Hi everyone)I have an indian freind and he is a sikh by faith.We had many arguments with each other on some topics because we both are equally patriotic) But once he said that M.A jinnah was a great leader and he deserves more than nehruHe also said that it,s your bad luck that jinnah passed away too early and did not fulfil what he dreamed about pakistan.Now i am really confused why he said so?How far is that statement true? And if that,s true please give me the reasons.
Indian members on PDF please give me your neutral answers without any hesitation,prejudice or bias.
Thanks.
I think this sentiment of Pt. Nehru being not as great as Jinnah is pure rubbish... but it finds space because of couple of things that happend before independence and just after the independence.... This is what I think is the reason for most to feel...
1. Pt. Nehru was not the 1st choice of Prime ministership, it was sardar Patel. Pt. Nehru became PM because gandhiji was of the view.
2. His two biggest mistakes have had consequences for India till date.. i.e vis-a-vis Pakistan and China...
He went to UN security council and accepted cease fire even as the Indian army was just a couple hours away from liberating gilgit - baltistan. If this had happened animosity with pakistan would never have reached where it is today in both countries. A sense in pakistan took birth after this incident that if we could take 1/3 of J&K, then we can take entire state by waging war against India and India will not strike back... Allowing pakistan to retain that part of land made sure that both countries could never get over the hatred and animosity because of partition as it kept getting reinforced through subsequent wars...
When in 1950s Chinese red army was marching across Tibet, he did not interfere thinking naively that chinese will see this as good will gesture and respect mac mohan line which Chinese never acknowledged. Then in 1962, he made really poor military decision such as not using navy or airforce in some offensive postions which resulted in India loosing war and face.
Both these mistakes gave rise to so many other problems like the whole separatist movement in Punjab and J&K. Having said all of the above he did some great work too. the modern democratic institutions of India are his creation. He could have suppressed his political opposition easily such was his clout, but he gave them the space and allowed for opposition to grow. Moreover, IITs and IIMs were his brainchild. There are many such decisions that he took which were correct but were against public's view like hindu code bill.
It is unfair too judge Pt. Nehru based on one or two mistakes that he made as PM but such are the consequence that he will be judged because of those alone.
But no matter what Pt. Nehru was better man, politician and statesman than Jinnah. Jinnah was not great leader. Infact he was the one who sowed the seeds of bangladeshi secession. Jinnah is in my view the sole person responsible for all the animosity, hatred, pain , grief that Indian sub continent has gone through, is going through. I am ready for a debate logically if anyone wants to do so for how Jinnah is the one responsible.