M D , A H

w it h
best
c o m p l im e n t s
M
d
, A
h
A
zam
A
■'
u
'M O U L A V I A B D U L KARIM
LIFE
MAULAVI
KARlVl. '
ABDUL
«
By
M d . A L i A Z A iy i, B.A,
(Editor oj the Mujahid).
CALCUTTA.
V
1939.
■\
Price R u p e e One.
P a b lis h e d b y :
< D . A i,i A zam ,
2 5 ,^ y h a r a m t o l a S tr e e t ,
C a lc u tta .
4
A ll fig h ts reierved.
P rin te r :
SRI
P . C. R ay,
GOURANGA
O iin la m o j^
PRESS,
D as
C a lfu tta .
Lane,
PREFACE.
«
F o r ab o u t a q u a rte r of a cen tu ry , ever since M aulavi
A bdul K arim m ade h is in u n ifk e n t public endow m ent,
th e re has been a ^lem and for h is b iography. In i gi g, ill
th e annjual m eeting of th e S ylhet M usliln S tu d en ts’
A ssociation, an an n o u n cem en t w as m ade th a t a gold
•
•
m edal w ould be aw arded for th e best essay on M aslavi
A bdul K a rim ’;^ life. Some tim e a fte r th a t, th e M uslim
head m aster of a h ig h E n g lish school in S y lh et, secured
•
»
som e m aterials and began to w rite th e biographj?.
■Unfortunately Se died all of a su dden, and w h at he had
com piled, w ith th e m aterials he !iad collected, was lost.
Since th e n M aulavi A b d u l *Karim h as been approached,
fro m tim e to tim e, b y different persons fo r m aterials for
h is life, b u t n o th in g h a d m aterialised u p to th is tim e.
I need h a rd ly say th a t I am very th a n k fu l to him for
k in d ly su p p ly in g m e w ith th e required m aterials th at
a re available.
•
M aulavi A bdul K a rim ’s is a household nam e in
B engal. T h ere is h a rd ly any educated person in th is
province, and p erh ap s in any province ki In d ia , who does
not know -Nfaulavi A lxlul K arim a s^i veteran educationist,
a rep u ted a u th o r and a sound political th in k e r. B ut m any
people do not know all th a t he h as done for th e people of
B engal, p articu larly for th e M uslim s. I th in k it is desir­
able th a t Ins b io g rap h y should be p ublished so th a t th e
y ouniler generation m ay d raw in sp iratio n from h is noble
life.
IV
I can n o t say how f5r I have succeeded in properly
p o rtra y in g a life th a t is so v ery u seful, eventful and
iutere*sting. A s fa r as I am aw are m odern B engal h as
n o t R e d u c e d an o th er M uslim w ho h as ren d ered b e tte r
service to h is com m unity. B y h is m u n ificent endow m ent
t)f rupees fifty th o u san d fo r Islam ic w ork a n d poor
I^u slim s tu d e n ts ,'h e h as laid h is co-religionists u n d e r a
deep obligation. B y h is •literary, jo u rn alistic an d p la t­
form w ork on Islam an d its H o ly P rophet,* h e has
ren d ered a signal service to th e cause of h is religion.
B y h is unexam pled activ ities as a special educational
officer, as w'ell as by h is u n p reced en ted ex ertio n s to
ad ju st all in equalities an d differences, h e h as done in ­
calculable good to th e com m unity « n d th § country.
I t can har(^y be realised now b y th e you n g er gene­
ra tio n w h a t th e ed ucational ^condition of th e M usalm ans
of B engal h a lf a c e n tu ry ago was, before M. A bdul
K arim w as appointed a special officer, an d w h a t u n d rea m t­
of im provem ent h e effected in a q u a rte r of a c en tu ry
d u rin g w hich he w lw le-heartedly w orked for th e com ­
m u n ity . Before h is ap p o in tm en t th e re w as n o t, in m any
of th e d istricts in B engal, B ihar*and O rissa, even a single
M uham m adan D ep u ty or S u b -In sp ecto r o f Schools o r a
single M uham m adan G overnm ent School teacher.
