Jinnah — lessons for our politicians

By Mohammad Rai

Jinnah has left an enduring legacy in the shape of Pakistan. However, if his vision and aspirations for Pakistan are to be attained, a lot still reckons to be accomplished. And today our politicians, instead of just giving statements praising Jinnah, need to emulate him in words and actions.

Right from his childhood, Jinnah was head and shoulders from the crowd. His childhood friend Nanji Jafar remembers, “once Jinnah, only fourteen, came to me and said don’t play in the dust; it spoils your clothes and dirties hands. We must stand up and play cricket.” It was this sense of personal dignity and self-confidence that defines Jinnah right from his early life. Sadly, stateliness and honour have long been lost in our political elite.

Mr Jinnah, as I knew him

By Sameen Khan

I saw Mr Jinnah for the first time when he came to speak on the invitation of the Muslim University Union in the famous Strachey Hall. My class fellow and close friend Fasihuddin Ahmed, who was also a nephew of Dr Ziauddln Ahmed, the Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, asked me if I was going or wanted to go to hear Mr Jinnah speak. I said: “The hall will be full with students, how shall we get in?” But Fasih took me there and we entered the hall from the backside. We sat near the dice where students were piling up their autograph books to be signed by Jinnah. I think the Vice President of the University Union (the President was always a professor) was perhaps Shamsul Hoda/Haq from Bengal, who delivered an eloquent speech and prepared the audience for Jinnah’s speech. When his name was announced, there was complete silence in the hall. He delivered an eloquent speech and, perhaps, in this speech said: “Aligarh is the arsenal of Muslim India.” But the only sentence that I remember till now is “build your character”, and since then I have tried to do just that. That was my first encounter with Mr Jinnah.

Two shocking pages from 'Shahab Nama' by Qudrutullah Shahab

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Credit: Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi

An Unsolved Mystery: Why was The Quaid so depressed thirteen days before his death?

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Credit: Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi

The Quaid tormented on the last day of his life!

From "Jinnah Creator of Pakistan" by Hector Bolitho, first published in 1954

As it turned out the ambulance sent was without fuel.

"Blow, blow, thou winter wind, Thou art not so unkind as man's ingratitude: Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Although thy breath be rude." --- --- King Lear by William Shakespeare.

This was the first act of treason committed in the history of Pakistan and nobody is even curious to find out who perpetrated it.

Credit: Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi

The Prophecy by the Clairovoyant

From Hector Bolitho's brilliant biography, first published in 1954.

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Mrs Naidu's poetry for Mr Jinnah

From "Jinnah Creator of Pakistan" by Hector Bolitho, first published in 1954

Mrs Sarojini Naidu, the first Governor of UP after Partition, reportedly had a 'crush' on Jinnah. Click here to see her picture card sent to Mr Jinnah in 1917.

Quaid-e-Azam's Last Broadcast - August 14, 1948

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Quaid-e-Azam receiving medical aid on way to office

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The plane carrying the Quaid lands at Karachi, 7 August 1947

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It is a Vickers Viking aircraft and is currently on display at the new Pakistan Airforce Museum at Shahrae Faisal, Karachi which is open to the public.