Instead of Jinnah, let’s concentrate on real issues
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, a lover of Shakespearean dramas, too had a fatal flaw, the same as the heroes of the bard’s tragedies. Despite being an eminent figure of politics in pre-independent India, Jinnah could not reach out to the common people.
And with the rise of Mahatma Gandhi, his political career reached the crossroads. Somewhat sad and hurt by his decreasing popularity, Jinnah got the Two-Nation theory going, though he was not the only one responsible for Partition and the bloodshed that followed.
Prominent Muslim leaders of India never favoured Jinnah’s views and theories related to Two-Nations. Also, their refusal to leave their birthplace was an exemplary step.
The Muslim population living in India is an evidence of the community’s disapproval of Jinnah’s decision to let Pakistan come into existence.
Majority of the Muslims wanted an integrated and independent India, but the dream could not be realised fully due to some reason. The agitation over a portrait of Jinnah in the student union hall of AMU can never be justified as that portrait is not being used to glorify his persona.
It is in fact considered to be a reference to the history of undivided India. Along with many other luminaries, Jinnah was also accorded lifelong membership of the AMU students’ union.
AT PRESENT, OUR COUNTRY HAS MORE PRESSING PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT AND ILLITERACY
As a norm, his portrait is there with those of Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Azad, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, C Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, C. V. Raman and British writer EM Forster. The presence of such photographs is only meant to give a glimpse of preindependent India.
The fabric of India is not so weak that a mere photograph can break it. Fighting over an insignificant issue is rather irrelevant. At present, our country has more pressing problems to deal with like unemployment and illiteracy.
Raising any insignificant matter will only divert us from the real issues. Around 31 million people are jobless. Others who have jobs are dissatisfied with their career prospects. This increased illiteracy and unemployment are disturbing the social framework.
As responsible Indians, we need to unite to maintain communal harmony and work mutually for the progress of our nation.