IN his own time, Sir Shah Muhammad Sulaiman (1886-1941) was a “universally respected genius of India”. His life reads like a catalogue of singular achievements, with versatile accomplishments in the realms of law, education and science. In his acclaimed work Great Men of India (1939), L.F. Rushbrook Williams lists only seven Muslims out of 37 entries, and Sir Shah Muhammad Sulaiman figures among them. He was, however, the only judge to be included in Williams’ list.
Born in a family of lawyers and scientists (his father was a leading lawyer of the Jawnpur bar), Sulaiman had a distinguished academic career and a more distinguished professional one. He did his BA, first class first, from Muir College, Allahabad in 1906, Mathematical Tripos in 1909, Law Tripos in 1910, and LLD from Dublin, also in 1910. He worked as Junior to his father in 191l, shifted himself to Allahabad in 1912, sat on the Bench at Allahabad at the age of 34 (1920), was Acting Chief Justice at age 43 (1929), and permanent Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court at age 46 (1932). Finally, he was raised to the Federal Court at age 51 (1937). This was, indeed, a record in the entire British Commonwealth.
From the beginning Sir Shah Sulaiman was extremely interested in the promotion of education among Muslims. He was one of the original founders of the Muslim High School at Allahabad; he was also Secretary, University Moslem Hostel, Allahabad, and Member of the Courts of Aligarh and Allahabad universities. He was President, UP Muslim Educational Conference at Badaun in 1924, and President, All India Mohammedan Educational Conference at Ajmer in 1928. Because of his expertise in the field of education and his imaginative approach to educational problems, he was much in demand as keynote speaker at convocations, which he delivered at Dacca, Aligarh, Hyderabad and Agra universities.
When his name came up for vice-chancellorship of the Aligarh University in March 1938, Sir Ziauddin Ahmad, the other candidates, decided to stand down. Sir Shah Sulaiman’s name was proposed by Sir Abdur Rahim, President of the Council of State,, and seconded by Jinnah.
Sir Shah Sulaiman’s services at Aligarh were four fold: (i) he gave contract to teachers till the age of 55; (ii) he induced them to cut short their vacations and work for longer hours; (iii) he made Urdu an independent subject at the BA level; and (iv) he encouraged and promoted female education rather systematically. For some time he also served as President, Anglo Arabic College at Delhi.
Sir Shah Muhammad Sulaiman had also made a notable contribution towards the advancement of scientific knowledge. He developed a theory which claimed to have unified the three independent phenomena of gravitation, light and electricity. He had presented several papers to the National Academy of Science and other Science moots. At another level, he was also keenly interested in Urdu literature and had compiled selections from Zaug and Mir Taqi Mir, which he got published along with his introduction.
However, his greatest contribution was in the field of law. He was the first Muslim to be appointed as Chief Justice, Allahabad, and the youngest judge to be raised to the Federal Court. His judgments in the Meerut Conspiracy and the Qissa Khani Bazar (Peshawar) cases have been acclaimed as landmark judgments in respect of upholding the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary as well as courage of conviction. Indeed, his judgments were always reflective of his genius to apply legal principles to the facts in the case, of impartiality and accuracy, and of his overriding penchant to mete out even handed justice according to the law. Such was his reputation that on his elevation to the Federal Court, the New Thought (Allahabad) an avowedly Hindu organ, brought out a special number, lauding his work and achievements.
Speaking of his judgment in Federal Court case No 1 of 1938, Mr J.H. Morgan, K.C., the well known English constitutional lawyer, had said: “Now I have just been reading the judgment of the Federal Court at Delhi in that important case. One of those judgments stands out conspicuous and pre-eminent and may well prove to be Locus Classics of the law on the subject. It is a judgment worthy of the highest traditions of the House of Lords as an Appellate, Tribunal and of the Privy Council itself.
I refer to the brilliant judgment of Mr Justice Sulaiman. In depth of thought, in breadth of view, in its powers alike of analysis and of synthesis, in grace of style and felicity of expression it is one of the most masterly judgments that I have ever had the good fortune to read. Everyone in India interested in future development of the Constitution should study it.” This Morgan remarked while delivering his Tagore Law Lectures at the Calcutta University in 1939.
To India’s great misfortune, this multi-faceted genius, like so many other ones, died rather young, at age 55. And his wide-ranging accomplishments as well. The deep sense of loss that Muslim India felt at his early departure was dually recognized in a condolence resolution at the Madras League Session in (1941).
