By Ryan Lourdes Joseph
The writer, student of Lacas, delivered this speech at debating competition by Bloomfield Hall Lahore.
“You are free; you are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed—that has nothing to do with the business of the state.”
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of our great nation, said these words in his famous 11 August, 1947 speech. The Quaid, throughout the Pakistan Movement, emphasized on creating a homeland where people of all religious communities lived in peaceful coexistence and interfaith harmony.
This is exactly why our beloved flag is white and green. Designed by Syed Amir-uddin Kedwaii, it is inspired by that of All India- Muslim League, while catering to the very presence of minorities of a homeland that was to be Pakistan. Hence, while the green of the flag presents the Muslims, the white of the flag presents other communities like Christians, Parsis, Hindus, Sikhs, and many others.
My friends, do you know what the official title of our flag is? It’s called ‘Parc̱am-e Sitārah o-Hilāl (Flag of the Crescent and Star), and it was officially adopted during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on 11 August, 1947 – that is just four days before the country's independence.
Now note this! 11 August, 1947 is the exact date when Quaid-e-Azam delivered his first Presidential address during which he made ‘the famous 11 August speech,’ addressing the rights and duties of the religious communities in Pakistan.
Respected jury and my dear friends, do you know the biggest supporter of All India Muslim League was All-India Christian Association, All-India Christian League, and All India Anglo-Indian Association. Together under the leadership of dynamic freedom fighters like Dewan Bahadur SP Singha – a Christian by faith, the minorities of the Sub-Continent fought side by side to make Pakistan Movement a success.
Yes, fact remains, that a significant population of Christians expressed their like-mindedness and solidarity with the Muslims. The night of the Independence, Pakistan and India were voted equally and it was All-India Christian Association and other such groups that under the leadership of SP Singha voted for the creation of Pakistan. Joined by him were many other passionate freedom fighters like Lal Din Sharaf, Joshua Fazal Din, and F.E. Chaudhry.
The contribution of minorities doesn’t end here. There are countless ‘Gazis’ and ‘Shaheed’ in the history of Pakistan Armed Forces. Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat and Air Commodore Nazir Latif are among many to be named from Pakistan Air Force. Many others like Major General Julian Peter and Major General Noel Khokar beside many other Christian officers are honoured for their patriotism for Pakistan. My friend, you’d be amazed to know that Major Hercharn Singh is the first Pakistani Sikh, who’s noted for serving the country with great sincerity.
These are just a few examples that I’ve pointed out. The white and the green of our flag is made proud by many dynamic personalities.
Respected Jury, I could go on about this forever but I’d like to conclude by saying, our flag is the only flag in the world that depicts the unity of an entire nation – it clearly presents the Muslims and other religious communities as one, and because of this ‘Between the White and the Green of Our Flag’ there is no majority or minority – there is only one Pakistan and all Pakistanis are one.
Pakistan Zindabad!
Published in Young Nation Magazine on March 24, 2018
