August 19, 2009

Jaswant Singh's Book on Qaid-e-Azam Jinnah

Former Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh's recent book on Jinnah is an active topic of discussion in Jalandhar.

Intellectuals agree that Jaswant Singh's book has raised many pertinent points , on which there should an open and unbiased debate.

In his younger days Jinnah had defended Tilak in a sedition case. Later what happened which alienated Jinnah completely from the mainstream nationalist movement ?

As an able lawyer Jinnah put up the demand for creation of Pakistan as a bargaining point. It was Congress which fulfilled it (probably , also , to Jinnah's surprise. ) The outgoing Britishers were more than happy to act as midwife for India's this self destructive act.

Whether Pakistan was creation of Jinnah or the Congress may be debatable. But what is certain is that in 1947 ,common people on both sides of the hastily created borders had to face history 's worst and bloodiest migration and dislocation crisis.

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