NOTE: On account of all the presumptions and accusations being cast through comments which assume my leanings with a certain party, this is to clarify, that this post comes from someone purely non-partisan: neither a PPP, PML-N, JUI-F, MQM nor a PTI supporter. An independent observer of Pakistani politics.
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Lately, a message is being posted and circulated by supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, that attempts to strike some semblance between Imran Khan and M. A Jinnah.
While a strong liking may be taken to it by those politically aligned with PTI, but to those who are just reasonably au fait with history and Jinnah’s life, it is seen as an obnoxious distortion of and selective display of facts; which must be set straight.
In a sincere effort to put together a relatively, factually accurate rebuttal; this post relies heavily on excerpts from the magnum opus on Jinnah: Stanley Wolpert’s ‘Jinnah of Pakistan’.
And so it commences:
1. Contrary to what the altered versions of this viral post/status say, Jinnah never in his life, attended Cambridge University or any other university, leave alone having been enlisted in a ‘Hall of Fame’ of some educational institution in England. He only completed his legal education there. How someone could so callously come up with such a fallacy is beyond logic.
[1]
*Mamad was what Jinnah was lovingly called in his family.
[2]
Jinnah was later enrolled at Sindh Madressa-tul-Islam.
At a young age, his aunt Manabai took him with her to Bombay, (where uncertainty casts doubt on whether he attended Muslim Anjuman-I-Islam over there or Gokul Das Tej Primary School). After which, he was brought back to his parents who registered him at the exclusive Karachi Christian Mission High on Lawrence Road.
[3]
In that period, the flourishing business of Jinnah Poonja (the Quaid’s father) had come to be associated with Douglas Graham and Company, whose General Manager Sir Freidrick Croft who ‘obviously liked Mamad and thinking highly of his potential to recommend the young man for an apprenticeship to his home office in London in 1892’.
[4]
After his travel to London, it was on April 25th 1893, that Jinnah ‘petitioned’ Lincoln’s Inn and was granted permission to be excused the Latin portion of the Preliminary Examination, which he passed on May 25th .
Wolpert pertinently states:
‘Had he procrastinated he might not have been able to complete his legal apprenticeship, for the next year a number of prerequisites were added and the process of professional legal certification was substantially prolonged.’
While in England, Jinnah was influenced and fascinated by the fresh British liberalism and it was there, that he was presented with a glance in the fascinating world of politics. He often visited Hyde Park and the visitor’s gallery at Westminister’s House of Commons.
[5]
Due to a rather dramatic turn of events (paronomasia intended: Jinnah had developed a passion for theatre in London, and had sent a letter to his father to allow him to participate in it – only to be reprimanded and summoned back) Jinnah had to return back to British India after applying for a ‘certificate’ from Lincolns’ Inn:
|2|. Nothing more could be more further from the truth than the view that Jinnah ’suffered severely at the start of his legal career’ .
Upon his return, the realization of his mother’s death and his father’s sinking business, which had been subject to the whims and vagaries of time, dawned upon him dealing him a dark stroke but eventually, Jinnah did climb up the ladder professionally and out of this sombre chasm.
[6]
|3|. The ‘Flower of Bombay‘ that blossomed in Jinnah‘s heart had converted to Islam becoming Maryam from Ruttie, three days before their marriage on Friday April 19th, 1918. [7]
And although Ruttie and Jinnah’s story was a Shakespearan tragedy, and their marriage eventually withered but they did not divorce.
Penned in an article on her at Dawn:
‘Her health continued to deteriorate; from 1926 through 1928 she was restricted mostly to bed.
Accompanied by her mother, Ruttie went to England in 1928 and later to Paris where she was admitted at a clinic in Champs Elysee. She was in a semi-comatose condition there …
Mohammad Ali Jinnah went to Paris and stood by her side, even eating the same food she was given. Ruttie’s health improved and she moved to Bombay where it took a turn for the worse again.’
An outstanding video comprising painstakingly compiled quotes and excerpts, weaves a silent narration of this entire so beautiful, yet so heartbreaking tragic love story.
|4|. As Jinnah and his wife had never divorced, the idea perpetuated by PTI’s page that Dina Jinnah’s custody was awarded to her mother by a judge, is naturally overturned.
Little is known of how and where Dina stayed during the years of her parent’s separation and after her mother’s demise.
But Wolpert mentions her at the time of Jinnah being at the peak of his political engagements at the age of 55, which means that the year must either be 1931 or 1932:
[8]
Jinnah also maintained formal correspondence with Dina, even after her marriage to Neville Wadia that he was in opposition to.
A reported picture of Dina and Neville after their marriage.
He addressed her as ‘Mrs. Wadia’ throughout it.
|5|. To roughly cram Jinnah’s first few years in politics as a ‘failure’ is not only harsh, but a travesty.
There is nothing that suggests his political penury during the years of 1900s, when he stepped into the domain.
And there is much that can be used in rebuttal of this, but for the sake of brevity, the following excerpts should suffice.
At the beginning of his political career, Jinnah simply remained a keen observer of and judiciously analyzed the course of events in British India while closely following figures like Dadabhai Naoroji and Sir Pheroze Shah Mehta – on whom he was not unable to leave a favorable impression.
[ 9]
Jinnah had joined the Congress in 1906, and later the Muslim League in 1913.
