Return to India

During the final period of his stay in England, Jinnah came under considerable pressure to return home
when his father's business was ruined. In 1896 he returned to India and settled in Bombay. Jinnah built a house in Malabar Hill, later known as Jinnah House. He became a successful lawyer, gaining particular
fame for his skilled handling of the "Caucus Case". His reputation as a skilled lawyer prompted Indian
 leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak to hire him as defence counsel for his sedition trial in 1908. Jinnah argued
that it was not sedition for an Indian to demand freedom and self-government in his own country, but
Tilak received a rigorous term of imprisonment.

When he returned to India his faith in liberalism and progressive politics was confirmed through his close association with three Indian National Congress stalwarts Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta
and Surendranath Banerjee. These people had an influence in his early life in England and they would influence his later involvement in Indian politics.


Fourteen points

Jinnah broke with the Congress in 1920 when the Congress leader, Mohandas Gandhi, launched a law-violating Non-Cooperation Movement against the British, which Jinnah disapproved of. Unlike
most Congress leaders, Gandhi did not wear western-style clothes, did his best to use an Indian language instead of English, and was deeply rooted to Indian culture. Gandhi's local style of leadership gained great popularity with the Indian people. Jinnah criticised Gandhi's support of the Khilafat Movement, which he
saw as an endorsement of religious zealotry. By 1920, Jinnah resigned from the Congress, with a prophetic warning that Gandhi's method of mass struggle would lead to divisions between Hindus and Muslims and within the two communities. Becoming president of the Muslim League, Jinnah was drawn into a conflict between a pro-Congress faction and a pro-British faction.

In September 1923, Jinnah was elected as Muslim member for Bombay in the new Central Legislative Assembly. He showed great gifts as a parliamentarian, organized many Indian members to work with the Swaraj Party, and continued to press demands for full responsible government. He was so active on a
 wide range of subjects that in 1925 he was offered a knighthood by Lord Reading when he retired as Viceroy and Governor General. Jinnah replied: "I prefer to be plain Mr. Jinnah".

In 1927, Jinnah entered negotiations with Muslim and Hindu leaders on the issue of a future constitution, during the struggle against the all-British Simon Commission. The League wanted separate electorates
while the Nehru Report favoured joint electorates. Jinnah personally opposed separate electorates, but
then drafted compromises and put forth demands that he thought would satisfy both. These became known as the 14 points of Mr. Jinnah.However, they were rejected by the Congress and other political parties.

Jinnah's personal life and especially his marriage suffered during this period due to his political work. Although they worked to save their marriage by travelling together to Europe when he was appointed to the Sandhurst committee, the couple separated in 1927. Jinnah was deeply saddened when Rattanbai died in 1929, after a serious illness.

Also in 1929, Jinnah defended Ilm-ud-din, a carpenter who murdered a Hindu book publisher for publishing the book "Rangeela Rasool" which was alleged to be offensive towards the Prophet Muhammad. Jinnah's involvement in this controversy showed a greater inclination towards Islamic politics and a shift away from being an advocate for Hindu-Muslim unity.

At the Round Table Conferences in London, Jinnah was disillusioned by the breakdown of talks. After the failure of the Round Table Conferences, Jinnah returned to London for a few years. In 1936, he returned to India to re-organize Muslim League and contest the elections held under the provisions of the Act of 1935.

Jinnah would receive personal care and support as he became more ill during this time from his sister Fatima Jinnah. She lived and travelled with him, as well as becoming a close advisor.She helped raise his daughter, who was educated in England and India. Jinnah later became estranged from his daughter, Dina Jinnah, after she decided to marry Parsi-born Christian businessman, Neville Wadia (even though he had faced the same issues when he married Rattanbai in 1918). Jinnah continued to correspond cordially with his daughter, but their personal relationship was strained. Dina continued to live in India with her family.

1. The form of the future constitution should be federal with the residuary powers vested in the [ [province]]s.

2. A uniform measure of autonomy shall be granted to all provinces.

3. All legislatures in the country and other elected bodies shall be constituted on the definite principle of adequate and effective representation of minorities in every province without reducing the majority in any province to a minority or even equality.

4. In the Central Legislature, Muslim representation shall not be less than one third.

5.Representation of communal groups shall continue to be by means of separate electorate as at present, provided it shall be open to any community at any time to abandon its separate electorate in favor of a joint electorate.

6.Any territorial distribution that might at any time be necessary shall not in any way affect the Muslim majority in the Punjab, Bengal and the North West Frontier Province.

7. Full religious liberty, i.e. liberty of belief, worship and observance, propaganda, association and education, shall be guaranteed to all communities.

8. No bill or any resolution or any part thereof shall be passed in any legislature or any other elected body if three-fourth of the members of any community in that particular body oppose such a bill resolution or part thereof on the ground that it would be injurious to the interests of that community or in the alternative, such other method is devised as may be found feasible and practicable to deal with such cases.

9. Sindh should be separated from the Bombay Presidency.

10. Reforms should be introduced in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Baluchistan on the same footing as in the other provinces.

