Quaid-e-Azam (Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is one of those greatest men who shaped the course of history. With his selfless and untiring efforts, he was able to get a homeland for the Muslims in the subcontinent of India. The might of the British and the cleverness of the Hindus could not discourage him. He worked ceaselessly for the cause of Muslims, and succeeded! 

Quaid-e-Azam

Quaid-i-Azam was born in Karachi on the 25th of December, 1876, in a rich merchant family. At the age of sixteen, passing the Matriculation examination. He was sent to England for studying law. 
He returned after four years as a Barrister and started his practice at Karachi. Later, he shifted to Bombay and soon became one of the leading lawyers. In those days Indian National Congress was striving for the self- government of India.
 Like a true patriot, Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah became its member and worked for the freedom of his country. In 1909, he was elected to the newly created Indian Legislative, Council where he distinguished himself as a skillful parliamentarian .In the meantime. All- India Muslim League had been formed in 1906 to safeguard the rights of the Muslims. He had also joined the Muslim League.
 He worked passionately for close collaboration between the Congress and the Muslim League. It was mainly due to his efforts that in 1916, the Lucknow Pact was signed by both the parties. This pact recognized Muslims’ claim for separate electorate, and allowed them a fixed proportion of scats in the Legislature.
 But extremists were capturing power in the Congress and it was becoming more and more a Hindu organization. Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah could not but realize this, and he resigned from the Congress when, in 1919, it refused to accept the British Government reforms giving limited self-government to India. Now he devoted himself fully to the affairs of the Muslim League. He summed up the demands of the Muslims in his famous Fourteen Points presented by him at the Round Table Conference in London. The Award given by the British Prime Minister was favorable to Muslims and was accepted by the Muslim League, but rejected by the Congress.
 By 1940, Mr. Jinnah who had become the Quaid-i-Azam of the Muslims of India was convinced that the Indian Muslims could not hope for justice under Hindu majority. Therefore, in March 1940. The Muslim League, under his president-ship, passed a resolution which demanded the division of India.
 It demanded an independent Muslim state comprising Muslim majority provinces in India. . Quaid-i-Azam became the first Governor-General of Pakistan when it was established on the 14th of August. 1947. His dream had been realized but it was not the end of the struggle.
 He worked for the progress and prosperity of this young nation. He was already weak in health but He would not listen to the advice of his doctor and take rest. He breathed his last on the 11th of September, 1948. Quaid-i-Azam will always live in the hearts of Pakistani Muslims as the ‘Father of the Nation’. His words ‘Faith, Unity and Discipline’ will inspire the people in the great task of nation-building.