Dr.Abdullah
Jan Pathan.
M.B.B.S; T.D.D; D.T.C.D; D.T.M & H
CHEST PHYSICIAN
HYDERABAD, SINDH, PAKISTAN
It was on Sunday the 13th
July, 2003 at 10:15 PM Dr. Riaz Ahmed telephoned me at Hyderabad and asked me
to prepare a paper on Mohterma Fatima Jinnah. I collected the available material
with me and then went round various libraries in Hyderabad but could not get
much material on Mohterma. Same was the case on net except perhaps 1 or 2 sites.
Surprisingly, Mohterma’
s biography starts with contradiction about her Birth date as in Daily Jung
special edition on Miss Fatima Jinnah on 9th July 1993. It has chronicled the
biography of Mohterma starting with 1891 as her birth year while all the other
record mentions 31st July 1893 as her birth date. Not only this in her own book
(My Brother) published by Quaid-e-Azam academy Karachi in 1987.She mentions
seven brothers and sisters while Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad in 1979 published
a book “World Scholars on Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah edited by Professor
Ahmed Hassan Dani mentions in its first article titled “Quaid-e-Azam’s
family environment” by Atique Zaffar Shiekh that Poonja Bahi (Quaids father)
had four sons and four daughters. He has also given Quaid’s family tree.
One wonders at such gross contradiction and feels at a loss to recognize the
truth. Same holds good for Quaid’s birthday as well as Allama Iqbal’s
on whose medical history I am working at present.
However, if we start from 1893, when Fatima was born to Mithi Bai, who gave
birth to one son Banday Ali after which she died. At that time Fatima was one
years old so her eldest sister Maryam looked after her. When Muhammad Ali Jinnah
returned from England and started legal practice in Bombay, he took over the
guardianship of Fatima on the death of their father in 1901.Due to her brother’s
keen interest and despite strident family opposition, Miss Fatima received excellent
early education. She joined the Bandra Convent in 1902. In 1906 her brother
got her admitted in Saint Patrick School Khandala. Here she passed her matriculation
examination in 1910. Then she returned to her brother’s home. Since Muhammad
Ali Jinnah was busy in his legal practice he used to take her in Baghi (victoria)
his sister Begum Pir Bhai’s house, on the way to the court. Here she used
to play with her elder sister and Phuphi’s children. On way back from
the court he used to pick her up in the evening they both went for a walk. During
this period she prepared for senior Cambridge which she passed in 1913. On 19th
April 1918, Muhammad Ali Jinnah married Rattan Bai. She was the daughter of
Sir, Dinshaw Petit and after embracing Islam on 16th April, 1918 (Different
names have been mentioned for her brother & sister Ratna Bai, Maryam etc).
Miss Fatima Jinnah moved to her sister’s house. They used to meet on every
Sunday for lunch. To overcome her loneliness in 1919. She got admitted to the
highly competitive University of Calcutta where she attended Dr. Ahmed Dental
College. Though her sister Maryam was residing in Calcutta, she preferred to
stay in the hostel. After she qualified in 1922. Jinnah went along with her
idea of opening a dental clinic and helped her set it up on Abdur-Rehman Street
Bombay, in 1923.
She continued with this clinic for seven years. During this period she voluntarily
attended a Municipal clinic at Dhobi Talao. It was a free dispensary. In 1928
Muhammad Ali Jinnah went to England with his wife and left his 9-year-old daughter
Dina with Miss.Fatima Jinnah. On 20th February 1929 Jinnah’s wife died
of Tuberculosis (Suryia Khursheed book; page 87, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah kay
Shub-o-Roz) Miss Fatima Jinnah has expressed her resentment of Ratan Bai.
Upon Ratanbai’s death in Feb: 1929, Miss Jinnah wound up her clinic, moved
into Jinnah’s bungalow and took charge of his house; thus beginning the
lifelong companionship that lasted till Jinnah’s death on Sept: 11, 1948.