As
stated in C h ap ter V I I . of th is book, it w as due to M aulavi
A b d u l K a rim ’s strong * rep resen tatio n s to G overnm ent th a t
so m an y M uham m adan in sp ectin g officers’ an d school
m asters, now fo u n d in different d istric ts of B engal and
B ih ar, w ere appointed and fu n d s w ere p rovided for th e
a p p o in tm en t of P ersian and A rabic teachere* as w ell a s
for aid in g poor M uham m adan stu d en ts. T h e re we^e and
are o th e r special officers fo r M uham m adan* E d u catio n , b u t
we are n o t aw are w h at special .w ork, besides th e ir routinedu ties, th e y have done for th e fu rth e ra n c e of education
in th e ir com m unity. I n fact th e g re a t progre,os m ade
by th e M usalm ans of B engal in ed ucation an d politics,
d u rin g th e last h alf a cen tu ry , w as m ain ly d u e to tjie ste p s
tak en b y th is g re a t benefactor of th e com m unity. W ould
th e re have been su ch political aw ak en in g of th e M uslim s
of Bengal b u t for th e ed ucation th e y g o t th ro u g h b is
never-to-be-forgotten
efforts?
F ro m
th e
nu m ero u s
speeches he .d eliv ered an d t h e / ‘N o te s” h e w rote (some
o f w hich w ill be found in C h ap ter V I I I . o f P a r t II . of th is
book) th e y su n g e r g eneration w ill le a rn m any th in g s
w orth know ing.
I t is to be deeply reg retted th a t th e inestim able
services an d u n ex am p led g en ero sity of M aulavi A bdul
K a rim have n o t been ad equately recogifised eith er by th e
com m unity or th e G overniuent. H a d he been a m em ber
of th e sister com m unity, I am certain , h is " J a y a n ti”
w ould h av e been celeb rated long ago. B u t th is is perh ap s
too m u ch to ex p ect of a com m unity th a t does n o t care to
celebrate even th e d eath an n iv ersary of a S alim ullah or
an A m ir A li. I. th in k if M aulavi A b d u l K arim w as born
in an y o th e r province, such as th e P u n ja b , h is w ork w ould
have been w ell-appreciated ; th is m ig h t have served as an
incentive to fu rth e r w ork.
,
I t m ay l-)e said to be B en g al’s m isfortune th a t the
collaboration of su ch a veteran educationist could n o t be
u tilised for th e educational reform and reorganisation in
th e province u n d e r th e R eform Schem e of A d m in istra­
tion, alth o u g h since h is re tire m e n t from service h e has
all 'along been in p u b lic life, h as tak en p a rt in all public
m ovem ents fo r th e good of th e com m u n ity and th e
VI
co u n try , and was a m ost aj:tive and useful m em ber of the
I,egislativ e C ouncil fo r about a decade. H e w as som e­
tim es h eard to say th a t it is n o t alto g eth er im possible to
m ake p rim ary education free and com pulsory w ithout
ta x a tio n . W ith h is vast experience and deep in sig h t in
the su b ject, it is m ore th a n lik ely th a t he m ig h t have
had in h is head ^ m e w orkable schem e, w hich others
cofild not y et th in k of, for tjje ex tension ^uid reorientation
o f th e educational system . A ll th e E d u cation Tvljnisters
in B engal have Ixjen law yers, w ho h a d h ard lj; a n y th in g to
do w k h th e su b ject of E d u catio n th ro u g h o u t th e ir careers.
I t is n o w onder, thei'efore, th a t th ey did iK>t succeed in
carry in g o u t any schem e for th e reorganisation of Educatio h in B engal. F o r, b y th e tim e tjiey le a rn t som ething
of th e ir w ork, th ey h ad to leave th e ir posts. T hey
m ig h t have requisitioned* th e co-operation of experienced
educationi.sts. B ut th e y do n o t seem to have done so,
p erh ap s for fear o f b rin g in g a slu r on law y ers’,
" s u b ja n ta ism ” .
W hen th e re w as a , ta lk about M aulavi A bdul K arim
bein g included in th e ta b in e t, a gentlem an rem arked " h e
is too o ld .” T hereu p o n one o f. th e h earers said “ A ll
depen d s u p o n th e reten tio n of m ental pow ers ; w hile one
is incapacitated a t 5 6 , an o th er is n o t so even at 8 6 . I f
H in d e n b u rg could *be P resid en t of G erm any w hile he
w as 8 6 , th ere seem s to^ be no reason w hy A bdul K arim
can n o t be a cabinet m em ber, w hile he is n o t y et 7 6 .
