ALL
those who knew Quaid-i-Azam intimately, know very well that he did
never crack a joke merely for the sake of raising a laugh. He was too
self-controlling and disciplined a man to waste time on little things.
One thing he valued most was, Time. Time, he knew, can never return.
Shakespeare said: “Oh! Call back yesterday / bid time return”. But
Quaid-i-Azam never had the need to do so. He used every minute of his
life as carefully as he wanted to. Punctuality, keeping appointments and
never wasting a moment was his second nature.
He was
[once] arguing an appeal before the full bench of Bombay High Court. He
argued the whole day. The working time was up to 5pm. The judges asked:
“Mr. Jinnah, how much more time would you need to finish your side?” He
replied: “My Lord, hardly 15 minutes.”
Then the senior
judge [on the bench] said: “Could you continue for a few minutes longer
today and finish your address?” Normally, when a High Court judge says
so, no lawyer would decline. But not so with Mohammad Ali Jinnah. “My
Lord, I would love to do so, but I have a very important appointment
which I can just make in time if I leave the court at once.”
The
junior-most judge sitting on the left side of the chief justice
whispered to him to insist that the case be finished on the day. “That
is all right, Mr. Jinnah. We also have an appointment, but we like to
finish this today so that judgment can be delivered on Monday.” Out came
the reply from this great lawyer, shooting like a gun: “My Lords, the
difference between your Lordships and myself is that (raising his voice)
I keep my appointments.”
The three judges, Engilshmen,
all went more red in their face than they already were. They all rose as
if in a huff. Everybody got up and while the advocates bowed fully, the
judges seemed only to nod. It was thought that the solicitor, who had
instructed Jinnah, felt that this may affect the result of the case. The
next morning the judges appeared in a very good mood.
Advocacy
Mr Jinnah was absolutely on the top of the profession.
Therefore, naturally many lawyers tried their best to be allowed to work
with Mohammad Ali Jinnah but very few could be taken. Mr. Frank Mores,
then Editor of Indian Express, once wrote: “Watch him in the court room
as he argues his case. Few lawyers can command a more attentive
audience. No man is more adroit in presenting his case. If to achieve
the maximum result with minimum effort is the hallmark of artistry, Mr.
Jinnah is an artist in his craft. He likes to get down to the bare bones
of his brief in stating the essentials of his case. His manner is
masterly. The drab court rooms acquire an atmosphere as he speaks.
Juniors crane their necks forward to follow every movement of his tall
well-groomed figure. Senior counsel listen closely, the judge is all
attention; such was the great status of this top lawyer.”
Once
a very close friend whose request Mr. Jinnah could not decline came
with his son who had just returned from England as a full-fledged
barrister. He said: “Jinnah, please take my son in your chamber and make
him a good lawyer.”
“Of course, yes,” said Jinnah. “He
is welcomed to work in my chambers. I will teach him all I can. But I
cannot transmit my brilliance to him”. Then slowly he added: “He must
make his own brilliance.” This went into the heart of the young
barrister and he worked so hard on the briefs and the law that one day
he too became a great lawyer, but nowhere near the height of Mr. Jinnah.
People's enthusiasm
It was around 1936-37 that Quaid-i-Azam came to Karachi and
appeared before the Chief Court of Sind, as it then was, and appeared in
a very important case and three lawyers of Karachi appeared against
him. He had made a name as a lawyer long ago and in politics also he
figured as a giant personality.
Consequently the rush to
the court room consisting of lawyers, students and politicians was so
great that the court room was full to the brim. The entrance to the
court room had to be closed to stop any noise, so that judicial work
could be carried on with a decorum and dignity befitting the occasion.
But at the end of every hour, the door was ordered to be opened so that
those who wanted to go out or come in could do so. When the first
opening of the door at 12 O’clock occurred there was such a noise of
rush that it appeared that the judges would lose their temper.
