Inspired by recent events in India, Stanley Wolpert offers this subtle and profound biography of India's 'Great Soul.' Wolpert compellingly chronicles the life of Mahatma Gandhi from his early days as a child of privilege to his humble rise to power and his assassination at the hands of a man of his own faith. Stanley Wolpert's third edition of India provides a much-needed, concise overview of Indian history and More a continent than a single nation, India is home to over one-fifth of humanity, yet it remains a mystery to most non-Indians, barely appreciated and poorly understood.
Jinnah of Pakistan is an illuminating account of India’s partition and the monumental role that Jinnah (In Pakistan, known as Quaid-e-Azam i.e., the great leader) played in it.
Stanley Wolpert’s book is the most authentic book on Jinnah – the most enigmatic and powerful leader of the last century. Jinnah is often misrepresented by others. However, Wolpert’s work does a great service to this great leader by making his contributions known for centuries to come. Thank you Professor Wolpert. (More on Dr. Wolpert: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Wolpert)
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Jinnah was a genius lawyer, a man of words and character, an expert negotiator, an outstanding charismatic leader and a wise statesman. He was humiliated and betrayed several times in his struggles – first for the united India, and then for the equal representation of Muslims in the union and finally for Pakistan. However, his sheer will, talents, stamina, dedication and political acumen helped him achieve what all called nothing but hallucinations of an egotist.
The book starts by describing Jinnah’s portrait hanging in London’s Lincolns Inn (his alma mater). The author questions why the picture of this man is hanging among those of famous British legal experts and royal figures.
Jinnah’s portrait in Lincolns
The book also sheds light on the interpersonal dynamics of powerful individuals and how their egos, personal preferences and idiosyncrasies altered the course of history. For example, throughout the struggle for independence of India, British governors and viceroys would make crucial decisions, at major crossroads, following their own personal biases and ideological bents. Some were pro congress, others pro league, some supported the division, others promoted the union. The book exposes a complex web of Indian politics that often left British politicians bewildered and thwarted in their attempts to negotiate a solution that was acceptable for both the Congress and the Muslim League.
A long constitutional battle between Congress and the League had burnt out leaders on both sides. To outsiders their attitude toward each other appeared childish. Nehuru, Gandhi and Jinnah, all had developed strong opinions about each other by the end. In 1946, Viceroy Wavell tried another round of negotiations between Congress and League by inviting them to travel to London and speak with British officials. Nehru declined the invitation. However, Jinnah agreed and offered to bring along Liaqat Ali Khan. The Viceroy pleaded Nehru to reconsider and he finally agreed to participate. When Jinnah learned that Nehru is coming, he declared that he is not coming anymore. “What a bunch of people”, Wavell noted in his famous diary. Eventually, after much pleas Jinnah agreed to travel with them. At another similarly frustrating moment, Wavell – a Field Marshall by training – notes in his diary the stubbornness and lack of cooperativeness of Indian politicians by commenting “I am letting these wretched people worry me.”
The book also sheds light on how Jinnah’s political position transformed as a reaction to the experiences he encountered. A young nationalist Jinnah, who supported the united India, changed into a formidable opponent of the united India over the course of forty bitter years. However, what did not change about him were his personal qualities such as, adherence to principles, integrity, willpower and discipline. A minority within a minority, a physically frail man, alone and powerful like a Himalayan peak changed the course of history. His doctor was surprised to discover how emaciated he was when examining him in his last days, commenting that his emaciation matched only the worse cases he had seen in prisoners of war in Singapore. Jinnah had given even the last drop of his blood to the cause of Pakistan. There were, at least, three murder attempts on him throughout his life by the hardliner Muslims, who thought he had betrayed them at several occasions by negotiating with Congress or British government. Even during his semi-conscious state on the last day, he was heard mumbling about a meeting with UN representatives on the Kashmir cause.
Other interesting facts from the book:
1. Jinnah was very rebellious of the traditional schooling. His parents had hard time keeping him in a school. The young Jinnah would rather enjoy horse riding with his friends. His curious and agile mind was not satisfied with what the school had to offer.
