Quaid-i-Azam Kaisa Pakistan Chahtay Thay?
By Prof Dr Hameed Raza Siddiqui
Qalam Foundation
ISBN: 978-9697-460663
136pp.

As Pakistan enters the 150th year of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s birth, the urgency to clearly understand his political vision has never been greater.

Every constitutional crisis, every ideological confrontation and every national setback inevitably drag Pakistan back to the same unresolved question: what kind of country did its founder actually want? It is at times like this that it becomes a national necessity, not an academic indulgence or a ceremonial exercise, to revisit Jinnah’s ideas.

It is within this context that Prof Dr Hameed Raza Siddiqui’s book Quaid-i-Azam Kaisa Pakistan Chahtay Thay? [What Kind of Pakistan Did the Quaid-i-Azam Want?] assumes particular significance.

The work arrives not as another addition to the already crowded shelf of Jinnah’s biographies but as a corrective to decades of selective memory, political appropriation and historical distortion. Siddiqui does not present Jinnah as a marble statue to be admired from a distance. Instead, he portrays him as a thinking statesman — firm in principle, flexible in method and deeply concerned with constitutional order, democratic governance and moral responsibility.

Published by the Qalam Foundation, the book’s structure allows readers to engage with Jinnah thematically rather than being confined to a strictly chronological narrative. One of its greatest strengths is its insistence on primary sources. Siddiqui builds his argument through direct references to Jinnah’s speeches, interviews, letters and statements. Rather than filtering Jinnah through later ideological frameworks, he allows the Quaid to speak in his own words. This approach gives the book both authority and clarity, making it difficult to dismiss or reinterpret Jinnah’s positions according to contemporary political convenience.

A meticulously researched book offers a corrective to decades of selective memory, political appropriation and historical distortion about Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s vision for the country he founded

Furthermore, Quaid-i-Azam Kaisa Pakistan Chahtay Thay avoids anecdotal glorification and emotional storytelling that often dominate popular narratives. Instead, Siddiqui constructs a careful timeline, beginning with Jinnah’s early political engagements in London and moving through the major milestones of his career, culminating in the final months of his life. Every quotation, meeting and political intervention is supported by verifiable references. Nothing is left to hearsay, memory or folklore.

Siddiqui’s background as a seasoned academic is visible throughout the book. Having authored 10 books — many of them dealing with Pakistan’s ideological and intellectual foundations — he approaches Jinnah with the seriousness of a teacher who understands that future generations may rely on this work to grasp the very basis of their state. The writing is deliberately structured and reflects a conscious effort to educate rather than merely impress.

To answer the deceptively simple question at the heart of the book, Siddiqui divides Jinnah’s political thought into 20 interconnected themes, including governance, foreign policy, economic justice, constitutionalism, youth, political ethics and the philosophical rationale behind the demand for Pakistan. This thematic organisation allows readers to engage with Jinnah’s ideas without being overwhelmed by the density of historical detail.

One of the most revealing sections of the book revisits Jinnah’s formative years in London. Siddiqui recounts how the young law student boldly campaigned for Dadabhai Naoroji during the 1892 general elections for the Liberal Party in the Finsbury Central constituency in Britain, even when Prime Minister Lord Salisbury launched a racially charged smear campaign against the Indian candidate. Jinnah’s decision to stand with Naoroji, despite the prevailing racial prejudices of the time, reflected an early display of political courage and moral independence. It was a glimpse of the man who would later refuse to bend before the empire or majority pressure.

The book’s treatment of the Two-Nation Theory is particularly forceful. Siddiqui does not attempt to reinterpret Jinnah’s position through modern ideological lenses, nor does he soften its implications. Instead, he presents Jinnah’s own arguments, drawn from speeches delivered at critical moments.

Through these texts, Siddiqui demonstrates how Jinnah consistently maintained that Muslims and Hindus were not merely followers of different religions, but members of distinct social, cultural and political orders. Without a separate homeland, Jinnah believed, Muslims would remain a permanently disadvantaged minority, excluded from power and economic opportunity.

The book also addresses one of the most frequently cited criticisms against Jinnah: his declaration of Urdu as the national language. Siddiqui revisits Jinnah’s March 21, 1948 speech in Dhaka, placing it in its full historical context. He highlights Jinnah’s clear assurance that provincial languages were a matter of local choice and that Bengali would always remain the language of the province. According to Siddiqui, Jinnah’s insistence on Urdu was not an act of cultural exclusion but an attempt to create a unifying link language for a geographically divided nation.

Furthermore, with regard to the most contested question of all — whether Jinnah envisioned a secular or Islamic state or not — Siddiqui’s conclusion is unambiguous. Jinnah’s Pakistan was to be Islamic in spirit but democratic in terms of its structure. It was to be a welfare state inspired by Islamic principles of justice, equality and compassion, yet firmly opposed to clerical dominance or theocratic rule. Siddiqui reminds readers that Jinnah repeatedly rejected the idea of a theocracy and insisted on constitutional governance, minority rights and the rule of law.

Throughout the book, Siddiqui emphasises Jinnah’s intellectual kinship with Allama Iqbal. One of the most poignant moments comes from Jinnah’s 1940 Iqbal Day speech, where he declared that, if forced to choose between an empire and Iqbal, he would choose the poet-philosopher. The statement underscores how deeply rooted Pakistan’s ideological foundations were in thought and philosophy, not in political opportunism.

The book also gains contemporary relevance when read against current regional realities. In the backdrop of rising atrocities against minorities in India, many of Jinnah’s warnings now appear disturbingly prophetic. Arguments once dismissed as exaggerations or political tactics increasingly resemble sober assessments of the Subcontinent’s future. Jinnah’s fears have not faded with time; they have unfolded.

