Happy Independence Day
14th August, today is the day my country was created 62 years back. Not only did we gain independence, we also created a country where none existed.
It was a miracle, achieved by our ancestors against all odds and against all obstacles. We succeeded because we had an honest, dedicated and strong leadership which inspired the sub continental Muslims, from Karachi to Raas Kumari, from the Bay of Bengal to the Hindukash. The majority of Muslims in the subcontinent put all personal gain aside, even the populace who knew the consequence of their actions and that they would not be a part of Pakistan, stood as one for the sake of a greater cause and delivered us to this beautiful land, this arz-e-watan, this Pakistan.
Today, this amazing country of incredible inheritance stands fractured, wounded, on the verge of collapse, and all of us, along with our so-called leaders, are equally responsible and accountable for this failure. Our enemies are anxious to officially declare us a failed state. Let us look into our weaknesses and shortcomings. We, as a nation, have been taking this beautiful country for granted; we thought: “Ok, this is it, we have our own free and independent state and we can live the way we please”. Quaid-e-Azam had done the work for us and we were simply there to enjoy the fruit of the plant he left for us to nurture. We did not fulfill our duty. We, with all the resources and minerals, neglected this plant and invited foreign gardeners to water it, who happily took over because they knew the fruit it bears is precious and rare. Pakistan was leased again and again and today we are paying the price for not looking after our motherland. We have become victims of an identity crisis. Today we stand unsure of our individuality, our dominion and potential. Our forefathers’ sacrifices for our independence have been thrown away by none other than us.
The country which was created for the freedom and welfare of the Muslims of the sub-continent today stands bewildered and miserable. She is waiting for her true guardians to come and take her control into their hands. The crooked and creepy so-called Washington DC-sponsored leaders of our country have plundered the nation and secured their already enormous personal wealth and future.
Unfortunately, not only the politicians are to blame; the military tyrants have also played their respective roles in attempts to declare this country a failed state. We are not a nation, we are divided into shallowness; for us PPP, PMLQ, PMLN, JI, MQM etc are above Pakistan. We are in a state of warfare with each other on issues that would otherwise seem trivial. The worst part is that we have not learned from our disgraceful mistakes in the past. Allama Iqbal’s poetry depicts a true picture of our nation’s current state.
Waa-e-nakami mataa-e-karvaan jata raha
Karvaan ke dil se ehsas-e-ziyaan jata raha
But by the grace of Almighty Allah, we have managed to survive for 62 years. Allah blessed us time and again and we, against all odds, despite all our flaws, rose and fought back. The wars of 1965 and 1971, natural catastrophes or political crises, we have survived the most outrageous situations. I do not wish to sound conventional but perhaps today is the day we must once again analyse our lapses and accept the liability of plunging this country into chaos. Allah has given us another Independence day, another opportunity to mend our ways and transgressions; this might be our last chance, and we had better take action before it is too late. As Iqbal said;
Fitrat afrad say tu kar laiti hai aghmaz
Magar kabhi millat kay gunahoo ko muaf nahi karti
Long Live Pakistan
Pakistan Zindabad
Lest We Forget
14th August Partition
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Jashn-e-azadi Mubarak all.
Roedad Khan has an amazing article
What is there to celebrate?
But we all should remember this Pakistan too.
Was this Partition really necessary ?
Why did otherwise normal people became so violent and vicious ?
And why in the midst of such brutality- some remained human and did their duty towards their friends and neighbors without any regards to their own safety.
Was it a partition and division of Muslims only
Or was this the division and vivisection of Punjab only
Why did this partition take place in the name of a land for the Muslims and then everyone forgot about the Muslims left behind.
Why no thoughtful discussion is possible to-day about this event.
There isn’t a MIRROR big enough to show the depth of our brutality.
There isn’t enough soap to wash away the bloodstains of our callousness.
