1916 Quaid interview unearthedBy Khalid Hasan: Daily Times, August 16, 2007
WASHINGTON: One of the oldest interviews of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah has been unearthed in a Gujarati journal dating back to May 1916, which provides an insight into the character of the future founder of Pakistan.
The interview was made available to Daily Times by Mumbai-based journalist Aakar Patel from the back files of the Gujarati literary journal Visami Sadi or the 20th Century. The journal also carries a picture of Rutti Jinnah, taken a year after her marriage, with the caption: ‘Special to Visami Sadi (Visami Sadi matey khas).
The transcript with the exact Gujarati words the Quaid-i-Azam used placed in brackets follows:
Q: What are the qualities a man should be admired for?
A: Independence (swatantrata).
Q: What are the qualities a woman should be admired for?
A: Taking care of the elderly (vrudhdha-dari).
Q: What do you think is true success in life?
A: To be admired and loved by people (lok-no chhah melavva-ma).
Q: What’s your favourite pastime?
A: Horse riding (ghode-savari).
Q: What’s your favourite flower?
A: Lilly.
Q: Who’s your favourite writer?
A: Shakespeare.
Q: What’s your favourite book?
A: Monte Cristo (The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas).
Q: What’s your motto?
A: Never be depressed (kadi nirash na thavu).
The Quaid signed his name ‘Mahmad Ali Jhina’.
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