I recently had the chance to read “My Brother” and found it to be an insightful account of the life of Mohammad Ali Jinnah by his devoted sister and companion, Fatima Jinnah. The book provides a good glimpse into Jinnah’s childhood and family environment but leaves us wondering about his inner thoughts and motivations. The book was an attempt to make him a hero, but it gives a very limited understanding of the man and his motivations. We may never truly know what lay behind the pragmatic politician. Still, Fatima Jinnah’s book gives us a valuable perspective on the life of this iconic figure in South Asian history.

While we know that Mohammad Ali Jinnah played a crucial role in the creation of Pakistan as he believed that Muslims and Hindus were separate nations and needed different homelands, we may not fully understand the reasons behind this belief. Despite Jinnah’s significant contributions to the Pakistan Movement, we still lack insight into why he believed that both religious communities were separate and could not live together.

Jinnah’s leadership was crucial in the Pakistan Movement, but it is unclear what his long-term goals were for the newly formed nation. For instance, it is unclear what Jinnah’s thoughts were on the Constitution or his economic vision for the country. Additionally, it is uncertain whether he anticipated the birth of Bangladesh and, if so, how he would have responded to it. Furthermore, Jinnah’s vision for integrating different ethnicities in Pakistan, including Balochi, Sindhi, Pashtun, and Punjabi communities, remains ambiguous. It is also unclear how he planned to accommodate the influx of refugees from India. A deeper understanding of Jinnah’s perspectives on these issues could offer valuable insight into the foundations of Pakistan and its ongoing struggles with identity and unity.

Little is known about Jinnah’s personal life, including his relationship with his wife, Ruttie Jinnah. We know that Ruttie separated from Jinnah and lived separately. While it is understandable that Jinnah was a busy man as a lawyer and political leader and that the struggle for a separate homeland was a difficult path, further research into his personal life could shed light on the man behind the political figure.

One striking aspect of Fatima Jinnah’s account of her brother’s life is how Mohammad Ali Jinnah seemed to be a solitary figure in his pursuit of Pakistan and how he died a lonely death. Despite the fact that the creation of Pakistan became the single most important pursuit of Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s life, the government at the time failed to provide Jinnah with the timely provision of an ambulance, leaving him to suffer in his last moments.

One of the major challenges in gaining a deeper understanding of Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s beliefs and perspectives is the lack of his written works. Jinnah did not write extensively, and his speeches were often brief. However, further research and analysis of the speeches and official notes that do exist could offer valuable insight into Jinnah’s vision for Pakistan and his views on issues such as the relationship between Muslims and Hindus, the role of religion in governance, and the economic development of the country. While uncovering Jinnah’s ideas may be difficult, it is crucial for a fuller understanding of the man and his contributions to Pakistani history.

To understand his thoughts more deeply, I have started reading two other books on Mohammad Ali Jinnah: Ayesha Jalal’s book and Ishtiaq Ahmad’s book, which take different perspectives on Jinnah’s legacy. While Jalal’s book offers a more favorable view of Jinnah’s contributions to Pakistani history, Ahmad’s book provides a more critical take on his leadership and vision for the nation. These opposing viewpoints highlight the complexity of Jinnah’s legacy and the ongoing debate about his role in creating Pakistan. Reading multiple perspectives on Jinnah’s life and work can offer a more nuanced understanding of his contributions and challenges in establishing an independent Muslim state in South Asia.