By h is latest literary w orks and political activities he has
am p ly proved th a t he still rtta in s th e fu ll v ig o u r of his
n ie u ta l po w ers.”
W e have heard w ith extrem e reg ret th a t Maiflavi
A bd u l K arim is th in k in g of re tirin g from p u b lic life w ithin
VII
a sh o rt tim e an d passing th e re ra a im cg d ay s of h is life
in som e holy place, a lth o u g h h e is o ften heard to say
th a t he prefers serv in g h u m an ity in accordance w ith
Islam ic in ju n c tio n , to passing h is days in prayor in a
re tire d place. T h e re is, how ever, n o th in g stran g e in.
w h at w e have heard . A n y on<^ disgusted, as he seem s to
be. w ith th e c o n d u c t of th o se for w hom h e h a s d o n e* so
m uch, is likely to com e to n o o th er decision. W e hope
efforts will be m ade to persuade him to continue his
services to h is neglected com m unity as long as his health
m ay p erm it. W e tru s t th a t th e educated y o u n g M uslims,
w ill em ulate th e noble ex am ple he is leaving b eh in d and
th ey w ill follow in h is foo tstep s in serving th e *ccftnm u n ity and th e coi?ntry.
«
^
C alcutta,
M arch lo , 1 9 3 9 .
•
M d . A li A z .\m .
LIFE OF MAULAVi ABDUL KARIM.
book
w hich
a p p a r e n t 'y d e a ls w ith th e lifc -s to ry of a n in d iv id u a l peraon.*
••P e rliip s
no
ap o lo g y is n e e d e d for
re v ie w in g a
M aulvi
A b d u l K arim is no m ere in d iv id u a l ; he l u e b eeo a n in s titu tio n in th e
life of M u slim fie n g a l fo r tli(flu s t q u a r te r o f a c e n tu ry o r m ore,
•
.
L ife s to rie s of m en w h o c o n tr ib u te in som e w ay o r u ttic r to th e
n d v a n c c ^ ie n t of t h e ir fellow -niun a re t h e g r e a te s t asset of huiiM uity.
T h ey are so lu a a y iniie-sU jiics, a s i t w e re , along th e ro ad o f tiu m an
p ro g re s s.^ E v e ry liv in g
p eople,
realiising th e v alu e o f
th (« e, h ave
e a s h rin e 1 t h e m e n irrie i of th e s e w o rk ers iu th e cause of tbo tiatioii on in
t h e h e a r ts o f th e co m in g g e n e ra tio n s. A m o n g th e . a ia te r-H m d u
c o m m u u i^ , H'j
witA Truth, re c o rd in g th e iife -s to ry of
M a h a tm a G a n d h i a n d / t a M io f l w i i A y . th o life -sto ry of J a w a h a r la l, a re
tw o su ch a tte m p ts .
K han
Tuw
0
/
Ge t t i n g fo rth th e s tru g g le of
A b d u l G h affn r fflja n a n d h is b r o th e r is a C ongress p u b lic ity
p u b lic a tio n
in te u d c d
to se rv e
th e
sam e
p u rp o se.
0/
MajLla
AitdiUJiwiiu sh o u ld se rv e th e sam e p urpose a n d in sp ire th e com ing g en e ra
tio u s of M iisaln ian s,
p a r tic u la rly in B e n g al, w ith th e aatne f e rv o u r for
th e se rv ic e of is la m a u d M usaluit^ns as characterise< i th o w hole life
Jllau lv i S ah ib . M a n lv i A b d u l K a rim has m ad e a n e n d o w m e n t iv o rth
Ka 5 0 ,0 0 0 , w ith an a n n u a l incom e of R s a , 600 fo r th e c a u s e of M ualitn
e d u c a tio n a n d
Isla m ic m issio n a ry
w ork.
T h is is a g r e a t th iu g .
A
r e tire d In sp ecto r of S chools c a n n o t bo e x p e c te d to b e a m illiu iiu irc.
T o d e d ic a te th e h o a rd in g o f a life tim e fo r th e a d v a n c e m e n t of fellow m en
a n d of t r u t h is a g r e a t th in g .
B u t b > f a r th e g re a te r o f M aulvi A b d u l
K a r im ’s legacy is th e rich es o f tra d itio n s of d evotinu an d se rv ice e x te n d ­
in g o v er a life -tim e t h a t h e is le a v in g b eh in d .
