Jawad Syed
In a world filled with xenophobia and othering, where opportunistic and expedient politicians across the globe frequently exploit hate to gain cheap popularity and votes, it is pertinent to draw inspiration from the following letter to the editor of Time magazine by Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Quaid-e-Azam), the founder of Pakistan.
In this letter, Mr Jinnah refused to put his signature on the cover of the magazine because, in his words, “The description, ‘Mohamed Ali Jinnah, His Moslem Tiger wants to eat the Hindu cow,’ is offensive to the sentiments of the Hindu community.”
That’s a true statesman and inclusive leader!
Almost 19 years ago, while studying at Macquarie University, Australia, I presented my research paper titled “Pakistani Model of Diversity Management: Rediscovering Jinnah’s Vision” at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM) in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA (August 2005), which was subsequently published in an international journal. In that paper, I analyzed the speeches and ideology of Jinnah to outline his vision of diversity.
Text of the Letter:
M. A. Jinnah to the Editor, Time, New York
F. 199/107
Undated [July 1947]
Dear Sir,
I am in receipt of your letter dated 24 June, and I am returning herewith your two cover pages of the Time magazine.
As I think the description, “Mohamed Ali Jinnah His Moslem Tiger wants to eat the Hindu cow,” is offensive to the sentiments of the Hindu community, I cannot put my autograph on the cover page of the Time magazine as requested by you. However, I am sending my autograph on a separate paper since you are very keen on having it.
I am also returning your stamps, which you were kind enough to send, but I am afraid they cannot be used in India.
Yours faithfully,
M. A. Jinnah
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References
Syed, J. (2008). Pakistani model of diversity management: rediscovering Jinnah’s vision. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 28(3/4), 100-113.
Zaidi, Z.H. (2006). Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah Papers: Cabinet Mission’s Parleys for Shaping India’s Future, 1 April-31 July 1946, pg. 285.
South Asian Academy of Management 