March 23 in 1940 in Lahore was the historic day when Muslims of India under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah resolved to seek an independent homeland on the basis of the right of self-determination to pursue their lives in accordance with the democratic egalitarian spirit of Islam, tolerance and peaceful co-existence with the sole emphasis on the equality to its citizens irrespective of their caste, creed, colour or gender.
It is, indeed, also a historic coincidence that in the year 1929 on March 23 Isphanis of Karachi were gifted by Allah the Most Generous, with Nusrat Khanum chosen by destiny to be the great woman behind a colossus of a man that her husband Zulfikar Ali Bhutto grew to be and mother to yet another leader of world class Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who made her illustrious parents and Muslim Ummah proud by being the first Muslim woman to be the Prime Minister twice.
Though she is passing her days in a state of inertia and unaware of what is happening around, she must be satisfied with the thought that though her country is pitched against insurmountable challenges, it is being led by a person chosen to be her son-in-law and the party PPP that ZAB founded to keep alighted the flame and vision of democracy, empowerment of the less privileged, including women and minorities.
Her ancestry is linked to the legendary Islamic hero Salahuddin Ayubi, who showed fathomless compassion to the Christians. Nusrat Bhutto inherited his compassion, grit, dauntless determination and courage from the days of her childhood. And her dynamism, love and care for humanity blossomed her into a young lady who would strive, seek and not yield at challenging times when trains packed with refugees from India were pouring into Karachi in the aftermath of partition.
As a young woman she got into limelight as a selfless member of the Women’s National Guard a Muslim women salvation army. She plunged herself day and night into the relief operations of the millions of the uprooted refugees who migrated from India. In those stressful times though physically frail, she stood firm in her efforts. She showed rare qualities of leadership and selfless service that inspired others and strengthened young nation’s will to survive.
She was born with a silver spoon. And being a lady of sterling qualities of both head and heart as she was, she found her match in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Karachi. It was love at first sight that landed them in wedlock and a marriage that lasted to ZAB’s martyrdom and her uncompromising devotion to his enlightened vision ever after. While he made his mark as Pakistan’s representative to the UN as a young lawyer, his wife stood behind as a rock, through thick and thin.
When he became the youngest member of Ayub Khan’s cabinet as Foreign Minister, his capable wife Begum Bhutto acquitted admirably well the responsibilities of bringing up their four children Benazir, Murtaza, Sanam and Shahnawaz and also the role of playing a graceful hostess. Her total devotion in bringing up their children is perhaps the reason that all of the Bhutto off-springs were highly educated.
It fell on the shoulders of Begum Bhutto to bring up the children in such a manner that it should do Bhutto heritage a proud a tradition that is being carried forward by President Asif Ali Zardari in the upbringing of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakthawar and Aseefa.
The true strength and greatness of her character manifested itself in full defiance when her husband was hunted by dictators following ZAB’s formation of PPP as the harbinger of change and empowerment of the people. Successive dictators unleashed their hounds on him, incarcerated him and persecuted him to no ends.
Begum Bhutto, however, gave her best when Bhutto Sahib’s elected government was toppled on July 5, 1977 by General Zia, plunging the country in the darkest era of nation’s life. She not only led the people and kept ignited their democratic aspirations when her husband was incarcerated facing a concocted murder charge. Though she was not alone at this time as her equally talented and gifted daughter Benazir Bhutto was with her. She kept the party flag high in defiance of a ruthless martial law and state oppression to the extent that she received a head injury in the baton charge by Zia’s thugs. And this head wound was not allowed proper and timely treatment, leading to an ever-lasting injurious effect on her to the extent that it gradually disabled her.
The revenge of the Pakistani people has been strongly reflected in their unwavering support to Pakistan People’s Party. PPP’s electoral victories under Benazir Bhutto’s leadership in1988 and1993 despite the worst possible manipulations by the successive unrepresentative rulers and the highest number of votes PPP received in the overly flawed 2002 polls were the fruits of the selfless devotion of Bhuttos to the people and the overwhelming confidence they enjoyed among the masses. History was repeated in 2008 when PPP emerged as the majority party.
Twice Begum Bhutto was elected member of the National Assembly, remained a senior minister and also a constant source of inspiration for her daughter, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, masses and PPP workers especially. She has done proud to the country by representing Pakistan at various international forums and her contribution as the Chairperson of the Red Crescent had gone a long way in improving the country’s image. She has also received various international awards for her immense contribution to the greatest good of the largest number especially workers, women and children.
Begum Nusrat Bhutto had always been a fighter. She fought the battle for the empowerment of the people in the streets against dictatorship. She fought for their rights in the apex courts without getting justice. Today she is fighting a battle with life yet she is a dauntless inspiration for her people so that they consolidate the democratic vision of the Quaid, her martyred husband and daughter to live in an era of peace, progress and prosperity.
The writer is Pakistans High commissioner to the UK
