Muhammad Ali Jinnah
On the 25th of December 1876, a boy named Mahomedali Jinnahbhai was born in a rented apartment on the second floor of Wazir Mansion near Karachi. His father, Jinnahbhai Poonja, worked as a merchant while his mother Mithibai came from the nearby village of Dhaffa. The family had moved to Karachi in 1875 just before the opening of the Suez Canal made the city 200 nautical miles closer to Europe for shipping than Bombay. Jinnah grew up with three brothers and four sisters including his younger sister Fatima Jinnah and younger brother Ahmed Ali Jinnah. He spoke English more fluently than Gujarati or Urdu despite those being his mother tongue and local languages. As a child he lived briefly in Bombay with an aunt and attended the Gokal Das Tej Primary School there before studying at the Cathedral and John Connon School. In Karachi he went to the Sindh Madressatul Islam and the Christian Missionary Society High School where he completed his matriculation from Bombay University.
In 1892 Sir Frederick Leigh Croft offered young Jinnah a London apprenticeship with Graham's Shipping and Trading Company. He accepted the position despite opposition from his mother who arranged his marriage to Emibai Jinnah two years his junior from Paneli. His mother and first wife both died during his absence in England. Soon after arriving in London Jinnah gave up the business apprenticeship to study law which enraged his father. The aspiring barrister joined Lincoln's Inn stating that over the main entrance were names of world's great lawgivers including Muhammad though no such inscription exists today. Inside the hall was a mural showing Muhammad and other lawgivers which may have led him to edit the story in his own mind. During his student years in England he became influenced by 19th-century British liberalism and intellectual references like Bentham Mill Spencer and Comte. He shortened his name to Muhammad Ali Jinnah and came to own over 200 suits worn with heavily starched shirts and detachable collars. As a barrister he took pride in never wearing the same silk tie twice even when dying he insisted on being formally dressed saying I will not travel in my pyjamas.
At age 20 Jinnah began his practice in Bombay as the only Muslim barrister in the city. English had become his principal language and remained so throughout his life. His first three years from 1897 to 1900 brought few briefs until acting Advocate General John Molesworth MacPherson invited him to work from his chambers. In 1900 P.H. Dastoor left the post temporarily and Jinnah succeeded in getting the interim position. After six months he was offered a permanent position on a salary of 1,500 rupee per month but politely declined stating that he planned to earn 1,500 rupees a day which he eventually did. Jinnah gained fame for handling the 1908 Caucus Case arising out of rigged Bombay municipal elections where Indians alleged Europeans kept Sir Pherozeshah Mehta out of council. He posted a successful record becoming well known for advocacy and legal logic. When Bal Gangadhar Tilak was arrested for sedition in 1908 Jinnah attempted to secure his release on bail though unsuccessfully. He obtained an acquittal for Tilak when charged again with sedition in 1916. A fellow barrister recalled that Jinnah's faith in himself was incredible noting how he shot back at a judge who called him third-class pleader My Lord allow me to warn you that you are not addressing a third-class magistrate.
In December 1904 Jinnah attended Congress's twentieth annual meeting in Bombay as a member of the moderate group favoring Hindu-Muslim unity. In 1906 a delegation led by Aga Khan called on Viceroy Lord Minto asking for assurances against unsympathetic Hindu majority. Jinnah wrote to editor of Gujarati newspaper questioning their right to speak for Indian Muslims as they were unelected. When leaders met in Dacca in December 1906 to form All-India Muslim League Jinnah opposed them saying principle of separate electorates divided nation against itself. By April 1913 he went to Britain with Gokhale to meet officials on behalf of Congress. Gokhale later stated that Jinnah has true stuff in him and freedom from all sectarian prejudice which will make him best ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity. At Nagpur session in 1920 delegates shouted down Jinnah when he criticized Gandhi's satyagraha campaign as political anarchy. He resigned from Congress leaving all positions except in Muslim League. In September 1923 he was elected Muslim member for Bombay in Central Legislative Assembly showing much skill as parliamentarian. When offered knighthood by Lord Reading in 1925 he replied I prefer to be plain Mr Jinnah.