11. Provision should be made in the constitution giving Muslims an adequate share, along with the other Indians, in all the services of the state and in local self-governing bodies having due regard to the requirements of efficiency.

12. The constitution should embody adequate safeguards for the protection of Muslim culture and for the protection and promotion of Muslim education, language, religion, personal laws and Muslim charitable institution and for their due share in the grants-in-aid given by the state and by local self-governing bodies.

13. No cabinet, either central or provincial, should be formed without there being a proportion of at least one-third Muslim ministers.

14. No change shall be made in the constitution by the Central Legislature except with the concurrence of the State's contribution of the Indian Federation.

 

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How would you describe your transition as an actor from your popular character Boota to your character in Sabz Pari Lal Kabootar?
After getting my big break from Boota from Toba Tek Singh, I had no specific plans, but by the grace of Allah, I was lucky enough that offers started pouring in. I never wanted to become a hero, what I had planned was to get into that selected list of versatile actors and to be recognised as one. That was my ultimate goal and I set my mind to work hard and achieve it. Although, I also played those run-of-the-mill kind of characters in the beginning but as I developed as an actor I started getting really good offers. Now, I am at that stage of my career, where I can choose to do whatever I want.
How has the experience of hosting a morning show been? And how is your show different from other shows?
The experience has been amazing and the best part is that I am directly connected to my fans. When I am on air, I am the way I am in real life and I do not fake anything. Similarly, my show is different in a way that I have never organised a wedding week or a supernatural show. I try my best to raise social issues and discuss those instead.
Drama serial Jahez throws light on the social custom of dowry. What is your say on Sheikhoo’s character in the serial? Do you think such characters exist in our society?
Well… they certainly do exist. They are influenced by their parents, who put pressure on them and manipulate them. I believe that guys who are being manipulated like this can play a vital role if they change their attitude. So, I really hope that people will learn a lesson from Sheikhoo’s character.
How was your experience of Nachle 4?
It was great, because there is so much talent in our country. Although, it’s true that we still have a long way to go in order to make our mark in dancing, however, 3 or 4 guys in this season of Nachle are truly spectacular. I believe they can prove themselves as great dancers.
Have you experienced any real life nightmares?
I do not think so, because I never plan things. I just work hard, do my best and leave the result on Allah. So even now, things tend to shape up on their own and opportunities keep coming. I am getting great offers, so I would say that I am truly blessed that way and I do not experience any nightmares at all.
Is there a particular role that you want to play but have never been offered?
No, it has never happened to me. However, there were a few serials which I refused but there was always a perfectly good reason behind my refusal. Sometimes, I felt that I had done something similar before that so I declined the offer. For instance, Ashar’s role in Humsafar was offered to me but I refused, because I felt that the character was a blend of the characters I depicted in Qaid-e-Tanhai and Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan. Similarly, Zard Mausam was also offered to me but I refused. I believe if I had done these serials instead, I would not have created that much of an impact which was made by Fawad or Faisal Rehman. So there are no regrets, somebody had to do it eventually.
What kind of training/education do you recommend for acting?
There are so many top-notch acting schools in the world, but I do not know of any famous actor who went to such schools to get trained for acting. It is a fact that you cannot learn acting from any institute, no matter how good it is. What these schools teach is just basic knowledge about acting that polishes the natural talent and nothing else. There are so many gifted actors in our country at the moment like Sajid Hassan, Faisal Rehman, Talat Hussain, Qavi Sahab etc. All these great actors did not learn acting from any school, yet they are the best artists that our country has.
You have achieved so much over the years. Your biggest achievement so far?
My family is happy with me so I consider that as my greatest achievement. I am very happy that my family is content with me.
Who is your favourite female co-star?
There are quite a few, but those who wear less make-up and are thoroughly committed to their work are my most favourite co-stars.
What do you do in your leisure hours?
I spend time with my family, play cricket, watch movies and of course I absolutely love to spend time with my fans. So I do a lot of things in my spare time.
Once you said that Nadeem Sahab was your biggest inspiration.
When I watch him acting, I find his attention to detail really amazing. Moreover, he had this huge on-screen presence which no one else has even now. People often say that they see a reflection of Nadeem Sahab in my acting, which is a huge compliment for me.
It has become a trend nowadays to make dramas on bold and tabooed subjects. Do you think this should continue?
I think we should talk about these things, because by highlighting them we are trying to come up with solutions. Honestly speaking, Man-o-Salwa and Manay Na Yeh Dil have totally changed the overall picture of our drama industry.
You did a few films as well in the beginning of your career. Any plans of working in films in the near future?
Yes, offers are coming in. In fact, I got one offer just recently, but because my fans rely on me so much, I try my best not to disappoint them. I will do a movie eventually, however, on my own terms.
Where do you see yourself in a few years’ time?
I am not an astrologer, so I cannot predict anything. God knows better, because I never plan things on my own.
Please tell us about your upcoming projects.
My upcoming projects are Mera Yaqeen and Mera Pehla Pyar
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