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April 25, 2004
REVIEWS: A rich life
Syed Shamsul Hasan (1887-1981), whose biography is presented in the book under review, was an eminent leader of the All India Muslim League during the pre-partition years. He joined the League as its assistant secretary in July 1914 and worked as its full-time secretary for 34 years. But what was remarkable about Syed Sahib was his devotion to the cause of the Muslims in the subcontinent, his selfless and sincere service to the organization and some personal qualities such as his modesty, self-effacement, self-discipline and friendly nature.
The writer, Khwaja Razi Haider, a former working journalist and himself a staunch Muslim Leaguer, has used his writing skill to describe the fascinating personality of Shamsul Hasan against the backdrop of the eventful years of the Pakistan movement. In the process, we come to know about some other leaders of the League and the role they played in various capacities. For example, Pir Ali Mohammad Rashdi, a journalist, columnist, politician rolled in one, was said to have remarked that the driving force behind the movement were only three people — the Quaid, Liaquat and Syed Shamsul Hasan.
Similar remarks from other leaders have also been quoted in the book. Syed Sahib had to perform multifarious duties at the same time at the League office — correspondence with leaders including Liaquat Ali Khan and Allama Iqbal and remaining in touch with the Quaid at a time when the independence movement was at its peak. He also had to tackle the bulk of office work and maintain the accounts of donations and expenditure. Syed Sahib accompanied the Quaid on different occasions when he was required to do so and there never was a moment when he was found failing in the performance of his duties.
It may be noted that the All India Muslim League in those crucial years (in the 30s) when important decisions were being taken was running short of funds. Regular subscriptions from subordinate offices were not coming to the central body, so its office secretary had to collect chanda (donations) from affluent people. The party was financially in such a bad shape that at one time it had no funds to pay the office rent and the secretary was facing the serious risk of being evicted by the landlord. But mercifully the embarrassing situation was averted.
Shamsul Hasan in a letter (March 14, 1930) as found in his records, once asked someone to kindly provide some chairs for visitors who were coming to attend the League council meeting at Delhi.
Despite those miserable conditions, Shamsul Hasan was not disheartened and somehow kept managing the affairs of the League congenially. The Quaid-i-Azam had much regard for Shamsul Hasan for the financial discipline and the sense of duty the latter showed in managing the day to day affairs of the League.
Once it so happened that the Quaid was going to Lucknow by train. Shamsul Hasan accompanied the Quaid and as they reached Kanpur railway station they came to know that huge posters regarding their arrival, distributed in the city, showed the Quaid as ‘Maulana’ Mohammad Ali, which was embarrassing for him. In his western dress, he certainly did not look like a ‘maulana’. A sherwani would have saved the situation but it could not be found at such a short notice. The Quaid himself was very particular about sartorial niceties and refused to oblige the young Leaguers. But Shamsul Hasan found a solution. He rushed to a famous market in Kanpur and came back with a dozen Fez caps, commonly known as Turki topi. The Quaid happily chose one cap and while sporting it during the League session had the appearance of a ‘maulana’ to some extent. This incident testified to the improvising ability of Shamsul Hasan and also the Quaid’s liking for the person.
Syed Shamsul Hasan was naturally a most unhappy person when Ayub Khan wound up the democratic institutions in the country, banned political activities and imposed martial law, all against the spirit of the Muslim League movement and the aspirations of the Muslims of the subcontinent. Later when democracy was restored and Ayub Khan asked Syed Sahib to take charge of the Muslim League office, he politely declined. The other tragic moment in his life came when Dhaka fell, which was in his opinion attributable to the lack of democracy in the country and the unjust and unfair treatment given to the people in the former east wing.
The writer has a flair for writing good prose but he fails to shed enough light on the personal life spread over Syed Shamsul Hasan, his education, family background and other such details. He led a momentous life of 96 full years, rich in reminiscences of his experiences he gathered in his long years of duty. That part of his life is missing from this biography.
Syed Shamsul Hasan: Tehrik-i-Pakistan ka Eik Ahm Kirdar
By Khwaja Razi Haider
Ushba Publishing International, 194-S, Block II, PECHS, Karachi.
Email: salvi@pk.netsolir.com
96pp. Price not listed
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