Page 22 - Pakistan Link - August 13, 2021

P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – AUGUST 13, 2021 COMMENTARY
Book & Author

Dr. Shehla Kazmi: Quaid-i-Azam’s Vision of

Education — Selected Quotations (1910-1948)

n By Dr Ahmed S. Khan lightenment. All that we have got to do is to know
Chicago, IL ourselves and the great qualities, virtues and
powers that we possessed. Let us work up to that
…Education is a matter of life and great ideal. Let us utilize our great potentialities
death to our nation... The Holy Prophet in the right direction. Let us forego our personal
“(PBUH) had enjoined his followers to go interests and convenience for the collective good
even to China in the pursuit of knowledge. of our people and for a higher and nobler cause [4
If that was the commandment in those days April 1943, Message to the MSF, NWFP].
when communications were difficult, then, Islam is Our Guide: We do not want any
truly, Muslims as the true followers of the glo- flag excepting the League of Crescent and Star.
rious heritage of Islam, should surely utilize Islam is our guide and a complete code for our
all available opportunities.” life. We don’t want any red or yellow flag. We
— Quaid-i-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah don’t want any isms, socialism, communism or
(14 January 1945, Speech at the 4th Session of National Socialism. All this was received with
Gujerat Muslim Education Conference) loud cheers from the Muslim students [19 March
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the 1944, Speech at the Annual Conference of PMSF,
founder of Pakistan, was a lifelong advocate of Lahore].
education. All his life he had advised Muslims to Study of World Affairs Essential: My
get educated in various disciplines. Emphasizing young friends, I am very happy to meet you. I
the role of education, he had observed: “Without have never called upon the young students to take
education it is complete darkness and with edu- active part in politics. You should devote your-
cation it is light.” selves to studies. But it does not mean becoming a
Quaid-i-Azam’s Vision of Education: Selected bookworm. Your studies should make you aware
Quotations (1910-1948) edited by Dr Shehla Ka- of the happenings around the world. I hope that
zmi (acting director Quaid-i-Azam Academy, Ka- in my second visit to this institution, I shall find
rachi, 2007) is a compilation of Quaid-i-Azam’s it upgraded to a degree college; the present Gov-
statements, speeches and communications viz a ernment College is neither here nor there [6 July
viz importance of education. The editor has com- loved students very much, and he attended their Jinnah’s Will and Education: I direct my 1943, Speech at Intermediate College, Quetta].
piled more than 160 quotations in eight chapters: functions, addressed their meetings many times executors to pay the following by way of gifts to Without Education, Darkness: The Muslim
Islamic Teachings, Education: Views and Plans, and also gave them a number of good advices. He the institutions mentioned: League had not only awakened the Musalmans
Advice to the Students, Students and Politics, considered them a vital part of the society whose A. I bequeath Rs. 25,000/- (Twenty-five politically but had organized them economi-
Muslim League and Education, Views about better training and education could ensure the thousand) to the Anjuman-i-Islam School, Bom- cally as well as educationally too because without
Congress, Women and Education, and Miscella- development of State and society. Moreover, he bay, situated at Homby Rd., opposite Boribunder money there is starvation and without education
neous topics about education. considered that the participation of Muslim stu- Station, and next to the Times India Buildings. darkness. The Muslim League Planning Commit-
Expounding about Quaid’s views on the dents in the Pakistan Movement was in special B. I bequeath Rs. 50,000/- (Fifty thousand) tee was at work and was making useful schemes.
importance of education in the introduction, the circumstances. However, he did not advise stu- to the University of Bombay. [25 November 1945, Speech at a meeting of Fron-
editor observes: “Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali dents to take part in politics while they pursue C. I bequeath Rs. 25,000/- (Twenty-five tier Students Federation, Peshawar]
Jinnah (1876-1948) was the founder of Pakistan. their studies. But, at the same time he advised thousand) to the Arabic College, Delhi. Education and Pakistan Govt.: Mr Jin-
He was fully aware of the importance of educa- them to keep themselves abreast of national and Subject to above, all my residuary estate in- nah, it is understood, agreed that there was an
tion in the construction and betterment of a so- international political affairs. cluding the Corpus that may fall after the laps of imperative need for such a university. (Muslim
ciety. After the arrival of the British in India, the University in Eastern Pakistan). “Education”, he
map of education was entirely changed. In the said, “will be one of the first problems that the
circumstances, it was not beneficial for Muslims Pakistan Government will be called upon to deal
to avoid modern education. The Quaid advised with when it is established, to be followed by eco-
