Syed Shah Abdul Hye, the one-time chauffeur of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, passed on at the age of 90s in his Karnataka residence Feb 2005 with a wish unfulfilled.
The lungi-clad man in his 90s still had a speedy brain and was in finished possession of his senses. However he stutters a little, he was totally reasonable and his memory is infallible when interviewed last time. Age and health have diminished versatility yet there isn't anything to suggest that 93-year-old Syed Shah Abdul Hye in his bungalow in the seaside town of Udupi (in the Indian state of Karnataka) has failed to remember his past.
Hye was chauffeur to the pioneer behind Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, from 1936 to 1940 and was witness to Jinnah's transient rise in the popular imagination.
He was originally employed by Jinnah when the statesman lived at "South Court" on Mount Pleasant Road in Bombay.
Hee first demanded a salary of 80 rupees yet was dismissed by Jinnah's sister, Fatima, who felt the amount was excessive. He had carried all his certificates and medals to show his prospective business and when he failed to land the position, he neglected to gather them. Jinnah, who later took a gander at all of them, found his own signature on one report presented to He some years ago at a school sports day. That concluded the matter and Hee was summoned and given the work according to his very own preferences.
However He worked for Jinnah for just four years, he did various jobs: personal assistant, driver, accountant, and representative. Jinnah later paid for He to be trained as an engine launch driver, which resulted in his moving to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Britain. Presently leading a tranquil life in the beautiful town of Udipi, he reminisced to Arab News. Following are excerpts from the interview:
Q: What sort of cars did Jinnah have?
A: Jinnah had five expensive cars — Chevrolet, Packard, Lassale, Graham Page, and Sunbeam. The Lassale was a gift from the Nawab of Jamnagar and the Packard from the Nizam of Hyderabad.
Q: What about Jinnah personally?
A: He was an ideal gentleman. I was not only a driver; I also served as a receptionist, a phone operator, and a representative. The only ones with direct access to Jinnah were his personal assistant, Mubeenul Islam of Meerut, and I. Any others among the 20 household staff had to deal with Fatima. Jinnah always smoked and always wore a suit, boots, and tie; his suits were made in Bombay by Laffan Tailors.
Q: What was Jinnah's favored language?
A: Invariably English. He did, however, speak Urdu on the off chance that the occasion arose yet he had a "Bombaiya" accent.
Q: What about Jinnah and the affairs of the Muslim League?
A: Till 1940, Jinnah never had a Muslim League flag on his car. Some supporter put a flag on his car at a rally and he demanded an explanation from me. Since it had been done without my insight or consent, we removed it. He roared, "Until we get Pakistan, we won't fix a flag to my car."
Q: Who were the friends he saw most often?
A: The Raja of Mahmudabad, Bahadur Yar Jung, Nawab Ismail Khan, Liyaquat Ali Khan and Abdur Rab Nashtar. Maulana Shaukat Ali also came several times. Two times during this period, Gandhi visited Jinnah and they had closed-entryway meetings in the house.
Q: How did Jinnah and his sister Fatima coexist with one other?
A: Fatima was profoundly involved in her brother's personal affairs and this involvement sometimes verged on obstruction. She was a dental surgeon and had a center in Bombay however she had a mercurial temperament. No servant could last over four months. I went on a fortnight's leave in 1938 yet overstayed my leave by a day or two. She requested my dismissal yet Jinnah found out and reinstated me. Fatima would often ask me to park in "No Parking Zones" thereby subjecting me to police anger.
Q: How might you analyze Jinnah's personal relationships?
A: He was a very balanced person and was always very plainspoken. He tolerated nothing that was illegal or against the law. He had 20 servants, both Hindu and Muslim, and never discriminated between them on the basis of religion. He was a stickler for punctuality. I have several of his letters from Simla and Delhi and they all show his clear-headedness. He was interested in current education, scientific temperament, and skills. He paid the fees for me to learn English at Malabar Hill Night School. Later when I wanted to get into a ship driving school, he allowed me to leave his business and paid for my course in engine launch driving. I owe a great obligation to Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Because of his assistance, I landed positions in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and London.
In an interview with the newspaper Indian Express in August 2003, Hye had expressed a desire to meet Jinnah's daughter Dina and grandson Nusli Wadia, the chairman of Bombay Dyeing. ''At the point when I went to meet my daughters in the US, I attempted to meet Dina, however, she had isolated herself from the world. I composed many letters to Nusli Wadia also, however never got an answer,'' he had said. He worked with 'Bhai' (Jinnah) from around 1936 to 1940. In the 2003 interview, He recalled the elections to provincial assemblies when someone put the League flag on Jinnah's car. Jinnah went crazy and told Him: ''Until I assemble Pakistan, I want no flag on my car''.