What does it say about us as people when after 60 plus years and all the sacrifices- we are led by scoundrels like Zardari, Musharraf and Nawaz Shareef.
And we are supposed to celebrate !
@shimaotoree
Quaid answers ur qts, “humain jo dukh diya gaya hai oski misaal tareekh main nahi milti, laikin humain abhi aur qurabni karni hogee, musalman museebat main ghabraya nahi karta, humarey hosley buland hain”.
We just need leaders yeh qaum zinda hai zinda rahey gee.
I agree with Shimatoree that there is not much to celebrate, but I would still say that we have a potential as a nation to overcome the immense difficulties. It is right that we have survived one crisis after another, but for how long time can this lucky go happy attitude continue?
Does India want to invade us when we are weak enough? IMO the answer is “NO”. They wouldn’t occupy Pakistan permanently – if at all they desire so. We are just too unruly. India and the West are working on another kind of a plan. They want Pakistan to splinter into bits and pieces. Small pieces of land they can manipulate and control to gain the upper hand. Off course one major aim is to “help” Muslims to keep themselves poor and uneducated. Who needs enemies when we have people like the Bhutto clan and Butt clan to fulfil the nefarious designs?
In spite of all our shortcomings I urge each and every Pakistani to continue the fight for a just and prosperous Pakistan.
Tundiye bad-e-mukhalif se na ghabra aye auqaab
Yeh to chalti hai tujhe ooncha urhane ke liye
Btw: Good work by the “A-team” with the above article, video and pictures
Afzaal
as someone whose parents came from Delhi where violence was rampant in 1947- YOU ought to think for one moment about those who were left behind and who constitute the Muslims in India to-day.
I would like YOU to think what sort of India they were left in.
To-day they live in fear and their children are 4th class citizens when it comes to education or jobs or opportunities in life.
They resent the fact that they were left behind and they feel abandoned.
Their language has been thrown on the dung heap of extinction.
WE abandoned THEM and we celebrate .
14th of August should be a very sad day for reflection of our sins when it comes to thinking about our brothers and sisters.
Was anything learned in 1947 ?
I do not think so.
We repeated it again in 1971. We abandoned the so-called BIHARIS like a discarded sanitary napkin !
You say that Jinnah’s words answer my questions . I do not think so. I think he was a very capable man but there is one thing that I cannot forget.
Foresight is essential in leadership.
Jinnah failed to see the carnage that came and when confronted by those who had lost everything – he did cry.
We should think and talk about such matters rather and reflect rather than feeling happy and forget those that were left behind.
I am surprised at the debate taking place. The die has been cast. The choice has been made. Now we have to make best of the current situation.
Regrading the debate of Pak vs The combined strength of all muslims of india Let me put forward the following!
1. Do you think the entire Muslim Ummah should become a part of India to prevent the oppression of the Muslims of India. Quaid was salvaging whatever he could of the Muslim Legacy in India.
2. Minority of 1 is still a minority and will continue to be treated as a minority. THIS IS A FACT WELL KNOWN TO ANY STUDENT OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR / MISBEHAVIOR. In Northern Ireland The Catholic population is approximately 45% vs 55% Protestants. It has taken a struggle of nearly a century for the 45% – 48% Minority to achieve constitutional guarantees of their right from their co-religionists. I can leave it to your imagination what a mere 30% miserable, destitute, illetrate, outcasts would have achieved in the next 500 years. I can assure you they wont be sitting among the nuclear club.
I used to discuss / argue these very points with a very dear friend of mine who happened to an Indian Muslims. TO MY SURPRISE THE DAY AFTER DESTRUCTION OF BABBRI MOSQUE HE VOLUNTARILY ADMITTED DEFEAT AND IN FACT INSISTED ON THE NEED FOR ANOTHER PAKISTAN IN THE HEART OF INDIA.
I rest my case!
Time to argue about the future of Pakistan and what we want to achieve in the next 50 Years and how can we go about it. Ladies and Gentlemen let us move the debate forward.
