Probing into Jinnah’s certificates
“Jinnah never did his matriculation. I once checked with Quide Azam Academy, Karachi, about his matriculation but I failed to find any such document. The high officials of the Academy were laughing at me that if he was not matriculate then how he became Barrister but they couldn't produce any evidence. The librarian of Sindh madressa has confirmed me privately that Jinnah never did matric from SM school”
In my article titled, Let’s look into Barrister Jinnah’s degree too , run by Viewpoint Online (November 25, 2010), I presented my probe into Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s educational documents, revealing certain serious discrepancies in official narratives.
My aim was to generate a discussion about certain notions prevalent in Pakistan. While certain readers appreciated and correctly decoded my message, a few readers found it wanting in certain ways. This essay also generated debate on SPN, an email list with over 5000 members. I am summarising below representative comments by Viewpoint readers as well as SPN members. This summary is followed by my conclusion.
Comments on Viewpoint:
Key point is that we don't have to be Graduate to qualify for politics.
[Shamad]
In 1887, Jinnah was in Standard I equal to Class 5 of today. So by 1892, he would be in his 11th class.
[Freehussaini]
You refered to Stanely's book but you didn't read it fully nor other "available sources". Little knowledge is always dangerous but it will become alarming threat for others. you are diging matters like "GEO's and today's media men do".irresponsibly
[Bushra Saeed]
He was a 'Standard V' student which means that he was in the ninth grade or, what we call today in Pakistan 'Class 9'. Until 1960, the fifth grade was not called the fifth grade; It was called 'Standard I.' The sixth grade was called 'Standard II,' so on and so forth. The writer is confusing 'Standard V' with the fifth grade of today.Jinnah was in the ninth grade (Standard V) in 1892
[Freehussaini]
Though it does not really matter what his age was, but how do we know his Year of birth was actually 1876? Gandhi was not matriculate either. Nehru was reportedly gone to Harrow but it was just a High school
[Azad]
The researcher is bringing this up by putting up half truths. Jinnah himself told Fatima Jinnah that he is a non-matriculate. Neither matriculation nor LLB nor BAwere required in 1893 to become a barrister.
Jinnah joined Lincoln's Inn on 5th June 1895 after having interned at the Graham Shipping Company as an accountancy apprentice
"fake degrees" fiasco today is about the lies they made about their degrees.
[YLH]
Comments on SPN:
Yes it is true that Jinnah never did his matriculation. I once checked with Quide Azam Academy, Karachi, about his matriculation but I failed to find any such document. The high officials of the Academy were laughing at me that if he was not matriculate then how he became Barrister but they couldn't produce any evidence. The librarian of Sindh madressa has confirmed me privately that Jinnah never did matric from SM school.
[Baseer Naveed]
This shows that since his young age how Jinnah was groomed as the politician cum lawyer.
According to Wikipedia, at the Christian Missionary Society High School in Karachi, where, at age sixteen, he passed the matriculation examination of the University of Bombay
[Naseem]
In 19th century India there was no matriculation. Sometime before partition, class four was considered Primary education. Rizwan Ahemd the official historian of Pakistan has shed light on the education of Mr.Jinnah in his book"First thirty Years of Mr.Jinnah". Even in that book,there is no mention of jinnah matriculation. Actually Baristery is neither a degree nor a diploma.
[Liaqat Ali]
Very interesting research,[Shakil Chaudhary]
The question of Jinnah matriculation is quite interesting. In the movie "Gandhi, my father" Gandhi’s son wanted to study law in England to become a Barrister as his father. The Gandhi argued that he had already failed in matriculation thrice.
[Shiraz Raj]
It is also quite possible that Lincoln's Inn did not bother with his matriculation certificate and granted him admission simply on the basis of his entrance exam. Most important element in Jinnah's legal education was the two years of 'reading' apprenticeship he spent in a barrister's chambers.
if Jinnah could pass his exams to both get into Lincoln's Inn and pass out from there as well as go on to become the most expensive lawyer in India, the so-called "mystery" behind his matriculation certificate seems rather irrelevant.
[Ayesha Khan]
I wonder why there was this sudden need to vilify Mr. Jinnah.
[Najma Sadeque]
Mr. Jinnah was a politician. one may agree or disagree with his politics but one must be careful in analyzing him he must be careful while on one side he is presented as a prophet and perfect human being and on the other side he is presented as all evil re incarnated. Both are equally wrong .
I think it was possible to go for Bar without Matric then. A research about a certain point in history must take into account the system of that time and place.
[Ijaz Khan]
In case Quad e Azam would have an opportunity to contest general elections under General Musharaf's election laws than perhaps Father of the Nation might have failed to produce graduation certificate and lost the chance of getting elected.
[Adam Malik]
To cite Jinnah's example and create suspicions that he may have lied about his matriculation to get into Lincoln's Inn (which is the sense that I got from your article) was I believe quite out of place.
[Ayesha Khan]
CONCLUSION:
These comments conveyed the following messages:
- Jinnah did complete his matriculation
- Jinnah didn’t do his matriculation
- Degree of matriculation has no importance
In my opinion, the message I wanted to convey through the article was received by the readers very well and they raised all those questions that came to my mind while I was searching and analyzing this subject. However, my research has not been tangibly contested by any researcher. I hope some historian or researcher will come forward and bring this debate further.
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Muhammad Nafees is working as a Research Analyst with The Financial Daily, Karachi and is a Senior Research Fellow for Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy, Islamabad. |