
Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah, like all major personalities in history, is a contradictory figure. Many, with different ideological backgrounds and motivations, claim him.
While these claims are an outcome of political and social vicissitudes, one would expect that at least there would be consensus over Jinnah’s year, date and city of birth. But it’s not so simple.
Several contradictory claims, almost each one with documentary evidence, have been made about Jinnah’s date and place of birth. Ghulam Ali Allana, a friend and biographer of Jinnah’s, mentions several different dates in Jinnah’s biography Quaid-e-Azam Jinnah: The Story of a Nation. Written originally in English, the book was translated into Urdu by renowned poet Rais Amrohvi. Both versions have been published by Ferozsons.
Records show different dates
On the page 19 of the Urdu version, Allana cites an enrollment register at Sindh Madressatul Islam in Karachi which states that Jinnah was enrolled into the school on 4th July, 1887. The records state his name as Mohammad Ali Jinnah Bhoy and city of birth as Karachi. His date of birth is not mentioned. Other entries are as follows: Age: 14 years; Sect: Khoja; Previous qualification: 4th standard Gujrati; Fee waived or to be paid: will be paid.
A second entry with the serial number 178 indicates that Jinnah was re-enrolled into Sindh Madressatul Islam on 23rd September, 1887. This time his date of birth is 20th October, 1875, and his previous qualifications are: First standard Anjuman-e-Islam Bombay.
A third entry made on 9th February, 1891 carries these details: Name: Mohammad Ali Jinnah Bhoy; Birthplace: Karachi; Date of Birth: 20th October, 1875; Sect: Khoja; Previous qualification: 4th standard; Fee waived or to be paid: Paid.
The last two entries in the school records raise questions about 25th December, 1876 being Jinnah’s official birthday. But, there is a lot more tenable evidence to support the official claim than the ones made by Allana’s in his biography of Jinnah.
For example, Sarojini Naidu, who was the first author to publish a Jinnah biography, Mohammad Ali Jinnah an Ambassador of Unity: His Speeches & Writings 1912-1917, has provided proof that 25th December is indeed Jinnah’s birthday. She cited Jinnah’s passport. At the same time, however, the document contradicts 1876 being his actual year of birth; according to Jinnah’s passport, his year of birth was 1875.
Controversies around his city of birth
Now to his city of birth, which also has twists and turns. Researcher and journalist Mazhar Laghari told me that most people in Sindh believe that Jinnah, as well as his grandfather Jinnah Bhoy Poonja, was actually born in Jhirk, Thatta, which at that time was an administrative part of Karachi.
Textbooks published by the Sindhi Adabi Board in 1950s and 60s mentioned Jhirk as Jinnah’s place of birth. Written by Dr. Omar Bin Abdul Aziz, these books were taught at primary schools in Sindh.
Here is an excerpt from a textbook for 7th standard students:
“Sindh’s proud son was born around three-quarters of a century ago in a village near Jhirk. His father was a poor trader. No one could have imagined that one day he would be ranked among the greatest people of the world. After completing his preliminary education, he passed his matriculation exams from Sindh Madressatul Islam.
Later, he got a loan of Rs 3,000 from Seth Noor Mohammad Laalan and went to England to become a barrister. English civilisation and education deeply influenced his life. After returning from England, he landed in Bombay, where he started to practice as a lawyer and earned great fame.
Here, under the influence of veteran Dadabhai Naoroji, he actively participated in political affairs. First, he joined Congress, but when he realised that the Hindu-dominated Congress would never promote Muslim interests, he parted ways with the Congress and founded the Muslim League. Valiant men like Maulana Mohammad Ali Jouhar also joined it, but Jinnah outgrew everyone, owing much to his great moral character and resilience.”
The issue of Jinnah’s birthplace surfaced during the time of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who formed a fact-finding committee which visited Jhirk to collect evidence such as school registry lists.
However, some of the Jhirk elders believe that the records had been taken away in 1967 by the Commissioner Hyderabad Masroor Ahsan, who was President Ayub’s and Nawab of Kalabagh’s blue-eyed boy. As divisional commissioner, he wielded more power than today’s provincial governor. Ahsan belonged to the Urdu-speaking community and some of the events during his tenure betrayed his alleged prejudice towards Sindhis, their culture, language, and history.
It was during Ayub’s era that Sindhi language was banned as medium of instruction in schools and universities. In this backdrop, it is easy to understand why Ahsan was accused of destroying the records about Jinnah’s ‘real’ birthplace: he wanted to deprive Sindhis of the honour that Jinnah was born in one of their towns.
No evidence of birthplace in Sindh
Myths aside, there is no proof that Jinnah was born in Jhirk. The town was well organised and all of the shops were registered and paid annual taxes. Its administrative records do not mention the names of Jinnah’s father and/or grandfather.