The belief and notion of a single Indian nation regardless of religion, which recurred in Mehta and Naoroji’s speeches, reverberated strongly in Jinnah’s stance and thoughts; eventually earning him the respected title of ’Ambassador for Hindu-Muslim Unity’ in 1916, after his role in the formation of the historic Lucknow Pact – a common ground for cooperation between the Muslim League and Congress for accomplishing gains in the bid for self-government for British India. (Jinnah presided over the joint party session in Lucknow).
How all that comes down to evolving into failure, is rather a very difficult conundrum.
[10]
|7|. Exactly to which era of pre-partition history that was intended to indicated towards through the point ‘Won only 1 seat after a decade of struggle’, is unclear but in retrospect the year of Jinnah’s ‘solemn’ involvement and foray into politics, which is largely-accepted to be 1906, should be considered.
After being bestowed with honorary titles such as the ‘Ambassador for Hindu-Muslim Unity’for the result of the culmination of his and others efforts to ensure union between the two parties, four years after 1906, in 1910, he was elected to the Imperial Legislative Council. (Bear in mind, Jinnah was only a member of the Congress at that point in time, neither a party leader nor part of the Muslim League.)
[11]
|8|. The adoption of the ‘Lahore Resolution’, was indeed a most momentous day in subcontinental, and Muslim League history, and in Jinnah’s political life. But how exactly can it be assessed that it was definitely what ’won people’s hearts and minds’ is quite complex and cumbersome to gauge.
So for the purpose of lucidity, it must be assumed that this phrase was meant to imply the complete guarantee and consummate ‘arrival on the political scene’ and success of Muslim League and its future proposals: Pakistan.
Even this is not in perfect accordance with reality, as after his return from London and the fragmentation of the All India Muslim League, Jinnah had diverted all his focus and energies to the strengthening and revamping of the party through critical and massive reorganizing – something which took a toll on his health too.
(‘Towards Lahore’ is an immensely informative chapter centering around this very ’restructuring’ of the AIML in the 1930s)
[12]
The watershed moment at Minto Park on 23rd March 1940, was only a result and culmination of the success of this pivotal political and social rearrangement of AIML.
|9|.There wasn’t really a plethora of or ‘weighty’ parties in Pre-Partition India, if there were any, there were only the Indian Congress and All India Muslim League. Both, which at the end, owing to a twist in situations, stood completely different – on divided soil.
Bottomline is, nugatory and politically pointless parallels need to be stopped being drawn between the politicians of today and the leaders of yesterday.
Emotionalism, exagerration, lack of realism dipped in populism are what deplorably compose ’appeal’ in Pakistan. But still, at the end of the day, 200 million people do not want to know how similar a party leader is with the founder of the country but what a party has to offer them; socially, politically and economically.
Most importantly, please study history before indulging in an utterly distasteful presentation of ‘facts’. And do leave Jinnah out of it, his ideology and vision for Pakistan has been distorted enough to reach the brink that this state is on – kindly spare his life now.
To quote Stanley Wolpert again:
“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. Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three.”
He was not infallible but there was only one Jinnah in Bombay, in sartorial incomparability, peerless finesse and debonair, political brilliance and realism and only one Jinnah of Pakistan. Let us not make him and his life a casualty in and party to political tactics.
~ Hafsa Khawaja
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References:
[1] Chapter I: Karachi, Page 5.
[2] Chapter I: Karachi, Page 5, 6 and 7.
[3] Chapter I: Karachi, Page 7.
[4] Chapter I: Karachi, Page 9 and 11.
[5] Chapter I: Karachi, Page 15.
[6] Chapter II: Bombay, Page 16 and 17.
[7] Chapter IV: Lucknow to Bombay, Page 53.
[8] Chapter X: London, Page 130.
[9] Chapter II: Bombay, Page 20.
[10] Chapter II: Bombay, Page 27.
[11] Chapter III: Calcutta, Page 32.
[12] Chapter XI: Towards Lahore, Page 155.
* Most pictures courtesy Doc Kazi on Flickr.
* Any factual correction or edit needed in the post, would be highly appreciated if pointed out. Thank you.
Hafsa Khawaja's Blog 
Brilliant post Hafsa!
I admire Imran Khan yes, but comparing him to Quaid is blasphemy! This mass forwarding of such texts is really disappointing.
Apart from that, the blatant distortion of history (our national habit) is unacceptable.
I personally thank you for writing such a detailed and thorough post on the issue! Keep writing! 🙂
Everyone seems to be comparing himself to Jinnah. From Bhutto to IK …every Tom,Dick and Harry has aspired to become a Jinnah reincarnate !
A brilliant demolition of PTI’s and Jemima Khan’s absurd attempt at equating Jinnah’s life to Imran Khan.Well done Hafsa for a well researched piece and the speed with which you have turned this around.
Sometimes People just try to compare these important and incomparable people to others’, It just doesn’t make sense. What people like Muhammad Ali Jinnah did, only a few could do that.
Great Article. Gives a good insight of history. 🙂 –Keep Writing.
Reblogged this on TARIQ VAID.
Brilliant stuff!! You deserve a standing ovation!! Keep it up…
Thank you for writing this!
I used to be pro- Imran khan but this acutely dishonest praising and marketing is leaving a bad taste in the mouth, n if they keep up Im sure Im not going to vote for him any longer.
bloggers like Awab Alvi should realize how fake their critique looks now when its so biased.
