December 30, 2006

 In addition to Khwaja Nazimuddin and Nawab Bahadur Khwaja Habibullah, who were ministers in the coalition cabinet of Mr. A. K. Fazlul Huq, following members of the family were also elected to the Bengal Legislative Assembly in the General Elections held in 1936, under the Government of India Act, 1935: Syed Saheb-e- Alam, Nawabzada Khwaja Nasarullah, Khwaja Nooruddin, Syed Abdus Salim, Khwaja Shahabuddin and Begum Farhat Bano Shahabuddin. While two members – Syed Abdul Hafiz and Khwaja Mohamed Ismail were Member Council of State (the Upper House) in New Delhi and Member Legislative Council (MLC) respectively. It will interest readers to have a glimpse of the lives of some of the prominent members of the family, including the last Nawab of Dhaka.

Nawab Habibullah

Nawab Khwaja Habibullah Bahadur, who succeeded his father, Nawab Salimullah, was born on April 26, 1895. He was educated at St. Paul's School, Darjeeling, and during the First World War (1914-18), he volunteered and was granted an honorary commission as Lieutenant in the 49th. Bengal Regiment and sent to Mesopotamia to serve with the British Indian Army there. He returned home, and took over the responsibility as the Nawab of Dhaka on June 10, 1915. Nawab Bahadur, as he came to be known after the title of "Bahadur" was conferred upon him, had taken an active part in the Khilafat Movement of 1921, and had presided over the Annual Conferunce of Kashmir Muslim Association at Amritsar in 1930. He had been a member of the Dhaka District Board and the Dhaka Municipality, and the Chief of Dhaka Panchayet. He was elected to the Bengal National Assembly in 1937, and served as Minister of Agriculture, Local Self Government and Public Health in the Muslim League/Krishak Proja Party Coalition Government under the Premiership of A.K. Fszlul Haq.

The Nawab Bahadur did one more stint as a Minister during the years 1941-44. when he held the portfolio of Commerce, Industry and Labour. After the partition of India, and during the time Mohammad A]i of Bogra was Prime Minister of Pakistan, he had been a member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) and by 1S56, he had retired from active politics. One great thing about Nawab Habibullah, it is said, was that he was easily accessible to all members of the family, high or low, at all times and he maintained close touch with Ahsan Manzil. His home in Calcutta always remained open for even the poorest member of the family. He had a most colourful personality, a keen sense of humour and was deeply interested in encouraging sporting and cultural activities among the youth in the family. Nawab Habibullah was a very keen sportsman, and was particularly fond of cricket- The team that he favoured most, till his death, was Australia. Nevertheless, he never missed an opportunity to listen to the cricket commentary of a test match. It was in the early hours of the morning of November 21, 1958, that Nawab Khwaja Habibutlah Bahadur left for his eternal heavenly home for.his soul to rest in eternal peace. He was succeeded by his eldest son Nawab Khwaja Hassan Askari, the last Nawab of Dhaka.

Khwaja Mohamed Ismail

Khwaja Mohamed Ismail, born in Dhaka in 1885, lived a varied and interesting life. Officer in the Imperial Police Service, Member of the Bengal Legislative Council--he was respected as, President of Dhaka Bais Panchayet--a twenty-two Mahalla Committee--which resolved all disputes within the city. He was awarded, title of Khan Bahadur for exemplary service to the Muslims of Bengal, writes his daughter Najma Quader. Poet and writer, he promoted Urdu language and literature. He loved sports--was an excellent horseman, played polo, hockey and refereed football matches. Renowned for his philanthrophy, he was known for his kindness and generosity towards family members, especially those who were not well off. He helped them financially when they were in difficulty and would regularly invite them to River View for tea and 'baqarkhani'. He never intentionally hurt or harmed anybody and if he ever did so by mistake would immediately beg forgiveness. He was extremely well-liked by members of his family and even today they remember him and narrate many stories of his generosity and kindness. He died in Dhaka in 1959 and was buried in the family graveyard in Begum Bazar.

Nawab Hasan Askari

Nawab Khwaja Hasan Askari was born in Dhaka on 21st. August, 1920, the eldest son of Nawab Habibullah Bahadur and Shahryar Begum and he started to learn to read and write at the "Maktab' in Ahsan Manzii before joining Muslim High School, and later, going to the Muslim University School in Aligarh. He captained the school ticket team, and was later Captain of the University Riding School, and when Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah visited Aligarh University, Askari acted as his ADC.