There is no documentary evidence to suggest that the Jinnah family lived in Jhirk when Mohammad Ali Jinnah was born. When Karachi was hit by the plague in around 1890, the family moved to a property owned by the Agha Khan in the modern-day Defence area of Karachi.
During these years they might have gone to Jhirk for a brief period, but it is too remote a possibility. And anyway, Jinnah would have been 16 by then.
Official documents show that Jinnah’s father lived in a rented house in Karachi from 1872 to 1880. It is difficult to believe that a man who lived in a metropolis would move to Jhirk, a town with few health facilities, at a time when his wife was about to give birth. There is no rationale for such relocation.
Yet, this does not prevent some from believing that Jinnah was born in a small Sindhi town. Former Minister of Culture in Sindh Sassui Palijo maintains that research conducted in 1990 proves that Jinnah was in fact born in Jhirk.
Wazir Mansion didn't exist at time of birth
But if you’re thinking that the mystery has been resolved, you’re wrong. After hearing all these stories, I wanted to figure out the case once and for all. I contacted renowned historian and archaeologist Kaleem Lashari, who came up with a new revelation.
It is widely believed that Jinnah was born at the Wazir Mansion in Karachi, but the truth is that the mansion was not even built at the time of his birth.
Jinnah’s exact birthplace is a house located close to the plot where the Wazir Mansion stands today.
According to Lashari, Fatima Jinnah told the commissioner of Karachi that the Wazir Mansion was their family house and that she was born and spent her childhood there. The government appropriated the house and compensated the owner Wazir Ali Alauddin by giving him another property.
At the same time, people took Wazir Mansion to be Jinnah’s birthplace as well, without ever inquiring if he was actually born there. They thought that if Fatima Jinnah was born at the mansion, Jinnah, too, must have been born in the same house.
Two houses and a double-storey building stood on the plot where the mansion would later be built in 1880, at least four to five years after Jinnah’s birth. Another small double-storey building and two houses stood on the adjoining plot. Both plots were bought by a man named Omar from the municipality in an auction.
The houses that stood on the land which would later be taken up by the Wazir Mansion was occupied by the owner of these houses. The double-storey house on the adjacent plot was being rented by Jinnah’s father and grandfather. Today, an apartment building named Ali Manzal stands there.
By the time the Wazir Mansion was built, both the plots belonged to Jinnah’s father.
Jinnah’s father and uncles began construction on this land and the Wazir Mansion was built by their company Jeevna Bhai Natha Bhai & Co. But the building had to be auctioned off since the company incurred huge losses in the process. In 1890, the mansion was sold for Rs 18,500.
The documents available with the sub-registrar show that the six-storey Ali Manzal, adjacent to the Wazir Mansion, stands at the exact same place where Jinnah’s father and grandfather lived in a small rented house around the same period of time when Jinnah was born.
This lends credibility to Lashari’s account that Jinnah was not born in Wazir Mansion but where Ali Manzal stands today.
I have visited the Wazir Mansion, which has been declared a national heritage and is dubbed Quaid-e-Azam’s birthplace. A memorial tablet in one of the rooms reads: “Mohammad Ali Jinnah was born in this room.”
No doubt, the property was constructed and owned by the Jinnah family, but to say that it is also the place of birth of the country’s founder might not be the most accurate statement.
This article was translated by Arif Anjum from the original published in Urdu.
Comments (34) Closed
My father, who is now 77 years old, told me when he was in his primary, he studied in the school books that Quaid – e – Azam was born in Jhirk town, District Thatta. Later his birthplace was changed from the books.
Sad, no body cared to keep correct record of such a great personality who gave them a nation.
it is his work and achievements which matters . all else are next .
Birth place of our founder is Jirak located in interior sind. The people of those areas knows well.
I am also witness that when I was in middle 7th or 8th (not sure) I was taught Jinnah was born in Jhirk (Jhirkan jo Shehar).
Sad that still there is disagreement on who Jinnah really was, and what he stood for
Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was born in Jhirk, District Thatta and as rightly mentioned by the author, it was even taught in 1950 to 1960 to the students of Sindh. Unfortunately, out of jealously, this historical fact was twisted and the later generation is made to know that Jinnah was actually born in Karachi and not in Jhirk just to lower the importance of a Sindhi nation, to whom belonged a great hero, who emancipated Muslims of India from the slavery of Hindus and English.
Can we have a search on this?
Such stories exist for all great people. But Fatima Jinnah's statement can be taken as most authentic.
Amazing.... we are more concerned with his birth place rather than his vision and policies.
Mr. Jinnah studied in India and did his Matriculation from Bombay,he also studied in London at the Lincoln's Inn and I am sure that at both places,his correct date of birth and place of birth must be mentioned in the educational records.I think it will be beneficial to take help from the educational institutes he studied in England and India to acquire his correct city of birth.This will hopefully end the debate once and for all about his date and city of birth.