T h a t to o u r m ind is
th e g r e a te s t of all e c d o w m e n ta .
i t is o n tr o d itiu E s a a c h a s t h e s e — trad itiu Q s of a b u rn in g faith , of
u n lli^ ^ g in g d e v o tio n a n d service t h a t t h e f o u n d a tio n s of a n a tio n c a n be
l^ id s tro n g a n d secure.
O n e H it le r h a s sa v e d O em 'fir.y a u d a t o n e
s tro k e p u t h e r o n th e van « f
th e
i ‘'W 4.
ig n o m in y .
orlu pow ers.
B u t la k e th e case of
N o t a lt h o tr d e d m illio n s o r w its c o u ld save th e m
T h e re a r e
scores
M u slim X aw ab a in In d ia .
o f M uslim
P rin c e s a n d
fro m
h u n d red a
of
if Is la m can e v e r h o p e to com e ia to
{
(
b e ro w tria
2
)
thi« c o u a ir y , i t w ill be n o t tliro u g h t h e i r riehea o r p o w er
b u t th r o u g h cupu lik e M au lv i A b lu l K a r im ’s) sp a rk o f Isla m ic fervour.
M u slim
I n d i a y iu st h av e m a n y m ore of A b d u l K a rim s , if she is e v e r
to su rv iv e th e p re 'se n t s tru g g le fo r ex iste n ce.
iS y ltie tfth e b irih 'p la c u of M au iv i Abdul K arim , is a p re d o m in a u tly
M uslim p a r t of th e c o u u lry .
B u t, as Ih* v ery o p en in g c h a p te r of th e
book te lls 1)8, i t was all d u e to o n e m au g l G od,
llazA vt S h ah J a l a ) ,
w ho cam e a ll t h e w ay frdm M ecca to d e liv e r th e m essage of I s la m ty
th e p eo p le w ho w ere a ll o rth o d o x hliudus. T liU o n ly confirm s o u r view
t h a t m en a re m u ic th a n m oney a n d one m an of U od can c h a n g e th e
e n tir e co u rse o f h isto ry .
Otre of th e co m p an io n s of S h ah J a la l from
A rab ia w as (h e a n c e s to r of
M au lv i
A b d u l K arim , a n d w ell h a s he
uiam taLcied, ev eu en ric h e d , th e tr a d itio n s of t h a t
aocieni. g o d ly *ire of
his by k e e p in g th e tiag of Islam fiyiog in his ow n w a y ^
T h e re a d e r w ill fiud m u ch in te r e s tin g a n d in s p irin g m a te ria l in th e
book.
T h e M aulvi s ta rte d life as a n K d lto r, th e n c h a n g e d o v e r to a
S chool M a ste r, fro m w hich h e g ra d u a lly rose to be A s s is ta n t lufspector
of S ch o o ls, S p e c ia l M o ham m edan K d u c a tio n a l O dicer, a n d In sp e u to r of
S chools in w h ich c a p a c ity he re tire d . D u rin g se rv ic e , h o w e v e r, his
life , 88 a p eru sal of th e book w o u ld show , was d e d ic a te d to th e a d v a n c e ­
m e n t o f M usliiii e d u c a tio u f tu i w elfare.
W ould s e ttle u o w n
A fter rutiretueob w lien
to en joy a w tjl-e u rn 'id
pension,
m any
M au lv i A bdul
K a rim b ro u g h t g r e a te r a u d g r e a te r sacrillces to th e a lta r of Is la m .
In
t h e L e g is la tiv e C o u u cil, in th e C ouncil of iStale, in* m a n y a C o m m ittee,
h e is se e n fig u rin g as a n a d v o cate of th e c a u s e o f Isla m .
Ih eco n sn m -
Illa tio n w as re a c h e d in h is p erso n ally wU-lding h is facile p e n in pro*
d n e iu g l ite r a tu r e o a Is la m a n d t^ e P ro p h e t in E n g lish w hich has gone
ft lo n g w ay to
w in a p lace fof Islftni in i h s h c a r t s o f u o u -ilu s lim s.
8 tic h is th is m an of G od, M a u lv i A bdul K arim , us d e p ic te d iu
tiic book
u n d e r rev iew a n d in view o l his m an ifo ld v irtu e ), one c a n o n ly say w ith
th e p o e t s—
J y
D cftu tifu lly printevl an d b o u n d —300 p a g rs.
