Jawaharlal Nehru, Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Jawaharlal Nehru needs no introduction. He was central to Indian politics both before and after Independence. He was Independent India’s first Prime Minister and went on to hold that position till his death 17 years later. His legacy as a statesman and as architect of an independent India is undeniable. While parts of it are often disputed, it continues to loom large above us all. But Nehru lives on in more than history. His written work – comprising mostly books, articles and letters – are some of the most stellar samples of Indian English writing in the twentieth century. You can read more about him here.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a lawyer, politician and the founder of Pakistan. He served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the inception of Pakistan on 14 August 1947, and then as the Dominion of Pakistan’s first governor-general until his death. He is revered in Pakistan as the Quaid-i-Azam (‘Great Leader’) and Baba-i-Qaum (‘Father of the Nation’). You can read more about him here.