The title of “Madar-i-Millat” was given to Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah in appreciation of the work she had done for the nation along with Quaid-i-Azam. Just like a mother who cares for all her children, she cared for her people who were her children.
Women must follow in her footsteps and take guidance from that minaret of light, which would lead them to prosperity as well as achieve the status they seek.
Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah is a role model for Pakistani women. She encouraged and led Pakistani women to take part in social and political activities. She inspired women to come forward in daily life, as well as in politics. She stressed on them to know their rights, and struggle to get them.
First of all, we, the women, must decide what we want and what our duties are because every person who has rights also has some duties to fulfill.
The problem today is that we only talk about rights, and only want to precede men. But if we view the entire scenario, we have bigger problems relating to women, beyond ‘man mania’. We have made men something out of this world, and such an attitude should be changed. Men are human beings, and the only thing women need is to understand them.
Every problem has a solution, which we have to find and the best way to go about it is dialogue between both genders.
My viewpoint can easily be understood from Fatima Jinnah’s speech at the Frontier College for Women, Peshawar, in May 1957.
She said: “Women are the custodians of a sacred trust – the best in the cultural and spiritual heritage of the nation. That trust you can only discharge if you are properly equipped for the task of homemaking, according to the concepts and values that your nation holds dear. No one is better fitted for this task than the educated women, because she goes in for education not so much from the utilitarian point of view, as for the enlightenment and edification it affords.
This, however, is not an easy thing to do. It requires considerable courage, character and self-possession, qualities, which once developed in man led to the essential human resistance against temptation – qualities, which were accumulatively known in Islam as the self.
It was this self that helped one to inculcate in oneself that necessary discipline, which assisted one to rise above fear and above flattery. It gave one the strength to fight the little battles of life. It imparted perseverance, determination and boldness. It gave one the depth of character, and hence, that delightful politeness and humility which prepared one as an integral and useful part of society.”
We must portray the positive side of our women such as their participation and contributions in various walks of life. Why do we always portray a woman as a weak person at the mercy of man? Now is the time that women must change this concept. We must help other women realize their potential and provide them with an enabling environment to become vibrant members of society.
Women issues are just as important as other worldly issues; therefore women must stop isolating themselves and their problems by labeling them as women’s problems. If we work towards health, education, economic and social empowerment we will create awareness among the nation and tomorrow 52 per cent of our women would play more proactive and major role in country’s development. Giving women the equal rights, justice and equal opportunities to participate in all walks of life can only do this.
It is a fact that we have a long way to go to attain the suitable standards in health, science, education, social welfare and other issues related to women, but it does not mean that we are weak and should stop struggling for our due rights. We must try to improve our status in the society.
On the other hand in many Asian and Western countries women have not got their due rights yet even after they practically believe that the women are equal to men in their societies.
Our women, who are participating in workforce or making homes, raising children have been contributing in the progress of the nation in past, present and would be contributing in future as well. Stereotypical thinking about women should come to an end and this is the collective responsibility of the society to recognize the potential of women and to help them move forward.