OVER a decade before Partition, the Quaid shared his views with the people at Lahore, in March 1936, about the conditions of forming a representative government in India, in these words: “Any unscrupulous and unprincipled leader today can exploit the masses of the country, at any stage, he likes, as long as he can play to the tune that they like. Unless therefore we get … people who are trained and who understand and have the requisite knowledge, at least to select a leader rightly and say we will stand by you and support you loyally, and who should be able to disown him, if they go astray; we cannot have representative government’.
The same year he addressed the people of Bengal at Calcutta: ‘We want to produce independent, progressive and fearless men….(but) …. you have, among you, elements and coteries, which must be overpowered….and those who obstruct us and put difficulties in our way we shall resist them’. One year later in December 1937, again at Calcutta at a Muslim League conference he said: ‘Muslims must….first set their own house in order, as none was caring to do anything for them. They must organize for self-defense and self-help’. In April 1939, while addressing Kashmir Student Federation, he advised: ‘ The methods of fight have to be regulated according to the time and the forces arraigned against us.
Learn, study and find your way out. Old weapons and methods of attack are gone. I ask the Muslims to study and find the latest methods and weapons of carrying on the fight in the struggle and success will be ensured’. In a message to Islamia College Peshawar, in July in 1940, he said: ‘… you should observe and maintain the highest sense of honour and integrity and serve your people selflessly in every way, you can. Make yourself, self-respecting, self-confident and self- reliant’. During an address at Lahore in March 1941, he said: … ‘Do not be carried away by slogans’….You will say, what is nation-building?…there are at least three main pillars, which make a nation worthy of … running the government. One is education, without which you are in…. darkness, but with education you will be …as you are in broad daylight. Next, no nation, and no people can ever do anything much without making themselves feel economically powerful in commerce, trade and industry. And lastly……. you have got to prepare yourself for your defense, against external aggression and to maintain internal security’.
In a message, to Muslim Students Federation NWFP in April 1943, he said: ‘….we have got the greatest message in the Quran, for our guidance and enlightenment…. let us utilize our great potentialities in the right direction, let us forgo our personal interest and conveniences for the collective good of our people and for a higher and nobler cause. …. if we work steadily with courage, optimism, self-confidence, discipline and unity, Insha Allah, we shall win the battle very soon’.
Soon after Independence, at an address at Lahore in Oct 1947, he told the people: ‘Do not be overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. There is many of an example in history of young nations building themselves up by sheer determination and force of character. We have all that we need to develop, but you have only to develop the spirit of the Mujahid. You are a nation whose history is replete with people of wonderful grit, character and heroism. Live up to your tradition and add to it another chapter of glory…. and be prepared to sacrifice everything, if necessary, in building of Pakistan as the bulwark of Islam and as one of the greatest nations whose ideal is peace within and peace without…. Keep up your morale. Do not be afraid of death, our religion teaches us to be always prepared for death. We should face it bravely to save the honour of Pakistan and Islam. …there is no better salvation for a Muslim than the death of a martyr for a righteous cause… Remember that the scrupulous maintenance and enforcement of law and order are the prerequisite of all progress. …Do your duty and have faith in God, there is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan. It has come to stay’.
At a Speech at Dacca University in March 1948, he declared: Freedom does not mean that you have a license, that you can now behave just as you please and do what you like, irrespective of the interest of other people or of the state….’ A month later, at Islamia College Peshawar, in 1948, he advised: ‘You must learn to obey for only then you can learn to command. In your criticism of the government, you must learn to be constructive. …think and act with sobriety and in all humility as selfless and true soldiers of the people and with absolute loyalty to Pakistan. The success of our achievements will depend upon our unity, discipline and faith, not only in ourselves, but in God who determines the destinies of people and nations”.
During address at an Army Regiment in Malir, Karachi, in February 1948, he directed: ‘You have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of democracy…on your native soil. With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve’. The Quaid wrote his will, eight years before the partition in which he donated most of his earning to Aligarh University, Islamiyah College Peshawar and Sind Madrassah at Karachi. These are the values and guiding principles, which the Quaid-e-Azam taught, desired and practiced, for the creation, security, development, progress and governance of Pakistan. On this Independence Day on 14 August, let’s remember the counsel of the Quaid, let’s emulate him and let’s rededicate ourselves to build, develop and defend Pakistan, as desired by him. Pakistan Zindabad.
—The writer is the former President of the NDU.