Indians, especially the Muslims, to concentrate nomic and social reforms”…[23 February 1946,
first on their education. His interest in the educa- Interview to Mr. Mr I.H. Zuberi, Principal Islamia
tion of Muslims can be judged by the fact that he College, Calcutta].
had bequeathed a considerable sum of his money Educate Children in Balochistan: In a
to five educational institutions through his will meeting with Nawab Muhammad Khan (Balo-
in 1939. They were mostly Muslims, namely: chistan Member of Constituent Assembly), Mr
Aligarh Muslim University, Sindh Madrasatul Jinnah advised him that the people of Baluch-
Islam Karachi, Islamia College Peshawar, Arabic istan should educate their children and give them
College Delhi and Bombay University. The Quaid training in business [21 January 1947, Interview,
presented his demand to the British Indian Gov- Nawab Muhammad Khan Jogzai].
ernment to make Indian educational system ac- Education and Govt. of Pakistan: Mr Jin-
cording to the requirements of the Indians, espe- nah called upon the Minister for Education in
cially the Muslims. He gave much attention to the Sind to launch a determined drive towards litera-
education of Indian Muslims not only in united cy in the Province saying that Sind was the most
India but also in Pakistan. The Quaid considered backward educationally. The Sind Ministry has
the Qur’an as the general code of Muslims that been installed in office with a definite program
regulates everything in life. He was of the view and education is one of the foremost items in that
that Muslims should seek guidance and enlight- program [12 December 1947, Reply to a welcome
enment from the Qur’an. From the start of his address on the occasion of laying the foundation
political career, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali stone of the Sind Madrassah Girls High School by
Jinnah rose to support education of the Indians his sister Miss Fatima Jinnah].
from the grass roots. He put pressure upon the State Language of Pakistan: You fortu-
British Indian Government to make elementary nately leave this University to enter life under a
and primary education free and compulsory for sovereign, independent State of your own.... it is
Indians with special emphasis to protect Mus- necessary for us to work as a united and disci-
lims’ interest. It is heartening to note that the vi- plined nation…. I must warn you to beware of
sion of the Quaid to make primary education free these fifth columnists. Let me restate my views
and compulsory is now being fulfilled in Pakistan The Quaid paid special emphasis on the life in interests or otherwise, to be divided into on the question of a State language for Pakistan.
after a long time.” need for women to get educated; in this regard three parts and I bequeath one part to Aligharh For official use in this province, the people of
Discussing Quaid-i-Azam’s emphasis and the editor states: “He thought that no struggle University, one part to Islamia College, Peshawar, the province can choose any language they wish.
advocacy about the importance of higher educa- succeeded without women, ever participating and one part to Sindh Mudressa, of Karachi [Will There can, however, be only one lingua franca,
tion for Indians during the British Raj, the edi- side by side with the men. Hence, he gave equal of Mr Jinnah dated 30 May 1939]. that is, the language for inter-communication
tor states: “He was much worried about the type importance to men and women in the develop- Islamic Teachings: “Islam Unites Muslims between the various provinces of the State, and
of education imparted to the Indians, especially ment of a Nation and State. It is crystal clear from I say to every Musalman that Islam expects you, that language should be Urdu, and cannot be any
the Muslims. He was of the view that the students the speeches and thoughts of Quaid-i-Azam Mo- one and all, to do your duty and stand by your other. The state language, therefore, must obvi-
must take technical and scientific education be- hammad Ali Jinnah that he was not satisfied with people as one nation” [28 September 1939, Ad- ously be Urdu, a language that has been nurtured
sides general education of BA and MA... It ap- the educational system of British India. He want- dress to Old Boys Association of the Usmania Uni- by a hundred million Muslims of this subconti-
pears that Quaid-i-Azam was well aware of the ed to create a new structure of education respon- versity, Hyderabad]. nent... Make no mistake about it. There can be
importance of Science and Technology, and he sive to the religious, socio-culture and economic Find guidance from [the] Holy Qur’an: only one State language, if the component part[s]
wanted to educate Muslims in all areas of studies, needs of Muslims not only in British India but You have asked me to give you a message. What of this State are to march forward in unison, and
enabling them to face the future…” also in Pakistan.” This is evident by the following message can I give you? We have got the greatest that language, in my opinion, can only be Urdu
The editor observes that the Quaid-i-Azam sampling of Quaid’s quotes: message in the Qur’an for our guidance and en- [24 March 1948, Speech at the Dhaka University
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