Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah - Death Anniversary

[war&peace]

One of the greatest statesmen of all times, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah passed away today 70 years ago i.e. Sep 11, 1948) at an age of 71 year 8 months and 17 days. He is the founding father of the nation who stood against the combined oppression of the British colonial rulers and Hindu Baniya's deception and cruelty. Muslims of the subcontinent struggled under his able leadership that culminated in formation of an independent country called Pakistan where we live today with freedom to exercise our rights.

Quad-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born on Dec. 25, 1876 in Karachi. He spent his childhood in Karachi where he also received his schooling at Sindh Madrassah-tul-Islam. Later he moved to England for an apprenticeship in a firm of his friend's business partner but he had a change of hearts so he pursued education in law. He was interested in the theatre and used to play roles in Shakespearean plays. He keenly attended the proceedings of British parliament. So his education in law, his skills in drama especially delivery of dialogues and attending the parliamentary sessions played an important role in determining the course of his careers as a lawyer and a politicians and he excelled in both of them. He not only became one of the most expensive and successful lawyers in the subcontinent but he started to participate in the politics and his natural stop was National Congress started by David Hume. He also participated in Home Rule League created by Ms Annie Besant. However, slowly the Hindus took over the AINC and Gandhi became the president. Since he was wanted to a peaceful coexistence between the Muslims and Hindus of the subcontinent and he wanted them to struggle for their rights and independence together, he joined All India Muslim League in 1914 though it had been created in 1905. He tried to play the role of an ambassador of peace between the Hindu dominated AINC and Muslim dominated AIML for 5 years until 1919 when he principally left AINC due the duplicitous dealings of the Hindu Baniyas.

However, things were not that good in AIML for him since most of the people were not as principled, educated and aware as him and many had many different ideas so it really tested his patience until he gave up and went to live in London as solitary life. However, AIML leadership knew his worth so they sent delegates to London to convince him and bring him back to the subcontinent.

He returned with a new determination and AIML got united under his leadership and after a long tiring struggle of million of the Muslims of the subcontinent, the subcontinent was divided into Pakistan (consisting of areas of IVC) and Gangadesh (consisting of areas irrigated by the River Ganges). Gangadesh adopted the India.

@django @Indus Pakistan @Slav Defence

 

[war&peace]

@Shane @MastanKhan @PakSword @Ali Tariq

 

[Indus Pakistan]

One of the greatest statesmen of all times, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah passed away today 70 years ago i.e. Sep 11, 1948) at an age of 71 year 8 months and 17 days. He is the founding father of the nation who stood against the combined oppression of the British colonial rulers and Hindu Baniya's deception and cruelty. Muslims of the subcontinent struggled under his able leadership that culminated in formation of an independent country called Pakistan where we live today with freedom to exercise our rights.

Quad-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born on Dec. 25, 1876 in Karachi. He spent his childhood in Karachi where he also received his schooling at Sindh Madrassah-tul-Islam. Later he moved to England for an apprenticeship in a firm of his friend's business partner but he had a change of hearts so he pursued education in law. He was interested in the theatre and used to play roles in Shakespearean plays. He keenly attended the proceedings of British parliament. So his education in law, his skills in drama especially delivery of dialogues and attending the parliamentary sessions played an important role in determining the course of his careers as a lawyer and a politicians and he excelled in both of them. He not only became one of the most expensive and successful lawyers in the subcontinent but he started to participate in the politics and his natural stop was National Congress started by David Hume. He also participated in Home Rule League created by Ms Annie Besant. However, slowly the Hindus took over the AINC and Gandhi became the president. Since he was wanted to a peaceful coexistence between the Muslims and Hindus of the subcontinent and he wanted them to struggle for their rights and independence together, he joined All India Muslim League in 1914 though it had been created in 1905. He tried to play the role of an ambassador of peace between the Hindu dominated AINC and Muslim dominated AIML for 5 years until 1919 when he principally left AINC due the duplicitous dealings of the Hindu Baniyas.