The final chapter widens the lens by compiling tributes to Jinnah from his contemporaries, including political opponents. Vijay Lakshmi Pandit’s famous remark serves as a fitting conclusion: “Even if the Muslim League had produced a hundred Gandhis, the Congress could never have produced another Jinnah.” Such acknowledgements underline the global stature and moral authority Jinnah commanded.

By the end of Siddiqui’s book, a sobering realisation emerges. The Pakistan Jinnah dreamed of — democratic, principled, tolerant and welfare-oriented — remains largely unrealised. Yet, the book succeeds in reigniting admiration for the Quaid, not as a symbol but as a guide.

In that sense, it is more than a biography or an academic study. It is an invitation — perhaps even a plea — to return to Pakistan’s original blueprint and to honestly measure how far the nation has drifted from the political ethos of its founder.

The reviewer writes on old films and music and loves reading books X: @suhaybalavi

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, March 19th, 2026

Accepted
By Matthew Lycakis
Self-published
ISBN: 978-1764036108
262pp.

Matthew Lycakis is a crime-thriller author based in the Gold Coast of Australia, balancing a busy corporate career with writing. With Accepted, his debut novel, he offers a gripping and dark narrative that dives headfirst into the sinister underbelly of fame, ambition and manipulation.

The book serves as a stark commentary on the exploitation of youth and the price of acceptance in a world driven by power, secrecy and social currency. Set primarily in Gold Coast, Accepted follows the journey of Kath Corrigan, a high school track star with Olympic dreams and a fractured family life. Narrated in the third person but often from Kath’s perspective, the story opens with familiar young adult themes — athletic ambition, teen popularity and family dysfunction — but quickly pivots into a psychological thriller brimming with suspense and social critique.

Diving into the storyline, Kath is a student athlete with a strong social media presence and a seemingly bright future. Her best friend, Jasmine — another rising star — introduces her to ‘The Group’, an elite, secretive organisation masquerading as a talent management agency. The Group offers luxury, be it private jets, designer clothes or exclusive parties. But the price is steep.

Kath soon finds herself entangled in a web of manipulation, abuse and coercion. Her identity is moulded to fit The Group’s aesthetic and agenda, her privacy stripped away under constant surveillance and “initiations”. Lycakis slowly peels away the glitzy facade to reveal a cult-like organisation, exploiting vulnerable young talent for power and profit.

A powerful debut novel merges suspense with emotional depth and captures the dangerous allure of acceptance in an age dominated by influence and image

Parallel to Kath’s story is that of James William, a detective with a haunted past. When young girls begin disappearing or turning up dead, James is drawn into the investigation. As he pieces together the clues, his journey intersects with Kath’s, leading to a high-stakes rescue mission involving federal agents and deep-rooted criminal networks.

The novel’s backdrop, from high school tracks and suburban kitchens to luxury islands and underground societies, is meticulously constructed. The story ranges from the recognisable to the surreal, yet remains grounded in its characters’ emotional turmoil. Lycakis’s decision to switch perspectives between Kath and James enriches the narrative and adds tension.

Lycakis writes in a crisp and direct style, with dialogue that flows naturally. He blends elements of a psychological thriller with crime and coming-of-age fiction. The pacing accelerates as the plot thickens, reflecting Kath’s descent into, and eventual rebellion against, the darkness she’s been lured into.

Kath is a standout protagonist. Her emotional arc is complex, and she evolves from a confident teen into someone deeply conflicted and fearful, yet ultimately courageous. Her vulnerabilities — a mother battling addiction, a yearning for stability and a thirst for recognition — make her real and relatable. Jasmine, though initially enigmatic, becomes a tragic figure whose past choices haunt her present. Georgina, another complicated character, starts as a cold handler for The Group but later reveals a broken past and becomes an unlikely ally. James, burdened by trauma and his strained family life, serves as the novel’s moral compass, often walking the line between professional duty and personal demons.

Accepted highlights stories that reveal how cult-like systems prey on the fragile, especially women. However, it maintains a distinct narrative style and focuses heavily on themes of surveillance, manipulation and institutionalised abuse cloaked in glamour.

While Accepted offers a gripping and emotionally resonant ride, some readers may find its thematic darkness overwhelming. The plot is emotionally heavy and at times grim, with depictions of coercion, abuse and mental breakdown. Lycakis avoids too many descriptions, but the weight of trauma is deeply felt, so this may not be for readers seeking a light thriller.

The novel’s conclusion, while satisfying in terms of narrative closure, ties things up a bit too neatly, given the chaos that precedes it. However, a few supporting characters, particularly those within The Group’s inner circle, could have benefitted from deeper psychological insight. While the dual narrative structure is effective, James’ storyline occasionally risks slowing down the momentum of Kath’s emotionally charged arc.

That said, the author’s intention is clear: to unsettle, to interrogate systems of power and to amplify the voices of those navigating a world that often preys on ambition. In this, he succeeds remarkably well. Accepted is a powerful debut novel that merges suspense with emotional depth. It captures the vulnerabilities of adolescence and the dangerous allure of acceptance in an age dominated by influence and image. Lycakis’ portrayal of a young woman thrust into a corrupt world, and her fight to survive it, is both harrowing and hopeful.

With a strong female lead, tight plotting and a haunting commentary on modern-day exploitation, Accepted makes a compelling case for itself and is a must-read for fans of the contemporary thriller genre. It is recommended for readers who enjoy stories that confront hard truths and explore the shadows lurking beneath the spotlight.

The reviewer is a content lead at a communications agency

She can be reached at sara.amj@hotmail.co.uk

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, March 19th, 2026