Introduction of Fatima Jinnah
Fatima Jinnah (July 31, 1893 – July 9, 1967) was a Pakistani politician and stateswoman. She was the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who served as the founder and the first governor-general of Pakistan. Fatima Jinnah held the position of the leader of the opposition in Pakistan from 1960 until her passing in 1967.
Early Life and Background Of Fatima Jinnah
After earning her dental degree from the University of Calcutta in 1923, Fatima Jinnah became the first female dentist in Undivided India. She not only pursued her professional career but also became a close companion and advisor to her older brother, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who later became the first Governor of Pakistan. Following Pakistan’s independence, Jinnah played a crucial role in co-founding the Pakistan Women’s Association, actively contributing to the settlement of female migrants in the newly formed country.
Remaining her brother’s confidant until his death, Fatima Jinnah faced restrictions on addressing the nation until 1951. When she finally spoke on the radio in 1951, her address was heavily censored by the Liaquat administration. In 1955, she wrote the book “My Brother,” but due to accusations of “anti-nationalist material,” it was only published in 1987 after facing censorship. Even then, certain pages from the manuscript were omitted.
In 1965, Fatima Jinnah emerged from her self-imposed political retirement to participate in the presidential election against President Muhammad Ayub Khan. Despite winning the popular vote, she ultimately lost in the electoral college to Ayub Khan.
Close Association with Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Fatima Jinnah passed away in Karachi on July 9, 1967. Her death has been a source of controversy, with some reports suggesting unnatural causes. Despite her family’s request for an inquiry, the authorities denied it. Despite these circumstances, she continues to be one of the most revered leaders in Pakistan. A massive crowd of nearly half a million people gathered to pay their respects at her funeral in Karachi.
Her legacy is related to her support for civil rights. She is commonly referred to as Madar-e-Millat (“mom of the country”) and Khatun-e-Pakistan (“girl of Pakistan”), and many institutions and public areas in Pakistan have been named in her honor.
Youth and Heritage
Fatima was born into the Jinnah family on July 31, 1893, as the youngest of seven children to Jinnahbhai Poonja and his wife Mithibai. The family resided in Kathiawar, Gujarat, within the Bombay Presidency of British India. There are conflicting accounts regarding Jinnah’s family background. Fatima had six siblings: Muhammad Ali, Ahmad Ali, Bunde Ali, Rahmat Ali, Maryam, and Shireen Jinnah. Following their father’s passing in 1901, Muhammad Ali Jinnah became her guardian, and she developed a particularly close bond with him. In 1902, she enrolled in the Bandra Convent in Bombay.
In 1919, Fatima gained admission to the highly competitive University of Calcutta, attending the Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College. After completing her education, she established a dental clinic in Bombay in 1923.
Fatima lived with her brother until 1918, the year he married Rattanbai Petit. After Rattanbai’s passing in February 1929, Fatima closed her clinic, moved into her brother Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s residence to care for her niece Dina Jinnah, and assumed responsibility for managing his household. This marked the beginning of a lifelong companionship that endured until her brother’s death on September 11, 1948. Are you interested in Traveling Tips Click Here
Political career
Statues of Fatima Jinnah and her brother Muhammad Ali Jinnah at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad.
Jinnah observed her brother in each public appearance that he made. She travelled to London, England in 1930 where she discovered to speak English. Jinnah lived there for 4 years. After she moved back to India, Jinnah sought to make an independent fatherland for Indian Muslims.
in the course of the switch to electricity in 1947, Jinnah fashioned the Women’s Relief Committee, which later shaped the nucleus for the All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA) based by Rana Liaquat Ali Khan. She additionally performed a considerable role in the agreement of Muhajirs within the new state of Pakistan.
Presidential election of 1965
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See also: 1965 Pakistani presidential election
In the Sixties, Jinnah again to the leading edge of political life when she ran for the presidency of Pakistan as a candidate for the Combined Opposition Party of Pakistan (COPP). She defined her opponent, Ayub Khan, as a dictator. In her early rallies, nearly 250,000 human beings thronged to peer her in Dhaka, and a million lined the 293-mile course from there to Chittagong. Her education, called the freedom unique, became 22 hours past due because men at each station pulled the emergency wire, and begged her to speak. The crowds hailed her as Madar-e-Millat, (mother of the state).
In her speeches, she argued that with the aid of coming to phrases with India at the Indus Water dispute, Ayub had surrendered control of the rivers to India. She narrowly lost the election, triumphing a majority in some provinces. The election did now not involve direct democracy of the population, and a few reporters and historians trust that if it had been a right away election she ought to have won.