However, things were not that good in AIML for him since most of the people were not as principled, educated and aware as him and many had many different ideas so it really tested his patience until he gave up and went to live in London as solitary life. However, AIML leadership knew his worth so they sent delegates to London to convince him and bring him back to the subcontinent.

He returned with a new determination and AIML got united under his leadership and after a long tiring struggle of million of the Muslims of the subcontinent, the subcontinent was divided into Pakistan (consisting of areas of IVC) and Gangadesh (consisting of areas irrigated by the River Ganges). Gangadesh adopted the India.

@django @Indus Pakistan @Slav Defence

Thank you for that. Great summary. I would say the British united Indus and Ganga. Jinnah disunited Indus and Ganga. Status Quo ante 98 years later.

United - 1849
Disunited -1947

 

[Ali Tariq]

"With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve".
"You have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of Islamic democracy, Islamic social justice and the equality of manhood in your own native soil".

All I can say is, 'Thank you Baba Ji'...

 

[war&peace]

Thank you for that. Great summary. I would say the British united Indus and Ganga. Jinnah disunited Indus and Ganga. Status Quo ante 98 years later.

United - 1849
Disunited -1947

Indus and Ganga were united under Muslim rule for 500 years as well but configuration was different.
Britishers had a big hole in their rear created by Hitler the great so the scumbags had to leave anyway and that was the condition under which armies from the subcontinent went to Europe to save British asses.

 

[Ali Tariq]

In memoriam: Jinnah — the man that he was

Quaid-e-Azam viewing the parade at RPAF Risalpur - 1948

Privileged to be the first A.D.C. to the Quaid-i-Azam for the first seven months, I cherish the memories of many unforgettable moments of being in his service: The flight from Palam (Delhi) airport to Karachi on August 07, 1947; feelings of achievement and pride on setting the first step on Pakistani soil; the state drive on August 14; historic Royal Proclamation formalising the birth of Pakistan; hauling down of the Union Jack that flew for over a hundred years on top of official buildings and unfurling of the Pakistan flag for the first time in its place on the Sindh Assembly building on August 14. These are some of the cherished moments of my life.

When I went to take leave of Quaid-i-Azam before I left for Risalpur to serve the Air Force I took with me one of his photographs to be autographed by him as a memento. He looked at it and went to his private study and came back with his prized photograph, dressed in a three-piece suit and standing in front of the marble fireplace in the living room of his Malabar Hill residence in Bombay. This photograph was taken by the photographer of Life and Time magazines in 1945 and was their copyright. Quaid-i-Azam liked the photograph.

The government approached the magazines for permission for the photograph to be adopted as the official photograph. The magazines refused permission and sent six complimentary copies. Quaid-i-Azam brought one of those copies for me. When he was about to ink his autograph I ventured to suggest that he may kindly autograph it on his suit leg where it would be more prominent. He looked at me with his penetrating eyes as if saying, “You fool, I do not want to spoil the crease of my trousers” and without saying anything, autographed it on the carpet that he was standing on.

He extended his hand for the first time during my service with him and said “Good Luck”. I caught hold of his hand and looked into his eyes. He read my feelings and gave my longing eyes a nod to kiss his hand, which was rare. He always abhorred display of such feelings of affection but he gave me this honour.

But the most nostalgic of all my interactions with him was my last breakfast with the Quaid-i-Azam on April 13, 1948 in the PAF Officers Mess in Risalpur.

At the flying school, Risalpur, the Governor General reviewed a smartly turned out parade and declared the Air Force flying school as the Pakistan Air Force Flying College. The parade over, the Governor General was escorted to the Air Force Officers Mess, where he was to have his breakfast. Immediately after the parade I was rushed to the Mess to receive the Governor General.