In August 1942, Hasan Askari was commissioned in the 7th. Light Cavalry of the British Indian Army and was wounded in action in the Burma front. He resigned his commission in March 1946 as his father wanted Askari to help him with the affairs of the Estate. After partition, he was granted commission in the Pakistan Army, and was posted to Probyns Horse, the regiment of his choice, in 1948. A year later, in 1949, he was posted to the :Governor General's Body Guard as its first Adjutant. After an attack of Thrombosis, he retired from the Pakistan Army in 1961 with the rank of Major. After the death of his father, Hasan Askari had assumed charge as the Nawab of Dhaka in January, 1959. After his retirement from the Army, he began taking interest in politics, and in 1982, he was elected as a member National Assembly of Pakistan. Soon thereafter, he became the Minister of Communications, Government of East Pakistan. For his services, the Government [Pakistan had awarded him the Hilal-e-Khidmat. Askari fought the 1965 elections for the National Assembly as Muslim Leaguer but lost by 15 votes.

In 1966, he set up a 250-loom jute mill in collaboration with EPIDC, and was appointed director of various commercial organizations, Banks etc. Besides being a member of the Board of Governors of the Engineering University, Dhaka, he was President of Sir Salimullah Muslim Orphanage, Chairman of Pakistan Jute Mills Association till 1971, and a member of the Executive Committee of Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce & Industry- He was President of the Dhaka Club for a year, and for a while of All-Pakistan T-B. Association when he sponsored a T. B.. Hospital scheme for Dhaka. He also worked with Aligarh Old Boys Association in East Pakistan as its working- President. It is unthinkable that a person so kind hearted and loving, one who cared deeply for the poor and the needy a prince among men, had to undergo a most humiliating experience with his wife and children, when, in February 1969, during the movement against the Ayub Government his house was ransacked by a mob and burnt. But, in spite of extreme provocation, he refused to allow anyone in his group to use arms against the attackers.

He faced the most ugly situation with faith, courage and dignity, with full support from his wife and children. In 1976, Nawab Hasan Askari sought permission and was allowed to leave Bangladesh, it is reported, with only ten US Dollars. His Army pension, which had been stopped after the creation of Bangladesh, was restored in Pakistan, and he lived on it in Karachi, never complaining, always cheerful, and keeping himself away from further political activity. The man that Nawab Khwaja Hasan Askari was can be described in the words of Rudyard Kipling: "If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch. If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you. If all men count with you, but none too much…" The last Nawab of Dhaka, Khwaja Hasan Askari passed away in Karachi on August 9, 1984. May his soul rest eternal heavenly peace!

Begum Farhat Bano

Begum Farhat Bano, daughter of Nawabzada Khwaja Atiqullah and Begum Asghari Khanum, was born in Dhaka on 24th October 1902, and, at an early age, was married to her cousin, Khwaja Shahabuddin. She had no schooling, but, was taught to read and write English at home, by an Armenian lady. Begum Farhat Bano was one of the pioneer Muslim women who, along with Begum Shaista Ikramullah and Begum Hakam, was elected to the Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1936. She was the first lady from the Nawab Family to come out of purdah, and, ignoring raised eyebrows, accusing fingers etc., went forward to do social work for the benefit of the poor and down the trodden. Her dedication and selfless devotion to social service earned her the KAISER-E-HIND medal. Mother of seven children - four boys and three girls - she brought them up to be good human beings. She was very fond of cats, and had several around her all her life. She passed away in Dhaka on 11th September 1984.

Khwaja Nooruddin

"Khwaja Nooruddin will be remembered by all those who knew him and loved him as one who had dedicated his life to serve the Muslims of undivided India and the people of Pakistan", writes his eldest daughter, Sharmin Malik. A scion of the illustrious Dhaka Nawab Family, Khwaja Nooruddin, was born in 1900 and entered politics early in life, and had a distinguished political career. The political field apart, Khwaja Nooruddin's name occupies an eminent place in the sports arena in undivided India and eventually in Pakistan. The Mohammedan Sporting Club of which he was the Honorary Secretary General from 1936 to 1945 occupied an outstanding position in the world of sports in the sub continent.

Khwaja Nooruddin's contribution to journalism in undivided India and later Pakistan served as a guiding light to young Muslim journalists. He was responsible for the publication of the only Muslim evening daily of India, The Star of India. Both newspapers were published in Calcutta. The year 1942 saw the birth of the first Muslim English daily newspaper - Morning News - published in Calcutta. Khwaja Nooruddin and the great Muslim journalist and writer, Abdur Rahman Siddiqi were co-founders. Later, the newspaper was published simultaneously in Karachi and Dhaka. The major shareholders sold Morning News to the National Press Trust of Pakistan in 1964. Khwaja Nooruddin's journalistic career came to an end with his resignation to the trustees. It was a sad end of a twenty- five year old mission. The President of Pakistan in 1968 awarded him a high civilian award, the Hilal-e-Khidmat in recognition of his services to the country.

