(Written for Sakonent’s Newsletter)

There are more than just a few reasons for many of us to rejoice the month of December! There’s Christmas, weddings, birthdays, snow, and especially in Karachi, winters are pleasant. But wait, there’s more. There’s an extra reason for the Pakistanis to celebrate and be overwhelmed all over again, by remembering the man, standing firm with his principles in place and a personality that depicted immense discipline, his idea sketched out with clarity to work on achieving us all a successful state, a nation for which the Muslims of the Sub Continent had put all their faith in none other than whom they called the father of the Nation, whom the world knows as Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born on December 25, 1876 at the Vazeer Mansion, in Karachi. He completed his basic education in Karachi, and finally fled to London, to pursue his dream and passion of becoming a Barrister at Law. When after completing his studies, he came back to take care of his father’s business, his interests drew him to be actively involved in politics, and take charge as the Leader of the Muslim League. His efforts, powerful speeches and heartwarming preaching did not go futile, and as a rewards provoked the Muslims of India to not give up on the endless struggle and sacrifice, and finally on August 14th, 1947, Pakistan came into being.

The credit for this beautiful land, which we proudly stand upon today and call ours, all goes to Jinnah Sb.

And, I’d like to take this opportunity to quote Stanley Wolpert, who wrote in his book Jinnah of Pakistan,

“Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three.”