Taukeer
Am I wrong in thinking that YOU are advocating a stance where the debate should move forward and forget any discussion of the difficult issues that I have raised.
If I am not- then I must disgaree with this ” MITEE PAWO ” philosophy being advocated.
I disagree with ” salvaging” whatever he could ” characterization that you have offered about what Jinnah accepted.
To be able to look at our most unpleasent actions is a first requirement if any progress is to take place.
If we refuse to accept blame for our wrong doings- how are we to do the right things in the future.
I shall wait for others to comment on my assertions before I will make any further comment.
@shimatoree
In respect for the indpendence day I was trying to not start the debate I tit 15th August will be the right time to answer ur qts but I guess I wil have to right now. Reason being that as it is we are having so much problems and as article mentions and raised all the points regarding our failure to make pakistan the greatest country in the world but ended with hope that with time and our right deeds we can come out of this mess.
Now back to your qts, Once again history being twisted, Pakistan was a political ploy to get autonomy and right protetction for Muslims. Mulsim League under Quaid not only accepted Cabinet Mission plan but also endorsed it which would have bene ideal situation post British Raj. It was not Muslims of India or Muslim League or Quaid who rejected that it was the congress and in Congress the hindu mentality that left us with no choice but Pakistan. The Hindu banya wouldn’t even agree to just division of power and showed his keena parvari with massacare of muslims per-partition in Bihar. The provinces where congress had made governement they had shown to Muslims of India wat awaited them post British Raj. If u recall the Jamiyaat-e-ulma-e-hind were severly against the creation of pakistan as it went against the nationalist approach that irregradless of religion we are all Indians. Maulana Maududi himself was against the creation of Pakistan, not on the basis of Jamiat-e-ulema-ehind argument, cuz he rejected that by writting a scathing rebuttal saying there is no nationalism in Islam only Muslim ummah, I believe his book was called masala-e-qaumiyat Will provide links later. His opposition was on the prinicple that Mr. Jinnah though highly cpmpetenet and honest doesn’t have the team or companions that can deliever the promise of Pakistan. That said it was the congress who rejected the Cabinet Missioon plan and left no choice but for us to create Paksitan.
Maulana Madni has summarized it beautifully, a staunch opponent of Pakistan’s creatuin he moved to Pakistan after the independence, when asked why he said
“masjid jab tak ban nahi jatee jab tak to jhagra ho sakta hai, masjid jab ban jaey to phir jhagra khatam”.
Same with Maulana maududi who moved to Pakistan once it was created, our failure to deliever came because Quaid left us and the unionist party’s lota became Muslim Leagee and took the reigns of the governemnt, The lord Mecaley’s created beaurcracy become the backbone of this country. That was our failure. That wat Akbar ala abadi has menat when he said to sir syed.
yoon qatal se bachoon ke badnaam na hota
afsoos ke firaun ko college ki na soojhi
Bravo to this young gal. Hussain Haqqani’s daughter has written an amazing article. A must read.
A letter to God, an apology, a request
By Mira Hussain Haqqani
I could think of no one in the current state of our affairs to send this letter. So I sent it to God, The Almighty.
Dearest God,
In 1947 when we gained Independence and appeared as a distinct country on the world map, sandwiched between two huge countries, Afghanistan and India, the Muslims of formerly undivided India took a breath of hope and prosperity. Everything seemed great and peaceful. For the first time, we thought this was the beginning to ever lasting success and bliss.
She lay there beautifully, over the Arabian Sea, boasting of her exceptionally great land area which equalled the combined land areas of France and the United Kingdom. She had one of the highest peaks in the world and some of the worldís most breathtaking landscapes. She was ours to keep, love and call home.
She was Pakistan.
After 62 years, she still rests over the Arabian Sea, but is fearful. Her land remains huge, but devastated. Her mountains seem feeble and helpless as the once scenic landscape has crumbled to dust owing to the constant hail of bullets and bombs. Her children are hungry and weeping.