*thumbs up*
Great work! Thanks
Thank you
If you notice most of the rebuttal by Hafsa if you see superficially relatively supports us – unless you nit-pick to a thread bone you might see some grey area worth debating
Jinnah did go to England for Education – Hafsa even says “He only completed his legal education there” DUH? but nit picking there are definitely some nuances ..
Ruttie – granted it was NOT divorce perse but a definite separation – there has been enough of a controversy around their married life that it was a definite seperation
Muhammad Ali Jinnah started his political career in 1906 when he attended the Calcutta session of the All India National Congress in the capacity of “Private Secretary to the President of the Congress”. In 1910, he was elected to the Imperial Legislative Council – The council had no real power, and included a large number of un-elected pro-Raj loyalists and Europeans. In 1916 Jinnah formally joined politics by joining the Mulism League and then worked for the Muslim cause.
In September 1923, Jinnah was “elected” as Muslim member for Bombay in the new Central Legislative Assembly but general elections. – His initial political career 1906 onwards – he was indeed finding his way until in 1916 when he joined the AIML
1940 Lahore Jalsa – the general assumption is that it was the declaration in this Jalsa that was the turning point – that in no way says nothing was done before or afterwards – it just means to suggest that Lahore Jalsa was SIGNIFICANT – Even Hafsa says “The watershed moment at Minto Park on 23rd March 1940”
Jinnah was a lawyer but NOT a renowned lawyer, he gained popularity more because of his politics and hence was recognized for his legal abilities – (yes you can spin the argument around both ways)
So Hafsa – good research but aren’t we conveniently nit-picking to exploit the grey areas to our own conclusions ? – granted the 10 points were not spot on correct – but they arent spot on incorrect – lets leave it at that
No offence to PTI/Imran Khan or jayalas of the said, but hypothetically even if what they say were true, what does that comparison lead to? That Imran Khan is Jinnah? or Imran Khan gets a seal of approval coz he wears Jinnah’s clothes? This is all just another one of the typical superstitions the gullible public wishes to believe. I guess one cant blame them, with so much hopelessness, they cling onto such silly presumptions.
However, all PTI/ISF jayals must remember, since their objective is to stand out as those different from any other party’s jayals – gotta do it with class and maintain a standard so high, no other party can reach. With these kinds of comparisons they are only downgrading their own party’s standard, their own leader urges all to uphold.
Anyone wishing to support Imran Khan should not do it because elements from his life’s journey can be compared to Quaid, nor should it be because ‘oh his marriage didnt work out, poor guy – he dedicated his life to a political party instead’, etcetera. Such people just make the support for PTI look bad!
Why leave it at that I ask? when Hafsa can have her own opinions and you can have yours – sounds better? 🙂 But everyone must agree on one thing, the comparison between IK’s and Quaid’s life should not be reason to vote for PTI, case in point, just what is being done with this piece of comparison all over facebook!
Brilliant Writing…. as always Hafsa
Jinnah was a human as any of us. Why do people make him God.Discussing him and resembling him to some one, or someone resembling him is forbidden and sin?
There is a huge media competition going on. Where buying votes through giving laptops is portrayed as saving PAKISTAN, where defying Supreme Court is portrayed as saving constitution. PTI too has to play some music, you and I might not enjoy that music, but the truth is, that some sections in public do like it. I shared it, and even my Italian friends liked it.
A political party has to struggle through its way, everyone in PTI cannot be Imran Khan. The fact that PTI is lead by Imran Khan and Javed Hashmi. That is the best part of PTI.
There is one more commonality between Jinnah and Imran Khan, they both are honest to their nation.
Pakistan, Zindabad.
PTI, Paindabad.
I love you man! GREAT POST
The commonality you mentioned at the end of your comment is one worth having. Imran Khan’s loyalty to his people is THE only reason for my casting vote for PTI.
Jinnah was neither God, nor a saint and nor some inerrable being.
I don’t remember implying this in what I wrote.
Apart from the inappropriateness of the juxtaposition of two completely different men, of different eras, political situations and status and stature – attempt to resemble and find commonality between the two all you want but the only point of extreme condemnation is twisting and contorting facts to suit this inept comparison.
That may not be a sin, but thats surely a reproachable wrong.
And if you were part of it, thats equally deplorable even if people from all nationalities liked it.
Who are we fooling and what are we trying to show by this perversion and ‘deception’ of facts?
No wonder Jinnah isn’t known to most the world, when we feel no shame in distorting his life or trying to understand him and what he stood for – how and why should others bother about him?
Every unprincipled act, be it this or buying votes through laptops – is reprehensible. Two wrongs do not make a right.
Lets not engage in emotionalism, we’ll wait till PTI proves this honesty of Imran Khan through the people they involve with themselves, stances they take and programmes they proffer to the nation.
“There is one more commonality between Jinnah and Imran Khan, they both are honest to their nation.”
This Explains everything! No need to go any further? Do we Pakistani’s need anything more than this Trait??
What do the 10 points have to do with PTI to begin with? Lets assume that Imran Khan’s life mirrors Jinnah’s year for year, minute for minute, how does that guarantee political and administrative success? For all our hero worship Jinnah was no infallible, and that too by his own admission. Is that also to say that someone who has not had an upbringing similar to Jinnah has nothing to contribute politically and somehow is less worthy? Jinnah is unfortunately owned by every political party in the country, and thus has made his life and experiences irrelevant. This was a poor campaign direction for PTI to take and that too in an over simplistic and emotive method littered with fallacies.
impressive work being done … very nice read ..
wesay my reply to PTI paindabad comment is that i have no doubt in sincerity of any one not even Imran Khan but one has to think before what information they are spreading, plus one should admit mistake instead of pointing fingers on others because then mistake doesn’t remain mistake …
Ho Boy. I knew that PTI supporters would go to great lengths to support this statement but I didn’t know they would go to these extremes. 🙂
I will not add my inexpert opinion on the matter at hand, since H has all the bases covered. Kudos!
