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⇱ Jinnah's only child, Dina Wadia, passes away at 98 - DAWN.COM


Jinnah's only child, Dina Wadia, passes away at 98

Dawn.com Published November 2, 2017
Mr Jinnah with his sister Fatima and his daughter Dina. —​ Courtesy National Archives Islamabad
Dina Wadia (extreme left), Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s only child, flew in from Delhi to attend her father’s funeral. —Photo: The Press Information Department, Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage, Islamabad
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Dina Wadia, the only child of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Rattanbai Petit, passed away in New York on Thursday, sources in Mumbai and New York confirmed.

She was 98 years old.

She had been born on the night between August 14 and 15 in 1919.

Jinnah had raised Dina alone after his separation from Rattanbai and her subsequent demise.

Mr Jinnah and Dina share a private moment in the grounds of their home on West Heath Road in Hampstead, London. —​ Courtesy National Archives Islamabad

He loved her deeply, but their relationship had become strained after Dina fell in love with and married an Indian Parsi named Neville Wadia at the age of 17.

Dina and Neville lived in Mumbai and had two children, a boy and a girl, before the couple divorced.

Dina had first visited Pakistan in 1948, when the year-old country had lost its founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

The last time she visited Pakistan was in 2004, accompanied by her son, Nasli Wadia, and grandchildren, Jehangir and Ness.

After visiting the mausoleum of her father, she had written in the visitors' book: “This has been very sad and wonderful for me. May his [Jinnah's] dream for Pakistan come true.”