“My Lords,” said Jinnah in very sweet, melodious voice, “these are my admirers. Please do not mind. I hope you are not jealous.”
There
was a beam of smile on the faces of judges and they appeared to be
magnetically charmed by the words of the great persuasive man. The door
remained opened and Quaid-i-Azam looked back on the crowd, raising his
left hand indicating that he desired them to keep quiet. The atmosphere
became absolute pin-drop silence as if by magic. The case proceeded for
two days.
Quaid and students
The Quaid-i-Azam was fond of students. He loved them
immensely. He always exhorted them to study hard. “Without education”,
he said, “all is darkness. Seek the light of Education”. In particular,
he was most attached to the Aligarh Muslim students. He used to visit
the Aligarh University as often as he could. In fact, in his will, he
left the entire residue of his property worth crores of rupees to be
shared by the Aligarh University, Sind Madressah and Islamia College,
Peshawar.
On one occasion at Aligarh after a hard day’s
work of meeting people, addressing the students as he was sitting in a
relaxed mood, he was told that one student, Mohammad Noman, was a very
fine artist of mimicry. He could impersonate and talk or make a speech
with all the mannerism of his subject. Quaid-i-Azam was told that this
student could impersonate him to such a degree that if heard with closed
eyes, Quaid-i-Azam will think that it was he himself who was speaking
and he will think as if he himself was talking to Quaid-i-Azam.
Quaid-i-Azam
sent for the student at once. The student asked for 10 minutes’ time to
prepare himself. After 10 minutes the student turned up dressed in dark
gray Sherwani, a Jinnah cap and a monocle, like Quaid-i-Azam. Of
course, he could not look like Quaid-i-Azam, but the appearance on the
whole was somewhat similar.
Then the student put on his
monocle and addressed an imaginary audience. The voice, the words, the
gestures, the look on his face and everything appeared like
Quaid-i-Azam. In fact, if he had spoken behind a screen without being
seen, the audience would have taken him to be Quaid-i-Azam speaking
himself. Quaid-i-Azam was very much pleased with the performance. But
when it was finished, the culmination came unexpectedly. Quaid-i-Azam
took off his own cap and monocle and presented to the student, saying:
“Now this will make it absolutely authentic.”
Purdah
In November, 1947, Quaid-i-Azam was in Lahore and he
personally supervised operation of the rehabilitation of refugees. One
day Quaid-i-Azam was invited to a girls college. The girls and ladies of
the staff did not observe purdah as he addressed them.
When
back at Government House, Quaid-i-Azam was in a humorous mood and
wanted to know why the ladies did not observe purdah. His sister, Miss
Fatima Jinnah, said: “That was because they regarded you as an old man.”
“That
is not a compliment to me,” said Quaid-i-Azam. Liaquat Ali Khan, who
was present, said: “That was because they regarded you as a father”.
“Yes, that makes some sense.”
Man of character
Quaid-i-Azam was a man of such a strong character that he
could not be easily attracted toward anyone, including women. Excepting
his wife, there is no instance whatsoever of anyone at whom he glanced
in love.
Once in Bombay, where he had gone to an English
club to relax after hard day’s work, he played cards. The game was
called Forfeit. It was played among four persons – two gentlemen and two
ladies. Tradition required that the lady who lost the game must offer
to be kissed by the gentlemen who won. The lady indeed was very
attractive and she offered Quaid-i-Azam to be kissed by him.
Quaid-i-Azam said: “My lady, I waived my rights. I cannot kiss a lady unless I fall in love with her.”
Rose between thorns
On the 14th day of August, 1947, Lord Mountbatten with his
wife came to Karachi for the investiture ceremony of the
Governor-General of Pakistan. After Quaid-i-Azam was sworn in, the new
State of Pakistan was handed over to him legally, constitutionally and
with proper ceremony.
