International Women’s Day 2020

The theme for International Women’s Day (8 March) 2020 is, I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

The theme aligns with UN Women’s new multi-generational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Moreover, the day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

International Women’s Day is a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity.

Fatima Jinnah – Pakistan’s Dental Surgeon

Early Life:

Fatima Jinnah was born in Karachi on 30th July 1893. Jinnah had seven siblings.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah was the eldest one in the family, and Fatima Jinnah was the 2nd last child of the family.

Fatima Jinnah joined the Bandara convert in Bombay in 1902 where she remained in hostels as her parents had died.

In 1919 she got admitted to the highly competitive University of Calcutta where she attended the Dr.R.Ahmad dental collage.

After she graduated from there, she went with her idea of opening a dental clinic in Bombay in 1923.

Later Life with Mohammed Ali Jinnah:

A graceful lady, dignified, personification of eastern simplicity, confident with a countenance of keen comprehension of men and matters, personified Fatima Jinnah.

Born in a well off business family, she developed attributes of greatness like her brother Mohammad Ali Jinnah who took charge of young Fatima.

Professionally a dentist at a time when Muslim women all clad in Pardah, she learned to stand on her own feet.

She developed feelings of sympathy for others and tried to ameliorate their problems.

Companion of Quaid-e-Azam:

She lived with her elder brother Mohammad Ali Jinnah until 1919. At that time Jinnah married Rattanbai. Later on Rattenbai died after eleven years in February 1929.

Fatima Jinnah then closed her clinic and winded. She took the charge of Jinnah’s house and went to his bungalow.

After that the relation of brother and sister became an example as their companionship lasted until the death of his Mohammad Ali Jinnah on 11 September 1948.

She didn’t only live with her brother but also accompanied her brother on numerous tours.

Fatima Jinnah also joined him in London when he remained there after the second round table conference in 1932.

Political life:

When the All India Muslim League was being organized, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah became the member of the working Committee of Bombay Provincial Muslim League and worked there till 1947.

In March 1940, she attended the Lahore resolution of the Muslims League.

During the transfer of power, Fatima Jinnah formed a women’s relief committee.

Later, it known as All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA) founded by Rana Liaquat Ali Khan.

She did a lot of work for the settlement of the Mahajirs after the creation of Pakistan.

Madar-e-Millat – Fatima Jinnah’s Message:

“The immediate task before you is to face the problem and bring the country back on the right path with the bugles of Quaid-i-Azam’s message.

March forward under the banner of star and the crescent with unity in your ranks, faith in your mission and discipline.

Fulfill your mission and a great sublime future awaits your enthusiasm and action. Remember: ‘cowards die many times before death; the valiant never taste death but once.’

This is the only course of action which suits any self-respecting people and certainly the Muslim Nation.”

Message on Eid-ul-Adha 1965:

“Let us sink all our differences and stand united together under the same banner under which we truly achieved Pakistan and let us demonstrate once again that we can, united, face all dangers in the cause of glory of Pakistan, the glory that the Quaid-i-Azam envisaged for Pakistan.”