Wednesday, March 19, 2008

THE QUAID-E-AZAM MOHAMAD ALI JINNAH’S VISION AND THE IDEOLOGY OF PAKISTAN

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan first mooted the idea of an independent Muslim nation in late nineteenth century. Subsequently Allam Sir Mohd. Iqbal in 1930 proposed the establishment of an independent Muslim state in the northwestern part of the Asian-subcontinent. However the idea of Pakistan was first propounded by Mr. Ch. Rehmat Ali in his pamphlet “Now or Never” in 1933. At that time the Muslim League Leadership including Mr. Jinnah did not support or even consider it. Up till that time Mr. Jinnah was an ardent supporter of Hindu – Muslim unity in British India. The Manchester Guardian best describes his attitude and view of that period: “Mr. Jinnah’s position at the Round Table Conference was unique. The Hindus thought he was a Muslim communalist, the Muslim took him to be pro-Hindu, the Princes deemed him to be too democratic, the British considered him an extreme nationalist, with the result that he was leader without a following.” (Page 8, M.A. Jinnah Oxford University Press 1999).

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Address to Muslim Students’ Union, Bombay, on 22nd April, 1935

The Quaid during the course of his Address while talking about the best interest of the country, appealed to the Hindu Mahasabha not to set the “complete supremacy and ascendancy of the Hindus” as its ideal but to treat Muslims as their equals. He pointed out that:-
“…So far as the Hindu Mahasabha was concerned, every pronouncement it made, or any course of action it adopted, was calculated to show the Muslims that the Mahasabha was dominated by the one consideration – that in India there should be complete supremacy and ascendancy of Hindus.”

Excerpt from the Presidential Address delivered by the Quaid-i-Azam

"It is extremely difficult to appreciate why our Hindu friends fail to understand the real nature of Islam and Hinduism. They are not religious in the strict sense of the word, but are, in fact, different and distinct social orders; and it is only a dream that the Hindus and Muslims can ever evolve a common nationality. This misconception of one Indian Nation has troubles and will lead India to destruction if we fail to revise our notions in time. The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs, literatures. They neither intermarry nor interdine together and, indeed, they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their aspect on life are different. It is quite clear that Hindus and Mussalmans derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, different heroes, and different episodes. Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other and, likewise, their victories and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built for the government of such a state.”

Friday, March 14, 2008

Some Sayings of Quaid-i-Azam (Mohammad Ali Jinnah)

“You have performed wonders in the past. You are still capable of repeating the history. You are not lacking in the great qualities and virtues in comparison with the other Nations. Only you have to be fully conscious of that fact and to act with Courage, Faith, and Unity.
“In the great task of building the nation and maintaining its solidarity, women have a most valuable part to play, as the prime architects of the character of the youth that constitutes its back bone.”
“Advice to students: “your main occupation should be – in fairness to yourself, in fairness to your Parents, in fairness to the State – to devote your attention to your studies.”
“Civil servants should maintain highest standard of Honour, Integrity, Justice and Fairplay wipe out that past reputation that you are rulers. You do not belong to the ruling class. You belong to the servants.”
“Knowledge is a Greater force that sword. Go and acquire it." “You are civil servants. The impression that you are rulers must go. You must do your best with all courtesy and kindness and should try to understand the people.”
“Pakistan is proud of her youth, particularly the students, who are nation-builders of tomorrow. They must fully equip themselves by discipline, education, and training for the arduous task lying ahead of them.”
“We are a nation with our distinctive culture and civilization, language and literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of values and proportion, legal laws and moral codes, customs and calendar, history and traditions, and aptitudes and ambitions.”
“Three main pillars which make a nation powerful are: Education, Economic Strength, and Defence.”
“It is the great book Quran that is the sheet archor of Muslim India. I am sure that, as we go on and on, there will be more and more of oneness – One God, One Book, One Qibla, One Prophet, One Nation.”
“In Pakistan lies our Deliverance, our Defence, our Destiny.”
“We must work our destiny in our own way and present to the world an economic system based on true islamic concept of equality of manhood and social Justice.”
“The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was a Great Teacher, a Great Reformer, a Great Law-Giver, a Great Statesman, and a Great Ruler.”
“We must put down bribery and corruption with an iron hand.”
“We have got the greatest message in the Quran for our guidance and enlightenment.”