Q: What was Maulana Zafar Ali Khan like?
He had a very extraordinary talent. I think he was the father of
Urdu journalism, although [Maulana Abul Kalam] Azad was a much more
learned man than Zafar Ali Khan. The Zamindar newspaper, when Zafar
Ali Khan was the proprietor and editor, was the Urdu paper for the
Muslims. But unfortunately it had limited circulation. The Muslims
had no industry, so that the advertisements were very meager. Sometimes
he couldn't pay his staff. My father, I remember, helped him two
three times. I also remember at Branner Hall, what the occasion
was I do not remember, when he came to the stage and started speaking
and he was hooted down. He was trying to quote something and he
was taking his spectacles out and in the process a few people started
yelling at him. After he found his spectacles he started speaking
again, and then the same people who hooted him applauded him, he
had such command of the language. I have never seen anyone who had
the gift of rhyme as Zafar Ali Khan had. Fantastic gift of rhyme.
A man of extraordinary ability. But unfortunately, the Muslims never
supported him sufficiently. The Punjab zamindar (feudal land owner)
was by and large uneducated - I am sorry to say this - someone who
had very little time for culture. The Punjab zamindar, compared
to the talukdars of Awadh who had a great deal of culture in them,
the Punjab zamindar did not have culture. If he was rich, he would
have falcons or gray hounds or horses, but very little culture.
They did not support him, Zafar Ali Khan was one instance where
they could have easily. Umar Hayat Khan Tiwana, who had an estate
at that time of four lakh rupees [per annum], could easily have
helped him.
Q: If Sir Sikander had lived, what would
have happened in the Punjab?
If Sir Sikander had lived, you would most probably have had a different
Punjab than what you have today. He would have managed to take the
agriculturists seats, may be even the Hindu Jats with him into Pakistan.
Q: So you may still have had Pakistan, but
not the minorities switching sides [as refugees]?
Yes, but it is a very big if. One doesn't know. But let me end
this by telling you this my own very strong conviction that if the
Quaid had died in March 1947, there would have been no Pakistan.
It was pure willpower, sheer willpower of the man.