Role Played By Muhammad Ali Jinnah for The Independence of India and Pakistan

Introduction:

Founder of Pakistan and leader of Muslim league Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born on 25th December 1876.He got early his education from Karachi and went to England for higher studies. He studied law at Lincoln Inn. After that he became a successful lawyer in Bombay and started practicing there. He was one of the greatest leaders of history and had true leadership qualities. Prof Stanley said:

"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"  (Prof. Stanley Wolpert, 1984)

He started his political career in 1906 by joining Congress and achieved many important goals for the independence of India

 

Political Career:

Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted the Independence of India from British government so he joined Congress and worked hard to achieve his goal.He wanted Muslims and Indians to live together peacefully.

He went to the delegation group as a member of Congress to plead the cause of self-government. He also made first speech in resolution of self government at the Calcutta Congress session and was elected as a member of legislative council in 1910.

 He understood that for the Independence of India, people of India will have to be united. So he joined Muslim League in 1913 without leaving Congress and worked for the peace and understanding among Hindus and Muslims and responsible for the success of Congress-League pact. The Lucknow pact brought revolution in Indian Politics and became the basis for Montagu Chemlsford Reforms. Because of this act, congress for the first time gave Muslims their position and accepted their demand for separate electorate. This was a great achievement which earned Jinnah the title of Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity. But eventually congress disappointed him and he started thinking about the other solutions or ways to achieve the position and rights of Muslims.

 

Demand for the separate homeland:

As time passes Muhammad Ali Jinnah realized that congress only supports Hindus so he left congress in 1920 and devoted himself for the rights of Muslims. Soon he came to a realization that only a separate homeland would be the solution of the problems. He took charge of Muslim league in 1933 and converted it into a strong political party.

 In 1928, when Nehru ignored Muslims in his report and insisted that there is only one nation in India i-e Hindus, Jinnah rejected his report and came up with his "Fourteen points". In which he made clear that there are two different nations in India and demanded the rights of Muslims through his constitutional reforms. His fourteen points were rejected. Moreover, 1937 elections convinced Jinnah that partition of India was the only solution to safeguard Muslim rights as congress rejected to include League in government.

After all the attempts of peace making between the two nations got failed, Lahore resolution was passed on 23rd March 1940. Where Jinnah, and other leaders of Muslim League put forward the demand for the separation of India officially. There he was given the title of Quaid-e-Azam (greatest leader of the nation) and Lahore resolution was given the name "Pakistan resolution" by Indian press.

Jinnah said:

"We should have a State in which we could live and breathe as free men and in which we could develop according to our own lights and culture and where principles of Islamic social justice could find free play."

 Under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam, Muslims of India stood up for their rights and Muslim league became a popular party. The results of 1945-46 amazed everyone as Muslim League won the majority of the seats reserved for Muslims. Muslim League continued its efforts for the partition of India and convinced British for the partition of India. British found no way to reject the demand for a new land because of Quaid's strategy and firm attitude. So Independence of India act was signed by both party leaders in 1947, August. Pakistan came into being on 14th August. Jinnah was the first Governor general of Pakistan.

"It is only with united effort and faith in our destiny that we shall be able to translate the Pakistan of our dreams into reality" -Muhammad Ali Jinnah

 

He continued to work hard for the well being of his country and fell ill. He died on 11th September,1948 and buried in Karachi.

"Mr. Jinnah, was great as a lawyer, once great as a Congressman, great as a leader of Muslims, great as a politician and diplomat, and greatest of all as a man of action, By Mr. Jinnah's passing away, the world has lost one of the greatest statesmen and Pakistan its life-giver, philosopher and guide"  (Surat Chandra Bose)

 He changed the destiny of Muslims by his determination and struggle. He is considered as the greatest leader that people of Pakistan ever had.