9 a.m. thatGul and I led the last Viceroy of India and the Governor-General (designate) of Pakistan to the speaker’s rostrum. As soon as they enteredthe Hall, everybody present including those in the visitor’s galleries, stood up and gave them a prolonged standing ovation.

Then there was silence, the moment of expectationshad arrived and every body was waiting with thumping hearts to hear the normalization of the creation of Pakistan by the last Viceroy of India on behalf of his Majesty King George the Sixth of England. Col. Curri, Military Secretary to the Viceroy, placed a little stand on the table in front and then kept a folder on this stand. A little pause and then H.E. Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten ofBurmah, the last Viceroy of India rose to do his last act as the King’s representative. Tall and handsome attired in his Admiral uniform wearing his ceremonial gongs and medals he stood up and in his characteristic style read out in measured tone the proclamation of Independence issued by H.M. King George VI, King of England, Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith. It was all done in style, antics of showmanship synonymous with the name of Mountbatten.

Immaculately dressed in a white sherwani and grayJinnah cap, the Governor-General (designate) of Pakistan stood up, fixed his monocle and read out his acceptance speech from a paper in his hand. Remarkably composed the Quaid-e-Azam was all dignity and personification.

Formally thanking His Majesty the King and Lordand Lady Mountbatten for “his gracious message” and their good wishes he assured His Majesty of Pakistan’s goodwill and friendship to the British nation and the King, as the Crown head of the British. Then alluding to Lord Mountbatten’s reference in his speech, to Emperor Akbar’s tolerance towards minorities during his reign, Mr. Jinnah thundered, “The tolerance and goodwill that Emperor Akbar showed to all the non-Muslims is not of recent origin. It dates back thirteen centuries when our Prophet (PBUH) not only by words but by deeds treated the Jews and Christians, after he had conquered them, with the utmost tolerance and regard and respect for their faith and beliefs. The whole history of Muslims, wherever they ruled, is replete with those humane and great principals which should be followed and practiced.

I assure you that we shall not be wanting infriendly spirit with our neighbours and with all nations ofthe world”.

The last British Viceroy had formally handed over power. Ceremony over, the two dignitaries walked back to the main entrance of the Assembly building, where they were joined by members of Constituent Assembly and other distinguished guests, to witness the last ritual of the termination of British Raj and birth of the new state. Union Jack that flew atop the main entrance of the Assembly building was then slowly hauled down to thetune of buglers blowing the ‘retreat’. The Union Jack thuslowered, was neatly folded and ceremoniously handed over to Lord Mountbatten by the Quaid-e-Azam. The Governor-General (designate) then hoisted the green and white flag to the booming of 31 guns’ salute. Pakistan was born. Pakistan – the biggest Muslim state and the fifth most populous state in the world emerged on the map ofthe world.

An article on 14 august, independance of pakistan

JINNAH: A POLITICAL SAINT Part-3

JINNAH: A POLITICAL SAINT

Part-3

Mr. Jinnah was a one man ‘think-tank’ of the Muslim League and Muslims of the sub-continent. Congress Working Committee with all its top brass including Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Azad and the rest deliberating together for days would come up with long winded arguments confronting the League on national and party issues. Quaid-e-Azam then would dictate to his personal assistant in one sitting, comprehensive and irrefutable replies to all the points raised by the Congress.Similarly on the conference table, he was more than amatch to Mountbatten, Nehru or Gandhi.

Always elegantly dressed in his Saville Rowtailored pin-striped suit or wearing a flawless cream coloured sherwani and Jinnah cap he attended conferences, participated in round table talks with the Viceroys and Congress leaders and travelled in style in the ‘first class’ at his own expense from town to town to address public rallies in English where almost over eighty percent of his audience could not understand a word of English but they raptly listened to him in silence. The Muslim masses were one behind him but some big name Muslim politicians for their personal ends particularly in the Muslim majority provinces of Punjab and Bengal were ‘with him and not with him’. Some such politicians joined Viceroy’s Defense Council against the advice of Mr. Jinnah and later when threatened to be expelled from the Muslim League, many of them blatantly resigned from the Council.

After World War II the Labour government of Attlee decided to free India and transfer power to the elected representatives. The political climate in India during the Congress rule in Muslim minority provinces after 1937 elections was hurting the Muslims. There wereeven calculative attempts to obliterate the Muslims as a separate cultural entity. The Muslims for their own safety drifted away from the mainstream Indian national politics.

