Another Book by Hilal
Publications
Name of the Book: Foundational Thoughts of Pakistan Movement
Publisher:Hilal Publications, ISPR Directorate, Rawalpindi
Publication Year:March 2019. Price: Rs. 500
Book Review by AsmaIshaq
Almost every otherday confronting the challenges of Hybrid War around, The Inter
Service Public Relations has always taken care well its responsibility with
thefullest vigilance to come forward and protect the country’s policies and the
ideological grounds. The book ‘Foundational Thoughts of Pakistan Movement’that
has been launched this 23rd of March’19 is another effort for giving support to
and meeting the objectives of the same purpose. Today, when war has taken more a
non-conventional form and so one can’t remain obliviousform the alarming fact
that its prime target is the youth. In present era fronts are the social
mediawebsites that are very easy access for people with exploiting-purposeto
reach to the youth of any country and then on these social forums to
proliferatestances that may harm theopinion of youth about the country’s
ideologies. This book is a product coming out of the same calculations made for
protecting the ideological roots of the country in particular of the young
minds.
“Pakistan existed back in the hearts and minds centuries ago” The very first
line written by the DG ISPR, Maj.General Asif Ghafoor in the Foreword. He has
made it clear in the very beginning of this book that Pakistan is not an entity
that created 73 years agorather it had been a long-felt desire of thousands of
people who lived on this land. And this compilation of speeches, addresses and
statements by the Founding Fathers tells all the same story that how Pakistan
came into being. The book has content of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s Genesis of the
Two Nation Theory, Allama Iqbal’s constructive interpretation of Islam, Letters
between Allama Iqbal and Quaid-E-Azam and some rarely published original version
of speeches made by the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
The Two Nation Theory provides its context clearly by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. The
group of people who debate over its validity, may read about the contextin
detail to know that how indispensable Pakistan was. This way the book is an
answer to all those who challenge the sanctity of the Two Nation Theory which is
no doubt the Soul of Pakistan. This book may seem lighter to carry but carries a
heavier weight in providing a shied to many of the patriots, teachers, scholars
and avid-reader that they can read and be guided and to guide others also.
The part of the booksharing Allama Iqbal’s efforts for the Muslims who appeared
as an ever guiding figure from the Sub-Continent to the Muslims of this region
seems a needed textual evidence for his strong views of an Independent State for
Muslims and also about Islam. His famous Presidential address at the Allahabad
for the All-India Muslim Session’s excerpt clearly shares his profound
understanding of Man, Islam and State. Keeping the one-core-objective in mind
that the demand of Muslims for a separate Independent Mulsim State is all
rational, he also gave a very profound interpretation of Islam that it is a
religion which does not demarcate man, religion and state rather it helps all
these to be organic to each other.
The speeches documented here in the book made by the Nation’s father are most
valuable in nature as these are original and unabridged.Any person who reads
these speeches for the first time will immediately get developed an impression
of the humbled nature of Quaid’s in the manner of his speech. His famous
11thAugust 1947 gives the nationsome clear routes for development. Quaid spoke
so clearly while setting the targets for the new State, highlighting the
existing social ills and instilling tolerance for the peaceful co-existence
among all the communities. He gave us some treasured guidance in these speeches.
One reads these speeches and will feel motivated to have a super-leader like
him. The last part of the book, “Birth of A Nation” is another valued part of
this book where some memorable quotations or parts of statements have been
shared by Quaid-i-Azam which he had spoken at different occasions. Though this
part has shorter statements.
“Foundational Thoughts of Pakistan Movement” appears as a shield to be given in
the hands of youngsters of the country keeping one thing in mind that there are
elements to distract or misguide them about the Independence Movement, Ideology
of Pakistan and creation of Pakistan. This book has not been just compiled for
the purpose to take the young minds into the history, it is to provide them
categorically all those historical events that were spoken about in speeches and
addresses and eventually laid the foundation of an Independent State.
The book is useful for teachers, students and the scholars studying Pakistan’s
History as well asPakistan Studies. It is just one book to read and one has a
good length of required knowledge. It is an organized compilation with reference
given to each address, speech and statement so it will save efforts that are
usually taken in research while working in need of citation for any historical
speech or address.
Definitely, “Pakistan existed back in the hearts and minds centuries ago.” These
are words that can be quoted to validate that Pakistan is one of the secrets of
the Creator, it is created for one ideology, based purely on the Islamic
principles yet with a progressive, moderate and dynamic approach towards the
both – the Life and State affairs. A nation lives and grows when the people
protect the foundational ideologies while facing new challenges. Pakistan lives,
grows and yet gives an increase to its ideology every day.
“Foundational Thoughts of Pakistan Movement” is another praise-worthy effort by
the Hilal Publications,led by Brig. Tahir Mehmood Abbasi.
(AsmaIshaq writes freelance)