NOMAN BADAR ALIG [email protected]
On September 11, 1948, when Qaid-i-Azam and Architect of Pakistan Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, died of heart failure in Karachi Pakistan, the news received in Delhi with deep regret. According to English Daily “The Statesman” from Delhi “The Flag at Government House is flying at half mast and Governor-General Mr. C. Rajagopalachari cancelled a reception he was to have given to Diplomatic Corps.
The Government of India issued the following Gazette Extraordinary on 12th September, 1948.
“The Government of India has learnt with deep regret of the death last night of His Excellency Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah. As a mark of respect to his memory it is hereby ordered that flags on all public buildings and defence establishments shall be flown half mast today.”
MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA
Mr. C. Rajagopalachari, The Governor-General of India has sent the following message to Miss Fatima Jinnah:
“Dear Sister, – My deepest sympathy and the sympathy of all my people and my Government to you and your people. May the minds of men and women in India and Pakistan turn reverently upwards on this solemn occasion. May all of us be enabled by the Most High to go worthily through all our trials and tribulations.”
The Governor-General Mr. C. Rajagopalachari, has sent the following message to Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan:-
“Dear friend, – On the solemn occasion on behalf of myself, my Government and my people, I tender to you and your Government and your people most heartfelt sympathy. May God enable us to go through every trial and every misfortune in a worthy manner.”
MESSAGE FROM PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA
Pandit Nehru, Prime Minister of India, has sent the following message to Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan:
“On behalf of the people of India, my colleagues and on my own behalf, I send to the Government and the people of Pakistan our sincerest sympathies in the great loss that Pakistan has suffered by the death of His Excellency Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah. Please convey our condolence to Miss Jinnah also.”
MESSAGE FROM SPEAKER OF INDIAN PARLIAMENT
Mr. G.V. Mavlankar, Speaker of the Indian Parliament, said in a message to Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan: “Regret the sad demise of Quaid-i-Azam. I had enjoyed the privilege of personally knowing him for years. He was a great Indian. Heartfelt condolences.”
GOVERNOR OF U.P. MRS. SAROJINI NAIDU’S MESSAGE
Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, Governor of U.P., has sent the following message of condolence to Miss Fatima Jinnah: “You know how deeply I share your sorrow. Many thousands of mourners have offered their tribute of admiration for their great leader but I send you in the poignant silence of my grief, one imperishable flower of memory and affection to lay on the grave of my dead beloved friend.
“Many powers are granted to you to bear this terrible bereavement with courage, calm and dignity as befits the sister of so great man. My love to you.” – API.
ALL INDIA CONGRESS COMMITTEE’S MESSAGE
The All-India Congress Committee office in Delhi was closed on 13th September, 1948, the tricolour flying at half mast on the office building, as a mark of respect to the memory of Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah.
The following message was sent to Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan and Miss Fatima Jinnah, by Acharya Jugal Kishore, General Secretary of the Congress: “All-India Congress Committee staff shares in your sorrow at the sad demise of the Quaid-i-Azam.
MESSAGE OF HINDU MAHASABHA PRESIDENT
Mr. L.B. Bhopatkar, President of Hindu Mahasabha, said: “In Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah, the Muslim world has lost a unique personality endowed with highest qualities. He knew the make-up of the Hindu and the Muslim mind as few others did. He founded Pakistan, the largest Muslim State in the world, by the sheer strength of character, unerring leadership, and uncommon tenacity of purpose.” – API.
INDIAN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY PAY THEIR TRIBUTE AND HOMAGE TO JINNAH
The Constitution Drafting Committee in its session dated November 4, 1948 pay their tribute and homage to the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly said that “by his grim determination and steadfast devotion was able to Carve out Pakistan and whose passing at this moment was an irreparable loss too all.”
Assembly Members Rose in their seats to pay respect and The House stood in silence as a mark of respect (The Statesman Delhi November 5, 1948).
INDIAN LEADERS’ MESSAGES
The Secretary to the Governor-General, Mr. Shavax Lal, and the Military Secretary, Col Chatterji, called on the Pakistan High Commissioner in India on behalf of the Governor-General to convey. His Excellency’s condolence on the death of Mr. Jinnah.
Mr. Asoka Mehta and Moinuddin Harris, Socialist leaders, said: “In this hour of great sorrow of our sister State of Pakistan, we offer them not only our sympathy but our hand of friendship. Both our States, so young and orphaned almost simultaneously, must draw together.
Acharya Narendra Deva, the Socialist leader, said: “I sympathize with the people of Pakistan in the great loss they have sustained in the death of Mr. Jinnah.”