Lets live in the present rather than living in the past. What difference this date of birth or place will have on starving children of Thar?
@haider shaikh , so did we, I am about the same age , and we read in our text book that Quaid was born in Jhirkan a small town near Karachi and he had his Primary education from Sindh Madrasa where he won scholarship for higher education in Bombay. Not sure what is correct or the text has been changed, in fact nothing wrong if he was born in small town.
Quaid e Azam: we are blessed to have such a great great great man as our founding father. A larger then life figure. A legend. One single man who stood up against a storm of opposition and showed what is possible to achieve with hard work, honesty, self respect and dedication.
I have never been to Karachi but have imagined my self standing at his tomb several times in my life saying: "Thank you so much!"
My father, who briefly worked with Quaid e Azam, always maintained that Mohemmad Ali Jinnah was born on the 25th December 1875 in the village of Paneli, Kathiawar, Gujrat.
Some time around 1877/78 the family shifted to Karachi where they had some business interests and property. It was after the infant Jinnah moved to Karachi that Wazir mansion was built and Ms Fatima Jinnah was born.
Therefore, he always maintained that Wazir mansion could not possibly be the birthplace of Jinnah. Sadly he died many years ago and I can no longer question him on this.
What we know is Mohmad Ali Jinha was born in Gujarat (India) , Dist. Junagadh , Vill. Bhatia and also studied & bought up in India.
how does it matter that where he was born? we all still respect him
Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah remains Quaid-e-Azam to me regardless where he was born or educated. He was a principled man with sound character and devoted to a cause create Pakistan which he did. Do not fall into petty talk and confuse yourself and others.
@SURYA KANT AGRAWAL . Yes I am sure you must have tears in your eyes.
An interesting article By Mr.Akhtar Balouch revolving around the mystery of Mr.Mohammad Jinnah the founder of Pakistan's birth place.
@Asad Baig Very good idea. Both the institutes may provide definite answers to undo the mystery.
@ANWAR Not true.
Couple of observations: 1. In our culture it is usual for a woman to go to her mother's house and have the baby there. Not finding Jinnah's father or grandfather's name in Jhirk at that time does not mean much. 2. It true of course that it does not matter as far as Jinnah is concerned where he was born - but, hiding his birthplace or causing confusion about it speaks volumes about the prejudices of his adoring fans.
I also studied in my primary education books that Quid-e-azam M.A Jinnah was born in Jhirk, Thatta, Sindh. In old days travelling by road, from Hyderabad to Karachi, we used to pass by Jhirk and pay our respects to his home town. Karachi was and is part of Sindh, Pakistan. Quid was born in Sindh and his ancestors were from Sindh. He was a Sindhi and a great leader. Other Sindhi leaders who loved Pakistan and have given their life for Pakistan and were hanged and killed in broad day light. I am talking about Z. A. Bhutto and Muhterma BB. Sindh has always loved and served Pakistan. People from other provinces of Pakistan are also equally sincere patriots. Long live Pakistan.
According to several authorities abroad as well as according to original rolls of Lincoln's Inn in London, UK, Quaid was definitely born in Karachi. There us no doubt about that. However, in this interesting article, the author raises some valid questions about actual locale/birthplace of Quaid. It is likely that his research might be true. At the same time, the Jinnah family's home later was Wazir mansion so the importance of this residence can't be underestimated either.
Bottom line We as a nation love our founder.
Jinnah was originally belongs to Jhirk and Sindhi... if Jinnah was born at karachi sindhi people also have no problem because both area of sindhi nation, one is village other is city...
One should care about his birthplace if it will bring some better change in the daily life of a common Pakistani. This narrative is nothing but a nationalist approach to associate a particular caste to the fonder of this poor, ill fated country which is infested with nepotism.
My Dear Akther Bloch: This is a good research. I would really like to read what Jinnah stands for, his vision, his mission and his efforts and compare that with our current leaders starting from Ayub Khan till 2017 vision, mission and efforts (If you can find any).
I myself read in our primary textbook during mid sixties that Quaid Azam born in Jhirk now part of Thatta district on national highway from Thatta to Hyderabad. At that time Thatta was part of Karachi district so might this anomaly arose which need rectification now.
@Inayatullah THEBo Sorry brother, all evidence points to Jinnah being a Gujrati or Kutchi and not a Sindhi by his ancestry. Yes he did grow up in Karachi so he could be termed a Sindhi on that count. Is it known if he even spoke the Sindhi language?
Is it not enough that a khoja shia ex bania extracted small piece of land from India on the name of islam to provide safe haven for deserters to hide.who left their brothers in battle field to struggle...
@pakistani : acc to BBC news pakistan have lowest recort in 'telling true history to there people'
Very informative writing. Thanks to the writer.