She is Pakistan.
I am Mira Hussain, a 14-year old student from Karachi. You created me and I have heard so much about you. I have read about your wonders and majesty; my books say that you are the ultimate power, the most omnipotent and invincible strength in the universe. Today, I beg you to help me, help my country. Help Pakistan please!
Democracy. This is a very commonly used word in Pakistan but does anyone know what it truly means? Democracy is not flattering the people of a nation, using them and stabbing them in the back. Democracy is not betrayal. Democracy is not telling a lie.
And yet, in Pakistan it is.
Every time the nation holds elections, our candidates promise us concord and delight. This has not happened once in 62 years. Where did democracy walk off? Democracy is a form of the government through which the right to govern a nation is given to the people of the country and is implemented by a democratic leader which the citizens chose to be their representative.
We have had many representatives whom we have blindly trusted and with all our heart, for whom we have put our lives in danger to just go and see in an election campaign and for whom we have cried when they have been hurt or exiled. These are the very leaders who have hurt us.
The irony is that the citizens in this ëdemocraticí country are treated worse than dirt while the leaders we have chosen revel to their heartsí content. Pakistanís presidents have talked. They have always only talked. They have promised us harmony and pleasure and yet that feeling seems years away.
The elite in Pakistan can only act in the interest of the people of Pakistan if they know how the lives of the common people are. However, I guess that is something they would rather stay away from since it involves so much suffering and plea.
If this country is to survive, all individuals must be treated equally whether a minister or not. Everyone in this country has a right to have a family, home, security, clothes to wear and food to eat. No one should be reduced to the point at which they must beg for survival.
While our leaders celebrate luxury, the people of this nation die.
If Pakistanis are like those sitting in the government, I am ashamed to be one.
I pray to you to improve the current situation of my country or at least make those responsible realise what they are doing to harm Pakistan and what they should do for its betterment. Pakistan has cared for us for the last 62 years and now when it needs our help the most; we are bruising it even more. We must stand up for it before it is too late and do what we can to save it to the best of our capabilities.
“The fault is not in our stars. But in ourselves, that we are underlings.î
These lines from Shakespeareís very celebrated play, Julius Caesar, never rang more true than now in Pakistan.
Yours sincerely
Mira Hussain
@Shimatoree
I disagree a lot with you, sir!!! The creation of Pakistan was the RIGHT decision. no matter how many sacrifices!!
I know Pakistan has a long way to go and almost each of the leaders has made a mess out of it, but we have the potential and a greater opportunity than the Muslim brothers in India. The democracy model in India wouldn’t have made any difference if the Pakistani Muslims also were to be included in a greater Hindustan. We would still be a minority and still suffer! The only difference would have been even more unrest/fights between Muslims and Hindus and even more Muslims suffering as 4.th class citizens.
@nota
“And I agree. We CANNOT move forward without realizing what mistakes we made….”
Total agreement….We should NOT!Pakistan is a reality and we cannot undo the facts, but we can certainly learn from the mistakes!
But I think (like Afzaal) that we should postpone the debate just one day
thats it no music 4 u, attaullah eisakhevi gazal ke saath voh karta hai jo razia ke saath ghundey kartey hain lol
@nota
I am all for debate but lets get the facts straight lets not twist history. I respect quaid honesty and integrity he and iqbal thought something and with all good intentions went to implement. I wasn’t there but i know hindu mentality and they have shown it in India. Hindu and Muslims can’t live together except when Muslims are dominant.
63 years later we still disucssing meaning of Pakistan. Lets debate I always love a debate, but lets start from the beginning, i.e idea of Pakistan. And lets be honest there shouldn’t be any sacred cows. Only Prophey is above questioning everyone else msut be questioned.
one of my all time favorites, do share yours guys
@nota
it appears ur not reading my comments I never claimed an infalliability for Jinnah if u read again thast wat I said
Btw while discussing the history of Pakistan lets not do wat BJP in India has done
Distorting History I
Afzaal
Quote “the famous Quit India Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942, which led to India’s Independence. ”
If you believe that then I have some land to sell you on MARS!