Dr. Syed Mahmud, Development Minister of Bihar, said: “There is no doubt that he was a great man. His character and integrity were unimpeachable. His loss would be deeply mourned in India Pakistan and in fact all over the world.”
Mr. Abdul Qaiyum Ansari, President, All-India Momin Conference and Minister of Public Works, said, “It is with the deepest sorrow that I learnt of Mr. Jinnah’s sad demise, it must be a hard blow to the newly born state of Pakistan which needed his wisdom and statesmanship. His death will no doubt be widely mourned.”
A number of foreign diplomats and their representatives called on the Pakistan High Commissioner in India to pay their condolences. Among them were: Mr. Lamping, Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Armin Daeniker, Envoy Extraordinary of Switzerland, Dr. Corrobio, Italian Charge d’Affairs, the representative of the Indonesian Republic in New Delhi, the U.K. Acting High Commissioner, Mr. Symon, the Agent-General of Hyderabad in New Delhi, Mr. Karl, the First Secretary of the Afghanistan Embassy, Mr. Badruddin Haya, and Press Attache, Chinese Embassy – API and UPI.
BOMBAY ASSEMBLY ADJOURNED
The Bombay Assembly adjourned on 13th September, 1948 for a few minutes to pay homage to the memory of Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah “Governor-General of the sister Dominion of Pakistan.” The House observed two minutes’ silence.
The national flag over Government House, Nagpur, flew at half mast on 12th September, 1948. Flags over all public buildings throughout the province flew at half mast.
The Government of Bombay issued instructions to hoist the flags half mast on all Government and public buildings in the province as a mark of respect to the memory of Mr. Jinnah.
In Baroda, the State flag flew half mast as a token of homage to his memory.
Prayers for the peace of Mr. Jinnah’s soul were offered at a mass meeting of Muslims held on Sunday evening under the auspices of the Bombay Provincial Muslim League.
Mr. A.A. Khan, leader of the Opposition in the provincial Assembly, and other speakers made respectful references to his sacrifices and exhorted Muslims to hold steadfastly to the principles of unity and discipline taught by him. Special prayers were held in the local mosques.
MADRAS ASSEMBLY ADJOURNED
The Madras Assembly adjourned for five minutes on 13th September, 1948 morning as a mark of respect to the memory of the Quaid-i-Azam, after passing a condolence resolution.
The sudden death of Mr. Jinnah is greatly regretted in Madras. The Union flag flew half mast at Fort St George.
The Mayor of Madras, Dr. U. Krishna Rao stated, “Mr. Jinnah was a man of undoubted integrity and character. His passing away will be loss not only to Pakistan but for the whole world.”
Muslim shops in the city remained closed as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed leader.
ASSAM ASSEMBLY ADJOURNED
The Assam Legislative Assembly met on 13th September, 1948 and after the swearing in of new members, adjourned without transacting business as a mark of respect to Mr. Jinnah.
A resolution of condolence was moved by the Speaker and adopted, all standing. The Speaker and party leaders paid tributes to Mr. Jinnah.
Mr. Muhammad Saadullah ex-Premier of Assam, said in Shillong: “The loss to India and Pakistan by the death of the Quaid-i-Azam at this critical hour is irreparable.”
UTTAR PRADESH
Lucknow, Sept. 12 – The Indian flag was flying at half mast at the Secretariat this afternoon as a mark of respect to the memory of Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah. Although not of the U.P. Mr. Jinnah was closely associated with the Muslim politics of the province in the pre-partition days. It was at Lucknow that he was elected President of the resuscitated Muslim League in 1915.
It was also at Lucknow that He signed the famous pact which preceded the introduction of the Montague-Chelmsford reforms and under which the Congress conceded separate electorates to the Muslims. These events pushed Mr. Jinnah into the forefront of Muslim politics, a position which he maintained until his death.
CALCUTTA
The Governor of West Bengal, Dr. Katju, paying a tribute to the memory of Mr. Jinnah, said that he was one of the foremost sons of India, and an outstanding figure of this century not only in India but in the whole world. For generations to come, Mr. Jinnah’s work would be discussed, he said.
Mr. Basanta Kumar Das, Leader of the Opposition in the East Bengal Assembly said: Everyone in Pakistan and the Indian Union will feel greatly shocked at Mr. Jinnah’s death. The passing away of the unique and outstanding personality who was the architect of Pakistan is an irreparable loss.
