Book Review: My Brother by Fatima Jinnah
Forgotten Book of Pakistan: My Brother
Author: Fatima Jinnah
Every country in the world idealizes someone as their leader.
A leader who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way.
And So is Pakistan cherishing Quaid E Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah as the founder and leader of this nation.
We are taught from the very primary education that he is the founder of Pakistan
& I remember that picture of Quaid E Azam in his 60’s with a Jinnah cap, a quiet decent picture, with some
quote of him related to education at the very last page of my book.
We are taught from the very primary education that he is the founder of Pakistan
& I remember that picture of Quaid E Azam in his 60’s with a Jinnah cap, a quiet decent picture, with some
quote of him related to education at the very last page of my book.
As a consequence he becomes more of a quotation figure and the Pakistanis seem to be indifferent to
his sayings.
his sayings.
A person cannot can not be adored if we really not dive and unfold the stages of his life with him, eat,
laugh and cry with them, just like we develop a bond with some fictional hero.
laugh and cry with them, just like we develop a bond with some fictional hero.
Thanks to biographies. (You will know later why I am thanking them.)
A year and a half back, I underwent a complete different journey, a journey which marked the terrible
me for life.
me for life.
Yes you guessed it right it was an experience to read My Brother.
After reading the biography I literally questioned myself that how come he was such a devoted person
to himself and to his nation. Everytime Fati (as Quaid called Fatima Jinnah so) begged her brother to
give it a rest, he would say, “Have you ever heard of a General take a holiday, when his army is fighting
for it's very survival on a battlefield?”
to himself and to his nation. Everytime Fati (as Quaid called Fatima Jinnah so) begged her brother to
give it a rest, he would say, “Have you ever heard of a General take a holiday, when his army is fighting
for it's very survival on a battlefield?”
He was a restless spirit, born in a restless period of his nation’s history.
Biography can be ravishing especially when the writer is as dear to biographee as Fatima Jinnah
was to Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
was to Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
It depicted it all well, his failing health, constant political dilemmas, last days of his life on tenterhooks.
But the thing which I think should be a part of this book is the marital life of Quaid with Ruttie Jinnah,
which is quiet emotional side of Quaid with which we are never introduced. And nobody could have
written the state of mind which Quaid underwent after his divorce with his beloved Ruttie, any better
than his sister who was by his side in the very strained times of his life.
which is quiet emotional side of Quaid with which we are never introduced. And nobody could have
written the state of mind which Quaid underwent after his divorce with his beloved Ruttie, any better
than his sister who was by his side in the very strained times of his life.
But for me they are the match made in heaven. They are the true unrestful spirits of Romio and
Juliet. Their relationship suffered because of Quaid’s whirlwind tours round the sub-continent but
their love for each never ceases.
I am of the strong advocate of this book should be a part of our national curriculum.
Juliet. Their relationship suffered because of Quaid’s whirlwind tours round the sub-continent but
their love for each never ceases.
I am of the strong advocate of this book should be a part of our national curriculum.
Plot Summary of Book:
The Book takes us on the roller coaster ride of Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s life in three chapters.
Chapter 1: A nation is Orphaned.
As Fatima Jinnah unwinds the steps to Quaid’s mausoleum, all the restless years of Quaid E Azam
from 1940’s onwards begin moving in her mind like a film, general elections, Lahore league session,
leaving for Bombay to attend central Legislative Assembly, attack of pleaurisy, going to Madras for
session of All India Muslim League, him collapsing of nervous breakdown, mass massacring with
the formation of Pakistan depressing Quaid and making him weaker day by day untill he was
diagnosed with tuberculosis.
from 1940’s onwards begin moving in her mind like a film, general elections, Lahore league session,
leaving for Bombay to attend central Legislative Assembly, attack of pleaurisy, going to Madras for
session of All India Muslim League, him collapsing of nervous breakdown, mass massacring with
the formation of Pakistan depressing Quaid and making him weaker day by day untill he was
diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Chapter 2: From Kathiawar to Karachi
The story of young passionate man Jinnah born in Paneli village of state Kathiawar. The village was
too small to pursue his dreams so he moved to Gondal and later to Karachi. His wife Mithibai gave
birth to a baby boy which they named Muhammad Ali Jinnah. By the time he was 15, Jinnah decided
to sent him to England to learn practical business administration so that on his return he can give his
father a helping hand but her mother being so afraid to send a young unmarried boy to England got
him married to Emi Bai. The chapter ends with Muhammad Ali leaving for England for 3 years.
too small to pursue his dreams so he moved to Gondal and later to Karachi. His wife Mithibai gave
birth to a baby boy which they named Muhammad Ali Jinnah. By the time he was 15, Jinnah decided
to sent him to England to learn practical business administration so that on his return he can give his
father a helping hand but her mother being so afraid to send a young unmarried boy to England got
him married to Emi Bai. The chapter ends with Muhammad Ali leaving for England for 3 years.
Chapter 3: A businessman Becomes a Barrister
The young Indian man is standing on foreign soil, 3 years of apprenticeship lying ahead of him.
England of 1890s was uproaring already with the spirit of British Liberalism. The speeches of leaders
begin to make it's Mark on the young man’s mind. He soon got fed up of the monotonous routine of
his office & gave up apprenticeship to get admission in Lincoln's Inn. His father was too furious to hear
this but his mother had blind Faith in his son that he would one day be a great man. He worked so hard
and worked to pay his expenses. In the meanwhile, his family back in India, were ending up in ruins.
His mother and wife died, father’s business was in heavy losses.
England of 1890s was uproaring already with the spirit of British Liberalism. The speeches of leaders
begin to make it's Mark on the young man’s mind. He soon got fed up of the monotonous routine of
his office & gave up apprenticeship to get admission in Lincoln's Inn. His father was too furious to hear
this but his mother had blind Faith in his son that he would one day be a great man. He worked so hard
and worked to pay his expenses. In the meanwhile, his family back in India, were ending up in ruins.
His mother and wife died, father’s business was in heavy losses.
Young Muhammad Ali is back to his native land as a Barrister. But the destiny was not so kind to him.
Seeing unpromising offers from Karachi he moved to Bombay and got himself enrolled in Bombay High
Court. For the next 3 years he would leave for the court in the morning and return to his room without
having earned a single penny untill one day he met Mr. MacPherson who on seeing the young talent
get him appointed as a Presidency magistrate and this was only the beginning of his tomorrow.
Seeing unpromising offers from Karachi he moved to Bombay and got himself enrolled in Bombay High
Court. For the next 3 years he would leave for the court in the morning and return to his room without
having earned a single penny untill one day he met Mr. MacPherson who on seeing the young talent
get him appointed as a Presidency magistrate and this was only the beginning of his tomorrow.