Khwaja Suleiman Quader

"His love for freedom and his desire to see India free from the British yoke prompted him to join the Indian National Congress," writes his son, Khwaja Rahman Quader, who now lives in Irvine, California, with his wife and children. According to him, his father, Khwaja Suleiman Quader, had complete faith and trust and believed that the united efforts of Hindus and Muslims together, could bring about freedom to India from British rule. He started his activities in and around the city of Dhaka by organizing protest meetings, street corner discussions and hartals. He took active part in the non-cooperation and Khilafat movements which required all Indians to refrain from English education and to boycott English products and garments. Due to his anti-British activities, Khwaja Suleiman Quader was arrested and sent to the Dhaka Central Jail as a political prisoner where he was kept for almost one year. After his release from jail, he continued his activities with determination.

However, he was disillusioned when he found that the Hindus had gone back on their agreement to boycott British education and products with the ultimate object of keeping the Muslims of India educationally backward and subservient and economically dependent on them. His faith and trust received a tremendous jolt but did not make a dent in his courage and determination. Khwaja Suleiman Quader resigned his membership of the Indian National Congress, and that made his determination stronger to achieve something to make his life worth living. He came to the conclusion that education was the key to all success, without which a leap forward would not be possible.

Khwaja Shahabuddin

Perhaps the most misunderstood and little known politician in the history of Pakistan was the late Khwaja Shahabuddin, who passed away in Karachi on 9th February 1977, and was buried in the P. E. C. H. S. graveyard. One cannot understand what led him to make the mistake of allowing himself to be persuaded by President Ayub Khan - telling him that as a very senior politician the country needs your services - to join his cabinet in 1964, when he was living a peaceful and quiet life in his home in Dhaka. He was one of the unknown pioneers who worked behind scenes, in Calcutta, for the attainment of Pakistan, and, soon after its creation, the Quaid-e-Azam sent him to Delhi to hold fort, for a few months, as the High Commissioner, until the arrival in New Delhi of Mr. Zahid Hussain who had been unwell. On his return from Delhi he joined the Cabinet with portfolios of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting. In 1951 he was appointed Governor of North West Frontier Province, and, in 1955 he was sent as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and in 1958 to Egypt. His last posting was as High Commissioner to Nigeria, the mission which he opened, after which he retired from the Diplomatic Service, and returned to his home in Dhaka. As a matter of interest it may be stated that he had a flair for languages, and, learnt 'Pushto' well enough to converse with the people in the tribal belt when he was in Peshawar. Then he learnt Arabic and, while in Egypt, he surprised the audience at the Al-Azhar University by addressing them in their language.

It is unfortunate that, during his tenure as a Senior Minister in the cabinet of President Ayub Khan, the policy he followed made him very unpopular with the Gentlemen of the Press, and he came to be known as 'the mouthpiece of Ayub Khan'. He also became unpopular in his home Province, the then East Pakistan, by making the gross mistake of banning the broadcasting of Rabindra Nath Tagore's songs over the Radio and Television.

Looking at his achievements one would find it difficult to believe that Khwaja Shahabuddin had, very little formal education, while his elder brother, Khwaja Nazimuddin, was M. A. (Cantab) Barrister-at-Law. This is because, at a very young age he had serious problems with his eye sight due to which he was not allowed to read or write. A private tutor was engaged to teach him English, Urdu, Arabic and Persian orally.

Later, when he was much older, he must have consulted various eye specialists in Calcutta, and, by the grace of God, his eyesight improved sufficiently to enable him to read and write. He became an avid reader of various newspapers and books, in English and Urdu, with particular interest in politics and religion and educated himself.

Khwaja Shahabuddin was born on 31st May 1898, the second son of Khwaja Nizamuddin, a zaminder and also a Commissioner of Dhaka Municipality. His maternal grandfather was Nawab Sir Khwaja Salimullah. In 1915 he married his cousin, Farhat Bano, daughter of Nawabzada Khwaja Atiqullah. They had several children but in the end seven - four boys and three girls - grew up to be men and women. At the time of writing only two - one son and one daughter - are surviving.

His interest in politics led him to enter public life at a very young age. He held various positions, beginning with his appointment as Commissioner of Dhaka Municipality from 1918 to 1921. In 1921 he became a member of Dhaka District Board and was its chairman from 1923 to 1924. At that time he was responsible for the construction of the Dhaka-Narayanganj road. He was president of Dhaka District Muslim League (1928-1944), a member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Bengal (1936) and the Treasurer of the Dhaka University (1930-1938). Khwaja Shahabuddin was elected to the Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1937 from Narayanganj constituency and his wife, Farhat Banu was elected to the Assembly in the Muslim Women seat from Dhamrai.

He was the Chief Whip of the government party from 1937 to 1941 when Mr. A. K. Fazlul Huq had formed a ministry in Bengal, and Minister of Commerce, Labour and Industry in the Muslim League Ministry of Khwaja Nazimuddin (1943 to 1945). He took active part in the Pakistan movement and was the Chief Whip of Pakistan National Assembly in 1947.

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