In the history of India and Pakistan, there has only been one Quaid-e-Azam (Great Leader), and similarly, only one of his sisters, Fatima Jinnah, became the Mother of the Nation. In the land of contradictions, no one can match their status — nor can anyone ever — because they are the founders of this nation. Keep in mind that a founder has no equal, and if someone does make such a claim, it holds no meaning.

The title of Quaid-e-Azam was given to Muhammad Ali Jinnah by the people. However, after him, many adopted various titles and honorifics in the desire to become great or to appear great. Some of their sycophants began attaching grand suffixes to their names. Liaquat Ali Khan was called Quaid-e-Millat, Ghulam Muhammad didn’t stay behind either — he started calling himself Khadim-e-Millat (Servant of the Nation), Iskander Mirza was dubbed Man of Steel, Ayub Khan was Quaid-e-Inqilab (Leader of the Revolution), Yahya Khan came and started dreaming of becoming a caliph. Bhutto was Quaid-e-Awam (Leader of the People), Benazir Bhutto was Dukhtar-e-Mashriq (Daughter of the East), Nawaz Sharif became Made in Pakistan, and Imran Khan rose to the rank of Murshid (Spiritual Guide).

Up to this point, it was understandable — supporters give titles to their leaders, and the leaders either smile or accept them graciously. But the worst and most dangerous trend is that of calling someone Quaid-e-Azam the Second or Fatima Jinnah the Second.

For a decade, during the ideological competition between PPP and PML-N, Nawaz Sharif was referred to as Quaid-e-Azam Thani (The Second Quaid-e-Azam). One passionate supporter even wrote a book under this title. Apparently, Nawaz Sharif himself never promoted or accepted this title, but recently a well-read intellectual called him the greatest leader since the founding of the Muslim League in 1906 — effectively praising Nawaz Sharif to the extent that he was placed above Quaid-e-Azam and all other major Muslim League figures. This approach is ridiculous, crude, and condemnable.

Recently, the initiation of government-funded projects named after Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif is in no way commendable. As a matter of principle, the true value and stature of a living leader cannot be judged during their lifetime. Therefore, if a project must be named after someone, it should happen after their death. It is often observed that streets, markets, and roads named after living people never become popular by those official names. People call them by their own chosen names, not the ones given by the government.

Let alone the government — everyone knows and criticizes what it does — even the opposition is not free from this disease. Political parties no longer consider their leaders as humans; they worship them like deities. The same is true for the public — if you criticize a policy of their beloved leader, they immediately label you as a sellout, traitor, or enemy. Blind devotion in politics closes the eyes and minds of followers, preventing them from being able to critically assess their leader’s strengths or weaknesses.

When a leader is accepted as a deity, only worship follows — criticism or accountability becomes impossible.

This disease is present in all political parties of our country in full measure. Despite being a middle-class party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is also afflicted with this ailment. A relative of Imran Khan’s told me that within PTI, it is common to refer to Imran Khan as the equal, second, or twin of Quaid-e-Azam. Even in PTI’s election campaigns, images of Khan-e-Azam were constructed from the shadow of Quaid-e-Azam.

Up to this point, it is still tolerable that every leader aspires to be like Quaid-e-Azam. But this desire becomes dangerous when Khan’s sister Aleema Khan is presented as the new Fatima Jinnah. Previously, Bushra Bibi tried to become the new Nusrat Bhutto or Kulsoom Nawaz, but now she is more focused on prayers and cursing the enemies than practical struggle.

Now, several self-proclaimed Fatima Jinnahs are stepping into the field. The real Fatima Jinnah challenged Field Marshal Ayub Khan. Now, supposedly, Aleema Khan will challenge Field Marshal Asim Munir. The real issue is whether the Murshid wants to make his spiritual wife, Bushra Bibi, into the new Kulsoom Nawaz or not or whether he wants to keep his Pirni safe and instead make Aleema Khan the new Fatima Jinnah.

History teaches that titles may make you feel great, but they do not make you truly great. Many wrestlers were called Rustam-e-Punjab or Rustam-e-Hind, but no one could replace the real Rustam of Iran. Many writers received the title of Urdu or Punjabi Shakespeare, but none could reach Shakespeare’s stature let alone become him. Many singers were called the Tansen of their times, but none could match Tansen.

Many sought to be called Hatim Tai for their generosity, but no one could even come close. Many attempted to describe the cunning of political science, but none could reach the heights of Machiavelli or Chanakya. Poets abound, but there is no other Mir or Ghalib. Reaching Iqbal or Faiz still seems far away. The subcontinent has seen many great emperors, but Akbar and Ashoka were truly Azam (great). Many named themselves Akbar Sani to become like Akbar and tried to play Ashoka’s role in spreading Buddhism, but none could even touch their legacy.

The stature of Quaid-e-Azam and Fatima Jinnah, because of their character and struggle, is so great that attaining similar titles or ranks seems very difficult  if not impossible. Instead of striving to be called Quaid-e-Azam, Fatima Jinnah, Shair-e-Azam, or Adeeb-e-Azam, we must leave this to history. History will decide who ends up in its dustbin and who will live forever in its glory and brilliance.