A Woman of Beauty and Courage

The Dawn

The Review

February 26, 2006

By Shagufta Yasmeen

Rutten Bai Jinnah, also called the ‘Flower of Bombay’, was a perfect blend of beauty and intellect, writes Shagufta Yasmeen

Jerome.K.Jerome 'On Being in Love' stated “Love is like the measles; we all have to go through it.” Everyone, be it a simple villager or a seasoned politician, goes through the rigours of love, only to evolve as a more compassionate and humane being. Among the glittering celebrities like George Bernard Shaw and The Duke of Windsor, the name of Mohammad Ali Jinnah stands out.

This extraordinary personality saw success at a very young age and proved his mettle. Being a lawyer of high repute, Jinnah was a frequent guest to the houses of illustrious members of society –– Sir Dinshaw Petit's was one of them. Jinnah's eloquence and charming personality drew Ruttie Petit, the daughter of Dinshaw Petit, towards him. A literature student, Ruttie was romantic and had dreams of her own. Her world was full of love, happiness and contentment. When Jinnah and Ruttie met, they felt attracted towards each other; the difference in their ages did not seem to matter to both of them.

Ruttie Petit was impressed by the towering personality of Jinnah, who shared her liking for horses and books. This sixteen-year-old made up her mind that Jinnah was the man she would spend her life with, and in the face of innumerable obstacles, with sheer determination, she won her man.

Petit was 18 and Jinnah 42 when their nikkah was solemnized according to Islamic rites. On April 16, 1918, she embraced Islam and adopted the name Ruttenbai; three days later, their marriage took place at the bungalow of Mohammad Ali Jinnah on the Mount Pleasant Road, then known as South Court.

Rutten bai or Ruttie Jinnah was famous for her beauty and was called the ‘Flower of Bombay’. She was always the centre of attraction at parties. But it was not only her beauty that attracted Jinnah, she could talk on any issue be it political, literary or social. She was well-read, well-informed and knew the decorum of high society. Moreover she had the courage to take a stand.

Those who have read the history of the subcontinent, especially during the early twentieth century, must be aware of the encounter between Jinnah and Lord Willingdon, Governor of Bombay. On December 10, 1918, a meeting convened by the Sheriff of Bombay at the Bombay Town hall, was called to take a decision on the citizens farewell to Lord Willingdon on his retirement. Jinnah and his followers staged a protest against the meeting and occupied the hall. The police succeeded in breaking up the meeting. There was a lot of commotion but that did not deter Ruttie Jinnah from holding her ground. She kept standing at the steps of the Town Hall and received injuries on that day.

Even when differences between Jinnah and Gandhi came out in the open at the famous Nagpur Session of the Congress, held in December 1912, Ruttie's supportive presence was appreciated by Jinnah. She proved her love, loyalty and devotion towards her husband time and again. The famous incident that took place at a dinner in the Viceregal Lodge proves her wit, intelligence and courage, and how much Jinnah valued her traits.

When Ruttie Jinnah was introduced to Lord Chelmsford, she did not follow the British custom of courtesying to the Viceroy, instead she greeted him in the Indian way. When the dinner ended the A.D.C took Ruttie Jinnah to the Viceroy who said pompously, “Mrs Jinnah, your husband has a great political future, you must not spoil it. In Rome you must do as the Romans do,” she immediately answered, “That's exactly what I did, your Excellency. In India I greeted in the Indian way.”

Yet another incident throws light on Ruttie Jinnah's presence of mind and witticism. In 1921, while she was sitting next to Lord Reading at a luncheon in New Delhi, Lord Reading lamented, “Mrs. Jinnah, how I wish I could go to Germany. I very much want to go there, but I cannot.” She asked why it was so and his reply was, “The Germans do not like us, the British.” Ruttie Jinnah quickly replied, “How then did you come to India?” Lord Reading had no option but to change the topic.

Ruttie Jinnah had a multi dimensional personality. She was charming, sensitive, humane, witty and very intelligent. Although they drifted apart in later years, she loved Jinnah deeply and this love remained in her heart till her last breath, as it did with him.

This charming woman lived a short life, passing away at the age of 29, on February 20th, 1929, the same date she was born on. She left a deep mark on the minds of all those who knew her or came in contact