He was pleased to see me and remarked, “So you are here Rabbani, how are you?” While entering the reception hall, he looked at me with a glint in his eyes and asked, ‘Mr First, are there any more firsts here?” (There is a story behind this remark of the Quaid). I replied, “Yes sir, Risalpur is very proud today. You are the first head of state to ever visit this place.” He smiled.

I had prepared a table plan for the head table. My own seat was diagonally opposite the Governor General’s and directly facing Miss Jinnah. After serving grapefruit, cereal was passed which the Governor General refused as usual. The next dish was a surprise for the Governor General — it was ‘siri paya’. I was watching his reaction. He was pleasantly surprised and before taking a helping, he looked at me and nodded his head twice. ‘Siri paya’ was Quaid’s favourite dish and he occasionally liked to have it at breakfast. I had specially arranged for it to be served to him that morning. Miss Jinnah could not contain herself and smilingly remarked. “Rabbani, so you have been disclosing home secrets.”

Breakfast over, the Quaid stayed for another few minutes and left. I was the last to see him off. This was my last interaction with him and the most memorable moment of my life. Before departing he put his hand on my shoulder, which was rare for him, in fact very rare, and said, “It is now your turn young man to come to Karachi. Good luck.”

These were the last words spoken to me by the founder of Pakistan, which reverberate in my ears, loud and clear, and I still feel the touch of his hand on my shoulder. It was a rare honour and the joy it gave me was unbounded. I was overwhelmed.

I always long for its replay, which I know is not possible. It is history now and it will not repeat itself. I have been to Karachi many times since but alas not to the Governor General’s house but to his mausoleum to pay him my homage.

He was always a man of principle, but he was supremely a man of pride. Some people took his pride for arrogance but this was not so. It was true that he indulged no one and was always formal and correct to the point of perfection. No one dared take liberties with him.

------------------------------------------------

By Ata Rabbani - Dawn News

 

[AHMED85]

 

[El Sidd]

Jinnah is dead. Nation mourns

 

[M. Sarmad]

“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.”

― Stanley Wolpert, Jinnah of Pakistan

 

[Ali Tariq]

Jinnah's concern for economy in the government's spending

By Qutubuddin Aziz


The Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who assumed the reins of office as the first Governor General of Pakistan, on August 14, 1947, exercised the utmost economy in authorising government spending on his high office as Governor General and his own person. He kept a strict watch on the official expenditure on the Governor General's House in Karachi and his person. Having refused to accept the high salary to which he was entitled as the Governor General, the Quaid-i-Azam shunned the huge expenditure in vogue in India and other Commonwealth countries on the gubernatorial establishment and personally examined every month the items of expenditure on the staff, services and utilities of the Governor General's House in Karachi. He instructed the staff to show care and economy in the consumption of electricity and piped water in the household. The Governor General was fully aware of the financial constraints the fledgling State of Pakistan was at that time suffering from. In Karachi, there was shortage of electricity and piped water. According to the Quaid's sister, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, at times the Governor General, instead of burdening the State Exchequer, bore some part of the monthly administrative expenditure on the Governor General's House from his personal funds which he brought into Pakistan through his bankers in Mumbai. He took only a token sum of Rupee ONE per month as his official salary from the Government of Pakistan. As one of the leading barristers in India, Jinnah's income from his professional fees and profits from corporate investments was considerable, indeed more than his budgeted salary as Pakistan's Governor General. He still used his old Packard Limousine, which was brought from Mumbai to Karachi. It was very well maintained and the Quaid-i-Azam bore the expenses of maintaining it. He retained the services of his old chauffeur who had served him most devotedly in Mumbai and opted to serve him in Karachi. Jinnah had purchased the Packard Limousine some 15 years ago through the good offices of a commercial firm in Calcutta headed by his most devoted party colleague, Mirza Abul Hasan Ispahani. The Pakistan Foreign Office and the Protocol wing of the government impressed upon the Governor General the urgent need for him to have a new suitable Limousine for use in Karachi and a new aircraft for his use on State duty. The Quaid-i-Azam called for a report from the government on what kind of Limousines and aircraft were in use for heads of State in other Commonwealth countries.