However, i would like to quote Arundhati Roy here;
‘Individual charisma, personality politics, cannot effect radical change.’
[I]Listening to Grasshoppers, Field Notes on Democracy[/I]
I really admire the depth with which you approached this piece. It’s brilliant to see a good debate.
I find myself a bit apathetic to these political shenanigans, but two things did strike me.
a) It was pretty ingenious of the PTI to do this. It may be wrong, but it’s resonance suggests to me that the PTI is striking a nerve. And while their methods are clearly not honest (and the rebuttal above proves that they remain touchy) the PTI seems to be the only proactive participant in politics. The PML-N has been shamefully reactive, the PPP doesn’t seem to give a f***. Being proactive is not = being progressive, but it is interesting that they are being able to do that, which is a rare occurrence.
b) I was thinking that next time a JUD/ASWJ/ST rally shouts ‘kafir, kafir, Shia kafir’ someone should shout out ‘What about Jinnah mofos?’ But that made me realise how everyone makes their own recipe of Jinnah cake. But none of us have any real interest in him. I mean I had never seen any of these young pictures of him, and the only reputable work on him is by a white dude. The state or the people have no real interest in him. It reminded me of the debate today on the national anthem being sung in schools. People have made the anthem and Jinnah into sacred cows without any genuine emotion being invested in them, only insecurities and blind rage.
Thanks again for the post.
Awesomely written and researched post, as always. Well done Hafsa!
As someone who has only witnessed Pakistani Politics from afar, I am always left wondering why the leader of a Political Party is idolized in a near peculiar manner. Living in the UK I see leaders of political parties change regularly after about 5 or 6 years. It is not uncommon for senior party members to show fairly open distaste for their leader, but unlike in Pakistan, the leader is just a figurehead. Here the idea is that the leader is just your best representative; someone knowledgeable, sincere, loyal, charismatic and able to cope with the high demands that will be placed on them whilst in office. In Pakistan however whether we are going through a military or democratic phase, there is always an undeniable bedrock of autocracy!
We don’t need to look very far to witness this. We have seen this exemplified perhaps most by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the champion of the people is still used as a martyr to gain votes, and of course his dynasty will be at the helm of PPP far, far into the foreseeable future! We also have the Sharif Bradaran, where a similar situation has arisen. The issue is further compounded by individual MNAs also being Pirs and Vadairas etc. of their respective constituencies. The incidence rate of this phenomenon was particularly surprising to me. Then you have the “Naras” and exclamations in rallies. I have noted how this is a seems to be an exclusively South Asian phenomenon. Whilst the aims are admirable, why not show your approval of a particular point by raucous applause, rather than creating a trance-like frenzy?
A rather poignant example of the worship of leaders, and one that I personally was shocked to discover, was the foul mouthed tirade launched by Barrister Saif when the son of the murdered Nawab Akbar Kham Bughti had challenged his fathers killer on a run of the mill Political Talk Show. Barrister Saif launched attached every aspect of that man’s life with pure venom with many expletives, on live television! The only discernible point in the entire spiel was essentially: how dare this man question the leadership of Parvez Musharraf! A man, who by all accounts left office in disgrace. Reactions far less extreme have been seen at portests against Salman Rushdie!
PTI has always been Imran Khan, but it is not really the man we should be obsessing over. Voters should look at their needs and truly question whether PTI can deliver them their dues and rescue the nation. The answer may well be yes, however to vote because the life story of the leader of this party somewhat resembles Mr. Jinnah is a thoroughly condemnable act.
When it came to the creation of Pakistan, Mr. Jinnah was undeniably the leader. He unified Muslims and achieved something that was truly incredible. We must remember however, the many vastly important people who supported him along the way. Pakistan may still have been created in Mr. Jinnah’s absence. It was the importance of the movement and not solely the leader that carved out that Nation. As I said, don’t ever vote for one man, leaders are disposable, but vote for whoever you feel is the best party to represent you in Parliament and fight for your benefit!
Thank you very much for such a comprehensive and insightful comment!
We Pakistanis, we like to lend a form of infallibility to all those whom like. Be it leaders, cricket captains etc.
We seem to have this inherent inclination to idolize people and that from where, as you aptly mentioned, the autocracy originates.
You’re spot on with this concise analysis of Pakistani politics and those involved in it. Feudalism, dynasties, cultish support, serfdom and spiritual bondage; above all, our ability to swallow the propaganda that we are fed by them and all other political agencies.
Can’t agree and concur more with what you have written, excellent evaluation of the state here. You should probably pen a post on this.
i think it is extremely biased article.Imran khan is the name of struggle.I think only imran is very near to quaid vision
Very well written. Congrats on being so brutally honest; something Pakistan needs so badly. If Immi or his followers are dreaming of drawing parallels with Quaid e Azam, they should stop after reading your lines …”200 million people do not want to know how similar a party leader is with the founder of the country but what a party has to offer them; socially, politically and economically.
