Re: Independence Celebration - Reflections
Quaid-e-Azam reading Dawn*
Ardeshir Cowasjee;***
Should we rejoice?
TOMORROW, August 14, will be a day of celebration (of sorts) for the 170 million-odd citizens of this Republic, many of them homeless, hungry and, above all, thirsty. On the 59th anniversary of Independence we continue to be ruled by a vast government made up of members of dubious political parties all of whom claim to have ‘vision’ (of grandeur, no doubt, and of nothing else).
Should we rejoice that we have managed to survive for 59 years, or should we hang down our combined heads in shame and disgrace at what we have made of this country, and how we have betrayed and mocked its founder and maker, the unique Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
The other day, on re-reading Hector Bolitho’s biography of Jinnah ( first published in 1954 and now sadly out of print) I came across this passage on Hindu-Muslim unity – on the unity of majorities and minorities – after all, it was Jinnah who coined our national slogan ‘Unity [comes first], faith and discipline.’
On December 28, 1928, he addressed an All-Parties Conference in Calcutta. It was a very long speech, but certain passages warrant comment and reproduction.
“I think it will be recognised that it is absolutely essential to our progress that a Hindu-Muslim settlement should be reached and that all communities should live in a friendly and harmonious spirit in this vast country of ours.” Majorities, he said, “are apt to be oppressive and tyrannical;” and minorities “dread and fear that their interests and their rights” might suffer and be prejudiced. He repeated his demands for justice for the Muslim community – and, above all, for unity. He warned of the dangers of a constitution under which minorities may feel insecure and of the inevitable result – dangerous discord.
Bolitho writes: “Among those who listened to Jinnah’s speech was a Parsee, Jamshed Nusserwanjee, who was to become the builder, and the mayor, of the new city of Karachi. This fine old gentleman, who has since died, was an admirer and a friend of Jinnah. He said [to Bolitho], ‘Yes, his memory is very beautiful to me. He was never a demonstrative person; he was reserved, dignified and lonely. But I wish to tell you about the day in 1928 – and it is a fine thing that I can tell you. Mr Jinnah stood up – wearing the fashionable clothes he had brought back from England – and he pleaded for his people. I knew the greatness of his heart.
“He believed that the Hindus and Muslims could be brought together. There was no hate in him. Some years later, after partition, he told me how much he wished the Muslims to be tolerant of the minorities in Pakistan. I beg you to believe that Mr Jinnah was a humanitarian. He was never generous with tears but I saw him weep, twice. Once was after Partition, in January 1948, when I went with him to see an encampment of Hindus who had stayed on in Pakistan…
“ ‘The first time I saw him weep was after his amendments had been rejected at the Calcutta meeting in 1928. It is a fine thing that he did – pleading, as a great man, for his people. His demands were rejected. One man said that Mr Jinnah had no right to speak on behalf of the Muslims – that he did not represent them. He was sadly humbled . . .
Mr Jinnah left Calcutta by train . . . He was standing at the door of his first-class coupe compartment, and he took my hand. He had tears in his eyes as he said ‘Jamshed, this is the parting of the ways’.’ ”
Moving ahead to August 11, 1947, Jinnah told the members of his Constituent Assembly, “The first observation I would like to make is this. You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected.”
Yesterday, a front page headline in this newspaper read :’Independent judiciary key to rule of law : Aziz.’ Underneath, “Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday said an independent judiciary was vital to ‘ensure accountability of public authorities and to interpret, enforce the rule of law and the Constitution’.”
Now what is the implication of this statement? Do we have the rule of law? The answer we all know – but further comment may open up contempt charges, so I will refrain.
Back to Bolitho, who quotes from the August 11 speech, the text of which he was officially and falsely fed. Jinnah was clear : “You may belong to any religion, or caste, or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the state.” This passage was maliciously and dishonestly mangled in the text provided to Bolitho to read : “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state. . . .”. Why?
Now, over the 59 years of this country’s existence, ignorance and falsification prompted by that ignorance have grown and multiplied side by side. Let us take the revamped Jehangir Kothari Parade at Clifton, here in Karachi. Rumour has it that there will be a grand inauguration ceremony tomorrow, surrounded with whatever trashy pomp and circumstance can be ruffled up. The corrupt have had a field-day. An old marble plaque embedded in the wall of the parapet commemorates the inauguration of the ‘Lady Lloyd Pier’ built by Jehangir Kothari in 1920 and its donation to the people of Karachi for their pleasure.
Another plaque has recently been embedded nearby in the parapet, due to be unveiled in the grand re-inauguration of the revamped Parade announced to the public, ‘Inspired by Her Excellency Lady Lloyd Pier,’ and tells them how the Sindh Governor, Dr Ishrat ul Ibad of the MQM, visited the site and ‘directed’ that millions may be spent (rather wasted) on doing up and tattifying the old Parade.
Three inches (75 mm) of rain fell in Karachi over the space of three days starting on July 30. This has prompted the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal to suggest that the government declare that Karachi is a ‘calamity-hit area.’ This insignificant amount of rain would not even be noticed elsewhere and have no effect on the conditions of any decently planned city. In Bombay, for instance, three inches falling during the course of a day would not even warrant a comment.
Dawn.com 13 Aug 2006
great job guys, thanks for posting.