The Quaid-i-Azam felt utterly surprised when he learnt from Prime Minister Liaquat Ali the details of the lavish spending by the British Indian Government on the office of the Viceroy and his person and family in New Delhi "This expenditure is too huge for our new State, we cannot afford it. Cut my budget to the barest minimum. I can live decently in Karachi with my own funds. We need more funds urgently for Kashmir and refugee rehabilitation, he said. "I don't need a new Limousine, my Packard is still a beauty and runs well. I can use commercial aircraft and Air Force planes for travel in the country," thus spoke Governor General Jinnah to his Prime Minister. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Sir Zafarullah Khan took it upon himself to explain to the Quaid-i-Azam the rationale and need for getting a suitable Limousine and aircraft for his use on State duty. The Governor General finally agreed but instructed that Ambassador M.A.H. Ispahani in Washington D.C. should look into the matter i.e. buying a suitable new Limousine and a small aircraft in the USA for the use of the Governor General in Pakistan. The Quaid-i-Azam was pleased when Ambassador Ispahani suggested the purchase of a new Super Cadillac and wrote that the manufacturer of General Motors would give a very substantial discount in the listed price for the new model. The Quaid-i-Azam got a detailed report on the Limousine, the net price payable, and the time when it would be delivered in Karachi. He also got a report on which other countries were using Cadillacs for their heads of State, heads of Government and Ambassadors. The Quaid-i-Azam, suggested that as Pakistan has a left-hand traffic system, the Cadillac should have a left hand drive system. He also wanted assurances from the manufacturers that spare parts needed for the vehicle would be made available in Pakistan quickly. General Motors offered to install many new gadgets, facilities and conveniences inside the Cadillac at small expense such as long distance telephone. The offer was accepted largely because the amount was small. Knowing the wishes and mood of the Governor General, Ambassador Ispahani managed to bring about reduction in the cost of shipment, boxing the car and insurance for its journey from the USA to Karachi in Pakistan. Ambassador Ispahani made himself conversant with every item of the transaction and the schedule for the delivery of the Limousine in Karachi. Ispahani to Governor General Jinnah intimated every bit of the transaction. The Quaid was a hard taskmaster and Mr Ispahani knew his penchant for the minutes' detail and absolute transparency.

The exchange of correspondence about the purchase of the Cadillac Limousine between Ispahani and Governor General Jinnah is amply covered in a hefty 1948 book: M.A. Jinnah Ispahani Correspondence 1936-1948 edited by Z.H. Zaidi and launched in Karachi by Ispahani in a crowded press conference at his residence in the presence of his gracious wife, Begum Ghamar Ispahani.

Seemingly, the Governor General was a bit annoyed when the delivery of the Limousine ordered from the USA through our Embassy there was delayed. In his letter dated December 11, 1947, to Ispahani, Governor General Jinnah wrote... "What about my car? It was to be delivered in the middle of November and here we are now in the middle of December and I have not yet heard as to what has happened to it. Please let me know how the matter stands because I want the car very badly." In his letter of December 20, 1947, from the Pakistan Embassy in Washington D.C Ambassador Ispahani informed the Governor General of Pakistan that the Cadillac had reached New York from Detroit, its place of manufacture by General Motors and it will be placed on board a ship bound for Karachi before the end of next week. I am sure you will like the automobile. In this letter, Ispahani also enclosed a photograph of the new 20-passenger Model 34 Beechcraft aeroplane, which had successfully completed its initial flight test on October 1, 1947, and can be bought at a reasonable price for use of the Governor General in Pakistan. In his letter dated January 8, 1948, Ambassador Ispahani informed the Governor General of Pakistan that the Cadillac booked for him was shipped on S.S. Explorer which left the USA on December 29 and it was due to reach Karachi port in the first week of February.

