प्रतिनायक

by Dinkar Joshi

Jinnah, a character of the Indian subcontinent, who has reshaped the map and destiny of the people residing in India, was not only a master strategist political leader but also a very interesting case for psychoanalysis. The books published so far have been either for or against him, keeping in view his success or failure based on his political contribution. Here, first time after 65 years of his death, an effort is being made to understand his psychic tendencies which reflected throughout his life. In the initial years of his career he was a Staunch Nationalist, to the extent the top Congress leaders like Gokhale and Sarojini Naidu branded him as an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity. Jinnah himself has introduced him as 'First Indian and then Muslim'! An absolute lie propagated by some western biographers that Jinnah's forefathers were of Arabian origin is proved wrong by Mr. Joshi in this book. Jinnah was a second generation converted Hindu from a small village Moti-Paneli near Rajkot (Gujarat Region), hardly 100 miles away where Mahatma Gandhi was brought up and educated. The author has uncovered the layers of Jinnah's life. A man, who could not stay with is family, married a second time at the age of 44 years to an 18-year-old Parsee girl. Both got separated within 6 years and she committed suicide. He ended his relationship with his only daughter since she married a non-Muslim. How all these personal aspects have contributed in building up his character is narrated in this novel very lucidly. He divided the subcontinent, created a new nation, Pakistan for Muslims and was ironically ignored by his own colleagues who were in power during his last days. No doubt his life compels one to draw that he was a great man, but a self-centred person.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Manisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shows the ambitious side of Jinnah that was responsible for the birth of Pakistan

[vishal dholiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

કુરુક્ષેત્રના રણમેદાનમાં અઢાર અક્ષૌહિણી સેના નાશ પામી. સમગ્ર આયાઁવૃતમાં એકેય પરીવાર એવો નહોતો બચ્યો કે આ વિનાશની જ્વાળા એને સ્પર્શી ના હોય. કરાંચી અને દિલ્હી વચ્ચે ક્યાંક હસ્તીનાપુર અને કુરુક્ષેત્ર ના પ્રદેશો હોવા જોઈએ. અઢાર અક્ષૌહીણીનાં લોહી માંસથી જે ભુમી તરબતર થઈ ગઈ હતી એ ભુમી ને ફરી એકવાર હજોર વરસ પછી કુરુક્ષેત્રથીય બદતર ભોગ ઘરાવવામાં આવ્યો હતો. ઝીણાની રુહ ને જોય ને દુયોઁઘનના આત્માને લાગ્યું : હજારો વરસ પછી એને કોઈ ઊતરાઘીકારી સાંપડ્યો હતો ! પોતાના જેવો જ એક અત્યંત સમર્થ માણસનો અંતકાળ પણ પોતાની જેમ જ આવ્યો એનો દુયોઁઘનને એક છુપો આનંદ પણ થતો હતો.

[Jenish Gajera]

Good

[Daniyal Kaleem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just an Exceptional man. Makes me proud to say "I am a Pakistani".

[Sahaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is capable of changing your perspectives about the two most important historical figures of our land. And for me, it surely did.

[Parth Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical fiction. A must read