Ruttie Jinnah

by Khawaja Razi Haider

Ruttie Jinnah was the only woman to capture the heart of Quaid -i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. The daughter of a Parsi business magnate, Ruttie Dinshaw Petit embraced Islam and married Jinnah when she was only 18 years old despite stiff opposition from her parents and community members. Ruttie revered his wisdom and logic; he was enamoured by her exceptional intellect. However, despite their unfaltering love and dedication to each other, the marriage suffered as Jinnah's political commitments resulted in extended separations while he toured India in his fight for independence from the British yoke. This volume reveals irrefutable facts about the relationship between Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his wife. Based on primary sources, authentic records, visits to the places where significant events in their lives took place and meetings with people who had interacted with the couple, this book provides a clear, substantiated account of the life of Ruttie Jinnah.

Genres: Biography, History

300 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Imran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished it in one sitting.

While there were many things I knew through the dramas and movies made on Mr Jinnah's life specially 'Jinah se Quaid', there were many new things to learn including Gandhi's attempts to create distance between Mr and Mrs Jinnah.

Jamat e Ulma e Hind also tried to portray the marriage un-islamic for political gains, though Ruttanbai was converted to Islam before marriage. Reading involvement of people like Husain Ahmad Madni in such attempts was quite shocking.

There are lots of incidents mentioned in the book that make you emotional specially the chapters dealing with relationship between Mr Jinnah and Dina Jinnah and last chapter dealing with death of Mrs Jinnah and the reaction by Mr Jinnah.

A must read to evaluate the personal sacrifices of the founding leader of the nation.

[Zee K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today,s book is RUTTIE JINNAH by Khwaja Razi Haider. This book was first published in 2004. This edition is published by Oxford University press in 2010. This book was originally published in Urdu and this is the english translation by Khwaja Razi Haider himself. Khwaja Razi Haider is a writer, translator، poet and researcher. Most of his work is about the partition and the freedom of sub continent. His famous books are Quaid-e-Azam Kay bahater Saal(72 years of Quaid-e-Azam) and Quaid-e-Azam khtoot Kay aayiney main(letters of Jinnah). He also translated some important works from english including,A short biography of Jinnah by Shrif al Mujahid,My brother by Fatima Jinnah and many more.
As a researcher and historian Khwaja Razi Haider has a great quality, that he does not mix facts with fiction. This quality makes his work trust worthy and authentic. He gives references and bibliography even for a single detail.

As the life partner of Jinnah we have not much information about Ruttie Jinnah, none of Quaid's biographers presented any detailed picture of Quaid's private life or of his beloved wife. The neglect which historians have shown towards Ruttie Jinnah is not justified. Like me many people wants to know about the woman who capture the heart of The founder of Pakistan.

Ruttie was a very attractive, well mannered, extra ordinary intelligent and dignified amongest the most distinguished women of her time. She was blessed with uncommon beauty and because of this beauty people used to call her"The flower of Bombay". The companionship of Jinnah made her more confident.

She was only seventeen when she had lost her young heart to Jinnah, a highly successful barrister who was double of her age. When she was nineteen they married and she gave up her family, her faith and her social standing for the love of Jinnah. After spending eleven years of her life with Jinnah she died at only 29.

Quaid was seen crying in public only once and that was on her burial. He never remarried.

QOUTES FROM THIS BOOK

1. The Jinnahs were invited to dinner at the Viceroy's lodge. When presented to the viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, Ruttie chose to greet him in the traditional Indian way by folding her hands after shaking his hand, rather than curtseying to him. After dinner Chelmsford asked to speak to her and advised her that in order to avoid endangering her husband's political career she should, when in Rome, do as the Romans. Undaunted, Ruttie pointed out:"That is exactly what I did your Excellency. In India I greeted you in the Indian way". Page (109)

2. On another occasion she found herself seated next to Lord Reading at a dinner party. The conversation turned to Germany where the Viceroy had spent time as a student he expressed a strong desire to return to Germany, but believed that,'…the Germans will not like us, the British, any more after the war I can not go there.' 'Oh!' said Mrs Jinnah, adding:' How is it then that you came to India'. (Page, 110)

[Azeez Zai · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is understandable that not much of the information regarding her, her relationship with Mr. Jinnah and her reason of death was available, but still the book covers the topics well. The book portrays a brilliant picture of Mrs. Jinnah and gives an insight of how much we was influential and important in the life of her husband.

[Assadhamid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a nice one sitting book to know a little about our Founder’s wife.But as the author mention in the starting that jinnah was a very private man , the book gives limited amount of information about her , some of the things about her are mentioned more the once

[Shuja Ul Hasan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has a smooth pace. But at the beginning there is more about Jinnah's politics than Ruttie's own life. There is actually very little to know about Ruttie because Jinnah had a very secret, private life. Still having known a little more about her bold and charming personality is pleasant enough experience of reading this book. The book gives you a little better understanding of Jinnah's character which was as most of the biographers say influenced by Ruttie to a great extent. A very goodread indeed.

[Ayesha Amin · Rating 5 out of 5]

i simply loved it...it also make me sad :(
what Jinnah did for his nation and because of his so busy life he could not give much time to Ruttie ...n i felt so bad about his only daughter.

[Sahil Ali]

this is biography of Ruttie Jinnah wife of Mr Muhammad Ali Jinnah