Secular and Nationalist Jinnah

"Secular and Nationalist Jinnah" is a book about Muhammed Ali Jinnah written by Dr Ajeet Javed of JNU Delhi.

An interesting book which appreciates the 'greatness' of Jinnah while claiming that Pakistan was his fall-back position when he failed to convince Congress hardliners about a greater share for Muslims in the Post-British power structure.

Highlights

* Jinnah started taking part in politics from the Indian National Congress platform after returning from London in 1904. He delivered his first political speech in 1906 at the Calcutta meeting of the Indian National Congress.

* Jinnah supported the moderates against hardliners when Congress faced internal split in the Surat meeting in 1907.

* Jinnah considered politics as a gentleman's passion: he refused to attend and even condemned the Bombay Bar Association meeting held to celebrate the award of Knighthood to Justice Davar because he had joined the Government in convicting a nationlist leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak earlier.

* Jinnah firmly believed in constitutional struggle for the freedom of India but he refused to condemn Bhagat Singh. Singh was a socialist and nationalist who had thrown a bomb without life-threatening parts in the parliament (when Jinnah was present) and later given himself up to police so that he could use the courtroom as a propaganda office. Later, Jinnah was the loudest voice [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/08/08/stories/2005080801672000.htm When Jinnah defended Bhagat Singh - The Hindu] ] in the parliament for understanding the route to freedom which Mr. Singh had chosen.

* Jinnah was offered several high profile jobs during his political career to compromise his integrity but he refused them with contempt. These offers included opportunities to become a Judge in the Bombay High Court, a member of the Central Legistlative Council, Knighthood ("I prefer to be called Mr. Jinnah"), and Governorship of Bombay etc.

* The book refers to Muhammad Ali Jinnah's 11th August Speech as evidence of his commitment to secularism even after championing a Muslim cause and winning a separate country on its basis.

References