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Comments (97) Closed
Malik Bhai
Nov 02, 2017 08:10pm
RIP
Recommend 0
Yousaf
Nov 02, 2017 08:10pm
Rest in peace.
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Maarif Sohail
Nov 02, 2017 08:12pm
Rest in Peace Dina. Another chapter of Father of the Nation closes perhaps the final chapter of his life.
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Imran Khan
Nov 02, 2017 08:13pm
inna lillahi wa inallah-e-raji'oon
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Hope.
Nov 02, 2017 08:13pm
R.I.P.
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Thinker
Nov 02, 2017 08:14pm
Rip dina wadia only child of m.a.jinnah.
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atif
Nov 02, 2017 08:14pm
Rip
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AHMED YUSUFF
Nov 02, 2017 08:16pm
A very sad news.
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B.Ally
Nov 02, 2017 08:19pm
Sad to pass away in a perpetual state of life long estrangement with loved ones.RIP
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Altaf U Rahman
Nov 02, 2017 08:21pm
Very sad to hear it. She lived a long life, may her soul rest in eternal peace.
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Aftab ulfat
Nov 02, 2017 08:23pm
Rest in peace
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Silent observer
Nov 02, 2017 08:25pm
Rest in Peace the beloved daughter of the founder of Pakistan.
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Harmony
Nov 02, 2017 08:25pm
RIP
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Prof Ramesh C Manghirmalani
Nov 02, 2017 08:27pm
I am so sorry, I met her 7 years ago in Bombay
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Abdul Majeed
Nov 02, 2017 08:28pm
So far his dreams and her prayers have gone the same way.
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Ansar
Nov 02, 2017 08:33pm
Though she had nothing to do with Pakistan, I feel very sad and tearful as She was Jinnah after all.
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DIGGER DOWN UNDER
Nov 02, 2017 08:34pm
Rest in Peace, Dina. You had wonderful mother and father. Your soul will be proud eternally.
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Pervezak
Nov 02, 2017 08:36pm
Rest in peace, dear Dina.
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Athar
Nov 02, 2017 08:36pm
RIP. She had to write a book on the vision of Jinnah on Pakistan and reality. A sad saga comes to an end. RIP Dina
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Pak-UK
Nov 02, 2017 08:38pm
May she rest in peace.
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Imran Ahmed
Nov 02, 2017 08:42pm
I hope she had a good life, may she rest in peace.
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Asif Kahsmiri
Nov 02, 2017 08:44pm
RIP - with profound respect from Pakistan.
Recommend 0
A
Nov 02, 2017 08:45pm
Very Sad. A great daughter of a great man.
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Syed Masood
Nov 02, 2017 08:45pm
Rest in peace
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Sab
Nov 02, 2017 08:48pm
Rest in peace and tell your father that we have turned his dream into a nightmare. Sad but true.
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Junaid
Nov 02, 2017 08:48pm
If a picture can capture a moment in history..let me tell you Fatima Jinnah, she was a mighty force of nature. RIP Dina Wadia, truly sad and heart breaking moment.
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k khan
Nov 02, 2017 09:02pm
I think majority of Pakistanis do not have info about her.
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Syed
Nov 02, 2017 09:02pm
Wish she had stayed in Pakistan ! RIP
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Citizen of karAchi
Nov 02, 2017 09:03pm
Her life remains a mystery which is yet to be fully revealed. Those who remember her last visit to Lahore along with Jinnahs grandson were struck by her poise, grace and character so symptomatic of her great father. May one day we get a definitive account of her and her mother's life.
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Naseem
Nov 02, 2017 09:04pm
Sad - Last legacy of the founder RIP
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Mangesh
Nov 02, 2017 09:08pm
@Sab . Let the truth prevail
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Kashif
Nov 02, 2017 09:17pm
May her soul rest in peace. Ameen.
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An avid DAWN reader
Nov 02, 2017 09:19pm
RIP Dina. Hopefully, quotes from a speech made by your father (our beloved Jinnah) made in 1941 will be taken seriously: "There are at least three main pillars which go to make a nation worthy of possessing a territory and running a government. One is education. Next, no nation and no people can ever do anything very much without making themselves economically powerful in commerce, trade and industry. And lastly, you must prepare yourselves for your defence, defence against external aggression and to maintain internal security."
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Liaquat
Nov 02, 2017 09:22pm
Peace on you. We love every one in the family of one of the greatest leader of our time Quid e Azam M. A. Jinnah.
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RIZ
Nov 02, 2017 09:26pm
RIP - daughter of a great leader
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hamza K
Nov 02, 2017 09:36pm
RIP. may she be dealt with lightly and forgiven.
Recommend 0
Azer
Nov 02, 2017 09:37pm
Sad!
Recommend 0
Dr Talha Ahmed
Nov 02, 2017 09:37pm
RIP. Dina married against the will of her father, and she only visited once when MA Jinnah passed away. She has been closely associated with Ratan Bhai Tata family, and lived last years in New York. RIP.
Recommend 0
Javed
Nov 02, 2017 09:37pm
RIP Quaid,s daughter.
Recommend 0
Nia
Nov 02, 2017 09:41pm
RIP
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Rahul