Election Campaign and Public Response
Jinnah, popularly acclaimed as the Madr-e-Millat, or mom of the nation for her position in the Freedom Movement, contested the 1965 elections at the age of seventy-one. except for her brief tour to East Pakistan in 1954, she had not participated in politics seeing that Independence. After the imposition of martial regulation by using Ayub Khan, she wanted the regime nicely as soon as possible. but after martial regulation was lifted, she sympathized with the opposition as she became strongly in desire of democratic beliefs. Being the sister of her beloved brother, she was held in excessive esteem and came to symbolize the democratic aspirations of the people. The electoral panorama was modified whilst Jinnah decided to contest the elections for the president’s workplace in 1965. She turned into the dictator and self-proclaimed “president” Ayub Khan within the indirect election, which Ayub Khan had himself instituted.
Legacy and Controversies
In the 1965 presidential election, candidates were announced before the start of the simple Democracy elections, forming the Electoral College for both presidential and assembly elections. The main contenders were the Convention Muslim League and the combined opposition parties, consisting of five major opposition groups with a 9-point program advocating direct elections, adult franchise, and democratization of the 1962 constitution. However, these opposition parties lacked unity and struggled to choose a candidate among themselves, leading them to select Fatima Jinnah.
The election took place on January 2, 1965, with four candidates: Ayub Khan, Fatima Jinnah, and two individuals without party affiliations. The campaigning period was brief, lasting only one month and further restricted to nine projection meetings attended solely by the Electoral College and press members. Public attendance was prohibited, favoring Ayub Khan’s image.
Ayub Khan held a significant advantage due to the second amendment to the constitution, confirming him as president until his successor’s election. Utilizing broad presidential powers, he controlled all government machinery during the elections, supported by bureaucracy and business, beneficiaries of his regime. Ayub Khan garnered support by addressing various grievances, such as revising the university ordinance for students and reviewing press laws for journalists. He also gained backing from religious scholars opposing a woman heading an Islamic state.
Fatima Jinnah, distanced from post-founder political conflicts, criticized Ayub Khan, alleging his surrender of river control to India in the Indus Water dispute. Despite facing challenges like an uneven campaign, limited funds, and indirect elections through the Basic Democracy system, Jinnah gained support from a coalition of political parties, winning major cities like Karachi and Dhaka. However, Time magazine reported attacks on her modesty and patriotism by Ayub Khan and his allies.
Jinnah won the popular vote, but post-election rigging, coercion, and manipulation led to Ayub Khan becoming President. It’s believed that in a direct poll, she might have won. The election marked a significant moment, challenging gender stereotypes in politics, as even orthodox religious parties supporting Jinnah’s candidacy showed a shift in their stance on women holding high offices. In a lawsuit, it was revealed that Jinnah highlighted her Shia identity when seeking votes from Shia leaders, emphasizing her ability to represent them effectively. The court recognized the non-sectarian stance of both Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his sister.
FAQs
Who was Fatima Jinnah?
Fatima Jinnah was a Pakistani politician and stateswoman, the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder and first governor-general of Pakistan. She led the opposition in Pakistan from 1960 until she died in 1967.
What was Fatima Jinnah’s educational background?
Fatima Jinnah obtained a dental degree from the University of Calcutta in 1923, becoming the first female dentist in Undivided India. She later became a close adviser to her brother, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
What role did Fatima Jinnah play in the independence movement?
Fatima co-founded the Pakistan Women’s Association, playing a crucial role in settling women migrants in the newly formed country after Pakistan gained independence. She was a significant figure in the Women’s Relief Committee during the transfer of power in 1947.
Why was Fatima Jinnah banned from addressing the nation until 1951?
After the death of her brother Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Fatima was banned from addressing the nation until 1951. Her 1951 radio address was heavily censored by the Liaquat administration.
What was the controversy surrounding the publication of her book “My Brother”?
Fatima Jinnah wrote “My Brother” in 1955, but it faced censorship, leading to its publication 32 years later in 1987. The establishment accused her of “anti-nationalist material,” resulting in significant omissions even when published.
What was the outcome of Fatima Jinnah’s participation in the 1965 presidential election?
Fatima Jinnah won the popular vote in the 1965 presidential election but lost the electoral college to Ayub Khan due to post-election rigging, coercion, and manipulation. The significance of her candidacy highlighted changing perceptions about women holding high political offices.
Conclusion:
Fatima Jinnah, sister to Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, left an indelible mark on the nation’s history. As the first female dentist in undivided India, she broke barriers and later played a vital role in Pakistan’s early political landscape.
Despite facing censorship and restrictions, her contributions to women’s rights and migrant settlement were pivotal. The controversies surrounding her death and the political hurdles she faced did not diminish her honor; she is remembered as Madar-e-Millat, the Mother of the Nation.
Participating in the 1965 presidential election, she won the popular vote, challenging stereotypes about women in politics. Her legacy lives on through institutions named in her honor, symbolizing her enduring impact on Pakistan’s journey. Fatima Jinnah remains an inspirational figure, embodying resilience and commitment to democratic ideals. Biography of Muhammad Ali Jinnah