What led to British leaving India was simply put their bankrupsy resulting from their part in Second World war both in financial and energy terms-( exhaustion). The additional catalyst was the fact that the Indian army had grown a lot during the war and had shown that they would be a force to be reckoned with. It was a military decision based on overwhelming odds being faced.
Gandhi simply was an opportunist- no more.
Observer
I am not going to say that IF- Big IF -partition had not taken place this would have happened or that- BUT
the exercise of power is not for everyone. There are a lot of pretenders in history who-thanks to the journalists of the time-(paid or just sick with adulation)- are made into IKONS for the kids in primary schools later.
But I would like to make a speculation-
In a country of 1.2 billion- 560 million would hardly be a minority.
And as to sacrifices made – I would just say that sacrifice should have been made who got Pakistan- THEY had no RIGHT to sacrifice those -( without consent)- that were left behind.
This is the sort of sacrifice made on the Big Id when millions of goats, sheep, cows and camels have their throats cut !
Afzaal
I take strong exception to putting Haqqani’s daughter’s letter in this web log.
If you are going to do that- then I am gone.
@Shimatoree
She is an individual person and should not be linked with Haqqani.
that is ur choice, if u have a problem with haqqani by all means swear at him I dun care, his daughter is an indvidual apart of haqqani with her own identity. She is a person, and sins of father should not visit children.
Observer-
I would like to sell you the same piece of land on MARS that I offered Afzaal . A 14 year old daughter of a confirmed crook and beneficiary of the NRO writes a letter ! And you buy that.
And she should not be linked to Haqqani ! Have you published a beautiful letter by the son of Allah Dita- the sweeper. Obviously NO.
NEXT we will have another beautiful letter from Bilawal Zardari and his sisters and they will be individuals too .
Let me be quite clear about this- this is unacceptable.
@Shimatoree
I do not believe in inherited rights. Personally I do not want to paint a grim picture of anyone just because of their parents. Likewise I also don’t want the Bhutto’s “right” and the Butt’s “right” to rule us by inheritance. IMO one should look at the individual and evaluate the person and not their parents, brothers and sisters. I have seen diamonds between coal.
I don’t believe in inherited sin…it’s a christian dogma. I am not saying you believe in it either. I have immense respect for you sir, and love to read your comments. I hope you will understand
@Shimatoree
“I would like to sell you the same piece of land on MARS ”
What….the SAME piece of land……good business man.
Btw: I would consider to buy that piece of land if just there was good living conditions on Mars and some water to use on the soil
I am just kidding. Don’t get mad at me. If you choose to then I wouldn’t mind. For me you are most respectable fellow country man
@shimatoree
Before responding you might want to read what I write. I just quote the article from India talking abt BJP distorting history. Point was distorting history not that these are facts, I am more then happy to debate and answer provided u understand my points otherwise its useless to debate.
@shimatoree
Why are you threatening us? If things don’t go YOUR way then you are gone….suit yourself but just because a letter from a newspaper is reproduced here to tell everyone that the youth is not what we are or our elders were, they think differently and being Haqqani’s daughter doesn’t mean that she does not have individuality. Do not attack the letter simply because it was written by an ambassador’s daughter, who is a known crook , you would not say all this if you did not know she was.
Traitors’ children are born traitors, is this what you are trying to imply?
Observer;
@shimaotoree
My suggestion was to move on to SOLVING the problems not some MATI PAOO exercise. We can discuss the merits and demerits of creation of Pakistan to death and if you are convinced that it was a mistake then I am afraid we are on a different wavelength and no matter how long we spend discussing the issue we will not be able to convince each other and I as a principal don’t engage in such debate as it does not serve any useful purpose.