Mr. M.A. Jinnah was now the Quaid-e-Azam and the established leader of Muslim India and All India Muslim League as the sole representative body of the community. Quaid-e-Azam knew that the time was ripe and on 23rd March 1940 under the lofty minarets of Badshahi Mosque Lahore, he declared Muslims as a nation and demanded a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent. The resolution known as the Pakistan Resolution was moved by Maulvi A.K.Fazal-ul-Haq of Bengal. The whole of Lahore ranted with Pakistan Zindabad slogans. There was no stopping them and the surge for an independent country that started with the passing of this Resolution snow-balled into a revolution and within seven years on August 14, 1947 the independent Muslim state of Pakistan appeared on the map of the world. Jinnah the Political Saint had done it.

After the passing of the Pakistan Resolution in March 1940 this became a passion with Muslim India which threatened to change the trend of Indian politic from “Indian Independence’ to Divide and Quit.

The British government saw the weight behind the Muslim demand and in 1942 sent Sir Stafford Cripps with certain proposals for the transfer of power. Congress and the League, both for their own reasons rejected the proposals.

The 1945/46 general elections gave Muslim League a unique position. There was a clean sweep when the League captured all the 30 seats in the Central Legislature and 423 out of the total 493 seats in all the 11 provinces. Quaid-e-Azam was now in an impregnable position of his demand for a separate homeland for the Muslims. British government was determined to transfer power but were keen to retain the unity of the country.

Once again in 1946 the British government sent what is known as a ‘Cabinet Mission’ to resolve the constitutional deadlock. The Mission presented its plan that envisaged three federal groups – two comprising the Muslim majority provinces, linked to the centres in a loose federation with three subjects only. The third group was the rest of India. All India Muslim League accepted the plan as a strategic move and as a first step for the attainment of their final goal. The Congress also accepted the plan but soon realized its long term implications and resiled from its stand. On the Congress rejection, the Muslim League also renounced its acceptance and observed 16th of August as a Direct Action Day. Hindu India reacted and there was lot of bloodshed as a result.

 Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of the British Crown arrived in India mandated to hand over power to the Indians preferable as a united India. Mountbatten’s conduct as an honest broker left much to be desired and then the dubious border alignments by the Radcliffe Commission are a subject for separate consideration. The Radcliffe Award was so blatantly prejudiced against Pakistan through Mountbatten/ Radcliffe axis that even Mr. Beaumont secretary of the Commission had to say, “Grave discrete to both”. (Mountbatten and Radcliffe)

To sum up and to back my assertion of Jinnah – A Political Saint, I will repeat the words of Prof. Sharif-ul-Mujahid with his permission of course when he said, “Jinnah had termed the Muslims a separate entity in 1935. He upgraded them to a third party status in 1937 and to nationhood in 1940. And within seven years he secured a national home-land for that nation.” That was SAINT JINNAH – the invincible!

JINNAH: A POLITICAL SAINT Part-2

JINNAH: A POLITICAL SAINT

Part-2

The parting of ways with the Congress came in 1920 when in the Nagpur session of the Congress, M.K.Gandhi changed the Congress creed to direct action and non-cooperation. Mr. Jinnah also resigned as President of Home rule League when Gandhi after his election as its President in 1920 unilaterally changed its constitution and nomenclature. So the year 1920 marked a clean break between Mr. Jinnah and all that the Congress stood for.

Mr. Jinnah now started to concentrate on reorganizing the Muslim League that was in disarray both at the central and provincial levels. It was an uphill task because he had to struggle single-handedly on this gigantic task but he was not deterred. Remember he once said, “Most of the coins in my pocket are base coins” or words to that effect. But it must be said to his credit that he used these “base coins” very judiciously for the Muslim cause. However, he had the unstinting support and loyalty of many young and budding politicians like M.A.H. Isphahani, Raja of Mahmoodabad, IftikharMamdot, Sardar Shaukat Hayat and Qazi Muhammad Isa.

