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.
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
http://www.longlivepakistan.com/ goes after Mullah’s
I believe this is based on actual accounts of the Quaid’s friends. I was also stunned by the comic book style at first but I think that is because we are not used to seeing this. I think this type of storytelling is eyecatching not only for the young but also for rest of us because it catches the attention by its unusual style. A good effort certainly.
I agree with Adil that the man before the title Quaid needs to come to the fore and I laud the efforts of Dawn in this regard.
Its high time the youth can link the Quaid and his principles to the Pakistan of today. Principles of justice and fair play are eternal and never grow old and its the youth that must incorporate them.
This ‘reawakening’ with the Quaids principles is a must for Pakistan for every generation. We must as each generation be able to draw strength from the Quaid and his principles. Indeed had we done so earlier we would not have endured the evil of military dictatorships for our people would never have accepted such distortions in our national fabric.
I am happy with the efforts of Dawn and believe them crucial in helping to bring the Quaid alive to today’s Pakistan. The Quaid must be more than a portrait above our offices and homes, he must live on in us for only then can we achieve the Pakistan our forefathers made sacrificies for.
I am confident that we can build a better, and a more just Pakistan, that ‘other’ Pakistan we all crave. Please help create such a Pakistan, do see http://www.otherpakistan.org/martial.html
Feimanallah
Wasim