Asghar Ali Shad
ON the one hand, Christian community around the world is celebrating Christmas on 25 December with full religious fervour and on the other hand, the entire Pakistani nation is reaffirming its commitment on the occasion of Quaid-i-Azam’s birthday that the integrity and independence of Pakistan will be maintained at all costs. It is worth mentioning here that the Muslim League was formed on 30 December 1906, which later laid the foundation of Pakistan under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam. On the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of the Muslim League, humanitarian circles have expressed the view that the sacrifices made by the Muslims of the subcontinent under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam for the establishment of the beloved homeland are not hidden from anyone.
Some observers agree that perhaps this could be debated whether Pakistan was established based on religion or not, but for the past few years, some conspiratorial elements have certainly been willing to harm the beloved homeland in the name of religion. Besides, the intensity of the Indian approach towards atrocities against unarmed Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir, especially since 5 August 2019, is no secret. In such a scenario, people across Pakistan should probably be well aware of the great blessings of freedom. According to experts, there have been countless figures in human history that, in their way, have had a profound effect on history and survived in various ways throughout history, but there are also few people who can be described as “trend-setter”. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is at the forefront of people who not only left an indelible mark on the past but also on the times to come.
Everyone knows that Muslims in the subcontinent kept wandering in the throes of the situation. Sometimes they would try to seek refuge in the Congress, sometimes they would look at another group with hopeful eyes. Their dream became true when they found in the form of Quaid-i-Azam, the leader that they had been searching for years. At that stage, Iqbal seemed to be the right guide for those who not only found a destination in the form of the ideology of Pakistan but also in the form of a leader who took the sinking ship of the Muslims to shore. Perhaps Shakespeare said these words about Quaid-i-Azam that some people are born great and some achieve greatness through their struggle and action.
Although all the virtues of greatness, merit and good name were probably innate in the founder of Pakistan and he waged an unprecedented struggle that led to the embarrassment of the long-held dream of a separate homeland for Muslims in the subcontinent. Although the Hindu Congress and British imperialism made every effort to prevent the Muslims from reaching their destination and to lead them astray into such a maze that the mark of the destination became farther and farther away. They were somewhat successful in their endeavours, but on the other hand, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and many other personalities continued to do their best that the Muslims of India should be somehow awakened to consciousness and awareness. Against this backdrop, a few personalities appeared on the horizon of the Indian subcontinent under whose guidance the Muslims of the region found their destiny. The unforgettable role played by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Iqbal and Quaid-i-Azam in this regard is not hidden from anyone.
Countless books have been written on the fascinating personality of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Former Indian Foreign Minister, Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh’s book “Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence” is noteworthy in which this moderate Hindu writer bluntly wrote that leaders like Quaid-i-Azam are born in centuries. Jaswant Singh writes that Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a true face of Hindu-Muslim unity, but the conspiracies of the Congress leaders with the British and the genocide of the Muslims left him with no choice but to establish a separate state. The book was published in 2009 after which the BJP and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Singh) reaction were too aggressive and Jaswant Singh had to be provided foolproof security because of the threat to his life.
Jaswant Singh was expelled from the BJP and was called an agent of Pakistan. Jaswant Singh wrote in the book that Muhammad Ali Jinnah is portrayed as a “villain” in India while the fact is that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel are the most disgusting characters in the history of India. Quaid-i-Azam dreamed that all matters in the subcontinent would be settled amicably. Interestingly, India’s top leader and BJP’s most senior leader LK Advani visited Mazar-e-Quaid during his visit to Pakistan in 2005 and for Muhammad Ali Jinnah; he used the words “the great leader who made history”. Also on behalf of several prominent Indian personalities including “Sarojini Naidu, Prashant Bhushan, Rachanda NathSachar late, renowned journalist Karan Thapar” (remember that Karan Thapar’s father PN Thapar was India’s Army Chief in the 1962 Sino-Indian War) the greatness of the Quaid-i-Azam is acknowledged on various occasions.
Observers say that remaining uncontroversial in politics is the real perfection and that the spotless and flamboyant role it requires cannot be achieved without personal sacrifices. There are very few examples in the world that the role of a politician is appreciated by his opponents. Quaid-i-Azam is such an extraordinary figure in world politics. It is said that the basic principle of greatness is to perform selfless acts for the collective welfare, which have benefited a large number of human beings and Quaid used to fulfil these principles of greatness. Remember that in the beginning, he did his best to keep the Hindus and Muslims united in the subcontinent. But the Congress sabotaged his attempt through conspiracies and extremist and fanatical Hindus started genocide of Muslims and in this regard, all the oppressions were inflicted on the Muslims which are a dark chapter in history. Ironically, some quarters are still carrying out conscious propaganda against Pakistan. Some media personalities are deliberately pursuing their one-point agenda to intensify anti-Pakistan propaganda and to defame Pak defence forces. No doubt it should be condemned. It is to be hoped that all quarters of Pakistan will reaffirm their commitment to unite against all internal and external threats to Pakistan and we will crush the masters of terror (RAW) by multiplying our unity. InshAllah.
—The writer is a Researcher in Centre for South Asian Studies, Punjab University Lahore.