In all, Miss Jinnah lived with her brother for about 28 years, including the
last 19 tiring years of his life. The Quaid would discuss various problems with
her, mostly at the breakfast and dinner table, paying tribute to his sister,
the Quaid once said “My sister was like a bright ray of light and hope
whenever I came back home and met her. Anxieties would have been much greater
and my health much worse, but for the restraint imposed by her”
Miss Jinnah not only lived with brother but also accompanied him on his numerous
tours. In 1932, she joined him in London when she remained there after the Second
Round Table Conference.
When the All India Muslim League was being organized, Miss Fatima Jinnah was
taken on as a member of the working committee of the Bombay Provincial Muslim
League, and worked in that capacity until 1947.
In March 1940, she attended the Lahore session of the Muslim League. Fatima
was convinced that the Hindus intended to subjugate and dominate the Muslim
completely. It was primarily due to her initiative that the All India Muslim
Women Students Federation was organized in Feb: 1941 at Dehli.
During the transfer of power in 1947, she was an inspiration to muslim women.
She formed the Women’s relief committee, which later formed the nucleus
for the All Pakistan Women’s Association. She also played a significant
role in the settlement of refugees in the new state of Pakistan .
Most of the account of Quaid-e-Azam's illness and his last days has been correctly
chronicled by Col. Illahi Bakhsh and the care and attention given by his sister
Mohterma Fatima Jinnah. Col. Illahi Bakhsh was called at Ziarat by Mohterma
without Quaid, s permission. He examined the Quaid on 24th July 1948. Who gave
him a brief history of his illness trying to minimize his illness and diverting
his attention away from the lungs. He acquainted Miss. Jinnah of his findings
but expressed his inability to give a final opinion without further investigations.
Next morning Civil Surgeon Quetta Dr. Siddiqui and Dr. Mehmood clinical pathologist
arrived with all the equipment and carried out the Laboratory investigations
and found the sputum to be positive for Tubercle Bacilli. Illahi Bakhsh informed
Miss Jinnah about the Laboratory findings. In his words, she remained perfectly
composed. One could see in the firmness of her resolute face a striking resemblance
to her famous brother. She wished to know more details and the chances her brother
had of overcoming the disease. She was informed that still x-ray examination
and his response to treatment was required to give an opinion.
After this she broke down. She wished her brother had listened to her earlier
for the last two months she had been bagging him to call a specialist but he
would not listen and continued to work until he got so exhausted that he was
forced to take a rest. He always maintained that she worried unnecessarily and
that the last attack of cough and fever were only brought on by over-work and
exposure. How she wished that the diagnosis had been made earlier although they
both knew that his wife Rattie had died of T.B. Col. Illahi Bakhsh further says
that acting on Miss. Jinnah’s advise he made his findings known to Quaid
. Who remained calm and all he said after he finished was “Have you told
Miss Jinnah? “ Illahi Bakhsh says he replied, “ yes sir, since I
thought it proper to conceal the nature of the illness from you fearing it might
have an adverse effect on you, I had to take her into confidence “.
The Quaid-e-Azam interrupted me and said, “ No you should not have done
it. After all she is a woman”. I expressed regret for the pain caused
to his sister. Then Quaid –e-Azam enquired what are the chances of my
overcoming it? How long will the treatment last?
Late Dr. Riaz Ali Shah, S.S Alam and Dr. Ghulam Muhammad were summoned from
Lahore who arrived with portable x-ray etc. They were introduced to Miss. Jinnah.
Dr. Ghulam Muhammad confirmed the Laboratory findings while x-rays showed extensive
damage to the lungs. His treatment was started. A nurse Phyllis Dunham from
Quetta was engaged, but Miss Fatima jinnah was constantly looking after him.
She used to supervise his diet and other needs.
On 13th August 1948, Quaid-e-Azam was moved from Ziarat to Quetta. After initial
improvement when Quaid-e-Azam’s condition worsened on 7th Sept, his doctors
wanted to consult other doctors and discussed it with Miss Fatima Jinnah. So
Dr. Muhammad Ali Mistry was sent for from Karachi, a cable was sent to Mr.M.H
Isphani by Miss.Jinnah. (ambassador of Pakistan to U.S.A)
Miss Jinnah asked Dr. Illahi Bakhsh to stay for the night at the Residency.
