Jinnah’s only daughter Dina Wadia dies at 98 in New York

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Dina Wadia, 98, the only daughter of Pakistan’s founder Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, passed away at her home in New York on Thursday, a Wadia Group spokesperson said in a statement.

Dina Wadia was the only child of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his second wife Rattanbai Petit who was also known as Maryam Jinnah.  Dina Wadia is survived by her son and Wadia Group Chairman Nusli N Wadia, daughter Diana N Wadia, and grandsons Ness and Jeh Wadia, said the statement issued in Mumbai.

 

Dina Wadia was born in London on August 15, 1919. Her paternal grandparents were from Gujarat, who moved to Karachi for business in the mid-1870s, where her father, Jinnah, was born.

Though Dina never lived in Pakistan, she was seen as a historic figure not only because she was the only daughter of the nation’s founder, but also because she was one of the few who had witnessed the bloody partition of 1947.  She last visited Pakistan in 2004 during a landmark cricket series between Pakistan and India on the invitation of former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf. On the visit to Pakistan, she was accompanied by her son, Nasli Wadia, and grandchildren, Jehangir and Ness.

“This has been very sad and wonderful for me. May his dream for Pakistan come true,” wrote Dina Wadia in the visitor’s book, during her visit at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam. She had also visited the mausoleum of Madar-i-Millat Fatima Jinnah to pay respects to her aunt.

Soon after the death of Dina Wadia, condolences started pouring in from across the country.  People from all walks of life, including politicians, civil society and social media users expressed their sadness on the demise of Wadia.

President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi expressed deepest condolences, on behalf of the people of Pakistan, on the passing away of Dina Wadia.

“Mr Nusli Wadia, Mrs Dina Wadia’s son has been conveyed the sadness of the Pakistani nation, on the demise of their beloved mother, who was greatly respected and admired in Pakistan. May she Rest In Peace,” a Foreign Office statement issued here on Thursday said.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman took to Twitter to express his grief over the death.

Calling it an end of the era, Punjab chief minister expressed his emotions on the microblogging site, saying the death of Dina Wadia is the end of a unique bond.

“Its okay to romanticise Dina Wadia…we have so little left of Jinnah’s own extraordinary life,” said Senator Sherry Rehman in a tweet.

Following the other lot of politicians, cleric-turned-politician Tahirul Qadri, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief, also tweeted his sadness over the loss.

“Another window on history closes,” said journalist Talat Hussain over her demise.

Former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar said he was saddened to hear the loss of the founder’s daughter.

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