ON THE OTHER HAND IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS SOLUTIONS I AM ALL EARS.
SOLUTIONS BOYS & GIRLS!!!
RE: “In a country of 1.2 billion- 560 million would hardly be a minority.”
1. I don’t think the numbers add up. Muslim Population was 30% of the entire indian population.
2. Please refer to the points raised by me earlier with examples. (I am reproducing part of it for quick referral. Apologizes for repetetion.
I am going to take the liberty of assuming that you have not had the close interaction I have had with Indians. Believe me they are from a different planet!
So back to the Topic: Please propose a solution. I look forward to reading your road map to solving our problems.
The idea behind setting up of this site was to gather a group of people for an honest discussion on addressing Pakistani National Issues and proposing SOLUTIONS.
@Nota RE:”Attaullah Essakhilvi” Have not heard him for years.
Lets get back to debate and lets all take a breather.
Qts is a very basic one. Was creation of Pakistan a mistake, if that was so then what should we do? Start working on unification of india? Allow rest of Pakistan to become autonomous states whichever way we choose eg, sindhudesh, baluchistan and etc ect or well wat happened has happened and continue with wat we have and make it a better country and lets realize the dream of 1938 qarardad-e-pakistan.
Instead of yelling at each other how abt we discuss all this?
To join India as a minority would be a grave mistake. No matter what – we will certainly be treated as subhumans and always be seen as Trojan Horses. Many would argue that most Muslims ARE ALREADY being treated as subhumans in Pakistan. I agree, but contrary to Indian Muslims we are in a better position to change the course IF we are willing to make sacrifices. Without sacrifices we will NOT reach our goal. The common man MUST let his voice be heard and by that let true peoples representatives be elected as MPA’s and MNA’s etc.
The sensible approach should be to evaluate the history of Pakistan, the betrayals, the incompetence etc. If we are sincere we will learn a lot and develop very rapidly. We have immense potential – both in natural resources and skilled manpower!!—–
So u dun have any problem on principle at unification. If there are guaranted autonmy and protection of muslim rights something along the cabinet mission plan its ok to unify with india?
No, I would never vote for unification….unless our flag is on top of Delhi!
To be honest I would not trust Indians in that regard! Only a strong and prosperous Pakistan can ensure peace in the region.
Issues to be discussed:
- Would we ever allow military dictatorship in Pakistan again – in any circumstances?
- How should we reform the electoral process to achieve genuine peoples representation. As it is now the winner takes it all. What about the looser. Is he/she represented in the parliament? In principle a party could have 49.99 % votes and still not be represented in the parliament. IMO the reforms are essential.
- Which criteria should be applicable to be elected? Is it all about having sufficient education? Or should be decide who they want to elect and the government should provide the basic education of the masses so they are able to make a qualified decision based on a ability to analyse. IMO this art is suffering a lot in Pakistan nowadays.
Apart from that we need reforms in many more areas like education, judiciary, land etc.
Each of the issues need a separate thread!
lets 1st stick to qts i wrote above, lets 1st have a clear debate abt them, only then we can come to cnlcuison and move fwd.
Are you referring to the question about the creation of Pakistan?
Guys as far as I am concerned Pakistan issue is settled. You can argue to death about the merits or demerits of creation of Pakistan. You will be just wasting your time and I am sorry I wont be part of such a debate.
FOR ME PAKISTAN IS SACRED AND IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE.
AS I mentioned earlier
I agree.
I think I have been as categorial as you about the creation of Pakistan. That’s why I asked Afzaal what he wanted to debate first.
I think most of us here will agree that the issue whether pak was right choice or not is purely academic on. As I believe tauqeer said the dye has been cast 62 years ago.