Nov 02, 2017 09:41pm
RIP, She was the first to call Jinnah's hypocrisy.
Recommend 0
Yahya Ali
Nov 02, 2017 09:44pm
RIP
Recommend 0
Latifa
Nov 02, 2017 09:45pm
In the photo the elderly Dina Wadia bears a striking similarty to her father. The same facial structure and bearing. Ina lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon
Recommend 0
faiz Kazmi
Nov 02, 2017 09:46pm
Ina lillah wa inna illahi rajeon
Recommend 0
Nia
Nov 02, 2017 09:46pm
RIP! I feel sad because she was Jinnah's blood. I also admire her because she lived her life with utmost dignity.
Recommend 0
Farhan
Nov 02, 2017 09:47pm
Very sad
Recommend 0
SJ
Nov 02, 2017 09:59pm
End of an era for a family name "Jinnah". Rest in peace Dina!
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Nasr
Nov 02, 2017 10:07pm
70 years and on. Alas! I wish we could turn this our country into a true wish of the Quaid.
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DIl DIL PAKISTAN
Nov 02, 2017 10:17pm
Rest in peace.unfortunate those who work hard to make Pakistan has place in Pakistan.
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Imtiaz Ali Khan
Nov 02, 2017 10:20pm
RIP Dina.
Recommend 0
gt
Nov 02, 2017 10:24pm
Jinnah's dream of Pakistan came half true and then followers abandoned his secularism and free country. RIP dear.
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brr
Nov 02, 2017 10:25pm
Dina was much a pakistani as I am, which means not much.
Recommend 0
Pakistani71
Nov 02, 2017 10:38pm
Rest In Peace Dina!!!
Recommend 0
asfar
Nov 02, 2017 10:46pm
Rest in peace. How ironic that she was born on the night between August 14 and 15 (in 1919).
Recommend 0
Ashutosh Mishra
Nov 02, 2017 10:58pm
Rest peacefully Dina Wadia Ji!!
Recommend 0
Kaushal
Nov 02, 2017 11:21pm
@RIZ She herself was also great with individual virtues.
Recommend 0
Iqbal Khan
Nov 02, 2017 11:45pm
RIP
Recommend 0
Bobby Khan Canada
Nov 02, 2017 11:53pm
Sad. But why influential Pakistanis don't live in Pakistan?
Recommend 0
Qasim
Nov 03, 2017 12:00am
May her soul rest in peace
Recommend 0
Dr. Waseem Iqbal
Nov 03, 2017 12:06am
Rest In Peace...
Recommend 0
Jawad
Nov 03, 2017 12:23am
RIP
Recommend 0
Ravina
Nov 03, 2017 12:47am
RIP JiJi.
Recommend 0
Ravina
Nov 03, 2017 12:47am
RIP
Recommend 0
Zak
Nov 03, 2017 12:59am
Our prayers for the daughter of the greatest man.
Recommend 0
Omer
Nov 03, 2017 01:11am
Rest in peace.
Recommend 0
Taimur
Nov 03, 2017 01:33am
Rest in peace
Recommend 0
UDAYAN MAJUMDAR
Nov 03, 2017 01:42am
@Sab salutations
Recommend 0
Farid
Nov 03, 2017 01:56am
Rest in peace.
Recommend 0
SHARWAN
Nov 03, 2017 01:57am
Her grandchildren Ness Waisa was co-owner of IPL team Kings XI Punjab
Recommend 0
Ijaz
Nov 03, 2017 02:21am
Very sad news. RIP Dina Wadia.
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Dr I Khalid
Nov 03, 2017 02:51am
Every Pakistani the world over is saddened by demise of the last living link to the Quaid e Azam. May her soul rest in eternal peace. Amen
Recommend 0
Pakistani american
Nov 03, 2017 02:55am
RIP
Recommend 0
Ahmad Ibrahim
Nov 03, 2017 03:02am
RIP
Recommend 0
Amer
Nov 03, 2017 03:08am
RIP. I am not sure if I feel sad but maybe the love of Quaid-e-Azam and his memory is refreshed.
Recommend 0
Hassan
Nov 03, 2017 03:25am
Rest in peace/
Recommend 0
M J Asghar
Nov 03, 2017 03:35am
Rest in peace my loving leader's daughter
Recommend 0
M J Asghar
Nov 03, 2017 03:40am
Quaid's daughtar rest in peace
Recommend 0
Ahmad
Nov 03, 2017 04:02am
Great Family , there name will be on Erath for next millions of years.
Recommend 0
Amjad Hussain
Nov 03, 2017 04:05am
Rip
Recommend 0
Amjad Hussain
Nov 03, 2017 04:06am
Rip
Recommend 0
Asif A Shah
Nov 03, 2017 05:11am
My condolences to her loved ones. She lived a full life.
Recommend 0
Khan USA
Nov 03, 2017 05:20am
RIP ! It were the great service of her father that changed the lives of millions of Muslims .
Recommend 0
Michael
Nov 03, 2017 05:28am
R I P you’re father was great leader of modern time
Recommend 0
Azmeen
Nov 03, 2017 05:38am
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Recommend 0
zorro
Nov 03, 2017 06:04am
Very touching!
Recommend 0
M. J. Akbar
Nov 03, 2017 06:15am
@Rahul Mr. Rahul, Quaid-E-Azam was, is and will be in hearts of not millions but in billions. He was a man of principle and had character and moral. Quaid-E-Azam will always be remembered as a gentle-man.
Recommend 0
Vasan
Nov 03, 2017 06:20am
Very long life. Not many knew that she is still alive as well. Glad to know she choose her own path, and free life of her own choice. RIP.
Recommend 0
Syed Zafar Kazmi U.S.A
Nov 03, 2017 06:37am
Rest In Peace and may the country of your father prosper, progress and be like your father had dreamed of- enlightened, liberal And accommodative of all.
Recommend 0
riz1
Nov 03, 2017 06:47am
@Maarif Sohail "Another chapter of Father of the Nation closes perhaps the final chapter of his life" Maybe not. The final chapter still remains. We need to understand that complete restructuring is good for all of us citizens and civilians.
Recommend 0
Samina Khan
Nov 03, 2017 07:14am
I wish we could have had her more over here in Pakistan......,
Recommend 0
Jasraj Singh, Sikh Regiment
Nov 03, 2017 07:28am
Dina Wadia was truly her father's daughter both witty and intelligent. She was Patron of the Wadia group of Industries. At 98, what a great innings. May this grand and loving lady rest in Peace.
Recommend 0
sajad
Nov 03, 2017 10:05am
Very sad she is no more
Recommend 0
noami
Nov 03, 2017 10:32am
very sad news after all she was the daughter of great leader
Recommend 0
Asif Ilum din Masih
Nov 03, 2017 11:01am
Rest in peace Mrs Dina Wadia
Recommend 0
Waqar Richard
Nov 03, 2017 12:22pm
R. I. P
Recommend 0
Sridhar Raghunatha Rao
Nov 03, 2017 01:20pm
It's a rare coincidence that birth of Pakistan and Dina is on the same day - Midnight of August 14 th and 15 th.
Recommend 0
Syed Kaleem
Nov 04, 2017 05:20pm
RIP.
Recommend 0

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