Founder of a nation

Press, 9 April 1977, Page 16

Founder of a nation

K. W. ANTHONY

If any one man could claim to be the founder of a new nation, that man was Mohammed Ali Jinlah.

For many years he personified the idea of Pakistan — a separate State for those parts of the Indian sub-continent where Moslems formed the majority of the population. It happened just 20 years ago. When Pakistan became a reality in August, 1947, Jinnah took office as the first Governor-General. But he lived for only a year after the fulfilment of his lifelong dream.

Since then, Pakistan has issued a number ot stamp, to honour his memory. The example illustrated is one of the first, one of a set of three in a highly traditional and intricate design issued in September, 1949, on the first anniversay of Jinnah’s death. But for upwards of 15 years one could look in vain on Pakistan stamps for Jinnah’s portrait — or

anyone else's for that matter. This was because Pakistan’s .Moslem traditions still frowned upon any depiction of the human likeness. The breakthrough came in 1965, with the first portrait stamps, showing members of the armed services. And in 1966 Jinnah, too, was portrayed oi stamps for the first time with an issue marking the ninetieth anniversary c his birth. Before 1965. the on' person whose features he appeared on Pakist; stamps was the late Kii George VI. This w; through force of circui stances. Until Pakistan cou produce her own fir' stamps, existing stocks c British Indian stamp: which showed the king' head, were used with thi addition of a ‘Pakistan’ overprint. Jinnah was born at Karachi in 1876. After legal training in England he became a barrister in India.

He joined the Moslem League in 1913, and became its president three years later. Thereafter he was the recognised leader of the Moslem community. When he died in 1948. just a year after Pakistan’s independence. the whole new nation mourned his loss. But modern Pakistan is lifferent from the one • hich Jinnah knew. As irst set up it consisted of wo large areas separated y about a thousand miles Indian territory. After years of increasg friction between the vo parts. Eastern Pakisn broke away in 1971, to >rm the present-day angladesh. Just as Pakistan’s opearance on the map vas quickly reflected m he stamp album, so Bangladesh hastened to issue its own stamps. The first set appeared while the then Eastern Pakistan was still struggling to secure its independence from the west.

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