With his determination, uncanny resolution and help of this young brigade he shaped the League into an effective political body. With all his dedication to the League and the Muslim cause, Mr. Jinnah considered Hindu-Muslim unity as pre-condition for Indian freedom. He attended many unity conferences, suggested incorporation of the muslim demand for a federal structure as against theunitary form as envisaged in the Nehru Report for India’s future constitution. All his suggestions were streamrolled. He then came up with his famous “Fourteen Points”. These points became the combined voice of all the Muslim organizations and the basic Muslim demand at the ensuing Round Table Conferencein London in 1930 – 32.

Congress-League relations as propounded and advocated by Mr. Jinnah took a sudden confrontational posture starting with the outcome of the 1937 general elections under the 1935 Government of India Act when the Congress swept the polls. In the Muslim minority provinces, inspite of a tacit pre-elections understanding, the Congress of Nehru refused to accommodate the elected Leaguers except for those who were prepared tomerge with the ruling party.

This was followed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s “two forces” doctrine in 1936 being inserted into the body politics of India when he stated that “there are only two forces in India today – The British imperialism and the Indian National Congress representing Indian nationalism”, to which Mr. Jinnah retorted that, “I refuse to accept this. There is a third party in this country as well and that is Muslim India”. Jinnah was dismayed and with a heavy heart finally pulled down the curtain on Congress-League collaboration and finally closed the chapter of hindu-muslim unity, that up to that day was the core of hispolitics and panacea for the Indian Independence.

In the 1937 general elections, the League came out very poorly. In the Punjab, one of the four Muslim majority provinces League could account for only two seats in the provincial assembly and even out of these two, one legislator became a ‘lota’ at the time of ministry formation, leaving a sole League representative in the assembly. Congress volte-face to accommodate League representatives in Hindu majority provinces and then Nehru’s “two forces” doctrine injected into Indian body politics, finally forced Jinnah to take the cudgels on behalf of his community that was so far floating like a rudderless ship in the stormy waters of Indian politics.

The year was 1937 when Mr. Jinnah took up the task of welding the disjointed pieces together and brought them up to the status of a nation from that of a minority community. This was the first step that he had in mind for advancing to their final emancipation. For doing this he met with lot of resistance from within; there were the feudals who were eager to protect their jagirs and positions bestowed on them by the British and then there were the clerics who even called him “Kafir-e-Azam” and Pakistan as “Dar-ul-Harb”. He remained undaunted and continued with his task of consolidating the down trodden community and organizing the League at all levels. 

Disregarding his ill health he worked hard, infact very hard with selfless devotion and as a result he won the hearts of the overwhelming majority of Muslims. People trusted him, his integrity, his political acumen and statesmanship. In his mammoth public meetings where almost over eighty percent of the participants could not understand even one single word of English, they would listen to him in pin drop silence and amazingly would clap and raise zindabad slogan at the points of emphasis in his speech.

It was universally known that elderly people in the remote villages when talking to young people hearing radio or reading newspaper would ask, “what has Baba said today?” but in the same breath would reply themselves “whatever he has said must be true”. These villagers would call Jinnah, ‘Baba’ with affection.

Harry Truman, a former President of America could not be more right when he said, “Mr. Jinnah was the recipient of a devotion of loyalty seldom accorded to any man.” The grateful nation called him “Quaid-e-Azam” the great leader. From Mr. M.A. Jinnah in the teens he was

Quaid-e-Azam in the late thirties, to his people and to the world at large. Even Gandhi in his letter on 16 January 1940 was obliged to address him as “Dear Quaid-e-Azam”. It was in this very letter that Gandhi, perhaps sarcastically asked him, “shall I call you Quaid-e-Azam or continue to address you Mr. Jinnah as before”. To which the Quaid-e-Azam retorted “Call a rose by whatever name you may, it will always smell like a rose.”

 

