Maryam (Rattanbai) Jinnah

Children

Rati Bai, Jinnah’s Love:

Ruttenbai “Ruttie” Petit (“The Flower of Bombay”) after marriage Maryam Jinnah, “Ruttie” as she was affectionately called was Jinnah second wife. She was born to a Rich Parsi family on 20th Feb, 1900. Ratti, the only daughter of Sir Dinshaw Petit, a close friend of client of Jinnah was considered as the Flower of Bombay, Jinnah was invited to Darjeeling in 1916 by Ratti’s father to spend some Summer days on hill-station. Jinnah and Ratti fell in love with each other just after few meetings and decided to marry ASAP, however Jinnah knew that it wasn't possible until she becomes 18 as per the legal requirements.

Jinnah’s proposal and meeting with Sir Petit:

Jinnah approached Sir Dinshaw with a seemingly abstract question about his views on inter-communal marriages. Sir Dinshaw emphatically expressed his opinion that it would be an ideal solution to inter-communal antagonism. Jinnah could not have hoped for a more favourable response, and immediately asked his friend for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

M. C. Chagla, who was assisting Jinnah at his chambers in those days, recalled later, “Sir Dinshaw was taken aback. He had not realized that his remarks might have serious personal repercussions. He was most indignant, and refused to countenance any such idea which appeared to him absurd and fantastic.” Jinnah pleaded his case, but to no avail. Not only was this the end of the friendship between the two men, but Sir Dinshaw forbade Ruttie to meet Jinnah as long as she lived under his roof. As she was still a minor, the law was on his side but Ruttie and Jinnah met in secret anyway, and decided to wait out the two years until she attained the age of maturity.

Rati-Jinnah Wedding:

Shortly after her eighteenth birthday, Rattanbai converted to Islam and adopted the name Mariam. Two months later, on April 19, 1918, they were married at his house South Court in Bombay. The wedding ring which Jinnah gave Ruttie was a present from the Raja of Mahmudabad. The Raja and a few close friends of Jinnah were the only guests at the wedding, and later the couple spent part of their honeymoon at the Mahmudabad palace in Nainital. The rest of their honeymoon was spent at the Maidens Hotel, a magnificent property just beyond the Red Fort.

Early days of Rattie-Jinnah Marriage:

Ruttie and Jinnah made a head-turning couple. Her long hair would be decked in fresh flowers, and she wore vibrant silk and headbands lavish with diamonds, rubies and emeralds. And Jinnah in those days was the epitome of elegance in suits custom-made for him in London. According to most sources, the couple could not have been happier in those early years of their marriage. The only blot on their joy was Ruttie’s ostracism from her family. Sir Dinshaw mourned Ruttie socially even after his granddaughter Dina was born.

Marriage Failed:

Ratti and Jinnah loved each other till the end of their lives but unfortunately their Marriage failed just after few years. Ratti wasn't happy with the fact that Jinnah was working over-time and wasn't able to give time to his family. By mid 1922, Jinnah was becoming involved in Indian Politics, only to make him even busier and the relationship going to the lowest level possible.

Ratti Shifted to Taj:

Ratti, a Cancer Patient shifted to Bombay’s Taj Hotel where she was taken care of by the hotel staff. Kanji, here close friend, continued to be her constant companion. By February 18, 1929 she had become so weak that all she could manage to say to him was a request to look after her cats. Two days later, Ruttie Petit Jinnah died. It was her 29th birthday.

Ratti’s Death:

She was buried on February 22 in Khoja Itsna-asheri Cemetery, Mazgaon, Bombay according to Muslim rites. Jinnah sat like a statue throughout the funeral but when asked to throw earth on the grave, he broke down and wept. Later, Chagla said, That was the only time when I found Jinnah betraying some shadow of human weakness. It’s not a well publicised fact that as a young student in England it had been one of Jinnah’s dreams to play Romeo at The Globe. It is a strange twist of fate that a love story that started like a fairy tale ended as a haunting tragedy to rival any of Shakespeare’s dramas.