2. There is a mural in the Great Hall in Lincolns Inn that has pictures of famous lawgivers.
One figure in the green robe is of Prophet Muhammad. This mural inspired Jinnah to enroll in Lincolns Inn. What is interesting is that for the last 150 years, no one has raised objections to this mural. The hardliners in Islam often demand that no image of prophet should be displayed. I guess their ignorance in this case is a bliss. Some have said that in one of his speeches to students, Jinnah said that the Prophet’s name was on the list of the greatest law-givers, and this inspired him to join Lincolns Inn. Although, no such list exists. Wolpert speculated that this statement by Jinnah could have been an unconscious slip of memory to avoid unnecessary trouble. Thus, he exchanged the word picture with the word name to convey the message to the young Muslim students without causing any controversy. Although, Wolpert interpreted this swapping of words as an unconscious slip of memory, but it can very well be a conscious and deliberate repackaging of message to avoid controversy for the Lincolns Inn in those sensitive times. Some have also suggested that under the mural there is a list of names of all the figures in the picture such as Moses (As) and Prophet (SAW). Thus, technically, he was right and just shared the information that conveyed the message without getting involved in details that would have been sensitive for the audience.
3. Another interesting fact was that Jinnah loved the theater and wanted to be an actor. In fact, in London he had signed a contract with a company and had sent a letter to his parents back in Karachi, seeking their blessings. However, the reply came but with a bad news. His father announced the death of his mother and wife and forbid him to go on the path of acting. He had already disappointed his father by abandoning family business and becoming a barrister. His father told him “do not betray your family.” This line stuck with him and he abandoned his dream. A rare instance in his life, Jinnah changing his mind and backing out of a contract. It was known that once Jinnah makes up his mind and give his words, he never backs out. However, he went and spoke with the theater company owner and they absolved him of his contract. However, as Wolpert wrote, Jinnah practiced his love of acting in the courtroom. Jinnah’s courtroom style and delivery of arguments was nothing short of a stage performance, leaving dramatic effects on his audience. He used voice modulations and pauses like a seasoned actor to effectively argue his points. His brilliant legal mind and his unique style of delivering arguments made him a defense lawyer who rarely lost a case.
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4. From 1937 onwards, Jinnah started wearing Jinnah cap and sherwani. That milestone year solidified the demands for a separate nation for Muslims, and the year also brought symbolic change in Jinnah’s attire. Jinnah was one of the most well-dressed individuals of his time. He was known to have never worn the same tie again. His personal hygiene was meticulous and fastidious. Before delivering 25th annual address of league in Lucknow, where thousands of people were waiting for him, Jinnah tried on the samoor cap of Nawab Ismail Khan. He appeared with this headgear in front of the masses and from that day onwards, this rather unknown headgear became the famous Jinnah cap.
Excerpts fromWolpert, S. (1984). Jinnah of Pakistan. Oxford University Press, NY.
Preface (p. vii)
“Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three. Hailed as “Great Leader” of Pakistan (Quaid-e-Azam) and its first governor general, Jinnah virtually conjured up that country into statehood by the force of his indomitable will.”
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The following is not from the book:
I read on a website that Zia-ul-Haq tried to bribe Professor Wolpert to take out the lines about describing Jinnah’s pork eating in return for the promise of making the book a compulsory textbook to be read in all Paksitani schools, thereby selling millions of copies. Professor Wolpert (a graduate of Stanford and an eminent Professor at UCLA) did not even consider it worthwhile to meet with Zia’s representative. His publisher at Oxford politely and firmly told the representative that money is certainly not an aim for a world-class scholar like Wolpert.
My Email to Professor Wolpert
Dear Professor Wolpert
I just finished reading your book – Jinnah of Pakistan. This book has been on my to-read list for a long time. I finally got hold of it a week ago, and finished reading it within two days. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this excellent scholarly work by you. Your work has helped me know more about the father of my nation. As a Pakistani, I wanted to thank you for giving us this wonderful gift that will help keep the memories of Quaid-e-Azam alive for generations to come. Your book is considered to be one of the best and the most well-researched scholarly piece on Jinnah’s life. This is why I wanted to read it. However, what most pleasantly surprised me about your work was the beautifully told story. A reviewer comment on the backcover characterized your work as “insightful and dispassionate.” I disagree with the latter comment. Although, your work is objective and scholarly, but the style of your story captivates the reader precisely because it reflects the passion of a researcher dedicated to reveal his subjects’s life and struggles with all the empathy possible.