LAHORE:
The 9th of July marked the 54th death anniversary of Madr-e-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah. One of the greatest female figures in Pakistan’s history breathed her last in Karachi at the age of 71 and was laid to rest next to her brother, the Quaid-e-Azam.
Fatima Jinnah played a pivotal role in the Pakistan Movement. She was an ardent supporter of the two-nation theory and strongly opposed the British rule. She devoted her life, working side by side with her brother, in rallying the women of the sub-continent onto a single platform to fight against the British occupation. After the partition, she co-founded the Pakistan Women’s Association which aimed to provide women migrants with rehabilitation. Fatima Jinnah steered a new era of active women participation in national politics while upholding democratic norms. In 1964, she took part in the presidential election in an attempt to end the dictatorial rule of General Ayub Khan. The display of inexhaustible energy, unrelenting stamina and unflagging enthusiasm in the face of hostile and vicious attacks by the opponents during the election campaign left everyone speechless. Glancing at the various vicissitudes of her revered and respected life, she emerged as the trendsetting modern progressive Muslim woman who stood shoulder to shoulder with her male counterparts while contributing to the social uplift and welfare of the community.
Besides the state diplomatic protocol of celebrating Fatima Jinnah’s 54th death anniversary, one comes across only a handful of citizens paying tribute to this icon. Social media platforms which should be swarmed with her remembrance remained relegated to the routine mudslinging political commentary and glossy celebrity pictures. Did our forefathers envision a Pakistan where the coming generations would relegate them to the archives of history? This indifference needs to be seriously addressed as we owe our independence to the lifelong struggles of legendary figures such as Fatima Jinnah.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2021.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
