Jinnah’s youth as the architects of modern Pakistan

The youth are the architects of a nation’s future, and no one understood this better than Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. His timeless words, “Education is a matter of life and death for our country,” continue to resonate, urging Pakistan’s young generation to rise above their struggles and take charge of their destiny.

Today, the youth of our country face numerous challenges, leading to a growing sense of purposelessness. The younger generation is undoubtedly going through a difficult phase, with many drifting away morally, ethically, and spiritually. The Ministry of Health reports that 80 million adults in the country suffer from mental health issues, with a considerable proportion being young individuals. This highlights the frustration and alienation felt by a generation often caught in a lifestyle perceived as devoid of meaning.

In stark contrast to the empowered, focused, and aspiring youth of the pre-independence era, today’s generation appears adrift. This decline can be attributed to various factors, including rapid urbanisation, technological advancements, globalisation, political instability, unemployment, and the erosion of traditional values. While globalisation has brought both opportunities and challenges, it has also shaped the living standards of youth in recent decades. Most importantly, political dependence, rising unemployment, and the erosion of value systems are the primary factors making the lives of our generation increasingly difficult and complicated.

To overcome this dilemma, it is essential to instill the teachings and values of the Quaid-i-Azam in our youth for their overall development and nation-building.

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was not only the founder of this country but also a philosopher, visionary, and one of the world’s greatest leaders. His vision for a new homeland for Indian Muslims of the subcontinent transformed not only the lives of Muslims of the region but also the demography of the subcontinent.

After Pakistan’s triumph, Jinnah’s focus shifted to training, disciplining, and building the character of the youth to ensure Pakistan’s development and stability is in the right hands. Recognising youth as the future of the country, he advised and guided the youth to shape Pakistan’s futurein more than one way, while guiding them at every front.

Strive for excellence through education

Jinnah placed education at the heart of his vision for Pakistan. He was inspired by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s efforts to introduce Indian Muslims to modern scientific education and consistently emphasised its transformative power. “Without education, it is complete darkness, and with education, it is light,” he famously stated.

During his early political career, Jinnah fought for universal education in British India. In 1911, he supported Gokhale’s Elementary Education Bill, advocating for free and compulsory education despite opposition from the colonial administration. He criticised the British education system for producing clerks to serve the empire, calling for a curriculum that would empower individuals to think critically and innovate.

After Pakistan’s independence, Quaid-i-Azam repeatedly highlighted the importance of education in his speeches, urging the youth to acquire knowledge and skills that would enable them to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world. He envisioned a progressive society where education was not merely a means of earning a livelihood but a tool for intellectual growth and societal transformation.

Unity, faith, and discipline

Jinnah’s famous slogan-”Unity, faith, and discipline”-was a call to action for the youth of Pakistan. He believed these three qualities were essential for nation-building and repeatedly emphasised their importance in his speeches. On October 30, 1947, he urged the youth: “Unity, faith, and discipline are the three essential qualities you must possess to rebuild the nation and bring progress.”

Moral and ethical integrity

Jinnah believed that no nation could achieve greatness without a foundation of moral and ethical integrity. He was deeply concerned about the dangers of nepotism, corruption, and favouritism, warning that these practices could undermine Pakistan’s development. In his inaugural speech to the Constitutional Assembly of Pakistan, he stressed the importance of meritocracy and fairness, urging the youth to uphold high ethical standards in all aspects of life. He said, “Character is the foundation of all greatness. Build yourselves as men and women of high principles and unshakable moral standards.”

Tolerance and coexistence

Jinnah’s vision for Pakistan was rooted in the principles of tolerance and coexistence. While the country was founded on the two-nation theory, he consistently advocated for a society where people of all religions, ethnicities, and classes could live together in harmony. In his historic address to the Constitutional Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947, he emphasised the importance of unity and mutual respect, urging the youth to rise above divisive ideologies. He said, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste, or creed-that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”

The responsibility of nation-building

Jinnah saw the youth as the torchbearers of Pakistan’s future. While addressing young civil servants on October 11, 1947, he urged them, “Be the torchbearers of justice and fairness, for only then can a nation thrive and prosper.”

He emphasised their vital role in shaping the country’s destiny, further reiterating this message in his speech at Dhaka University in March 1948. He stated, “Pakistan is proud of its youth. You are the nation-builders of tomorrow, and your efforts today will determine the future of this country.” Jinnah encouraged the youth to take an active interest in global politics and economic trends, stressing that a well-informed and educated generation was essential for Pakistan’s development. He believed that education should not be seen merely as a path to employment but as a tool for fostering critical and rational thinking. This, he argued, would empower the youth to address the nation’s challenges and contribute to its progress.

Jinnah’s timeless vision calls on the youth to rise above personal interests and build a modern, prosperous Pakistan. In today’s turbulent times, his principles of unity, discipline, and moral integrity offer the roadmap we desperately need. By embracing his teachings, we can transform our nation and realise the greatness he dreamt of-a Pakistan defined by progress, strength, and unity.