Are there similarities between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
and the Jewish State of Israel?
................
As states created with the explicit purpose of safeguarding
the political rights of religious minorities, the Zionist and Pakistani
struggles for independence reflect some similar political traits and
approaches. Some of the problems they faced in nation-building were
also similar. In both cases, the question of nationhood was strongly
influenced by religion; yet those who led the struggle were anything
but religious.Neither Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the architect of Pakistan,
nor David BenGurion visualized the creation of theocratic entities.
Describing the complex personality of Jinnah, one Indian journalist
observed:
General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq (Pakistan's dictator from 1977-88) must
be a very relieved man that Mr. Jinnah, the "father" of Pakistan, is not
alive today -- or he would have to be flogged publicly for his personal
habits. Mr. Jinnah not only chain-smoked Craven-A cigarettes but also
liked his whisky and was not averse to pork. His was the life of an
upperclass liberal -- which indeed Jinnah was for most of his life, both
private and public.7
The same is true of Ben-Gurion's "observant" life-style. Though heavily
loaded with religiosity, both leaders and their colleagues desired a
modern state that would address and satisfy the particular needs of the
Muslims in an undivided India and the Jews in an undivided Palestine.
At the same time, in both cases the secular leadership that led the
nationalist struggle gradually gave way to religious elements that were
ideologically opposed to the very idea of religiously-defined states.8
7. M.J. Akbar, India: TheSiegeWithin, Challengesto aNation'sUnity, (New Delhi:
UPS, revised edition, 1996), p.19
8. P.R.Kumaraswamy, "The strangely parallel careers of Israel and Pakistan",
Middle East Quarterly, vol.4, no.2, June 1997, pp.31-39.
From: QR <qrahman@netscape.net>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 6:37 AM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Was Jinnah Secular?
We have separate myth from reality.
According to scholars, Jinnah was a secular person who wanted to establish rights for Indian Muslims. Anyone who thinks Jinnah was a great Muslim does not know his life story very well. However we became a great leader of the Muslims. Some people say (Maulana Azad) he did not even wanted to divide India but wanted to use concept of Pakistan as a tool to bargain with fanatical faction of congress leadership.
Our own Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a very active member of Muslim League as well. It was the right thing to do since majority population was hostile to Muslims.
As a Bangladeshi I do NOT consider him as my leader but I am not stupid enough deny his place in our history. Bangladesh is the final outcome and I am glad we can live as free people here.
So Jinnah was a secular minded leader who became the leader of the Muslims. That is how it went down......
Shalom!
According to scholars, Jinnah was a secular person who wanted to establish rights for Indian Muslims. Anyone who thinks Jinnah was a great Muslim does not know his life story very well. However we became a great leader of the Muslims. Some people say (Maulana Azad) he did not even wanted to divide India but wanted to use concept of Pakistan as a tool to bargain with fanatical faction of congress leadership.
Our own Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a very active member of Muslim League as well. It was the right thing to do since majority population was hostile to Muslims.
As a Bangladeshi I do NOT consider him as my leader but I am not stupid enough deny his place in our history. Bangladesh is the final outcome and I am glad we can live as free people here.
So Jinnah was a secular minded leader who became the leader of the Muslims. That is how it went down......
Shalom!
-----Original Message-----
From: Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Aug 16, 2013 4:52 pm
Subject: [mukto-mona] Was Jinnah Secular?
From: Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Aug 16, 2013 4:52 pm
Subject: [mukto-mona] Was Jinnah Secular?
An interesting video indeed! Assuming there is no falsification in the dubbing; doesn't Jinnah look like a messenger of the Muslim Ummah?
Obviously, the pan-Islamic minds of the Indian subcontinent want to portray Jinnah as their great Muslim leader, and do not want him to look like secular. For, they want their countries to remain (for Pakistan and Bangladesh) and to be (for India) Muslim/Islamic havens.
My guess is that some secular people of the subcontinent want to portray Jinnah as a secular individual in order to encourage secularization of Pakistan and Bangladesh (which were fathered by their supreme leader, Jinnah). For the sane Bangladeshis who object to calling Jinnah their supreme leader, please recall the shameful history of the land that your forefathers made a part of Pakistan in 1947. To me, that kind of attempts to secularize the minds of religious hate-mongers is dishonest, would not work, and should not be done.
More later, may be.
Sukhamaya Bain
==================================
From: Shahadat Hussaini <shahadathussaini@hotmail.com>
......................................
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 9:08 AM
Subject: [mukto-mona] FW: ধর্মনিরপেতাবাদ ধর্মহীনতারই নামান্তর
......................................
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 9:08 AM
Subject: [mukto-mona] FW: ধর্মনিরপেতাবাদ ধর্মহীনতারই নামান্তর
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Check this speech.
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