LP ric e R e I.
T h e L ig h t, L ahore
A p ril I , 1039.
T o be h u d of U . N u r u l I l a a a n
18»I, W ellesley S ip iare, C a lc u tta ,
CONTENTS.
P A R T I.
C h ildh ood , E ducation and G overn m en t Service.
CHAl'TliU.
I. B irth-place & C hildhood
II. E d ucation C areer ..
I I I . M arriage
..
IV ., A n E d ito r ..
V. A School Ma.ster .. ,
V I. A ssistant Insi>cctor fo r I^luham niadan Hdn»cation
v n . W o r^ as a Special Officer for M iihannnadan
E d u catio n
V III. A n In sp ecto r of Schools ..
IX . In sp ectio n ^f Schools
X . E a st P erio d of S e rv ic e ,
,
I
•5
13
17
18
22
50
63
84
102
P A R T II.
I.
II.
n r.
TV.
V.
V I.
V II.
VIIT.
IX .
X.
S o cia l and P o litical Service.
#
I
Endovvuieiit of R upees FK ty T h o u san d ..
E \ddence before th e R oyal Coniniissioii on
P u b lic Services in In d ia
9
Q uestion o f K h ilafat
19
E vidence before th e C alcutta I University
Com m ission
..
^
38
E n tra n c e in to P olitics
•
51
M em ber of Council o f S tate
61
A M em ber of B engal L egislative C ouncil .. 8 7
P resid en t of A ssociations & M eetings
95
L e tte rs
i6q
A n• A u th o r
190
FART I
C H I L D H O O D , E DUCATION & GO VERNMENT S E R V I C E
C H A P T E R 1.
B
ib t ii-p l a c e
C
h il d h o o d
.
S y lh e t, th e c a p itjil of th e S u rm a V a lle y , fo rm e rly in
B e n g a l aiwl a t p re s e n t in A ssam , is th e b ir th -p la c e of
A bdul K a rim . I t has a v e ry in te r e s tin g a n d in s tr u c tiv e
h isto ry . I t \vas a H in d u k in g d o m fro m v e ry e a rly tim es,
a n d th e r e w as n o t a s in g le M uslim t h e r e u n til a b o u t
1170 .A. D ., wheA a m an n am ed B u rh a n u d d in w e n t
a n d s e ttle d th e r e . A s h e had n o c h ild r e n , h e m ad e a
vo w t h a t h e w o u ld s a c rifjc e a cow fo r t h e
c ere m o n y
if a son w as b o rn to him . A son w as b o rn a n d on his
- b ir th he s a c rific e d a cow. W h e n i t w as b e in g c u t u p ,
a k ite to o k aw ay one p ie c e of it a n d d ro p p e d i t n e a r th e
' p a la c e of G o u r G o b in d , th e oVthodox H in d u R a ja of
S y lh e t. O n co m in g to know o f th is , G o u r G o b in d s e n t
fo r B u rh a n u d d in , a n d to o k him s e v e re ly to ta s k fo r k ill­
in g a cow in h is R aj. H e th e n o rd e re d B u rh a n u d d in to
b r in g h is c h ild ,a n d k ille d i t w h en i t w as b ro u g h t, a n d
■cut off B u rh a iu id d iiT s h an d w ith w V ich h e h ad k ille d
• th e cow. In o rd e r to s e e k re d re ss, B u rh a n u d d in w e n t to
D e lh i. T h e k in g d e s p a tc h e d a n a rm y u n d e r h is n e p h e w ,
■Sikander S h ah , to p u n ish th e c ru e l R a ja G o u r G o b in d fo r
t h e h o rrib le a tr o c ity he h a d c o m m itte d on a M uslim .
