Fatima Jinnah

Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah (1893 - 1967) was the sister of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Founder of Pakistan and ally of Gandhi against British rule. Miss Jinnah was born in 1893. Of a family of seven brothers and sisters, she was the closest to Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Her illustrious brother became her guardian upon the death of their father in 1901. Encouraged by her brother but opposed by the rest of her family, she received excellent early education. She joined the Bandra Convent in Bombay in 1902. In 1919 she got admitted to the highly competitive University of Calcutta where she attended the Dr. Ahmad Dental College. After she qualified, Miss Jinnah went along with her idea of opening a dental clinic in Bombay in 1923. Miss Fatima Jinnah initially lived with her brother for about eight years till 1918, when he got married to Rutanbai. Upon Rutanbai's death in February 1929, Miss Jinnah wound up her clinic, moved into Jinnah's bungalow, and took charge of his house; thus beginning the life-long companionship that lasted till her brother's death on September 11, 1948.

Political life

During the transfer of power in 1947, she was an inspiration to Muslim women. She formed the Women's Relief Committee, which later formed the nucleus for the All Pakistan Women's Association. She also played a significant role in the settlement of refugees in the new state of Pakistan.

Miss Jinnah stood in national elctions in 1965 against the then President of Pakistan, Muhammad Ayub Khan but failed to gain office.

Her memory is held in high esteem in Pakistan. Due to her work for Pakistan, the nation conferred upon her the title of Madar-i-Millat, or "Mother of the Nation". She died in Karachi on July 8, 1967