Jinnah: Lincoln's Inn reminisces about Pakistan's Quaid-e-Azam
For the month of April, Lincoln's Inn will be honouring Quaid-e-Azam in its 'Archive of the Month'.
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah can be described as a multi-faceted man whose dynamic progress from being a lawyer, to a politician and ultimately as the founding father of a nation has inspired many, both within Pakistan and abroad. It was his distinguished capabilities as a lawyer that helped him achieve many of the things that he did. This competence and impeccability of Jinnah’s is one of the primary reasons why Lincoln s Inn is still reminiscing about one of its best.
The Honourable Society of Lincoln s Inn, a prestigious, professional body of judges and lawyers, is one of the Inns of Court in London where Jinnah trained as a Barrister. The Society holds some rare memorabilia of Quaid-e-Azam from his days as a barrister at the Inn. Lincoln’s Inn publishes significant documents of eminent personalities that were created in the same month of the years gone by. For the month of April, the Society has decided to honour Quaid-e-Azam in its ‘Archive of the Month’
Jinnah’s first entry comes in admission’s register of the Inn, where he is penned as ‘Mohamedali Jinnahbhai’ of Karachi, Sindh, India, aged 19 years.
Jinnah s enty in the Inn s admission s register
A rare insight into Jinnah’s early genius as a lawyer can be seen with a petition that he put forward to the Council of the Inn on 25th April 1893, for exemption from the Latin paper; a preliminary examination required for admission at the Inn. Jinnah had the ability to formulate a strong argument and effectively manoeuvre around the rationales which formed the basis of his antithesis, and he put it to use, saying, that as he was an Indian National, he was never taught Latin. Jinnah went one step further in solidifying his reasoning, stating that during the time he might have been taught Latin, he had used it to learn numerous other Indian languages, which were required by the schools in India. It is of no surprise that the Inn accepted his petition and he cleared his preliminary examination on 25 May 1893.
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Jinnah s petition to the Council for exempting him from the preliminary Latin examinination
Jinnad was called to the bar on 29th of April 1896, around 120 years ago from today.
Jinnah s entry in the bar book
Upon Jinnah’s official admission at the prestigious Inn, his name was recorded as ‘Jinnahbhai’; however he sent a letter to the Council, stating that he wanted ’bhai’ to be dropped from his name and should be recorded as ‘Jinnah’ in Inn’s registers, before his call to the bar.
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Jinnah s petition to the Council for name change
Jinnah’s portrait, presented to the Lincoln’s Inn by the High Commissioner of Pakistan on 11th October 1965, still hangs at the Inn, thus immortalizing his stature as one of the most eminent lawyers of our times.
