Gopal Bhardwaj come out in support of Jaswant Singh on Jinnah iss

MUSSOORIE, 21 Aug:

Historian Gopal Bhardwaj from Mussoorie is bemused at the Hullabaloo over the criticism of Jaswant Singh for praising Jinnah in his book as a great leader of the country. Supporting Jaswant Singh Bhardwaj says that in the book called ‘Great Men Of India’ edited by LF Rushbook Williams published by Home Library Club and printed by Times Of India  way back in 1930’s that he received from his father clearly mentions  that stature of Jinnah as great leader of India.
Bhardwaj further say that “It is as absurd as suggesting that all reference to Plato be erased because he defended slavery or deleting “Mien Kiemf” because it is racist. Historical texts however absurd their claims may be should not be tampered with to meet present day standards of political correctness.
The past is not always glorious but it does not mean that we obliterate to whatever is ugly and unflattering.  The Ostrich act does not help, past no matter how unpalatable needs to be studied contextualized and understood. Texts are valuable source of History those who don’t learn from History are condemned to repeat it”. He further says that the present politicians are raising the issue without studying the History which was wrong. Yes Jinnah did commit mistakes but all politicians have committed blunders at any given time. So that does not mean that people castigate Jinnah. The book explains his credentials as true nationalist. Quoting from the book Bhardwaj says “In the autumn of 1913 Jinnah had gone on a holiday to England and was approached by Maulana Mohammad Ali and M.Wazir Hasan to enroll himself formally as a member of the All India Moslem league but he made it clear that his loyalty to Moslem League and Muslim Interest would not imply as Shadow of disloyalty to the larger national cause to which his life was dedicated. The book also reveals that ambition of Jinnah was to become Muslim Gokhale. Even Gokhale predicted that Jinnah had “True stuff in him,” “And that freedom from all sectarian prejudice will make him the best ambassador of Hindu-Moslem Unity”. Gopal Bhardwaj further says that according to the book even Sarojini Naidu praised Jinnah by saying that “Never was there a nature whose outer qualities provided so complete an antithesis of its inner worth. Tall and stately, but thin to the point of emaciation, languid and luxurious of habit, Jinnah’s attenuated form is the deceptive sheath of spirit of exceptional vitality and endurance….” Gopal Bhardwaj opines that changing whatever has been documented in history now according to the belief and ideology of some is foolishness. He says further that Jinnah committed a mistake for partitioning the country but other leaders too were responsible for it and demonizing just Jinnah will not help. He asserted that effort should now be made to bring two nations closer and crating more division. India should accept Jinnah as great leader whatever regardless of his role in partition. Bhardwaj supports Jaswant Singh on Jinnah issue but is critical about his views on Sardar Vallab Bhai Patel.

source:

http://www.garhwalpost.com/index.php?mod=article&cat=Uttarakhand&article=2061