Quaid-i-Azam Papers: An Introduction

Background

Quaid-i-Azam Papers (QAP) is a vast treasure-house of historically significant documents on the life and works of father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The number of pages of this collection exceeds more than one hundred thousand pages. These Papers were kept in bags for many years during the early years of newly created state of Pakistan. The Papers then went to the custody of Martial Law authorities during the Presidency of Field Marshal Ayub Khan. Because of the untiring efforts of late Dr. Zawar Hussain Zaidi, Professor Riazul Islam and Dr. M. H. Siddiqi, who approached the President, these valuable Papers were rescued. These papers are now made available in National Archives of Pakistan, Pakistan Secretariat.
Quaid-i-Azam Papers cover the multifarious political activities, personal, financial, legal and other aspects of extraordinary full and active life of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

The Quaid-i-Azam Papers can be divided into five broad categories:

(i) Personal
(ii) Political
(iii) Published material
(iv) Photographs
(v) Maps and diagrams

(i) Personal Papers

The personal papers relates to the property, share investments, bank and other accounts, receipts, vouchers, lists of household effects, tour programmes, social activities, engagements, birthday greetings, correspondence with family, family friends and medical reports of Quaid-i-Azam.

(ii) Political

Political papers constitute a large bulk of the Quaid-i-Azam Papers. These include correspondence of Quaid-i-Azam with Indian political leaders, foreigners, government officials, party workers, students, reports, memoranda, speeches, statements and interviews. Political papers deals with the variety of subjects like All India Muslim League, its provincial branches, Indian National Congress, Home Rule League, Hindu-Muslim relations, Khilafat Movement, Legislative Assembly proceedings, constitutional issues such as various Government of India acts, provincial autonomy and transfer of power.

(iii) Published Material

Published material is in the form of newspaper clips, pamphlets, books and journals. Published Material is about important subjects like international scenario of that time, constitution, law finance, education, agriculture and the press.

(iv) Photographs

Photographs covers nearly fifty years of Jinnah's public and private life. There are about one thousand photographs ranging from individual portraits to those of group pictures and rallies.

(v) Maps and Diagrams

This is quite a small collection which includes plans and diagrams of houses of Jinnah at Bombay, Delhi and Karachi. The maps also show physical features, administrative boundaries and demographic distribution of British India and Princely states.

Quaid-i-Azam Papers have been credited with an inscription in the UNESO Memory of the World Register which is a great tribute to this precious collection.

Arbab Adnan

The author is Research Officer at the Quaid-i-Azam Papers Wing, Ministry of Culture, Islamabad. Views expressed in this article are those of the author.