The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Jinnah & secularism

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Tuesday, Apr 19, 2005

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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Jinnah & secularism

Sir, — This refers to L.M. Singhvi's observation that "Jinnah was secular ... but his secular vision was abandoned by his successors" (April 15). It is well known that in the early years of his political career, Jinnah was a secularist. Gokhale said of Jinnah: "... freedom from all sectarian prejudice will make him the best Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity." Jinnah repaid his debt of gratitude to his political guide "by affirming that it was his one ambition to become the Muslim Gokhale." (The Indian Triumvirate: V.B. Kulkarni).

But once Jinnah left the Congress and he was seized with the idea of Pakistan he was a different man. He might have been secular at heart. But he had to show his Muslim constituency that he was more Muslim than even the diehard mullahs. Having led the Muslim League and having fought for a religious state, when he came to preside over it he was probably left with very little secularism which he could have passed on to his successors.

V. Krishnamachari,
Mumbai

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