A portrait of Quaid-e-Azam installed in a club in London

Pakistan High Commission London has unveiled the portrait of Quaid-i-Azam at the National Liberal Club London, which was created by the famous Turkish liberal artist Kiya Mar.

A masterpiece of Italianate architecture, the Liberal Club is located on the banks of the River Thames and was founded in 1882 by William Gladstone, a three-time British Prime Minister, and completed over the next five years. It was the largest club in London at the time, initially intended to cater to members of the Liberal Party. The club is surrounded by the historic buildings of Westminster, Whitehall Palace, Trafalgar Square.

The peculiarity of this club is that Quaid-e-Azam became its member on 16 June 1913. The membership form filled by Quaid-e-Azam’s hand is still present in the club. In exploring Quaid-e-Azam’s association with this historic club, a few young people from London, including Bilal Sheikh, Arif Anees and Samir Mehmood, have played a crucial role in the campaign, which also involved Pakistan’s High Commissioner Moazzam Ahmed Khan. Who convinced the current management of the club that since the founder of Pakistan has been a member of this club, his portrait should be installed here.

Arif Anees says that ‘National Liberal Club is in many respects an important place for the fans of Jinnah and the history of Pakistan. They walked on the steps of the same club, sat in the rooms and had discussions. They ate food, drank coffee and smoked cigars, dreamed of the freedom of India, which ultimately led to the freedom of Pakistan. Quaid-e-Azam spent 20 years in London from time to time. There is a monument to him in Lincoln’s Inn and now his picture has been installed in the Liberal Club, now our next destination is to install a statue of him in front of the British Parliament.’

Bilal Shaikh who is the driving force behind this important achievement and the Principal of Montrose College. He told Independent Urdu that when I became a member of this club in 2019, I was told that Quaid-e-Azam had also been a member of this club. I saw the portrait of Dadaji Noorobhai here, so I asked why the portrait of Quaid-i-Azam is not there.

Not only was no one willing to answer this question, but when I started this struggle, I had no idea how difficult it would be. Dadaji Noorobhai’s portrait was also installed by Lord Bellamore.

The portrait of Quaid-i-Azam has also been painted by the same Turkish artist who painted the portrait of Dadaji Noorobhai.

The distinctive feature of the National Liberal Club was that it was liberal in its values, meaning that not only whites but people of other nationalities were also members, and it was the first club in London to admit women.

However, the importance of this club in relation to India and Pakistan is not only that Quaid-e-Azam was a member, but that the first leader of India’s independence, Dadabhai Naoroji, was its first member, who belonged to an ethnic minority. He was not only the founding president of the Indian National Congress, but in 1892 he was also elected the first Asian member of the British Parliament.

Quaid-e-Azam was also among those who received blessings from Dadaji Noorobhai, rather it should be said that it was Dadaji’s voice and his books that went on to create resistance against British colonialism in India. Dadaji Noorobhai became a member of this club in 1885 when the club was established only three years ago. The club also has a meeting room named after him. After him, CP Ramesh Wani, who became the Prime Minister of Travancore State, Gandhi’s friend Gopalkrishna has also been a member of this club and Gandhi has also come to this historic club as his guest.

Many famous dramas and movies have also been shot in the club. The club’s members include a long list of prominent British political, social, business and literary figures, including Winston Churchill. This prestigious and historical club of Great Britain is also associated with more than 2500 clubs in the world. That is, members of this club are also given membership by prominent clubs around the world, including Pakistan’s Islamabad Club, Lahore Gymkhana, Chenab Club, Karachi Gymkhana and Quetta Club.