Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Urdu: محمد علی جناح )
was born on December 25, 1876 in Karachi. He was a
great 20th century politician and statesman. He is one of the greatest leader of the subcontinent. He is
"the founder of Pakistan". He served as
"The leader of The Muslim League" and
Pakistan's first Governor-General.
He is known in Pakistan as Quaid-i-Azam
(Urdu: قائد اعظم — "Great Leader") and
Baba-e-Qaum (بابائے قوم) ("Father of the Nation"). His birthday is a national holiday in Pakistan. Jinnah rose to prominence in the Indian National Congress initially expounding ideas of Hindu-Muslim unity and helping shape the 1916 Lucknow Pact between the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress. He was known as
"The ambassader of Hindu Muslim Unity". He also became a key leader in the All India Home Rule League. He
proposed a fourteen-point constitutional reform plan to safeguard the political rights of Muslims in a self-governing India.
Jinnah, advocating
the Two-Nation Theory, embraced the goal of creating a separate state for Muslims as per the Lahore Resolution.
The League won most reserved Muslim seats in the elections of 1946. After the British and Congress backed out of the Cabinet Mission Plan Jinnah called for a
Direct Action Day to achieve the formation of Pakistan. The direct action by the Muslim League and its Volunteer Corps, resulted in massive rioting in Calcutta between Muslims and Hindus/Sikhs, due to attacks of Hindus on Muslims. As the Indian National Congress and Muslim League failed to reach a power sharing formula for united India, it prompted both the parties and the British to agree to independence of Pakistan and India.
As the first Governor-General of Pakistan, Jinnah led efforts to rehabilitate millions of refugees, and to frame national policies on foreign affairs, security and economic development. He died a year after Pakistan's formation on 11th September, 1948 and was buried in Karachi.
He was undoubtedly "The Leader of the Indian Muslims" who helped them to achieve a separate state in subcontinent.
