Jaswant Singh and Donald Rumsfeld.—File photo
When I was invited to contribute a piece for Dawn commemorating Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s birthday, I readily agreed, principally because the Quaid, amongst others, moulded the history and geography of our subcontinent.
What then was Jinnah’s dream of ‘after Partition’? What also therefore, of the present state of affairs in Pakistan; or of Indo-Pak relations?
Space does not permit a detailed examination of the full canvas, just a fragment must suffice.
In a press meet on 14 November, 1946, in New Delhi, Jinnah when asked about the future of the ‘communal situation’ in a yet to be born Pakistan, said: “This tension which exists – that one nation is going to rule the other – will cease. These minorities will then settle down as minorities. They will realise minorities can live only as minorities and not as a dominant body’. …then I think you will have really a stable and secure government in Pakistan… Why should there then be a national quarrel?”
He further added: “Unless you say we are reduced to bestiality I do not see any reason why the Muslim(s) in Pakistan should not deal with the minorities in a most generous way”.
Jinnah then also dismissed ‘Pan-Islamism’ as an “exploded bogey” and declared, “whatever others might say, I think that these two states of Pakistan and Hindustan, by virtue of contiguity and mutual interests will be friends in this subcontinent… They will go to each other’s rescue in case of danger and will be able to say ‘hands off’ to other nations. We shall then have a Monroe Doctrine more solid than in America…”. Adding thereafter: “Pakistan and Hindustan alone will mean freedom to both Hindus and Muslims”.
Sounds sadly ironic today, does it not? For this unquestionably was the dream, the hope; reality, alas, has turned out to be so starkly different. The central need, however, has remained constant, in 1947 as now: for a little more understanding, some grater accommodation of the other’s viewpoint; accepting the limitations of imported concepts, notions and transient ‘isms’; for all these have in reality been ground to dust by time; indeed by the very experience of living as neighbours; by failing to respect the dictates of geography, at our own cost.
And here I do wish to share with readers in Pakistan only some portions of a memorable speech that late Maulana Abul Kalam Azad delivered in Jama Masjid, Delhi, on 23 October 1947: He said: “There is no use recounting the events of the past seven years, nor will it serve any good… (This) gloom cast upon (our) lives is momentary; I assure you we can be beaten by none save our own selves. I repeat… again today; eschew… your mistrust… “Where are you going and why? Raise your eyes. The minarets of Jama Masjid… ask you a question. Where have you lost the glorious pages from your chronicles? Was it not only yesterday that on the banks of the Jamuna, your caravans performed wuzu? …Remember, Delhi has been nurtured with your blood. Brothers! Create a basic change in yourselves. Today, your fear is as misplaced as your jubilation was yesterday…”
That is why I add that we are, India and Pakistan are both integral to South Asia, irremediably; as parts of it, though, now not as conjoined twins; and to paraphrase Churchill, “We are linked but not compromised, we are interested and associated” but as separates.
The nature, the structure and the economic context of Pakistan is and will always remain in South Asia; that too is an unalterable dictate of our common history and a united yet separate geography. Neither Pakistan nor India can be a mere spectator to events in this subcontinent, they partner them.
Isn’t that what Jinnah meant when he spoke of the ‘virtue of contiguity’?
–The writer a member of Indian Parliament, former Finance, Defence & External Affairs Minister, and the author of Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence (2009)
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An article well written by a diplomat very diplomatically gives the account of Quaid’s vision for a country and the quotes from Maula Azad just to undermine Quaid’s vision and promote the idea of united India in a subtle way. Quaid hardly lived 13 months and did not have the chance of sowing the seeds of his vision. Maulana on the contrary talks of the Muslim past and lived many years after independence just to be sidelined by Nehru. Quaid’s vision did not come true and was that his fault or the people who ruined his vision? The writer fails to mention a clear vision of Maulana and if any did that vision come true for the Muslims of India? The facts on the contrary suggest that Indian Muslims are fallen in ranks below the delits (untouchables)
all i want with billion others is prosperity of pakistan. lv u bros
Good article…do the school history books in Pakistan teach what Jinnah’s vision was.
Could I request any kind reader to post links to referenced 14nov 1946 press conference by Jinnah and oct 23, 1947 speech by Maulana Azad. Thanks.
We can not rewrite the history but we sure can learn and set pace of our future by keeping it in perspective. People elect or select their leaders, its not the other way around if only we choose them wisely in time then I think we can over come some of our short comings.
Quad never ever imagined that Military and ISI will take over and rule Pakistan after he is gone. Had he known , not asked for a separate state of Pakistan. the history would have been different for better or worst than today.
Very well put by Jaswant Singh ji. Pakistan and India can surely contribute, rather lead, the world to progress and development. Lets break the walls of hatred, mistrust and rivalry. As a south asian, I would surely like to visit Pakistan, without fearing for anything.
As I understand it as a follower of Jinnah from my childhood is that he wanted a Muslim majority area to be governed by Muslims in order to protect them from historical animosity in a secular and culturally Muslim state.He never ever wanted an Islamic theocratic state of shariah.
