History
Politics
Romance
Culture
Society
Cultural
Historical
Love and Relationships
Cultural Conflict
Biographical
Jinnah and Ruttie : love, war and beyond.
It was 1918, a young Parsi girl from the elitest of all Mumbai’s elite, turned 18. A grand party was thrown by her rich father in Taj hotel. She thanked every Nobel for coming but ended her gratitude with “…..and I am marrying Jinnah”
It was 1918, a young Parsi girl from the elitest of all Mumbai’s elite, turned 18. A grand party was thrown by her rich father in Taj hotel. She thanked every Nobel for coming but ended her gratitude with “…..and I am marrying Jinnah”
The words rang heavy into the ears of all the Parsi pure bloods, faces were stunned & disappointed. Each disapproving highborn couldn’t swallow that the “flower of Mumbai” was going to settle for a Muslim. That too 22 years older than her! But Ruttie had said what she had said.
She was mesmerised by this handsome lawyer who wore British but bled Indian. Jinnah was her father’s friend. Young Ruttie initially found herself learning from his muse for art, history and politics. Later, on a family vacation where Jinnah was also invited; things grew.
They walked into highlands, talking of dreams. Of what could change the world, the ideologies, the civilisations, the philosophy and not to miss - love. The seasoned politician and lawyer lost all his logical prowess to her charms. When they came back, Jinnah hatched the topic.
Jinnah firstly convinced her father Sir Dinshaw around inter faith marriages, to which he lend support. But when Jinnah talked about his own proposal to Ruttie, swords were drawn. Ruttie was grounded and Jinnah was banished from ever visiting again. Ruttie was 16 and helpless.
So both Jinnah & she waited. Till she was 18, legally free to decide for herself. Hence she did, & with all her grace married the most eligible man in the subcontinent. They shifted to a new house, new joy and new period of love. She had a profound impact on Jinnah’s personality.
From dressing to socialising, Ruttie introduced Jinnah to a new world. They’d often go to Europe on trips. Very soon, they were blessed with a daughter - Dina Jinnah. It was all flowery till it wasn’t. Jinnah had to do politics. Pakistan was a creation yet to be made.
And Jinnah knew he had to invest there. From days through nights, he dived into the political meetings and decisions. Pakistan started appearing very near day by day and Ruttie blurred in comparison. An ignored, unpampered young girl wilted in her own house. The drift grew.
The coldness between them eventually ended at Ruttie shifting to Taj Hotel with her daughter, leaving Jinnah with his current love : the dream of a homeland. Separated & hurt, Ruttie’s health crumbled. In 1929, the young princess breathed her last - and Jinnah wasn’t prepared.
When Sir Dinshaw informed him of her death, he burst into cries. This was the only time he was seen crying publicly. An account mentions that he later regretted hurting her "she was a child, I shouldn’t have married her. It was my mistake". But the love had come & bruised them.
One of the last letters she wrote to him said "...When one has been as near to the reality of Life (which after all is Death) as I have been, dearest, one only remembers the beautiful and tender moments and all the rest becomes a half veiled mist of unrealities....
....try and remember me, beloved, as the flower you plucked and not the flower you tread upon..."
Later she writes "Darling I love you – I love you – and had I loved you just a little less I might have remained with you – only after one has created a very beautiful blossom....
Later she writes "Darling I love you – I love you – and had I loved you just a little less I might have remained with you – only after one has created a very beautiful blossom....
...one does not drag it through the mire." Pakistan was birthed, she was buried. A price often paid by those who dare to dream bigger ; a price of love, of war, and of turning love into war. In his last days Jinnah would often spread her clothes & lament over them with tears.
It's a tale cut short by time, politics, duty, fate and destiny. Everything Jinnah thought he could conquer. A scent too exquisite to linger long. The founder of an entire country lost his own city of bliss. And that's what history demands, if you set foot to change it...!
Loading suggestions...