Articles

Pakistani “Mother of the Nation”

Vostok/Oriens '2017, №6

DOI: 10.7868/S0869190817060048

 
The article outlines the life and activities of Fatima Jinnah (1893 –1967), the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah (the founder of Pakistan), the stateswoman and one of leading founders of Pakistan. She is famous for her struggle in the Pakistan Movement and her deep esteem to her brother. She is referred as Madar-i-Millat (“Mother of the Nation”). She was held in high esteem, and came to symbolize the democratic aspirations of the people. After her brother’s death Fatima decided to contest the elections for the president's office. She challenged the dictator Ayub Khan in the indirect election and lost. Fatima died in 1967. The official cause of death was heart failure but rumours persist that she was murdered at the behest of the military junta.

Keywords: Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, struggle against dictatorship, women’s rights, political murder

Pages: С. 41–47