Very interesting,how it is that we were never told of such words of two most important muslim leaders of the time? Not only in Pakistan but in India too.
First of all on behalf of myself I apologise to Quaid that we could not make Pakistan that you once dreamt. . .! As far as the present state of the country is concerned, I will not blame the leaders that we got, I will not blame the circumstances in which we got this country and later, I will not blame the “strategic location” of my country too. . . .I will only blame each and every person including me, that have drawn a circle around, will not think beyond that . . . Why we were not able to break the shells of selfishness. . .Why every person looked the events from only his own vision. . .? Where was the Quid’s vision. . .? Just hanging the Quaid’s portraits on the walls of the offices of decision makers was fulfilling the commitment we had made. . . . ?? No it was not if it was then we had a better country to live in. Time is there as our country is there stilll a miracle. . . Let’s break our shells, work for our country and take this country to that level dignity and respect that our Quaid dreamt.
An understandably very diplomatic take on a very difficult topic for an Indian. If people like Jaswant Singh who are no longer in government and reside in the freer side of the India-Pakistan border cannot talk openly about a topic, it shows how much damage the partition caused to freedom in the subcontinent — hence all the miseries today. Nonetheless, being a diplomat that he is, Mr. Singh picked a Jinnah quotation that showed that Jinnah was edgy upon facing questions about the wisdom of the partition. Mr. Singh wanted his readers to draw their own conclusions. Then juxtaposing the quotation with excerpts from a speech by Azad that is more a reflection of angst toward the Hindu-Muslim tensions that the colonialists had sowed and that led to the partition to which the visionary like Azad was opposed than a reinforcement of the image of Jinnah Dawn wanted Mr. Singh to trumpet. Well done, Mr. Singh.
Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Jinnah dream can still be fulfill if the politicians of all subcontinent countries Bangladesh ,India,Nd Pakistan come to logical reasons. The European started the EC, the Americans stated NAFTA, also NATO. Why can’t the politicians of the subcontinent can get their minds together for building a mutual alliances. The subcontinent have all the natural resources, manpower and educated mass media. Money is not a problem. If you can build a thriving economy the world will throw money at you.
Jaswant Singh, Manmohan Singh should take the lead. Finding a honest Pakistani politician will be hardest thing. Bangladesh politician are willing.
Combine Pakistan + Bangladesh + India again that will result in a super duper power!!!
“I assure you we can be beaten by none save our own selves.” How true!
History has chosen India and Pakistan to be neighbours and they cannot avoid to be this. Moreover,, for the development and the solidity of South Asia, they have to work together by solving their mutual problems with the Qaid’s deep farsight.
India and Pakistan are natural brothers sharing common culture and divided by artificial religious hatred whereas other friendships with Arab counties, USA ,Russia and China are artificial based on equation of politics between India and Pakistan relations. Once we have better relations between two countries, the two will be able to pursue more natural policies with other nations.
Kashmir problem can be solved by making Line of Control as International boundary. It is not the only problem in front of both the nations.
It is always good to talk about Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his dream of Pakistan. But, What is important is to have a leader who can sincerely analyze on, Why did it go wrong?….. What were the factors which deviated from the path of Jinnah?
Unfortunately, in Pakistan, the leaders have been either from Military or the ones who want to appease the military.
When there has been animosity built up already by previous wars, these leaders only contribute towards more animosity.
That is why Pakistan needs a such a Charismatic true leader who can control the military very effectively and lead to a path of progress. Until then, the animosity will feed to greater animosity.
Agreed Mr. Jaswant Singh but what to do of manipulation of the history in Pakistan. Students and people have never been told the golden words of Quid for Hindus and Muslims “friends of each other” and “go for the rescue of each other”. Pakistan still continues to exist as a “security state” and its India-centric policy does not help overcome some very basic problems. Quid’s dream is to live peacefully so lets strive for it.
Jinnah’s Pakistan is cut in half, if we want that half to survive than we must return to Jinnah’s Vision of Pakistan. Vision which he spelled out in his various speeches and specially the one he delivered on August 11, 1947
Very Well written. India and Pakistan need to adopt a regional approach. We need to shun interference by Extra regional forces in our affairs. Both these nations can maintain their separate identities and integrate in terms of trade and security. Our conflicts are not as complex as European nations once had. If they can rise above the differences why cant we. Islam has been part of South Asia for over a millinieum. The future of India and Pakistan lies in mutual respect and cooperation and not the conflict and aggression. Quaid had the same vision of Indo Pak relations.
Nice to read learned views of Jaswant Sahib, in my humble view, if we Pakistanis are lucky enough to have future leaders with half the mental calibre of the writer of the piece, then I am sure the future will not be all doom and gloom.
Malik sahab don’t let the secular voice of the common Pakistanis get immersed in the cacophany raised by anti-peace and anti-development elements….sooner or later u will be bestowed with a leader having the qualities of the Quaid..if winter comes can spring be far behind?
Its very painful,those dreams couldnt come true.
We need to go back to the reason Pakistan was created,we need to follow Quaids dream and idea not what we are following now. Learn from your history,rise up and shine like a nation we were meant to be.