A t ‘ a b o u t th e sam e tim e , a re n o w n e d sa in t, H a z r a t
S h a h l a l a l M u ja rrid , w as on h is w ay to w a rd s S y lh e t H e
2
L I F E OF A. KA RIM
w as a n a tiv o of Y em en in A ra b in . Ojj th e co m p letio n of
h is s p ir itu a l tr a iim in g a t M ecca, h is M u rsh e d in s tru c te d
h im to go to In d ia to p ro p a g a te Isla m a n d to s e ttle a t
a p la c e '.th e e a rth o f w h icli iiad th e sam e ta s te a n d '
p rp p e rtie s as t h a t of M ecca. H e le f t fo r In d ia w ith
tw e lv e follow ers, one o f’ w hom co u ld find o u t th e
q u a lity o f th e e a rth hy t a ilin g it, a n d b ro u g h t w itli
h im a h au d fiil of Mec(*a eartli. A fte r h is a r r iv a l
in In d ia , w h ile h e i v a s .in sc ju c h o f sucji a })lace,.
h e cam e in c o n ta c t w itli th e arm y u n d e r S ik a n d c r S liah
w h ic h w as r e tu r n in g to w a rd s D e lh i,
h n v iiig b een
d e fe a te d by R a ja Clour G oh in d . B y tliis tim e H a x ra t
S h a h J u la l s fo llo w ers had incro:i*ed in, n u m b er to
360. H e persiiac^ed S ilt^ n d er S h ah to m ake a n o th e r
a tte m p t on S y lh e t, o ffe rin g to io in tlie D e llii arm y w ith
a ll h is ow n fo llo w ers. T iicy re tu r n e d to tlie a tta c k ,.
G o u rG o b in d was d e fe a te d , a n d S y lh e t w as ta k e n o v e r by .
th e com b in ed arm y. W h e n H a z r a t S h a h J a la l e n te re d
S y lh e t, its e a rth , on b e ib g ex am in ed by tlie e x p e rt, w a s ’
fo u n d to b e lik e th a t o f M ecca. F in d in g th a t S y lh e t
w as th e p la c e in d ic a te d by h is M i&shed^ j\e s e ttle d th e r e
w ith a ll h is follow exs, o n e o f w hom , S h a ik h K h iz r
Q u ra is h i, a n A rab from Y em en, w as A bdul K a rim 's
a n c e s to r, w hose g A v e s till e x ists in th e old fa m ily
g ra v e y a rd . TJio d e sc e n d a n ts o f S h a ik h K h iz i’ (^iirai.shi
w o re of good s ta tu s a n d in afllucnt circ u m sta n ces f o r
a lo n g tim e , a n d som e of th e m lield h ig h posts undci’ th e
S y lh e t g o v e rn m e n t. W h e n o n e o f th em , h o w ev er, d ie d
a p rc m a tu i'c d e a th , a n d lo ft h is fam ily u n p ro v ftlc d fo r
a n d h is c h ild re n u n e d u c a te d , th is sectio n of th e fam ily
fe ll
in to
d ir e
d istre ss, a n d had
to
adopt
hum ble-
nm rU -PL A C ^K
AND C H I L D H O O D
3
«
profess?.);j-. I t to o k g o u o ra tio n s fo r sojno o f tiiom
to re g a in th rn r a n c e s tra l po.sition a n d p re stig e . M an^'
o f th e re s p e c ta b le M uslim s o f S y llie t a r c d e sc e n d a n ts
o f H a z r a t S h a h J a l a l ’s 3U0 follow ers, w h o , s e ttle d
a ll o v e r th e d is tr ic t. Som e re s p e c ta b le H in d u *fauiiliesj
sucli as th e M ajuindai’.s, w e re a fte rw a rd s c o u v e rte d ’toJ.siam, a n d tlieir^dcsco.ndants a r e in cln d o d in th e g e irtry
■ o f SylU ct.
T h e g r a v e y a rd o f th e sain t,* H vzrat S h a h
J a la l, is lo o k ed uim n as a holy p la c e of p ilg rim a g e ,
w h ic h is v is ite d e v e ry d a y b y ’h a n d re d s o f p c o p k v l>otii
M uslim s am ] non-M u.'lim s.
C H IL D H O O D .
A bdul K a rim w is b o rn on th e 2 0 th . o f Augu-st, 1R63
A . D . A se rio u s a c c id e n t toiJv place* w h en ho w as o n ly
s ix in o n tlis old. O n e d«y a t d u sk th e fa m ily re s id e n c e
c a u g h t fir e . A p a r t o f i t c o lla p se d a n d fe ll u p o n his
fa tlic r, th e la te M. M uham m ad X a d e r, a n d s e v e re ly
b u r n t h a lf of h is body. I n th e confusion th a t follow ed
n o one th o u g h t of th e c h ild slo.ep,ing in s id e th e b u r n in g
house. H e , iio w ev cr, m ira c u lo u sly escap ed im m in en t
d e s tn ic tio n . T h e re w as a M a in a (ta lk in g -b ird ) in a
c a g e in th e b u rn in g house. U n a b le to i)ear th e h e a t
of th e firo , i t b e g a n to c ry o u t
wm.
