Remembering Nawab Ismail Khan

Nawab Muhammad Ismail Khan was born in August 1884 in Meerut, Agra. He was President of All India Muslim League (UP), and Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. Nawab Ismail is well known for the valuable services and colossal sacrifices that he had made for several years for the creation of Pakistan. He was a close associate of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who often used to consult Nawab Sahib in critical political matters; the Quaid often accepted his advice. As a frontline leader of the Khilafat Movement, Nawab Ismail Khan was one of the few top leaders who spared no efforts in their endeavours to guide and motivate the Indian Muslims for a separate homeland. Other high-ranking Muslim League leaders included Maulana Shaukat Ali; Maulana Hasrat Mohani; Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman; Mr Abdur Rehman Siddiqui; Maulana Akram Khan and Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar. Before joining the All India Muslim League in 1926, Nawab Ismail Khan was a member of the Indian National Congress. He was also a close friend of the top Indian leaders including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru; Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Ms Sarojni Naidu. He was, however, apprehensive that these Indian Congress leaders were not sincere in resolving the problems of the Indian Muslims. In 1926, at the 18th Annual Session of All India Muslim League held in Delhi, Nawab Ismail Khan quit the Congress and announced joining the Indian Muslim League to which he remained loyal till his last breath in 1958. In December 1930, the 21st Annual Conference of All India Muslim League was held in Allahabad under the chairmanship of Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal. It was a historic session, as in his presidential address, Allama Iqbal, for the first time, presented the idea for the partition of India and the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent. The second session of this conference was presided over by Nawab Ismail Khan when the historic resolution was passed for making necessary amendments in the by-laws of the Muslim League. In 1937, the 25th Annual Conference of All India Muslim League was held in Lucknow under the chairmanship of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Before attending this historic session, Quaid-i-Azam wore a spotless sherwani in which he looked very elegant. At this occasion, Nawab Ismail Khan offered his cap to the Quaid saying that it will suit him well with the achkan on. The Quaid graciously accepted this offer and the wearing of Nawab Sahib's cap greatly added to his personality. With the achkan and the cap on, as the Quaid appeared on the dais, the huge crowd of 50,000 persons burst into loud cheers and the slogans of Allah-o-Akbar, after seeing their Quaid in this dress. The clapping continued for a long time. Since that day the Ismail cap became to be known as Jinnah cap all over the subcontinent. The efforts and struggle of the Muslim leaders including Nawab Ismail Khan succeeded in the creation of Pakistan in 1947, but Nawab Sahib preferred to stay back in India to look after and safeguard the interests of Indian Muslims. When Nawab Sahib became the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, a strong campaign was launched by the non-Muslims, who wanted to remove the word 'Muslim' from Aligarh University. This move was strongly resisted and thwarted by Nawab Sahib and his colleagues. Thus, the word 'Muslim' continues to be an integral part of Aligarh Muslim University. Nawab Ismail Khan's two sons, Mr I.A. Khan and Mr G.A. Madani, who were Indian Civil Service (ICS) officers in India, however, migrated to Pakistan where they held key posts and were also Chairmen of WAPDA in both the Wings. His grandson, Mr Asad I.A. Khan, is at present is serving as Managing Director of NESPAK, the largest State Organisation of Consulting Engineers which has been providing top class engineering services in 36 countries. Nawab Ismail Khan died on June 28, 1958, at Meerut. A great loss, indeed The writer is a freelance columnist