That said we can’t move forward without atleast agreeing what was dream of Pakistan? What exactly the leadership of Muslim League meant by Pakistan and does it really matter wat they meant to our ciurrent situation, beacause like it or not the pakistan of Jinnah doesn’t exist geographically speaking and the constitution that we follow was done in new Pakistan i.e 1973. This is a point I wish we can understand and if we start from 71 and beyond we can then tackle the problem. This also give us an idea of the leadership of the time, cuz I believe most of us have seen the effects in our lives.
Plz do understand History does matter and am not saying we should forget it completly or brush it aside but we do have to look at things from the persepective of what we have now. The addition of qarardad-e-maqasid in the constitution of 1973 is our connection to qarardad-e-pakistan of 1938. And that ensures that the idea the nazarya-e-Pakistan stays alive and thoiugh we dun have the pakistan of 1947 we must strive to achieve the goal of Pakistan.
I have immense respect for those people who dreamt about Pakistan and those people who painted the earth red with their blood to achieve Pakistan. Personally I would look at issues from my own perspective i.e. what do I stand for? where do I want to sse Pakistan in the future? How do I achieve these goals? The answer could as well be given with substantial inspiration from the founding fathers´, but let’s not regard the word of the founding fathers as final. Let’s work on the same spirit and build what we feel is right, and let’s find as much common ground between us as possible! Goals cannot always remain the same. Sometimes they must be revised according to the need of the hour.
With All the bad news coming from Pakistan I still see ppl like Pilot Officer Raja Jahanzaib Shaheed and come to believe abhi is qaum main jaan hai. This guy laid his life to save Giki Univeristy.
Sila-e-shaheed kia hai tab-o-taab-o-javedaana
Jaswant admires Jinnah, says he was great
New Delhi: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former finance and foreign minister Jaswant Singh has called Mohammed Ali Jinnah “a great Indian” and admitted that he has been “attracted by (and) drawn to” Jinnah’s personality.
In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN’s Devil’s Advocate Jaswant Singh, who is presently a BJP MP from Darjeeling in West Bengal, spoke about the founder of Pakistan and also made his views clear on India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
When asked during the interview if he subscribed to the popular demonisation of Mohammed Ali Jinnah in India, Singh replied, “Of course I don’t. To that I don’t subscribe. I was attracted by the personality which has resulted in a book. If I was not drawn to the personality I wouldn’t have written the book. It’s an intricate, complex personality, of great character, determination.”
Jaswant Singh credited Jinnah with creating Pakistan and claimed that he was the only one who challenged Congress party’s monopoly during the pre-independence days.
“Oh yes, because he created something out of nothing and single-handedly he stood against the might of the Congress Party and against the British who didn’t really like him … Gandhi himself called Jinnah a great Indian. Why don’t we recognise that? Why don’t we see (and try to understand) why he called him that?” said Singh.
“Oh yes. He fought the British for an independent India but also fought resolutely and relentlessly for the interest of the Muslims of India … the acme of his nationalistic achievement was the 1916 Lucknow Pact of Hindu-Muslim unity,” Singh added.
Singh also said that what he admired most about Jinnah was his character and the fact that he was a self-made man.
“I admire certain aspects of his personality. His determination and the will to rise. He was a self-made man. Mahatma Gandhi was the son of a Diwan. All these (people) – Nehru and others – were born to wealth and position. Jinnah created for himself a position. He carved in Bombay, a metropolitan city, a position for himself. He was so poor he had to walk to work … he told one of his biographers there was always room at the top but there’s no lift. And he never sought a lift,” he said.
In another startling claim, Singh said that the view held by many in India that Jinnah hated Hindus was a mistake.
He claimed that Indian leaders had not only misunderstood Jinnah but made a demon out of him. According to him the demonisation of Jinnah was a direct result of the trauma of partition.
Wondere where is shamitoree anyway as promised here is the historical perspective
Pre-Partition Politics and Ideology of Maulana Maududi and the Jama’at
can read the whole article too long to post here