Mumbai, Maharashtra
The names of two Parsi doctors from Mumbai have once again emerged in connection with one of the most sensitive and widely discussed chapters in the history of India and Pakistan. Dr. Jal Ratanji Patel and radiologist Dr. Jal Dhaybho-Koo are reportedly set to receive Pakistan’s highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, posthumously. The honour is reportedly scheduled to be conferred in March 2027.
The two doctors are said to be receiving the honour for maintaining confidentiality about Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s serious illness. Jinnah was the founder of Pakistan and one of the most influential leaders of the Muslim League during the partition of India in 1947.
Dr. Patel Was Jinnah’s Physician
Historical documents, articles and books mention Dr. Jal Ratanji Patel as Jinnah’s physician. Jinnah had been suffering from serious health problems for a long time and was reportedly afflicted with tuberculosis (TB). The severity of his illness was not made public and efforts were made to keep the information restricted to a small circle of people.
The name of radiologist Dr. Jal Dhaybho-Koo is also associated with the case. According to available historical accounts, X-rays and medical records related to Jinnah’s illness were kept confidential.
The political significance of Jinnah’s health condition not being publicly known at the time became more apparent in retrospect. In 1947, when crucial discussions about India’s future were taking place among the Congress, the Muslim League and the British government, only a limited number of people were reportedly aware of the seriousness of Jinnah’s health.
Could Knowledge of Jinnah’s Illness Have Changed History?
One of the most debated questions surrounding Jinnah’s illness is whether the partition of India could have been avoided if British and Indian leaders had known about the seriousness of his condition at the time.
The subject was discussed in Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre’s well-known book Freedom at Midnight. Several articles have argued that information about Jinnah’s limited life expectancy could potentially have influenced the political strategies of the leadership at the time.
However, for historians, this remains a matter of speculation. It cannot be stated with certainty that revealing Jinnah’s illness would have prevented partition. The partition of India in 1947 was the result of numerous complex political and social circumstances.
India Had Also Honoured Dr. Patel
Dr. Jal Ratanji Patel’s contribution to the medical field was also recognised in India. His name appears in the Government of India’s official Padma Awards records. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1962 for his contribution to the field of medicine.
Pakistan’s reported decision to confer its highest civilian honour on Dr. Patel and Dr. Dhaybho-Koo has now brought their historical role back into the spotlight. The case highlights the complex relationship between medical ethics, patient confidentiality and the history surrounding the partition of India.