On the 23rd of March 1940 the Lahore Resolution passed by League session called for union of Muslim-majority provinces in northwest British India with complete autonomy. Similar rights granted to Muslim-majority areas in east unspecified protections given to minorities elsewhere. Jinnah stated after war began I was treated on same basis as Mr Gandhi. Wonderstruck why promoted given place side by side with Mr Gandhi. On the 6th of February 1940 Jinnah informed Viceroy that Muslim League would demand partition instead of federation contemplated in 1935 Act. Jawaharlal Nehru referred to Lahore as Jinnah's fantastic proposals while Chakravarti Rajagopalachari deemed views sign of diseased mentality. In December 1946 Jinnah insisted on fully sovereign Pakistan with dominion status though willing to consider continued links such as joint military or communications. On the 3rd of June 1947 Mountbatten Nehru Jinnah and Baldev Singh made formal announcement by radio concluding address with Long live Pakistan not in script. Some listeners misunderstood Urdu as Pakistan's in bag. On the 14th of August Pakistan became independent; Jinnah led celebrations in Karachi. One observer wrote here indeed is Pakistan's King Emperor Archbishop of Canterbury Speaker and Prime Minister concentrated into one formidable Quaid-e-Azam.
On the 11th of August 1947 Jinnah presided over new constituent assembly for Pakistan at Karachi addressing them You are free; you are free to go to your temples you are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. He stated You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with business of State. By now over 70 and frail from lung ailments he traveled across West Pakistan personally supervising provision of aid for eight million people who migrated. Radcliffe Commission completed work dividing Bengal and Punjab reporting to Mountbatten on the 12th of August last Viceroy held maps until 17th not wanting spoil independence celebrations. Between 500,000 to a million men women children perished in massacres according to Christopher Beaumont private secretary. Jinnah arranged sale of house in Bombay procuring new one in Karachi. On the 7th of August he flew from Delhi to Karachi in Mountbatten's plane heard murmur That's end of that. On the 22nd of August 1947 just after week becoming governor general he dissolved elected government of Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan putting Abdul Qayyum Khan in place despite being Kashmiri.
Jinnah died at age 71 in September 1948 just over year after Pakistan gained independence from United Kingdom. He left deep respected legacy in Pakistan where several universities and public buildings bear his name. Revered as Quaid-e-Azam meaning Great Leader and Father of Nation. His birthday observed as national holiday in country. According biographer Stanley Wolpert Jinnah remains Pakistan's greatest leader. Fatima Jinnah joined brother in England in 1931 receiving personal care support as aged began suffer lung ailments killing him. She lived traveled with him became close advisor. Daughter Dina educated England India later estranged after marrying Parsi Neville Wadia from prominent business family. When urged marry Muslim she reminded him married woman not raised faith. They corresponded cordially but relationship strained she did not come Pakistan lifetime only for funeral. In March 1948 despite declining health made only post-independence visit to East Bengal speech before crowd estimated 300,000 stating Urdu alone should be national language believing single language needed nation remain united. Bengali-speaking people strongly opposed policy leading secession region form Bangladesh 1971.
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Common questions
When and where was Muhammad Ali Jinnah born?
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born on the 25th of December 1876 in a rented apartment on the second floor of Wazir Mansion near Karachi. His father worked as a merchant while his mother came from the nearby village of Dhaffa.
What legal education did Muhammad Ali Jinnah receive in London?
Muhammad Ali Jinnah joined Lincoln's Inn to study law after giving up a business apprenticeship with Graham's Shipping and Trading Company. He became influenced by 19th-century British liberalism during his student years in England.
Why did Muhammad Ali Jinnah resign from the Indian National Congress?
Muhammad Ali Jinnah resigned from the Congress party in 1920 after delegates shouted him down for criticizing Gandhi's satyagraha campaign as political anarchy. He chose to retain only his position within the Muslim League.
When was the Lahore Resolution passed and what did it demand?
The Lahore Resolution was passed on the 23rd of March 1940 calling for the union of Muslim-majority provinces in northwest British India with complete autonomy. It also granted similar rights to Muslim-majority areas in the east while providing unspecified protections to minorities elsewhere.
How many people migrated during the partition of Pakistan under Muhammad Ali Jinnah's supervision?
Over eight million people migrated across West Pakistan while Muhammad Ali Jinnah personally supervised the provision of aid for them. Between 500,000 to a million men women and children perished in massacres according to Christopher Beaumont private secretary.
What language policy did Muhammad Ali Jinnah enforce in East Bengal in 1948?
In March 1948 Muhammad Ali Jinnah stated that Urdu alone should be the national language believing a single language was needed for the nation to remain united. Bengali-speaking people strongly opposed this policy leading to the secession of the region which formed Bangladesh in 1971.