Thank you for such a comprehensive reply. It was very informative and gave me a refresher of our history. Agree that we should not try to link anyone to our great Quaid !
Excellent! one more point is “those people opposed Jinnah and declare him Kafir were mostly Deobandi” and everybody knows what are the relations of Imran Khan with Deobandis even with their terrorist wings…All this crap is spreading which is brain child of OLD JAMATI and their next generation (Deep inside Jamati)…
Brilliant Post Ms. Hafsa .
Since when has misinformation been an issue for the Noora League? The term Yahoodi agent comes to mind.
So the comparison was technically incorrect? You have kindly explained that Imran Khan has a Degree from a far more respected organisation in the world than MA Jinnah, well that is good isn’t it?
MA Jinnah Daughter was brought up as a non-Muslim and married a non-Muslim, hey but you never said anything about his family being inferior and a man who couldn’t look after his own daughter can’t look after a country type of garbage you people come out with for Imran?
You have also kindly dispelled the commonly held belief that MA Jinnah was always favouring the Muslims, now we learn from you that he was more a secular and one who actually wanted for most of his political life a United India. Thanks for explaining that he was recognised as promoting Hindu Muslim relations rather than be separate from each other.
Thank you for removing some of the respect I had for MA Jinnah as the greatest leader of Pakistan. I would compare Imran much more favourably than before. 🙂 Yet more about Imran Khan that we can celebrate.
Thank you for showing me and others, what an imbecile and shameless cult follower looks like. 🙂
Hafsa wish you could understand that the above comment by hassan is actually not an attempt to hail imran khan rather it is an attempt to defame him and his followers. i am a PTI worker and i strongly condemned this dumb man hassan.
FTW
The fireworks in the posts following an article are so much fun. Keep it up 🙂
Thank you for reading! 🙂
Firstly we should take into account the birth of this facebook post, it should not be assumed that it was officially initiated by PTI people, how about some Khan sahib fan did in association? So ranting PTI for this is unfair.
Though I agree comparing these 2 personalities is like comparing apple with banana due to the fact that they both exist in two all together different times. They share different challenges, society, culture, economics and so on. If I would say if Jinnah was to create Pakistan than people believe Imran Khan to save Pakistan.
Hafsa I give all credits to your research, efforts and post but you have to take into account all things which I mentioned above.
Great stuff, keep it up.
Hannan
I only learned after the publishing of this post, that actually Jemima had posted this on Twitter after being forwarded it as a message. And from there, it was picked up by all PTI Supporters and pages.
Definitely not assuming that this is PTI’s stance, but I think Dr. Awab’s comment here does speak a little otherwise too.
Absolutely, that is the major issue. Comparing two men of different times, different situations, eras and statures is purely inapt.
I do consider your views and what you’ve raised, thank you for reading and commenting Hannan.
Great research! You have set the record straight.
This article and the one on FB by whoever reminds me of Nero fiddling while Rome burns….we Pakistanis will fight with each other on little things while our house will come down around us….should rather get together and team up to do good things instead….
When Salahuddin Ayubi was conquering Jerusalem, the Christian priests were arguing about the method of Jesus’s crucifixtion. Sounds like us you know.
Sarfaraz
Dear Sir, to put facts straight is nothing trifling or petty.
Neither is it some sort of squabble.
We have neither learnt from/of history, its people or facts, nor are we willing to do now. If not learn, atleast we mustn’t distort them to suit our views. And that is all I’ve tried to say through this post.
Well Done on your in depth research, though i am a PTI supporter i totally agree with the exaggeration and incompatibility in comparing The Quaid and Imran
Thank you, Umair.
Its genuinely good to see supporters of PTI receiving this open-mindedly.
PTI supporters can be all that bad , really …or are they ? 😀
Joking apart , I don’t think it’s a good idea to carry our comparison of the Founding Father of a nation . Obviously, Jinnah must have had his own shortcomings but personally I think , it would be an insult to him if we compare him with anyone else . I have yet to come across such a comparison anywhere else . Founding father(s) always have a larger than life image in the collective memory of the nations they gave birth to. That is how I see it. you may disagree with it, of course , but I think the discussion is not useful as it then moves on Jinnah’s religious beliefs and that horrifying battle of “Secular Vs Islamic” Pakistan !
I must congratulate you on the work you did here. It was about time someone did that. It is a sad day indeed when people start mentioning Imran Khan and the great Quaid in the same sentence.
Very interesting article here, and yes, its ridiculous how this mass imrankhan-hysteria is allowing normally sensible rational people to be swept away on its over-the- top wave. [they call it a Tsunami? Think again…..a tsunami destroys!!] They can adore him as much as they want but they should stop short of giving him someone else’s suit to wear…… It doesnt FIT!
There really has been TOO much distortion of Jinnah’s life and memory over the decades and of course manipulation of the truth of what he wanted for his country. The new attempt at comparing Jinnah with Imran Khan which is going around seems rather desperate and needless…..and very transparently just an ad campaign ……And just a bit too much now for the camel to carry without some serious back pain! Adore him all you like imran-fans but really….Let him wear his own jackets. They are a VERY different cut from Jinnah’s.
Very well-put!
That is the very point, leave alone warping of facts – why do you have to compare? And what does it prove?
Jinnah was a different man, and a man of a completely different era with almost nothing in similarity with today.
At the expense of sounding biased, I’ve come to see many supporters of Imran Khan to be somewhat, relevant to a cult.