The nurse reported that Quaid was restless and that oxygen was being given by
Miss Jinnah herself whenever the restlessness increased. After the oxygen inhalation
he would sleep for an hour or so. Thus, she was practically up throughout the
night. It was a wonder how with her frail constitution. She could work day and
night unremittingly without breaking down.
On 11th Sept: 1948 they
started from Quetta in Governor General’s viking for Karachi. On the way
he was given oxygen by Miss. Jinnah and Illahi Bukhsh alternatively. They arrived
at the Mauri-pur (now Masrur) Aerodrome at 4.15 p.m. . On the way ambulance
got stalled another one was brought from Malir by Col. Geoffrey Knowles, Quaid’s
Military Secretary and reached their destination at 6.10 PM.
Col. Illahi Bakhsh was summoned to Quaid-e-Azam’s house at 9.15 when his
condition worsened. Dr. Mistry and Dr. Shah also reached there. They gave him
injections. Col. Illahi Bux said reassuringly to the Quaid-e-Azam, “ Sir,
we have given you an injection to strengthen you, God willing you are going
to live “. The Quaid shock his head and said faintly ‘No I am not’.
These were the last words before he died at 10.20 PM . Miss Jinnah was too over-whelmed
to talk to him. The only person in the room at the time were the three doctors,
Miss Jinnah and the nurse. Miss Jinnah was beside herself with grief and almost
collapsed. Her condition was pitiable, but while fully sharing her heart breakinging
sorrow we could offer her no comfort.
Miss. Fatmah Jinnah in her foreword to Col. Illahi Bakhsh, s book concludes,
“ The Quaid-e-Azam is no more. He lived so that Pakistan may come into
being. He died so that Pakistan may live. Pakistan Zindabad 14th August, 1949.
Despite her old age, she continued to help social and educational associations. During the Quad’s illness, she remained passionately attached to him. After his death, she often issued important statements on important occasions, as a reminder to the nation of the ideals on which Pakistan had been established. In 1965, Miss Fatima Jinnah ran for President as a candidate of the combined opposition party.
The people of Pakistan hold Miss. Jinnah in high esteem. Due to her selfless work for Pakistan, the nation conferred upon her the title of Madar-e-Millat or “Mother of the Nation”.
She died in Karachi on July 8, 1967.( Some historians indicate that the date of her death was actually July 2, 1967.)
MOHTARMA FATIMA JINNAH
1893. Born in Newnhan Road Karachi.
1894. Mother Mithi Bai died in Karachi.
1895. Father –Jinnah Poonja shifted to Bombay. Took all children with
him
1901. Father died. Till then she was educated at home
Mohammed Ali Jinnah became her guardian.
1902. Quaid –e-Azam got her admitted in Bandra Convent
Boarding School Bombay
1906. Brother, Quaid got her admitted in Saint Patrick High School Khandala
1910. She did her Matriculation from this school
1913. She did Senior Cambridge as a private student
1919. She got admitted to Dr. Ahmed Dental College Calcutta at that time it
was the only Dental College in India
1922. She qualified as (DENTIST) Dental doctor
1923. She opened a dental clinic at Abdul Rehman Street, Bombay.
1929. On the death of Rattan bai Quaid,s wife she closed the clinic and moved
in with Quaid– e-Azam
1937. She participated for the first time in All India Muslim League annual
meeting at Luknow.
1940 She accompanied Quaid to Lahore and participated in the historic
Pakistan Resolution.
1941. She accompanied Quaid to Madras to attend All India Muslim
League. On way back Quaid fell ill. She attended to him for three weeks at Missori
Hill.
1942. Attended All India Muslim League session at Allahabad. They stayed at
Nawab Sir Muhammad Yousuf’s house.
1943. She attended two sessions at Delhi and Karachi
7.8.1947. She bid farewell to Delhi and accompanied Quaid to Karachi.
March 1948. Accompanied Quaid to East Pakistan for the first time.
1948. attended to Quaid during his illness.
28.2.54 Whirlwind tour of East Pakistan stayed there for two weeks.
Aug: 1961 went to Europe. Stayed mostly in Germany for treatment.
1965 Contested Presidential Election
8/9 July 1967 died at 74, at Qasr-e-Fatima Clifton Karachi. Buried near Quaid.