By Admin 
Sarojini Naidu Birthday: Sarojini Naidu’s birthday is celebrated on 13 February 1829. Sarojini Naidu is also called Nightingale of India. She was a poet, freedom fighter and one of the most prominent women leaders of India’s independence movement. She became the first Indian woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1925 and later the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh. His relationship with Mohammad Ali Jinnah is one of the most interesting political friendships of pre-independence India. Let us know how this friendship finally reached its breaking point later.
friendship in the beginning
Sarojini Naidu and Jinnah met for the first time in 1906 during the session of the Indian National Congress in Kolkata. At that time Jinnah was largely considered a moderate nationalist leader. Jinnah believed in constitutional reforms and Hindu-Muslim unity. Naidu greatly appreciated his speaking skills and political clarity. After the historic Lucknow Pact of 1916, he described Jinnah as the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity. In 1918, he collected Jinnah’s speeches and wrote a book praising him. His connections were not limited to politics only. Sarojini Naidu was also very close to Jinnah’s wife Ratanbai Jinnah.
Impact and political changes of Mahatma Gandhi
The turning point in their relationship came in the 1920s with the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi and his massive movements like non-cooperation and Satyagraha. Jinnah was very uncomfortable with Gandhi’s methods, especially the use of civil disobedience and religious symbols in politics. He gave priority to constitutional talks and gradually distanced himself from the Congress. Sarojini Naidu, on the other hand, became one of Gandhi’s most loyal supporters and actively participated in his campaign.
As Jinnah’s political path converged with the All India Muslim League and he started advocating the Two Nation Theory, ideological differences between him and Congress leaders increased. Sarojini Naidu believed in one India and communal harmony.
From friendship to formal distance
By the 1940s, as the demand for Pakistan intensified, the personal friendship between Sarojini Naidu and Jinnah turned into formal political distance. The friendship which was once a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity was now struggling with painful divisions within Indian politics. However, Sarojini Naidu never publicly showed personal bitterness towards Jinnah.
Partition and final separation
The partition of India in 1947 marked a definite end to their joint political journey. Jinnah became the founding leader of Pakistan and Sarojini Naidu remained in India and became the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh.
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