KARACHI:
On 11th September, we observed the 73rd death anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Jinnah dedicated his entire life to creating a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent. However, the nation lost their Quaid untimely — a little more than a year after Pakistan came into being. Jinnah’s death deprived the country of someone who would have aptly navigated through the crises that came in the wake of the partition of the subcontinent. Had Jinnah lived longer, maybe Pakistan would have found the answers to innumerable complicated questions and confusing conundrums that we continue to face today. His early demise took away a chance for Pakistan’s polity to mature and democratic institutions to stabilise. Had he lived longer, he could have led our nation towards growth and prosperity from its infancy.
Considering that his world views were greatly influenced by his time spent in England, Jinnah would have opted for a structure of governance like what Nehru adopted in India. In addition, Jinnah would have not approved of religious fundamentalism that emerged very early on in Pakistani history.
Under normal circumstances, the passing away of one man does not mean so much. However, the void left behind after the death of Jinnah can never be filled. Nations need heroes and Jinnah was Pakistan’s greatest hero. Throughout history no single man yielded as much power as him yet he remained uncorrupted by that power. Stanley Wolpert paid tribute to Jinnah in a befitting manner, “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.” As Pakistanis, we should applaud Jinnah’s tireless efforts not just on his death anniversary but every day.
Salma Tahir
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2021.
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