Or as these ‘many’ have become recognized as, in the modern internet terms: trolls.
Well done Hafsa , I must say Thank U as its a relief effort for the JINNAH LOVERS.
Conveying a heartfelt thank you to all for taking out time to read the post, the kind words, sharing it and for the feedback. It is greatly valued and I am overwhelmed.
This post was neither written in support or opposition of some party, nor to belittle any.
The mere intention behind it was to correct what was being passed around as facts and being wholly believed.
History and all that it contains, is extremely important for us to understand and learn from; it is what makes our today and our today is what will make our tomorrow. We let go of the first one, and we let go of all.
Once again, thank you.
While i usually refrain from comments and exaggerated praise, I do feel inclined to thank you for a thorough presentation of historical facts and highlighting the need to take lessons from our history instead of fabricating it on our whims!
PS: I do not intend to be rude, but can you please recheck your closing paragraph? I belive the word “sarotorial” needs a second look; it appears to be a blemish in an otherwise flawless piece. My appologies for any unintended derision.
Thank you, for reading and deeming the post worthy of appreciation.
I’m flattered.
Oh, not rude or derisive at all! I’ll just fix it, thank you for pointing it out.
Regards,
Hafsa
Oh how I wish everyone could read this! No offence to PTI/Imran Khan or jayalas of the said, but hypothetically even if what they say were true, what does that comparison lead to? That Imran Khan is Jinnah? or Imran Khan gets a seal of approval coz he wears Jinnah’s clothes? This is all just another one of the typical superstitions the gullible public wishes to believe. I guess one cant blame them, with so much hopelessness, they cling onto such silly presumptions.
However, all PTI/ISF jayals must remember, since their objective is to stand out as those different from any other party’s jayals – gotta do it with class and maintain a standard so high, no other party can reach. With these kinds of comparisons they are only downgrading their own party’s standard, their own leader urges all to uphold.
Anyone wishing to support Imran Khan should not do it because elements from his life’s journey can be compared to Quaid, nor should it be because ‘oh his marriage didnt work out, poor guy – he dedicated his life to a political party instead’, etcetera. Such people just make the support for PTI look bad!
GOOD READ HAFO!
Reblogged this on mahakhalid and commented:
Worth your time on my blog! READ IT!
It was disappointing to see people copy-pasting and sharing it without realizing that most of it was completely spurious. Someone had to tell them that Jinnah does not deserve this travesty. BRAVO, lady
Since you believe in the importance of history, and you’d agree that inaccuracy is not okay, i just like to correct you there.
You wrote ” Nothing more could be more further from the truth than the view that Jinnah ’suffered severely at the start of his legal career’
Of what I’ve read, this is actually true that Jinnah did face difficulties early in his career.
Jinnah returned to Bombay after completing his education in 1896. He enrolled in the high court of judicature in Bombay on 24 Aug 1896. He was not even twenty then. But he started gaining popularity by 1900.
Jaswant Singh, lately, has written a book about Jinnah’s life after extensive research, the same book that cost him his ministry and party membership. He writes in his book on page 68, “At first Jinnah moved into the Railway Hotel near the high court and waited for clients. Life for him was not easy.”
On the same page he’s quoted Jinnah too, ‘As you would know, for two or three years before I became a magistrate I had a very bad time and I used to go every other day to the Watson’s Hotel beneath the road. I used to take on to a game of billiards for a wager, and that is how I supplemented my otherwise meagre resources’
Also, Syed sharifuddin pirzada has said in a film , in part of Jinnah’s life that, ‘Jinnah used to say that when I started I did not have enough money even to travel by bus by tram or by bus. I walked most of the time’
He might’ve or might’ve not had difficulties early in his career, but Jinnah’s reputation as a lawyer in Bombay was formidable.
It is extremely shameful of ahwab alvi to claim that Jinnah was not a renowned lawyer. He can eulogise his own leader but he does not have any right to undermine Jinnah’s genius as a lawyer.
Thank you Hafsa (my niece’s name is also Hafsa & I named her Hafsa)…I’ve been quite for some time on Twitter & Facebook because of very abusive & volgur behaviour of PTI followers, they even abuse my late parents so, I decided to leave them alone & let Allah show them WHO Imran is whom they have given a stature of God (may Allah forgive me)…
Thank you Hafsa for giving me the strength to talk AGAIN…you have done a fablous job by highlighting the lies or I may say the techniques of lying & editing photos for a FAKE fame…I’m happy though, PTIans are only getting people on social network, ground reality will be very harsh for them…
I’ve spent MANY years with Imran Khan & we’ve been together ALONE on many occassions & I know how BIG a liar he is, how he used to tell his CEC to lie, how back doors he used to tell his TEAM to abuse his opponents but I’m glad that those lies & deceptions will not give him power, he may get famous but getting famous in Pakistan is not a hrad thing to do…
My e-mail is shahidkhanog1@yahoo.com do get in touch with me & I’ll tell you stuff that I had experienced with him, how he lies, how he tells his followers to abuse & disrespect others, his connections with the ISI, in which ways he’s FUNDED by foreign elements etc…
Thank you again for BRINGING up the truth;
[The holy Quran 8:8] For He has decreed that the truth shall prevail, and the falsehood shall vanish, in spite of the evildoers.
Regards,
Shahid Qazi.
