Muhammad Ali Jinnah- the feminist.

Saad S. Khan and Sara S. Khan's new publication, Ruttie Jinnah: The Woman Who Stood Defiant, is aimed at doing justice to Ruttie Jinnah's legacy. As per the title, the book's main focus is Ruttie Jinnah. Nonetheless the information documented on other historical figures, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, is equally interesting and implicitly guides readers to view Jinnah both as a radical and liberal feminist.

Broadly, feminism encompasses a range of women's rights-their wellbeing and freedoms in particular. By this standard, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a feminist starting right at his 'household' level and beyond. Jinnah's dealings with his sisters, wife and daughter provide important insights into his feminist preferences.

He believed in educating women and equipping them with the means to gain financial and political independence. The authors, Saad and Sara Khan, have provided elaborate details on Jinnah's role in the upbringing and education of his sisters, Fatima and Shirin, and also his unplanned visits to his married sister's house. Jinnah was a principled and well-organised man. Perhaps these surprise visits were meant to ensure that his sisters were happy and safe in their new homes.

With him being the fatherly brother, his sisters were entitled to benefit from modern education and also plan careers, and adopt political standpoints and roles. He advised his married sisters to join the Muslim League and actively participate in the freedom movement.

On his marriage, Jinnah gifted Ruttie the South Court House as per the nikah deed worth Rs.125,000, and paid a dower of Rs.1000. Jinnah was a self-made professional man and therefore, one has to appreciate that this was his hard-earned money.

The Petits had divested Ruttie of all property and inheritance upon her marriage to Jinnah who immediately granted property rights to her and then financed all renovations that she wanted. Saad and Sara Khan have also included details on how Jinnah happily financed Fatima's dental clinic after she...