Dear friend, I think you have not read history and who Jinnah was, the person once called the Ambassador of hindu Muslim unity, I think you indians need to read history first, may be then you might figure out who gave a chance to what.
It really is necessary for the vast mass of Indians to revise their assessments of Jinnah. The impression that we have is sadly mistaken and horribly distorted. To be quite fair, this is a process that is required on both sides; the Pakistani impressions of Gandhi, Nehru and Patel verge on caricature.
Thank you, however, for your correct setting of the role of Jinnah.
I have read about Jinnah and how he was one of most secular leaders of United India.
But a person is remembered for his actions and not just his outlook...but his actions indirectly led to one of the most massive religious riots in the history of mankind. I agree that was not his objective but dividing people on the bases of their religion is always a non starter.
Creating or even harnessing a communal divide never ends up well for anyone.
We need to consider this not in terms of that one event, but in terms of the much deeper question of identity politics in south Asia. The subject is far, far more delicate and layered than Hindu-Muslim rivalry.
I dont think it was Jinnah's idea for a division...he wanted to head undivided India. I believe one of the main reason for the whole issue was Jahawarlal Nehru's insistance on being the 1st prime minister of Independent India, for which he had influenced even Mahatma Gandhi.
On the contrary, Jinnah had not even visualised a role for himself. At the time of independence, he already knew that he had very few months to live; for him to have had ministerial ambitions is an absurd proposition. You should be aware that he was even a reluctant Governor-General, and took that position only when he realised that the absurd popinjay Mountbatten had himself in that position, on both sides of the divide!
It is true that practically all segments of Congress opinion thought Nehru, as Gandhi's 'anointed' political heir, would lead the new nation; it is not at all clear that Nehru lobbied for the position directly, although Gandhi had to intervene to maintain good relations between Nehru and Patel! On the other hand, contrary to the impression your note conveys, at a certain stage in the discussions, when the Cabinet Mission talks had broken down, and it seemed that there was only the ghastly last resort of partition left, Gandhi tried desperately to salvage the situation by offering Jinnah the Prime Ministerial position of an undivided India. Jinnah did not take this personal bribe and stayed with the political agenda of preserving Muslim minority identity in south Asia that the Muslim League had adopted. And that is what lies behind the story of Gandhi offering him the Prime Minister's post.
Exactly right & while Indians blame Jinnah, Pakistanis blame Nehru. Someone came up with a brainstorm of dividing the country so that both are happy & common man suffered.
I am sorry to read this simplistic depiction of what was in fact an extremely complex political and social situation.
