This refers to the article “Bring back Jagannath Azad’s Pakistan anthem” ( Sept. 22). It was indeed a pleasant surprise to know that the founder and the first Governor-General of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, wanted an Urdu-knowing Hindu to pen the national anthem of Pakistan a few days before the independence of India and Pakistan and requested Jagannath Azad to write the national anthem for Pakistan. Kudos to The Hindu for highlighting the fact that the national anthem of Pakistan, penned by Azad, had a short life.
R. Murali Kumar,
Srirangam
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The article has depicted Jinnah as a secular-minded and enlightened person. This is only half-truth. Though during the early part of the Independence struggle he held secular views, he completely discarded them and his other side manifested itself, overshadowing his good qualities. He was the unquestioned leader of the Muslim masses and led them fanatically towards achieving his ultimate goal of Partition. This trait in him was clearly portrayed in the book “The Man Who Divided India” authored by Rafiq Zakaria.
N.C. Sreedharan,
Kannur
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Jagannath Azad was a literary giant of his time. I recall my memory as a student when Azad participated in a mushairah in 1955 in Madras (now Chennai). A galaxy of Urdu poets from the subcontinent took part in it. It was chaired by the then Governor, Sri Sri Prakasa. Azad recited a nazam to the applause of all.
Masood Ahmed,
Krishnagiri