T h is re m in d e d
th o s e w ho w e re p u ttin g o u t th e f ir e of th e c h ild w ith in
th e b u rn in g house, a n d som e o f th e m ru sh e d in to th e h o u se
a n d re sc u e d th e c h ild w h en it w as on th e p o in t o f b e in g
b u ri\t. T h e s u rv iv a l from b u rn s a n d w ounds of th e f a th e r
w a s also m iracu lo u s.
T h is a c c id e n t caused th e ab an d o n m en t of th e b u rn tdow n q u a rte rs, wdiich w ere s itu a te d a t a d ista n c e o f
4
L I F E O f A. K A RIM
a b o u t tf ire e m iles from th e to w n o f S y lh et. T h e fa m ily
r e m o v c i to S h a ilc h g h a t in th e to w n a n d sta y e d fo r som e
y e a rs w ith Ai)diil i v i r i m ’s u n c le , th e late >X. S a tia a lla h ,
a n en liffh tciied g en tlem an , w hose son, th e la te 31. M uhAmmaduI H a q , w as th e fii’cit S y lh e t M uslim to re c e iv e
E i ^ I i s h e d u c a tio n , whic*h enab led h im to becom e a
te a c h e r o f o n ^ o f th e first M» A. s o f th ^ C a lc u tta U u iv a rs ity , th e la te 3 Ir. J o y G o b in d Shom e. T h u s w as th e
■child* A b d u l K a rim , a c o id e n ta Jly p la c e d ,iii a v ery
c o n g e n ia l s p h e re .
4
^
C H A P T E R II.
E
p c t c a t io n
C
a reer
.
B o ifire t h ■b ir tli of A b d u l K a rim , liis p a re n ts Imd
lo s t five c liild re n , o n e a f te r a n o th e r,— fo u r sons an^l a
d a u g h te r. So it w as n ot* u n n a tu ra l fov th e m to be
a p p r e h e n s iv e a b o u t tlic n e w -b o rn ba})OS life. T h e y did
n o t e v e n ^ la k e a n y p a rtic rtla r a rra n g e m e n t fo r th e
ed u ca tio n of th e c liild , w iio w as le f t e n tire ly to h im self.
I n te ll i g e n t a n d in q u is itiv e as h e w as, h o w e v e r, h e re a d
th e Q u ra n a t hom e, a n d le a r n t how to re a d a n d w r ite
B e n g a li. A*t th e a g e o f a b o u t se v e n , h e e x p re sse d a
d e s ire to jo in a sch o o l, a n d wa% a d m itte d in to th e R ashb c h a r i M . E . S cliool, titn a te d to th e e a st of B arg.a
M a h a lla , a t t h a t tim e th e o n ly sch o o l of its k in d in
S y lh e t. S o m etim e a fte r, h e g o t liim so lf tr a n s fe r re d to
th e S y lh e t Z illa h S ciiool, a t tlu it tim e lo c a te d on tlio to..!
o f th e M a n a ra h ill. B u t u n fo rt« in ately b e fo re h e had
c o m p le te d one y e a r in t h a t school, h e h a d an a tta c k of
c h o le ra , a n d on th e d c a tli o f a cousin o f h is o f a b o u t h is
o w n a g e from th e sam e disease, a ru m o u r s p re a d t h a t
h e h im se lf w as dead. H e a r in g t h i |, th e school m a ste r
re m o v e d h is n am e fro m th e sch o o l ro lls. O n re c o v e ry ,
h o w e v e r, h e re jo in e d th e school. B u t, som etim e a fte r,
a se v e re a n d p ro lo n g e d a tta c k o f d y s e n te ry a g a in k e p t
h im atva^' fi’om th e sch o o l fo r o v e r a y ear. O n re c o v e ry ,
h e a g a jn took, adm ission in to th e school, a n d p u rsu e d
c o n tin u o u s stu d y till h e g o t to th e first class.