Hafsa,
I entirely agree on not copying a status blindly part, but do go through the following:
1- Mr. Jinnah had faced various challenges when he started his struggle as a pro-Muslim politician, (14 points being unaccepted by congress), departed to London, and then later returned.
2- Mr. Jinnah did face marital problems due to His unwitting commitment to his work, and His wife did leave for London with their only daughter, but later she returned. The problems persisted till the end. But the reason was Mr. Jinnah’s commitment to His work.
3- Also as for both of the gentlemen being mentioned in the status, they married Ladies from non-Muslim families, both had turned Muslim at the time of marriage
4- Also Mr. Jinnah might have been immensely popular in Indian politics, as an ambassador of the Muslim Agenda His stance was gaining him some popularity amongst the Muslim population of then India, but, their first real show of political strength and unwitting support for the Pakistan cause from the Muslim population of India came from the Lahore jalsa, that’s historically proven as well!
5- Also I don’t believe in history entirely repeating itself… Allah has made the world far too dynamic to require a déjà vu, there are similarities and uniqueness factors in both…Yes Imran Khan may not be Quaid-e-Azam, but, for sure He is the only one in the political ring who can make Pakistan like the one dreamed by Mr. Jinnah.
My intention is merely to shed light on the facts, yes the original status had hints of blind faith, but the fact that many people are willing to accept these comparisons in the case of Imran show what they are thinking…. as for the historical facts yes we should be knowledgeable about our history and NOT misrepresent them! BUT what we really need to be thinking about is the future…!
Well done Hafsa.
I am a PTI supporter,but still I like your post:)
As some points, DR Awab replied is also valid, So I disagree at this that all point from PTI supporter are wrong, but yes most of them are wrong.
Good to know that our thoughts merge on this, Hamza (:
Thank you!
I cant believe you took all this time just to write a Rebuttal to something being posted on face book. However I do like the way you presented it factually and with reference.
Yes , one should take the time to actually clear out the distorted facts before it becone the part of history and belief , hats off hafsa
Yeah right, facebook and Alvi sahib are going to write history now.
Actually I agree, just found how seriously Mr Alvi blogs and the scale of his followers so Great Job Hafsa!
Dr. Awab’s ridiculous rejoinder exposes PTI mindset even further. No wonder he wants to bomb the parliament.
Good thing that you wrote in a sensible way, I was about to punch ppl who are forwarding and sharing without reading history
I appreciate your research. We really needed this.
First of all i want to clear this that i do not belong to any Political Party and i am not associated with them but i deeply respect Imran Khan and i fully Support him in every way!
To get Started, Hafsa Wow! You article even gives more resembles in between Imran Khan and Quaid – e – Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah!
1.Imran Khan and Jinnah both had their early education in Pakistan.
2. Both belong to some other career in beginning but later on both turned towards Politics.
and a lot more sister!
In this article his Law career is discussed not Political Career, and Jinnah Suffered in his political career in beginning. And please don’t be a Child, How come Imran Khan is going to pass the Lahore Resolution Sister?? or the stuff like that happened in the past, Pakistan has already been created! But both of them did great Jalsa in Lahore as welll! Besides that you have given a whole lot of Information that is not concerned with this Scenario, while a whole lot of things do resemble in a whole lot of ways! People cannot be replica of each other in every way! But still a whole lot is same and history is actually repeating itself!
I would call it as an article for cheap publicity and give an option to people who are against Imran Khan to speak against it!
and when it comes to her wife read these lines from Wikipedia source:
“By mid-1922, Jinnah was facing political isolation as he devoted every spare moment to be the voice of moderation in a nation torn by Hindu-Muslim antipathy. The increasingly late hours and the ever-increasing distance between them left Ruttie isolated.[2]
In September 1922, she packed her bags and took her daughter to London. The echoes of her loneliness are apparent in a letter which she sent to her friend Kanji, thanking him for the bouquet of roses he had sent as a bon voyage gift; It will always give me pleasure to hear from you, so if you have a superfluous moment on your hands you know where to find me if I don’t lose myself. And just one thing more, go and see Jinnah and tell me how he is, he has a habit of overworking himself and now that I am not there to tease and bother him he will be worse than ever.
Upon her return to India, Ruttie tried to see more of her husband but he was too busy campaigning for elections as an independent for the general Bombay seats. Ruttie withdrew into a world of spirits, séances and mysticism. Although she tried to interest Jinnah in the metaphysical, he had little time to devote to her.
In 1925, Jinnah was appointed to a subcommittee to study the possibility of establishing a military college like Sandhurst in India. For this purpose he was to undertake a five-month tour of Europe and North America. Jinnah decided to take Ruttie with him – on what he hoped would be a second honeymoon. Instead the trip simply magnified the growing personal gulf between them.
By 1927, Ruttie and Jinnah had virtually separated, and the move of the Muslim League’s office to Delhi was just the final blow to a relationship that was already disturbed.”
Reference Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryam_Jinnah#The_marriage_problems
SO STOP BEING JEALOUS OF IMRAN KHAN :)…
Ask your leaders to be worthy like Imran Khan so that they can be at least compared with our Great Leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah!
Great work Hafsa Khawaja, We salute u for incredible information.
u have done a great job.
Good luck.
Pakistan Zindabad
speechless. too good , kudos to you
The most laughable part is NOT that Jinnah never was a Cambridge Uni student. It IS that even Imran never was; in fact he went to Keble College at Oxford and played all his university years cricket for Oxford University. It was Majid Jahangir Khan, his cousin, who studied at and played for Cambridge.
