Sir Azizul Haque
Encyclopedia
Sir Azizul Haque was a Bengali
lawyer, writer and politician. He studied at Presidency College and University Law College in Calcutta. His talent and concern for the Muslim people led him into close contact with many notable Muslim politicians of the subcontinent, including Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haque
, Sir Abdulla Suhrawardy
, Sir Salimullah
and Muhammad Ali Jinnah
.
, Nadia district
, West Bengal, India. His father was Maniruddin Ahmed. He lost his mother at an early age and was brought up by his uncle, the poet Md.Mozammel Haque
. From an early age, he was a very meritorious student. He attended the Santipur Muslim School and he passed the entrance examination in 1907. He passed the B.A examination at Calcutta University
with distinction in 1912. Later he obtained the B.L (Bachelor of Law) degree from Calcutta University Law College.
and KCSI
, and was knighted in 1941. He was the High Commissioner for India in the United Kingdom between 1942 and 1943. After returning to India, he became a member of the viceroy’s Executive Council, discharging various duties related to education, commerce, industry and food production as a cabinet minister. He worked under the viceroys Lord Linlithgow
and Lord Wavell
. He also practicsed advocacy in The High Court of Calcutta. Govt. Azizul Haque College was established in his name at Bogra (now in Bangladesh
) in 1939. Calcutta University also conferred on him the honorary D-Litt.
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
lawyer, writer and politician. He studied at Presidency College and University Law College in Calcutta. His talent and concern for the Muslim people led him into close contact with many notable Muslim politicians of the subcontinent, including Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haque
A. K. Fazlul Huq
Not to be confused with the cricket ground in Dhaka Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium Sher-e-Bangla Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq was a well-known Bengali statesman in the first half of the 20th century...
, Sir Abdulla Suhrawardy
Abdullah Al-Mamun Suhrawardy
Allama Sir Abdullah al-Mamun al-Suhrawardy, Barrister-at-Law , M.A., Ph.D., D.Litt. , LL.D., Iftakar-ul-Milla, Kt., Commander of the Order of Medjidie, was an Islamic scholar and academic.-Family:...
, Sir Salimullah
Khwaja Salimullah
Nawab Sir Khwaja Salimullah Bahadur, GCIE, KCSI was the fourth Nawab of Dhaka and one of the leading Muslim politicians during the British Raj. It was he who, in the wake of partition of Bengal in 1905, made correspondance and discussed with Nawab Muhsinul Mulk at Aligarh over the issue of...
and Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
.
Early Life & Education
Haque was born in Santipur/ShantipurShantipur
Shantipur is a city and a municipality in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. This small town has been declared a city recently. The fort area of this city, also known as Daak-Gharh is thought to have been built by Raja Krishnachandra of Nodia.-Geography:Shantipur is located at...
, Nadia district
Nadia District
Nadia district is a district of the state of West Bengal, in the north east of India. It borders with Bangladesh to the east, North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts to the south, Bardhaman district to the west, and Murshidabad district to the north....
, West Bengal, India. His father was Maniruddin Ahmed. He lost his mother at an early age and was brought up by his uncle, the poet Md.Mozammel Haque
Md.Mozammel Haque
Mohammed Mozammel Haque was one of the greatest poets in Bengal. He was also a journalist by profession. He was born at Santipur/Shantipurশান্তিপুর, in the district of Nadia, West Bengal, India. His father’s name was Nasiruddin Ahmed...
. From an early age, he was a very meritorious student. He attended the Santipur Muslim School and he passed the entrance examination in 1907. He passed the B.A examination at Calcutta University
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
with distinction in 1912. Later he obtained the B.L (Bachelor of Law) degree from Calcutta University Law College.
Personal life
In 1915, Haque married Kaniz Khatun, the daughter of Zamindar of Simligarh (Hooghly) Mohammed Abu Sayeed. They had five sons and five daughters.Contribution to Education
Haque began his working life as a practicing advocate in Krishnagar Judges’ Court in 1915. He quickly became successful and achieved the position of Public Prosecutor and Government Pleader for the district of Nadia. He received the title Khan Bahadur from the British in 1926. He held the post of vice-chairman of Nadia District Board from 1926-1934. He later became chairman of Krishnagar Municipality in 1933. He was appointed the Education Minister of Bengal in 1934. As the education minister he battled illiteracy and was the firshe to introduce a bill on free, universal primary education. During his tenure, many schools were established in Bengal. He was a speaker of Legislative Assembly of undivided Bengal. He took the leading role in passing "Bengal Tenancy Act". He was the Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University between 1939 and 1942, and founded the Islamic History and Culture department. He won several distinctions including CIEOrder of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
and KCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
, and was knighted in 1941. He was the High Commissioner for India in the United Kingdom between 1942 and 1943. After returning to India, he became a member of the viceroy’s Executive Council, discharging various duties related to education, commerce, industry and food production as a cabinet minister. He worked under the viceroys Lord Linlithgow
Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow
Victor Alexander John Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow KG, KT, GCSI, GCIE, OBE, PC was a British statesman who served as Governor-General and Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943.-Early life and family:...
and Lord Wavell
Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell GCB, GCSI, GCIE, CMG, MC, PC was a British field marshal and the commander of British Army forces in the Middle East during the Second World War. He led British forces to victory over the Italians, only to be defeated by the German army...
. He also practicsed advocacy in The High Court of Calcutta. Govt. Azizul Haque College was established in his name at Bogra (now in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
) in 1939. Calcutta University also conferred on him the honorary D-Litt.
Major Works
Haque's literary works include –- History and Problems of Moslem Education in Bengal (1917)
- Education and Retrenchment(1924)
- The Man Behind the Plough (1939)
- The Sword of the Crescent Moon
- Cultural Contributions of Islam to Indian History
- A Plea for Separate Electorate in Bengal (1931)
See also
- The Man Behind The PloughThe Man Behind the Plough"The Man Behind the Plough" is a wide-ranging, in-depth and moving study of the endemic problems and tragic suffering of the peasants of the undivided Bengal...
- Govt. Azizul Haque College
External Sources
- The Islamic Review, Surrey, England, Page-331 (Oct,1942)http://muslim.sh/text/articles/islamicreview/1942/10oct/islamicreview_194210.pdf
- The Islamic Review, Surrey, England,Page-411 (Dec,1942)http://aaiil.org/text/articles/islamicreview/1942/12dec/islamicreview_194212.pdf
- The Islamic Review, Surrey, England, Page-16 (Nov,1949) http://aaiil.org/text/articles/islamicreview/1949/11nov/islamicreview_194911.pdf
- Banglapedia article on Haque http://www.banglapedia.org/httpdocs/HTB/104411.htm
- Delhi University, Digital Library "The Man Behind the Plough"http://library.du.ac.in/dspace/handle/1/4916
- Rabindranath Tagore's letter to Sir Azizul Haque http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LetterAziz.jpg
- Aliah University Press Release http://www.aliah.ac.in/press1.pdf
- Bengal Legislative Assembly List http://legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in/STATISTICAL%5Cwbengal.html
