Two Mumbai Doctors to Receive Pakistan's Top Civilian Award for Keeping Jinnah's Illness Secret
Pakistan has announced that its highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, will be conferred on two doctors from Mumbai's Parsi community for having guarded the terminal illness of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. The announcement was made by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who also heads the awards committee.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on August 14, Pakistan's Independence Day, Mr. Iqbal said the two doctors — a physician and a radiologist — were being recognised for maintaining absolute professional confidentiality about Jinnah's health during a critical period in the subcontinent's history.
“Many historians regard this as one of the most consequential secrets of the twentieth century,” the minister wrote. “Lord Mountbatten later acknowledged that, had he known how seriously ill Jinnah was, he might have delayed Partition — potentially altering the course of history and perhaps even jeopardising the creation of Pakistan.”
Jinnah, who led the movement for a separate Muslim state, was suffering from tuberculosis at the time. The disease was incurable then, and he died in September 1948, just over a year after Pakistan came into existence.
Mr. Iqbal said the doctors' fidelity to their professional oath “inadvertently became a significant contribution to the circumstances that made the creation of Pakistan possible.” He described their act as a “quiet but extraordinary service” that had long remained unrecognised.
The minister did not disclose the names of the doctors or indicate whether they would receive the award in person. The Nishan-e-Imtiaz is traditionally conferred at a presidential investiture ceremony on Pakistan Day, March 23, following the announcement of the national honours list on Independence Day.
The decision highlights the role of the Parsi community in the events surrounding Partition. The Parsis, a small but influential community concentrated in Mumbai, had notable interactions with leaders of the freedom movement. Jinnah himself lived in Mumbai for many years before moving to Karachi after Pakistan's creation.
Historians have noted that Jinnah's failing health was known to only a few close associates and doctors. The secret was kept effectively, allowing him to participate in high-stakes negotiations with British and Indian leaders during the run-up to Partition.
Analysts point out that public knowledge of Jinnah's illness could have altered the political dynamics of the time. Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, is said to have later remarked that if he had known the true state of Jinnah's health, he might have delayed the transfer of power, which could have affected the final outcome.
The Nishan-e-Imtiaz is Pakistan's most prestigious civilian award, given for exceptional merit in various fields. Previous Indian recipients include the legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who was honoured in 1998 for his contributions to cinema.
The announcement has generated interest on both sides of the border. While the doctors have not been identified, the award is seen as a rare recognition of individuals from India for their role in historical events that led to the creation of Pakistan.
Political observers note that the gesture could also be interpreted as an attempt to highlight the pluralistic nature of Pakistan's national narrative. The Parsi community, though tiny in number, has historically been known for its contributions to business, education, and philanthropy in India.
The formal conferral of the award will take place next year, pending the doctors' acceptance and ability to travel. No further details have been released by the Pakistani government so far.
