ISLAMABAD: The government has approved Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s highest civilian award, for two Bombay-based Parsi doctors who kept secret the terminal illness of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah at a critical juncture in the country’s history, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and head of the Awards Committee Ahsan Iqbal said.
Ahsan Iqbal, who heads the government’s Awards Committee, said the stories of these individuals deserved to be revived and shared with a new generation as part of Pakistan’s intellectual and historical memory. A third award has also been approved for renowned Islamic scholar in recognition of his intellectual and diplomatic services to Pakistan, he said.
According to Ahsan Iqbal the two doctors Dr. Jal Rattanji Patel and Dr. Jal Dhaybho-Koo, a physician and a radiologist from the Bombay Parsi community, maintained professional confidentiality about Jinnah’s serious illness, a secret that historians have described as potentially consequential to the timing of Partition and the creation of Pakistan.
Iqbal said Lord Mountbatten later acknowledged that had he known the extent of Jinnah’s illness, he might have delayed Partition, potentially altering the course of history. By refusing to disclose the Quaid’s medical condition, Dr. Jal Rattanji Patel and Dr. Jal Dhaybho-Koo rendered what he described as a “quiet but extraordinary service” at a decisive moment.
The third Nishan-e-Imtiaz has been approved for Muhammad Asad, the European-born Islamic scholar who converted from Judaism to Islam and later made Pakistan his home. Asad developed a close intellectual association with Allama Muhammad Iqbal and subsequently served Pakistan in important diplomatic and intellectual capacities.
He was among the earliest holders of a Pakistani passport and later represented Pakistan at the United Nations. He is also remembered for his celebrated English translation and commentary on the Holy Quran, The Message of the Qur’an, which remains an influential contribution to contemporary Islamic thought.
The recognition of the two Parsi doctors also highlights an often-overlooked aspect of Pakistan’s creation, the contribution of members of minority communities who, through their professional and personal commitment, played significant roles at critical moments in the country’s history.
The decision to confer the Nishan-e-Imtiaz on the three individuals comes as the government prepares to honour citizens for their outstanding contributions to Pakistan.
