Is there a need to relook Jinnah’s role in 1947?

On the face of it, Jaswant Singh’s book on Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah is yet another tome on a much-researched subject. And yet it has resulted in controversy and Singh’s ignominious exit from a party whose member he has been for over 30 years.

Even as Singh looks set to enjoy literary success at the cost of his political career, DNA asked historians and social scientists whether there was, in fact, a need for a relook at Jinnah’s role in India’s freedom movement and the partition of the country.

According to sociologist Ashish Nandy, a book like Singh’s was needed. “There was a need for a less academic, more popular relook at Jinnah. In academic circles there is already a relook happening but a more public debate was needed to be initiated by someone like Jaswant Singh. Even Advani’s comment earlier was an attempt at this but circumvented by political compulsions,” he said.

Nandy said he agreed with Singh’s reading that other nationalist leaders of the time were equally responsible for India’s partition. “I do believe that Jinnah has been demonised and that the leadership at that time was too “sold” on European notions of nation states and refused to consider any alternative models,” he said.

But Nandy is contradicted by Jamia Millia Islamia vice chancellor Mushirul Hasan. “I believe we know enough about Jinnah not to merit another book on him,” Hassan said. “Jaswant Singh has not presented any fresh evidence to merit a relook of Jinnah’s role in India’s partition. And I feel that his sentiments on Nehru reflect the fact that Nehru has been used as a whipping boy by Hindu fundamentalists,” he said.

Some historians agree with Singh, but are appalled at the role ascribed to Sardar Patel. “What has been written about Patel is absolutely incorrect,” says Satish Chandra, professor of history at Delhi University. “Patel was the great unifier. He agreed to partition as he felt that to draw it out would lead to extermination of non-Muslim population in West Punjab and other areas,” he says.

Even as an epitaph for Jaswant Singh’s political career is being written, the conflicting opinions on Jinnah ensure that the last word on him is yet to be written.