Considered as the ‘Father Document’, 23rd March Resolution continues to present itself as a day of complete hope and determination. It probably remains as significant and eager in its stance today as it was 81 years ago.
At a time where the Muslims of the subcontinent needed a leader to present them with a vision that would entitle them to their own identify, allowing them to practice and remain affirm to their religious and cultural intuition, they were given it so in the form of a brilliant barrister ‘Muhammad Ali Jinnah’.
The man knew they held a right to practice and remain steadfast to their individualism, which unfortunately was coming to certain limitations. On 23rd March-1940, he spoke on the matter. He passed a resolution suggesting the creation of a separate federation. This was based on the Muslim-majority regions in the British-ruled India.
The focus and aim were to showcase how the Muslims of the region need to assert their need to have a separate socio-political identity. It was indeed an important matter to ponder upon and a hard debate indeed. But Jinnah was the vision to bring forth this mega change. He won the debate; he had made an impact he wished to. His was a struggle, a strategy which many predicted would never lift into fruition off the table. But it did.
However, it did not come easy. For Jinnah’s creation – Pakistan – was born in a frenzy of violence and bloodshed. Several million people were left homeless and killed. Subjected to injuries to the mind and spirit, the Muslim nation was born from the sacrifice of a million soul.
As we look and reflect upon what our forefathers had to endure in innumerable ways to bring us this state of achievement and identification, it is an unfortunate reality that the unity and progressive state of mind among the masses still hangs in the balance.
At a time when we need to reawaken the national resolve and stand firm and strong against the current challenges and turmoil we are currently enduring, what is amusing is how our emphasis is somewhat scattered. In a pandemic-era, where we should make use of our funds and resources on projects and campaigns emphasizing health and educational growth through online portals, the news pertaining to the erection of Quaid’s new portrait on the Islamabad Expressway has been making the rounds.
Amounting to a cost of Rs.56 million where fine quality 2mm iron sheets were used in making the portrait, a wall was also constructed to ensure the safety of the portrait. At a length of 50 feet and width of 59 feet, the upgraded portrait while definitely hitting strong on our patriotism, also makes us wonder if it was really that necessary? Especially when the country is focusing on attaining a debt-free stature and becoming a nation which is progressive and futuristic in making a global mark. Are we even close to the vision with which the Father of the Nation coined the concept of our very own homeland?
