I would like to bring to attention the sad reality that the services of late Malik Barkat Ali, a leading pioneer of Pakistan Movement, who died on 5 April 1946 have not yet been given due consideration, as not a single road has been named after him. Previously Temple Road on which Malik Barkat Ali lived from 1925 onwards till his death was named after him and the same was then changed. Thereafter Lytton Road was renamed as Malik Barkat Ali Road and this met the same fate. We suggest that you kindly give this matter the attention it deserves and undo this grave injustice. I propose that you may kindly consider following options:-
On completion of New Building of Punjab Assembly Old Punjab Assembly Hall was named as Malik Barkat Ali hall. A flyover, or an under pass on the main road of Lahore can be named for Malik Barkat Ali. When Malik Barkat Ali died in 1946 Quid-i-Azam paid him the following tribute at a special session of Muslim League attended by 470 newly elected members, he said “I am deeply grieved to hear the very depressing and sad news of the sudden death of Malik Barkat Ali. He was from the very beginning a true and loyal member of the Muslim League and on all occasions he rendered the greatest service to Indian Muslims. His advice and staunch support on all occasions was of greatest value to the League and myself. Muslim India has lost in him a great man, and I have lost in him not only a colleague, a collaborator, but also a great friend. My deepest sympathies go to his family in their bereavement for their irreparable loss”.
Malik Barkat Ali was born in April 1883 in a middle class family. He had a distinguished academic career; he served as a professor of English Literature both at Forman Christine and Islamia College Lahore. After a brief service with the Punjab Government he joined an English weekly The Observer as editor which gained him prominence in Punjab politics. He attended All Parties Convention called by Indian National Congress at Calcutta in 1928 as member of Muslim League Delegation. He was an ardent supporter of Allama Iqbal and this association continued till Allama’s death in 1938.
Malik Barkat Ali was elected on Muslim League ticket to Punjab Assembly in 1937. Only two Muslim League candidates were ever elected, the other being Raja Ghazanfar Ali, who immediately then joined the Unionist Party. For 7 years, he alone represented Muslim League and opposed the Unionist Party. Malik Barkat Ali was a confidant of both Allama Iqbal and Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad All Jinnah. It was unfortunate that he did not live to see the birth of Pakistan for which he had struggled hard, particularly in the last ten years of his life.
BRIG (R) INAM UL HAQ,
Lahore, December 8.