In a letter sent to Ambassador Ispahani from Government House in Lahore, Jinnah did not approve of buying an aircraft of quarter million dollars from the Beechcraft Corporation, saying that the Governor General of Pakistan cannot afford to travel in an aircraft, which will cost more than fifteen lakhs in rupees. The Governor General seemed to have opted for a slightly less expensive aircraft of Vickers Armstrong whose Viking planes were in use in India and Pakistan for civil purpose and he said in his reply to Ispahani that the Viking prices were not unreasonable, and taking everything into consideration I am trying to negotiate with them. Another difficulty with the Beechcraft plane was servicing while it's for the Vikings posed no problem.

It was also suggested to the Quaid-i-Azam that along with the Cadillac ordered for him, he should have a second Limousine. Ambassador Ispahani proposed from Washington that the Governor General should have a 1948 Super Packard or a new Lincoln. A substantial diplomatic discount was offered for either car. The Quaid-i-Azam studied the literature pertaining to the two cars but when he learnt from the Pakistan Ambassador in Washington D.C that the Cadillac car ordered for him had been boxed and shipped from the USA to Karachi, he immediately informed Ambassador Ispahani that he would not like to have a second car. He looked forward to get the Cadillac in Karachi because the number of top ranking foreign dignitaries visiting Pakistan were multiplying briskly and at times they had to ride with the Governor General in his official car from the Karachi Airport to Governor General's House in the heart of the city. The meticulous care with which the Pakistan Governor General attended to official work, is evidenced by Ambassador Ispahani's letter of October 20, 1948, from the Pakistan Embassy in Washington D.C to him in Karachi in which the Ambassador wrote that he had received the letter of the Military Secretary to Jinnah, Colonel Birnie dated October 21, 1948, advising him of the remittance to him of 6,000 US dollars to meet the cost and other charges incurred on account of the Cadillac car.

In a letter dated November 3, 1947, from Washington D.C Ambassador Ispahani informed the Governor General that the aircraft for his use from the Beechcraft Corporation would cost around a quarter million dollars. A super aircraft offered by the Consolidated Vultee Corporation of the USA whose details Ispahani sent to the Governor General in Karachi would have cost half a million dollars, a price which was not acceptable to the Quaid-i-Azam. After carefully examining all the offers and the prices involved, the Governor General showed a preference for the Viking plane offered by Vickers Armstrong, which was a little less expensive than all the other offers. The Governor General called for reports on each offer from the Pakistan Air Force experts to ensure that the aircraft Pakistan was buying for its Governor General was technologically the best for the very reasonable price he would agree to pay for it. It should be remembered that the time when the Quaid-i-Azam was personally examining this matter in Karachi he was not in the best of health and his physicians were pressing him to shift to Quetta or Ziarat.

 

[war&peace]

Jinnah is dead. Nation mourns

He lives on through each of patriotic and good Pakistani and till Pakistan lives.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Indus and Ganga were united under Muslim rule for 500 years as well but configuration was different.

I was talking about the point prior to British uniting Indus with Ganga in 1849. If you choose to go before that then of course there is tide of history which swings everywhere along the 5,000 year timeline.

At one point Indus was even united to Helles [Greece] and Macedonia in Europe. At others with Central Asia. At other with Persia. At others as stand alone kingdoms. However when talking of the 1947 event only 1849 is applicable simply because those are two events that are two ends of the same pole - British Rule.

 

[El Sidd]

He lives on through each of patriotic and good Pakistani and till Pakistan lives but you will soon be dead and forgotten.

You do realize i am basically writing Newspaper clippings of that fateful day.

No need to get itchy

 

[war&peace]

You do realize i am basically writing Newspaper clippings of that fateful day.

No need to get itchy

How can I realise when there is no source..no referece..just simple one liner ?
Rather you should have shared the image of the newspaper.

 

[El Sidd]

How can I realise when there is no source..no referece..just simple one liner ?
Rather you should have shared the image of the newspaper.

Ok