Another brilliant post, Hafsa! I relished at your ability to articulate, engage and stance. It is significant to have such posts and to address issues – you have obviously expressed well.
likhtey rahain…
Cheers.
P.s. where are you these days, no new post? Khairiat??
did you know that your “rental youth leader” thinks he is new Quaid-e-Azam.. no you didn’t .. take a look
http://sidinvestigation.blogspot.co.uk/
If Imran Khan ever read this, he would definitely like this, and definitely would not like comparing him with our Quaid-e-Azam.
In fact this article in itself suggests that the comparison between Jinnah and Imran is an idea which is worth entertaining. The writer has mostly concentrated on the facts and figures thus bypassing the abstract or to say the ethico-moral component of Jinnah’s personality with which Imran‘s personality greatly resonates. The common ground between Jinnah and Imran is not whether what institution they attended and whether Rutti and Jemima was separated or not from their respective spouse. Even a novice on history can distinguish that fact.
Imran takes Iqbal as his spiritual guide and in his last book he writes a complete chapter on Iqbal’s philosophy of ‘selfhood’ which at least suggests that Imran is trying to come to terms with the philosophical and ideological perspective on Pakistan’s creation and its creator – Jinnah. [ not a single Pakistani politician so far attempted to rediscover Iqbal as a template of Pakistani identity via academic engagement with the “subject” in question ]. In this regard Jinnah’s correspondence with Iqbal shed a greater light. Why Jinnah was drawn to Iqbal? Jinnah, like Imran, was educated for most part in Britain. He was an avid supporter of Congress secular politics, and had a vague idea of the Islamic history until he comes into contact with Iqbal who injects his resurgent Islamic creed into his mind. Imran, like Jinnah, does not idealise Western secularism, but they idealise West Minister democracy with an Islamic slant. Jinnah drove into a politics which for one or more reasons protected Muslim identity from disintegration. Imran becomes driven into politics seeing that the country is dwindling rapidly. Imran’s narrative on Islam is inspired from Jinnah’s narrative on Islamic world-view.
Jinnah also joined hands with the Unionist or they joined him. The turncoats from other parties joined Imran’s PTI for which he is getting a lot of flake. Jinnah never had a good opinion even of the likes of Liqat Ali Khan. He was the ‘sole spokesman’, as Ayesha Jalal puts it. So is Imran. Nothing deters Jinnah from achieving his goal though in his course to final victory he made certain unpopular, but astute, political adjustments. So, is Imran doing the same? However, in Imran’s case the result is awaited. PML got 4.4 % vote in 1936. Imran almost bagged the same or less in his previous electoral innings.
Jinnah and Nerhu are the few leaders who had the potential and capacity to engage with the colonial elite of that time. Imran is the only politician who is respected among the British elite because he can engage with them, and in all international forums he is the only Pakistani who defends his country.
Imran’s Urdu language skills are still not very good- Jinnah could not utter a single sentence in Urdu without an exaggerated inflection. Imran is not an orator but when he speaks in English he is more precise and argumentative like Jinnah. Like Jinnah Imran is not over-awed by the western civilization and yet both see to call for a symbiotic model of Eastern and western values-the compatibility between Islam and democracy is the central strand in their political narrative.
Jinnah was a part of the Indian Congress. Imran was also a part of other parties before he founded his own. Jinnah remained in contact with his daughter so is Imran with his children. Rutti and Jinnah did not separate legally. But the personal life of Jinnah was disturbed. Imran, like Jinnah, has sacrificed his personal life for his goal.
If PTI supporters see for the factual or numerical semblance between Jinnah and Imran then I am afraid there is not much in it. However, there are many similarities between the two- both encounter a unique historical moment of crisis; both experience vicissitudes of politics; both show their commitment to practice their ‘vision’. [There are certain other common traits between Jinnah and Imran which I shall eschew to mention because of the rule of moral relativism]
Hence it is not entirely ‘nugatory and politically pointless’ to draw compassion between the two. However, rhetoric and misplaced idealism should not take the upper hand. Imran and Jinnah both have personal histories of moral lapses- yes no one is ‘fallible’. Imran does not have the ‘sartorial grace’ is also an exaggeration. In his youth he used to wear the Derby hat and cocktail coat, and was easily taken as a British.
The difference between Jinnah and Imran is that Imran evolved inwardly into a mystic though apparently he looks rugged and stolid. Jinnah was also a ‘cold’ man apparently but when he gets going he is the most gregarious creature which rises to the occasion. Both Jinnah and Imran are ‘enigmas’.
I feel ashamed of not having verified before forwarding this fake post of comparing Father of the Nation the Quaid e Azam with Imran Khan, an average person having nothing in common with the leader, the leader. A visionary and everything above board.
Thanks a million times n more for all this information thus submitted. God bless.
Anyway I K is best amongst the available lot, we would like to vote for him.
I certainly do not agree with this at all .in every era there is someone like our great leader jinnah. And this isimran khan the jinnah who can save our country pakistan!
THANKYOUFORTHIS.
nice article and research we should definitely not compare anyone with our Quaid,i am a huge supporter of IK only because he is honest 🙂
Thank you, and well-said!
If only IK would be honest in a more mature manner. Being honest does not mean that one must become immature , ill mannered and foul mouthed to express the truth.
quaid-a-azam was a laborious man
great post
Thank you!