JINNAH: A POLITICAL SAINT Part-1

JINNAH: A POLITICAL SAINT

Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a remarkable person, an extra ordinary statesman and unique or his political sagacity. He was no Wali or Saint in terms of religious terminology but he was certainly a political saint  for the muslims of the subcontinent. Whereas the walis and saints did a great service to Islam by converting countless infidels to the true faith and spiritually guiding faithfuls to follow the right path, Mr. Jinnah as a political saint turned the muslim minority of the Indian Sub-Continent into a nation and emancipated them from the evil axis of Ango-Hindu tyranny and domination by  guiding and leading them to the eventual goal of Pakistan, a safe heaven for them and established the largest muslim  state. The services of Mr. Jinnah as political saint are no less momentous to the muslims of South Asia as those of the spiritual walis and saints to Islam. The clerics and the orthodox may not agree with me but in the present day and age, facts of history cannot be ignored. Let us not forget that Islam is a progressive religion and we must interpret it in the context of present day thinking. M.A. Jinnah was a known name the world over even in the early twentieth century. He was respected as steadfast, resolute and an impeccable leader with the highest integrity. He was considered as one of the top  most legal brains of South Asia. The true standing of an individual is always reflected in what his contemporaries think of him. Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America said of him, “Mr. Jinnah was the recipient of a devotion of loyalty seldom accorded to any man”. His Highness The Agha Khan III ranked him very high amongst the contemporary world figures. He said, “Of all the statesmen that I have known in my life, (believe me, he know very many) – Clemenceau, Lloyd George, Churchill, Curzon, Mussolini, Mahatma Gandhi – Jinnah is the most remarkable. None of these men, in myview out shown him in strength of character and thatalmost uncanny combination of precision and resolution as Mr. Jinnah.” Similarly, Lord Listowel, senior memberof Clement Attlee’s cabinet said, “I would rate Mr. Jinnah as a bigger political giant of the twentieth century than even General de Gaulle.”

Even those in the opposite political camp praisedhis qualities of head and heart. Mr. M. K. Gandhi, his political rival in South Asia, in one of his letters to Mr. Louis Fisher wrote, “Mr. Jinnah is incorruptible and courageous”. Another Indian National Congress ex-President, a former Governor and Federal Minister and arenowned poetess Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, named Mr. Jinnah “ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity and one of sub-continent’s tried and impeccable leaders.”

The media is a reflection of public opinion.International and local newspapers wrote highly of Mr. M.A Jinnah. The World’s renowned newspaper, THE TIMES wrote, “Few statesmen have shaped events to their policy more surely than Mr. Jinnah. He was a legend even in his life time”. Two of the leading newspapers of sub-continent, THE DAILY STATESMAN OF INDIA referred to him” seemingly as hard as a diamond, he had all the diamond’s brilliance.” another renowned newspaper, AMRIT BAZAR PATRIKA from Calcutta wrote on August 8, 1947, “Jinnah outweights Truman,Stalin and Attlee put together”. A great tribute from a well-known taunch pro-Akhand Bharat newspaper of volatile Bengal.

Well, ladies and gentleman, that was Mr. M. A. Jinnah of the early twentieth century!

Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah started his political career in 1905 as a staunch liberal from the platform of the Indian National Congress. The same year along withGopal Krishna Gokhale, a foremost Hindu nationalist, herepresented the Congress in England to plead the Indiancase for self-government. Mr. Gokhale was impressed with him and remarked, “He has the true stuff in him and that freedom from all secretarian prejudice which will make him the best ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity.”

A year later in 1906 he served as secretary to Dadabhai Naoroji, the then Congress President, a position that was considered a great honor for any budding politician. The same year, in the Calcutta session of the Congress in December 1906, he made his first political speech in support of self-government. In January 1910, he was elected from Bombay with a thumping majority to the Imperial Legislative Council of India.

Mr. M.A. Jinnah forcefully advocated the need ofHindu-Muslim unity and passionately expounded the cause of Indian freedom in and outside the Indian Legislative Council. He raised his voice against every system that discriminated between human beings and against every institution violating the dignity of man. He opposed colonialism. In his home constituency of Bombay, he was the President of the Bombay branch of the Home Rule League. Bombaites recognized his services to the cause of Indian freedom, towards Hindu-Muslim unity and to the people of Bombay and constructed a Public Hall in his name. Jinnah Hall still stands in Bombay as a monument of his sterling services to the people of that city.

Muslim League was formed in 1906 in Dacca but inspite of great persuasion including that of his friend H.H. The Agha Khan III he did not join the Muslim League. It was only when the Muslim League at hisinstance in 1912 adopted self-government for India as its goal that Mr. Jinnah in 1913 joined the All India Muslim League. Three years later he became its President. Now he was member of both the All India Congress and All IndiaMuslim League and in this unique position he tried to bring the two organizations closer and as a result of hisefforts, the Congress-League Lucknow pact of 1916 was signed, detailing a joint scheme for post-war reforms and conceding Muslims the right to separate electorates.

 

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