Lord Mountbatten proposed that
Quiad-i-Azam be photographed with Lord and Lady Mountbatten. Quaid took
it for granted, that, as usual etiquette requires, the lady will stand
between the gentlemen. So he told Lady Mountbatten: “Now you will be
photographed as the rose between the two thorns”. But Mountbatten
insisted that Jinnah should stand in the middle. He said that being a
Governor-General etiquette requires that Quaid-i-Azam should be in the
centre. Naturally, Quaid-i-Azam yielded.
And when Quaid-i-Azam stood between the two, Mountbatten said to him: “Now you are the rose between two thorns.” He was right.
Whenever
Quaid-i-Azam was cornered in a difficult situation, he proved greater
than his opponent. His political enemies always wanted to publicise that
Quaid-i-Azam was always with the Congress, but when the opportunity
came he switched over to Muslim League.
In December,
1940, Quaid-i-Azam visited London along with the Viceroy and Congress
leaders. He furnished details about Pakistan issue and quoted facts and
figures as to how the Congress had betrayed the trust of the Muslims.
One correspondent said to him: “Oh, you were also in the Congress once.”
Jinnah retorted: “Oh, my dear friend, at one time I was in a primary
school as well!”
Trick countered
In 1946, political agitation both by Congress and Muslim
League had reached its zenith. The British government, always master of
the art of side-tracking the main issue, suggested to Jawaharlal Nehru
that as very soon India will be handed over to them, so as a beginning
some Hindus and some Muslims should be taken in the Interim Cabinet.
Before that there was no such thing. The body which was functioning was
the Viceroy’s Executive Council. But Jawaharlal Nehru insisted that it
should be called a Cabinet. Example was shown that the Viceroy himself
calls it a Cabinet.
Quaid-i-Azam refused to do so. He
said the Cabinet is a constitutional body the members of which are
selected from the members of Parliament by the leader of majority. Here,
there is no such thing. It is purely an Executive Council and it cannot
become a Cabinet merely because you call it a Cabinet. A donkey does
not become an elephant because you call it an elephant.
Call for honesty
Gandhi always used to speak about his inner voice. He seemed
to create an impression that there is something spiritual within him,
which, in time of necessity, gives him guidance and he obeys it and
calls it his inner voice. As a matter of fact Gandhi often changed his
opinion and suddenly took the opposite stand. Quaid-i-Azam called it a
somersault.
Once having committed himself to a certain
point of view, he took a dramatically opposite stance. On the next day,
Gandhi maintained that his inner voice dictated him to take the opposite
view. Quaid-i-Azam lost his temper and shouted: “To hell with this
Inner Voice. Why can’t he be honest and admit that he had made a
mistake.”
In June 1947, partition was announced by Lord
Mountbatten. He insisted on an immediate acceptance of the plan.
Quaid-i-Azam said he was not competent to convey acceptance of his own
accord and that he had to consult his Working Committee. The Viceroy
said that if such was his attitude, the Congress would refuse acceptance
and Muslim League would lose its Pakistan. Quaid-i-Azam shrugged his
shoulders and said: “What must be, must be.”
In July
1948, Mr. M. A. H. Ispahani went to Ziarat where Quaid-i-Azam was
seriously ill. He pleaded with Quaid-i-Azam that he should take complete
rest as his life was most precious. Quaid-i-Azam smiled and said: “My
boy there was a time when soon after partition and until 1948, I was
worried whether Pakistan would survive. Many unexpected and terrible
shocks were administered by India soon after we parted company with
them. But we pulled through and nothing will ever worry us so much
again.
“I have no worries now. Men may come and men may
go. But Pakistan is truly and firmly established and will go on with
Allah’s grace forever”.
This story is part of a special feature on Jinnah on his 141st birthday. Read the report here, or visit the archive for a series of special reports under the banner of '70 years of Pakistan and Dawn.
about 14 hours ago
Ahhh.. Jinnah is love
about 14 hours ago
A man of honesty
about 14 hours ago
Love you.....Quid.....No parallel!
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