First introduced in a poem by Mohammed Iqbal, the idea of Pakistan would become the defining force in the life of Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Likewise, Mohammed Ali Jinnah would become the defining force in the creation of, and early life of the nation of Pakistan. Jinnah was born on Christmas day of 1876 to an upper class family from Gujarat, the same province of his future political ally and later rival, Mohandas Gandhi. Like most Indian politicians, Jinnah received a western education and was trained in the law. Before political life became his primary concern, Jinnah served as a barrister in Bombay, and had a successful law practice in London.
Before 1937, Jinnah opposed the idea of partition in favor of a unified India. The provincial elections of 1937 and the Congress’ handling of the aftermath are a clear demarcation which afterward would see Jinnah as a strong proponent of partition. Nehru’s Biographer asserted “Had the Congress handled the league more tactfully, Pakistan may never have come into being… Jinnah certainly created Pakistan. But the Congress, by it’s sins of omission and commission also helped to make it possible.” In this context it can be seen that Nehru, as the leader of the Congress after the 1937 elections, because of his slight of the Muslim league, contributed a great deal to the creation of Pakistan.
Before Jinnah’s great change of heart, he was seen as a possible champion of inter-communal cooperation in India. By his own words Jinnah proved this point, addressing the Muslim league, as its president, he stated “Toward the Hindus our attitude should be of good will and brotherly feelings. Co-operation to the cause of our motherland should be our guiding principle. India’s real progress can only be achieved by a true understanding and harmonious relations between our two great sister communities.” Other prominent Indians saw this trait as one of Jinnah’s most valuable including Gokhale who stated “the freedom from all...