The Ispahani Brothers' Correspondence with M.A. Jinnah: From Party Finances to Nation-Building

Sub title : Managing the Star of India, Economic Planning, and Early Pakistani Ventures

Subject: M.A. Jinnah | All-India Muslim League | Ahmad Ispahani | Star of India Newspaper

Date of publication: 1940

Language: English

Page: 66 p.

Source: National Archives of Pakistan

Serial no: 27626

Keyword: M.A. Jinnah -- Ahmad Ispahani -- Star of India | Muslim League Finances -- Sir Adamjee -- Orient Airways | Muslim Bank -- Economic Planning -- Bengal Famine | Post-War Reconstruction -- Pakistan Economy

Abstract: This collection features the correspondence of Ahmad Ispahani, the elder brother of Hassan Ispahani, with M.A. Jinnah. It reveals the Ispahani family's critical role in sustaining the Muslim League's institutional machinery. The letters detail the persistent financial struggles of the "Star of India" newspaper, with Ahmad providing meticulous accounts and negotiating shared funding with other Muslim industrialists like Sir Adamjee. Beyond journalism, the documents showcase a transition from political struggle to economic nation-building. Ahmad discusses his involvement in Jinnah's "Planning Committee," provides a detailed analysis of the Bengal famine, and reports on the founding of major Pakistani enterprises like Orient Airways and the Muslim Bank, seeking Jinnah's counsel on issues like the inclusion of non-Muslim directors.

Description: This file provides a crucial financial and economic perspective on the Pakistan movement through the letters of Ahmad Ispahani. Acting as a key manager of the League's resources, his correspondence with Jinnah is less about political strategy and more about the practicalities of funding the party's voice (the "Star of India" newspaper) and laying the economic foundations for a future state. The documents are a masterclass in managing a struggling media outlet, revealing the constant battle to reduce losses and secure patronage. As the movement nears its goal, the focus shifts dramatically to large-scale economic projects. Ahmad Ispahani emerges as a central figure in establishing Pakistan's early corporate institutions, from its first Muslim-owned airline (Orient Airways) to a major bank. SCANNED BY: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF PAKISTAN.

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