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    Jinnah's Death Anniversary: Some Famous Quotes about the Quaid

    Written by: Waseem Abbas
    Posted on: September 11, 2023 | | 中文

    A view of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah

    On the death anniversary of the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Youlin has compiled some of the quotes about this statesman who shaped and cast his shadow over the 20th century, creating and giving birth to one of the most important and powerful Muslim countries. The great historian of South Asia, Stanley Wolpert, astutely summed up the greatness of Jinnah by declaring, “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.” The collection of quotes about Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that follow are both of admirers and adversaries, who were dazzled by the sheer genius, integrity and focus of the man to give his people a better future and a homeland.

    US historian and author of 'Jinnah of Pakistan', Stanley Wolpert

    Sarojini Naidu, an Indian politician who succeeded Mahatama Gandhi as the President of All India National Congress, and whose poetry against colonialism earned her the title of 'the nightingale of India', eulogized Jinnah in her book "Muhammad Jinnah: An Ambassador of Unity", published in 1919, in the following words: “(Jinnah has) a sincerity of purpose and the lasting charm of a character animated by a brave conception of duty and an austere and lovely code of private honor and public integrity… Tall and stately… languid and luxurious of habit, Mohammad Ali Jinnah's attenuated form is a deceptive sheath of a spirit of exceptional vitality and endurance. Somewhat formal and fastidious, and a little aloof and imperious of manner, the calm hauteur of his accustomed reserve but masks, for those who know him, a naive and eager humanity, an intuition quick and tender as a woman's, a humour gay and winning as a child's. Pre-eminently rational and practical, discreet and dispassionate in his estimate and acceptance of life, the obvious sanity and serenity of his worldly wisdom effectually disguise a shy and splendid idealism which is of the very essence of the man.”

    Sarojini Naidu,'The Nightangle of India'

    Mr. M.C Chagla, who knew Jinnah, and later became Chief Justice of Bombay High Court and the Foreign Minister of India, praised Jinnah's powers of persuasion and argument as a lawyer in 1927: “Jinnah was a pure artist in the manner and method of his presentation. Even the most complex facts became simple and obvious when he waved his wand over them. He could be ferociously aggressive and almost boyishly persuasive as and when the occasion arose, and what particularly helped him in his advocacy, was the absolute clear head that he possessed, and on which he justly prided himself. He had common sense, that most uncommon of qualities in an uncommon degree.”

    Edwin Montagu, who served as the Secretary of State of India between 1917 and 1922, wrote in his memoir of 1930, "Edwin S. Montagu, An Indian Diary", that among all the leaders he interacted with in India, Jinnah impressed him the most: “Young, perfectly mannered, impressive-looking, armed to the teeth with dialectics, and insistent upon the whole of his scheme…… (Viceroy) Chelmsford tried to argue with him, and he was tied up into knots. Jinnah is a very clever man, and it is, of course, an outrage that such a man should have no chance of running the affairs of his own country.”

    Edwin Montagu, who served as the Secratery of State of India between 1917 and 1922

    Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, poet and philosopher who envisioned the need for a homeland for the Muslims of India, persuaded Jinnah to come back from England and lead the All India Muslim League. He said about Jinnah in 1934: “There is only one option. Muslims must strengthen Jinnah and join Muslim League. This is the only way to successfully win the freedom struggle of India. He is, undoubtedly, incorruptible and unpurchaseable.”

    Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal

    In his book "Verdict on India", published in 1944, Beverley Nichols, English playwright, journalist, novelist, and public speaker wrote about Jinnah's complete sway over the Muslim populace in these words: “He can sway the battle this way or that as he chooses. His 100 million Muslims will march to the left, to the right, to the front, to the rear at his bidding, and at nobody else's, that is the point. It is not the same in the Hindu ranks. If Gandhi goes, there is always Nehru, or Rajagopalachari or Patel or dozen others. But if Jinnah goes, who is there?”

    Beverley Nichols

    On 11 September 1948, after Jinnah's death, Sarat Chandra Bose, famous Indian independence activist, barrister, and the elder brother of Subash Chandra Bose, paid tribute to him in the following words, “Mr. Jinnah, was great as a lawyer, once great as a Congressman, great as a leader of Muslims, great as a world politician and diplomat, and greatest of all as a man of action. By Mr. Jinnah's passing away, the world has lost one of the greatest statesmen and Pakistan its life-giver, philosopher, and guide.”

    Harry S. Truman, who was President of the USA from April 1945 to January 1953, in his congratulatory message on Pakistan's Independence Day, said: “[He was] the originator of the dream that became Pakistan, architect of the State and father of the world's largest Muslim nation. Mr. Jinnah was the recipient of a devotion and loyalty seldom accorded to any man.” Jinnah's qualities inspired many outside the subcontinent as well. On his visit to Pakistan in 1955, Nelson Mandela insisted on visiting Jinnah's tomb and called him, “a constant source of inspiration for all those who are fighting against racial or group discrimination.”

    Harry S. Truman

    Conservative member of the Parliament in the UK, John Biggs-Davison said, in 1955, that Pakistan would have been a distant dream had there been no Jinnah. “Although without Gandhi, Hindustan would still have gained independence and without Lenin and Mao, Russia and China would still have endured Communist revolution, without Jinnah there would have been no Pakistan in 1947.”

    H.V. Hudson, British economist, and author commented on Jinnah's sense of integrity in his book "The Great Divide: Britain-India-Pakistan", published in 1969, “Not even his political enemies ever accused Jinnah of corruption or self-seeking. He could be bought by no one, and for no price. Nor was he in the least degree weathercock, swinging in the wind of popularity or changing the times. He was a steadfast idealist as well as a man of scrupulous honor.”

    British Economist and Editor H. V. Hodson

    Quaid's legacy was one of an inclusive, enlightened, tolerant, constitutional and democratically governed Pakistan. Despite the needs of a security state, it is imperative that Pakistan should stay the course according to the principles and ideals of the Quaid, in order to face and overcome the challenges of the modern world.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021