NAME: Muhammad daud

DEPARTMENT: strategic studies

PROJECT: BOOK REVIEW
SUBJECT: PAK STUDY
TEACHER: Dr. fauzia amin
BOOK: MY BROTHER
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

FATIMA JINNAH:
(July 1893 – 9 July 1967),
widely known as Madre-e Millat ("Mother of the Nation"), was a Pakistani
politician, dental surgeon and one of the leading founders of Pakistan. She was
the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the first Governor General of
Pakistan.

After obtaining a dental degree from the University of Calcutta in 1923, then
she became the first female dentist of undivided India, she became a close
associate and an adviser to her older brother, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who later
became the first Governor General of Pakistan. A strong critic of the British
Raj, she emerged as a strong advocate of the two-nation theory and a leading
member of the All-India Muslim League.
Jinnah lived with her brother until 1918, when he married Rattanbai. Upon
Rattanbai's death in February 1929, she closed her clinic, moved into her
brother Muhammad Ali Jinnah's bungalow to look-after her niece Dina Jinnah
and took charge of his house. This began the lifelong companionship that lasted
until her brother's death on 11 September 1948.
She wrote the book my brother in 1955 but it was published 32 years later in
1987 due to censorship by the establishment. Even when published several
pages from the book manuscript were left out. She died in Karachi on 9 July
1967.
About the book:

Number of pages:
90 pages
Number of chapters:
3 chapter
Nature of book:
Biography

Publisher:
This edition has published by peace publication.
(Mr. sharif ul mujahid)

Comments on chapters:
1) A Nation is orphaned:
the first (The nation is orphaned) starts with the account of 1948, one year after the creation
of Pakistan. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a sick old man now, few days away from his death,
but still insisting on continuing to work. To recuperate he was advised to spend some time in
the cool mountain breeze of Ziarat, Baluchistan but this deteriorated his health and he was
ultimately flown back to Karachi. As you turn leaf by leaf sorrow accompanies you side by
side.

2) From Kathiawar to Karachi: The second chapter (From Kathiawar to Karachi)

sheds light on Quaid’s family background. Born in a Business Family, Quaid e Azam was the
eldest among his siblings, he was always looked upon as a favorite child of his mother.
Despite being an average pupil in academic studies who tried hard for his survival in
academic life, his mother believed that he was a child prodigy.

3) A Businessman becomes a barrister:

This chapter theme is that he was supposed to be a
businessman to assist his father but fate turned him to be a lawyer which in turn the fate of
Muslims and changed the geographical history.
Chapter wise summery
1) THE NATION IS ORPHANED:
In the first chapter, the Nation is orphaned; she has narrated
the story of his life and activities of the Indian Muslim League from 1934 to 1948. Elections
under the 1935 Constitution and his efforts to travel round the country and meet voters,
deliver speeches in favor of candidates. He did not rest and sincerely did his duty in the
Central Assembly as a member. The demand for a separate Muslim State was ultimately
accepted by the Congress and by the British. After partition also she has been his companion
and has never left his side. Mr. Jinnah had a frail constitution with a weak body. He smoked a
lot. He was suffering from Pleurisy, hemorrhage. In his weak condition, Jinnah accepted
invitation to inaugural programmed relating to establishment of Treasury and other things.

2)FROM KATHIAWAR TO KARACHI:

Second Chapter, From Kathiawar to Karachi She has mentioned about her family from
Ismaili Khoja in village Paneli in Gonadal Princely State. Quote from the book about her
grandfather’s Ponja ‘s family- “He had three sons, Vaiji, Nathoo and Jihhan, the last named
being his youngest son and a daughter Manbai. Jinnah was more dynamic and ambitious than
his elder brothers and was born around 1856, the historic year of the first Indian Rebellion.
“Her grandfather owned handlooms and worked with hired workers. As there was little
business opportunity in Paneli, his grandfather gave money to his son to go out of Paneli for
business. He tried for business in Gondal where he was married to Meethibai from Daffa
around 1874. His trade flourished and he moved to Karachi. Her father had established Jinnah
Pooja & Co which acted as Banker to transactions on the port of Karachi for goods which
were sent to Baluchistan, Sind, and Punjab. Her father learnt English and became friends with
General Manager of Grahams Trading Company. Her brother was born here. Quote form the
book- “There arose the question of naming the child. So far, living in Kathiawar, names of
the male members of our family had been so much akin to Hindu names. But Sing was a
Muslim Province and the children of their neighbors had Muslim names. The two were
agreed that Mohammad Ali would be an auspicious name for the first born and this was the
name they gave him. My mother was intensely fond of Mohammad Ali and inspire to the fact
that six other children were born to her, she continued to the end of her life to look upon
Mohammad Ali as her favorite’s child. Rahemat, Maryani, Ahmed Ali, Shireen, Fatima and
Bundeh Ali were to be her other children, in all, three sons and four daughters”. Here her
brother and other 6 siblings named above were born. He was taught Gujrati language at home
by a tutor. At home they spoke Gujarati, Kutcha’s, and Sindhi also. At he age of 9, Jinnah
was admitted to a primary school. Here after some time, he didn’t like and started working as
his father’s assistant in his shop office. Later he opted to go to school, but he did not do well
at Mathematics, his father admitted him to a school far from the house at Newnham Road.
Here he did not qualify class IV, so he was sent to Bombay with his Bua Manbai who got him
admitted to Anjuman-e-Islam School. He passed Class IV Gujrati and thus was qualified to
be admitted to Class I English. He was brought back to Karachi and admitted to Sind
Madrasah on 23-12-1897. While he was in Class IV, he joined CMS High School Lawrence
Road, but he did not like it and returned to Sind Madrasah. General Manager of Grahams &
Company advised his father to send Jinnah as an apprentice of Grahams & Co to London for
3 years. His father deposited the money required with Grahams & Co. On 30-09-1892 he was
married to Emi Bai of Paneli. He was in Class V.