Mr. H.S. Suhrawardy said: “I am stunned to hear the sad news. In the passing away of the Quaid-i-Azam, the world has lost a most colourful and dominant personality. The enthusiasm and admiration that he inspired among his followers was unbounded, and his mere presence was sufficient to destroy fissiparous tendencies and heal all dissentions. His death has created a void which the Muslims of Pakistan will find impossible to fill.”
Mr. Sarat Chandra Bose said that Mr. Jinnah was great as a lawyer, once great as a Congressman, great as a leader of the Muslims, great as a world politician and diplomat, and greatest of all as a man of action.
In a tribute to Mr. Jinnah, Mr. Abdur Rehman Siddiqi, a former member of the Indian Legislative Assembly, said that whatever one might think of Pakistan and partition, none would today withhold his respectful tribute to him as a great man, a great patriot and a great leader of men.
Special prayers were offered in Calcutta mosques today after evening prayers for the peace of the departed. Many Muslim shops and commercial houses in Calcutta were closed on 13th September, 1948. After prayer at the Nakhoda Mosque, a special congregation offered “Fateha” in memory of the departed leader – API.
PUNJAB
The Governor of East Punjab, Sir Chandulal Trivedi, has conveyed to the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan in India his and the East Punjab Government’s deep sympathy.
In a message to Maj-Gen. Abdur Rehman, Deputy High Commissioner for Pakistan in India, the Governor says, “All of us here have heard with great regret the news of the death of Mr. M.A. Jinnah, Governor-General of Pakistan. I shall be grateful if you will kindly convey to the Government of Pakistan my deep sympathy as well as the sympathy of the Government of East Punjab in the irreparable loss which Pakistan has suffered.”
“The Premier, Dr. Gopi Chand Bhargava, and the Home Minister, Sardar Swaran Singh, sent the following message to Khan Iftikhar Hussain Khan of Mamdot, the West Punjab Premier: “Deeply grieved to learn of the sudden passing away of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Heartfelt sympathies with all of you.”
HYDERABAD
Hyderabad was shocked to hear the news of the death of the Quaid-i-Azam. It was plunged into deepest grief. The Nizam’s Government ordered closing down of schools, colleges and Government offices to mark the day of mourning. The city presented a gloomy appearance.
Dr. Syed Abdul Latif said: “The tallest and the wiset figure of the Muslim world has suddenly passed away. I had the honour of associating with him for several years and I know how heavy is my personal loss. He has passed away at a time when he was needed most by Muslims, but they should not get downhearted.”
At Deccan House, the official residence of Mr. K.M. Munshi, the Indian tricolour was flying half mast.
BHOPAL SHUTDOWN
All offices, courts, educational institutions and factories in Bhopal remained closed on 13th September, 1948 and the city observed complete hartal.
KASHMIR
Sheikh Abdullah, Premier of Jammu and Kashmir, has sent the following telegram to the Prime Minister of Pakistan: “On behalf of my Government and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I wish to convey to your Government and people of Pakistan our heartfelt condolence on the death of Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and assure you of our sympathy in your hour of grief.”
BORDER TRADE SUSPENDED
AMRITSAR, Sept. 13 – In view of mourning in Pakistan over Mr. Jinnah’s death, all trade at the Indo-Pakistan border near Wagah has been suspended for three days. No Muslim traders turned up today and non-Muslim traders from Amritsar had to return disappointed.
ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY CLOSED
Aligarh, Sept. 12 – The Aligarh University and allied institutions remained closed today as a mark of respect to the memory of Mr. Jinnah. A condolence meeting was held at the Union Hall.
September 13 – A meeting of the Court, the staff and students of the Aligarh Muslim University was held at Stretchy Hall where a resolution of condolence was passed on the death of Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah. Mr. Ismail Khan, the Vice-Chancellor and President of the Union, in short speeches recalled the services of the Quaid-i-Azam to the country.
EDITORIAL OF “THE STATESMAN”
English Daily, The Statesman from Delhi on Sept. 13 – 1948, writes in his editorial under the heading of “The great man goes.”
“Though his personality seemed lacking in some human qualities, none could fail to recognize Mr. Jinnah’s greatness. Seemingly as hard as a diamond, he had all the diamond’s brilliance, His skill in securing the utmost advantage for the cause he championed was only second to his unalterable determination. Regret may be felt that, with his other great qualities, he did not combine a wider vision, but his total concentration of effort in securing his objectives was unsurpassed. He set himself a goal and reached it. His achievement is manifest.”
(This article is based on reports published in “THE STATESMAN” Delhi edition dated 12-17th September 1948 Which is available in Maulana Azad Library, AMU Aligarh)
