Adil Najam
Today, December 25, marks the birth anniversary of Pakistan’s founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Mr. Jinnah has been a subject of frequent, and sometimes heated, discussion on ATP (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here). Maybe it is best to spare him the agony of argumentation on his birthday.
Instead, we wish to share this rather interesting and apt tribute to him (supposedly, the first in a series) by Dawn newspaper. (Click on image for larger image).
Dawn newspaper is currently celebrating its own and Pakistan’s 60th anniversary and as part of this celebration will carry a series of illustrated episodes from Mr. Jinnah’s life. This one, the first in this series, is illustrated by Syed Salman Nasir.
I, for one, liked this very much. As readers know I have always liked Jinnah the human even more than Quaid-i-Azam the icon. I also think that this type of story-telling might appeal to the young far more than staid narrations.
Given how our official portraits of Mr. Jinnah tend to be over-stylized and how the national discourse on his is more iconic than human, it is interesting (to say the least) that his human side (see here and here) emerges much more clearly in this caricature than it does in most of our national discussions about him.
Perhaps if someone introduces this to kids at the elementary level, things might change.
I still remember the ridiculously long and monotonous chapters on Jinnah in EVERY Urdu and Pakistan Studies book in primary school. To be honest, knowing the date he joined the league did not inspire me much! If only…
Reducing Jinnah to a caricature or cartoon does not seem that inspiring, for kids or adults, I would think. Bad Idea…..For sure.
Dawn has commemorated Quaid’s anniversary and its own sixtieth anniversary in a good way rather than publishing a traditional press release by APP which normally conveys the message from PM and President.
I like this pictorial illustration by using comic genre.
History witnesses !
@ Quaid-e-Azam was a devout, sincere, honest humble
muslim, and the only one in centuries anywhere.!!
Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad
Long live
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
What? No protests yet? These are Caricatures. For God’s sake, protest…
Pun aside, I think that humanizing Jinnah and so many other idols that have been created for us over years is extremely important. We need inspiration, but that does not mean that we are not capable of new thoughts and ideas. Great work Dawn!
Really Nice !
I hardly get a chance to check out pakistani newspaper here in Dubai but I saw this one yestarday during the PIA flight.
I agree that this will be definately more appealing to the young than the standard impasive writings about Jinnah.
Pakistan still have to see one good leader after Jinnah. He was hardworking servant of Pakistan.
Thanks to him we have our country Pakistan along with all the people who stayed behind the scene. Thank you all Allah give you all place in Janat.
I only said that:
East and West Quaid is best