3) A BUSINESSMAN BECOMES A BARRISTER:

Chapter III is about his journey to London by ship at the age of 16. He started working as an
apprentice with Grahams Shipping and Trading Co. The same year he found an opportunity
to appear at the Bar examination and join one of the Inns of Court. He left apprenticeship and
prepared for the entrance exam, qualified, paid fees and joined Lincoln’s Inn. When his father
learnt that his son has joined Inns of Court and he would take another three years to qualify as
Barrister and stay in London for 3 more years, he asked him to return. He pleaded with his
father to allow him to complete his studies in the allowance he had provided. In Karachi, his
wife Emi Bai expired. His mother expired in childbirth. His father suffered reverse in
business. At London Jinnah obtained a reader’s ticket for British Museum. He listened to
speeches in Hype Park on Sundays and visited the Parliament where he heard speeches by
Mr. Gladstone, Lord Morley, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, Mx Balfour, T P O’Connor. At the
age of 18 years, he qualified Lincoln’s Inn exam in 2 years. He waited in London to get a cap
and gown and to attend to the prescribed number of dinners at the Inn. When Dadabhai
Naoroji contested election for House of Commons from Central Fins bury Constituency he
worked for his election campaign. He completed the formality of attending the dinners of
Lincoln’s Inn and departed after about three and a half years stay for Karachi with a plan to
work in Bombay. Here he met his family and mourned for his mother. His father informed
that the financial position was bad. A few cases had been filed against them. His father
wished that he should practice at Karachi, but Jinnah stayed firm and moved to Bombay.
First, he stayed in Apollo Hotel. He got his name enrolled in Bombay High Court. For three
years he tried to get work by moving in prospective places in the evening but to no avail. One
of his social circle friends introduced him to Mr. Mac Pherson who was Advocate General
who asked him to join the Chamber and use his library. He was introduced to Sir Charles
Olivant who was member in charge of judicial department. Thus, he got an appointment as a
temporary Presidency Magistrate. After completing his term, he resigned and got many cases
to contest. He shifted from Apollo Hotel to a chamber in Apollo Bunder. He called his father
and family to Bombay. He rented a two-room house in Khoja Mohalla at Khadak for them.
His practice developed well. What I learn from this Book is that an opportunity to be called a
turning point in life whether to appear for an exam to become a member of the Inns of Court
or to continue as an apprentice of a Company arose. Jinnah chose more difficult but bright
future option, and his struggle was fruitful. Second for three years he did not get much legal
work, but he persisted. He worked as a temporary Magistrate and on completing the term
started legal practice. It is quite an inspiring book.

REVIEW:
The book is full of enthusiasm and courage for an individual and a nation as well. It
infuses much power and strength in the readers. While reading this I was feeling proud that I
belong to a nation whose leader was so adamant and full of energy that he never felt
weakness, nor he ever lost his hope in the wake of gigantic challenges he was confronting
with.
Besides all the power and enthusiasm, I get from this book, one thing is disappointing and
heartening, even it produces tears in my eyes, and that is the portion of book in which she
describes last moment of Jinnah's life. How our great leader was laying helpless and how
much agony he had to bear when he was breathing his last. Fatima Jinnah's way of narrating
those events yet fill more grief in it that one can't stop his tears.

Moreover, It also raises many questions. For instance, the apathetic attitude of doctors
towards Mr. Jinnah and more importantly the preparation done by officials who were
supposed to receive him when his plane landed in Mauripor airport. How was it possible that
the ambulance's petrol runt out so quickly even when it hadn't traveled more than four miles?
Why the ambulance was moving slowly and why did cars of other officials not remain behind
the ambulance, after all the ambulance was carrying governor general? Fatima Jinnah and a
sister named Dunham were in the same ambulance whereas, a vehicle was following the
ambulance in which Dr. Ilahi Bax, Dr. Mistry and the military secretary general Geoffrey
Knowles were sitting but they did nothing while the new ambulance took an hour to reach at
that place. These and much more questions erupt in mind and ask a reader could a leader have
fate deplorable to that level Mr. Jinnah had?
However, one thing is obvious, Quaid-e-Azam was a great leader who never bowed before
hardships of life and the challenges he faced while getting a free homeland for his nation. He
had a restless spirit and served the Muslims of sub-continent and later of Pakistan to an
unprecedented level.

Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about his early life, his
rise to power, some of the struggles he faced and unusual occurrences, including his
ambulance running out of petrol.