<3
L II'K O F A. rCARf-'f
O n jiccouiit of iiid iffo rc tit h e a lth j A bdul K a riio
ccnild n o t w o rk h ard . B esides, h e was le ft e n tire ly to
him self. W h e n in th e lo w e r classes, h e g e n e ra lly
s u e n t h i s .t i ^ o
of school liours in c a tc h in g lish a n d
sm a ll b ird s a n d in p la y in g T ladu dudn an d G iili-d an d a.
G e n e ra lly h e le a r n t h is d;wly lessons on h is w ay to
, Bciiobl, w h ic h w as s itu a te d
a distaikce of a b o u t a
m ile -a n d -a -lia lf'fro ra h is house.
I t w as o n ly a t th e tim e
o f ex a m in a tio n s th a t ho sti\d ic l a t hom e. T h e re s u lt
w as tlia t som e o f h is c lass-fello w s o c c u p ie d h ig h e r
p laces in th e class a n d in th e e x a m in a tio n s ; b u t in
a f te r life n o n e of th e m co u ld r is e to t h e p o sitio n to
w h ic h h e rose. B y h is a m ia b ility an d so ciab le n a tu re
h e was v e ry p o p u la r w ith h is c la ss-fc llo w s, a n d w as a
p e t o f h is te a c h e rs , am ong w hom w as th e la te R a i
S a h c b D u rg a K u m a r B o se, o n e of th e m ost successful
H e a d M a ste rs B e n g a l h as e v e r j‘)rodiiced. ^Vraong
A bdu l K a r im s c o n te m p o ra rie s in th e sch o o l Was th e
la te re n o w n e d Sudhu, ‘ T a ra k is h o ro C h o w d h u ry , w h o
re n o u n c e d th e w o rld wKcn h e w as a t th e h e ig h t of h is
le g a l p ro fessio n a n d h ad g ro a t prctspc^cts of g e ttin g a
ju d g s h ip of th e C a lc u tta H ig h C o u rt, a n d am o n g A bdul
K a rim ’s w e ll-w ish e rs w as th e la te H a m id B a k h t
M aju m d ar, a t t h a t tiitic th e le a d e r o f S y lh e t MuslinivS.
A fte r h e h a d b e e n in th e first class fo r som e
m o n th s, A bdul K a rim th o u g h t h is deficiency in M a th e ­
m atic s m ig h t s ta n d in th e w ay o f h is success a t th e
U n iv e rs ity ex am in atio n . T h e m o re h e b ro o d ed o v e r
th is th e m ore h e f e lt d is in c lin e d to sit fo r th e ex a m in a ­
tio n . H e tiic n sto p p ed a tte n d in g sch o o l, a n d g a v e u p
th e ido.a of p ro se c u tin g Ids stu d ie s fu rth e r.
A fte r h e
EDUCA TIO N CA U EER
7
'iiad jib setited Kiin?jclf froiu scliool fo r som e tim e , it
rstru ck liim tiiu t h e h ad a c te d v e ry u n w isely , a n d th a t
i t w ou ld be no d isg ra c e if he g o t p lu c k e d a f te r a n e a rli­
e s t a ttc m jit to pass.
So h e agjiin jo in ed th e school, a n d
•began to p re n a re fo r tlio te s t e x a m in a tio n .
A lth o u g h •
he ob tain ed v e ry low m ark s in H a tiie n ia tic s , th e H e a d
M aster, in c o n sid e ra tio n of h ig h m a rk s he s e c u r e d ,in
■K nglish a n d H is to ry , p.^r.’rflttod him to s i t fo r th e U n i­
v e rs ity e x a m in a tio n .
J^iirtunately he
w as
successful,
a n d w as th e first to pass fi'ftm S y lh e t w ith P e rsia n as
h is seco n d la n g u a g e .
A t th is stcage th e q uestion tlia t h a d to be serio u sly
•<i!onsid(?red w as w h e th e r th e y o u th fu l A b d u l K a rim
■should prosci^ute h*is stu d ies fu rth e r. H is m o th er Was
m o st u n w illin g to p a r t w ith him , d eep ly a tta c h e d as
•'she w as to Jiim, a fte r Isiv in g lo st so m an y c h ild re n .
H e r nephew , th e la te M. M ah m u d u l H aij, how ever, co n ­
v in c e d h e r t h a t h e r so n ’s w elfare re q u ire d h e r se p a ra
Ttion fro m him . B esides, w h a t some s p iritu a lis ts , F a k e e rs
a n d Jo g is, iiad p re d ic te d about Jier s o n ’s b r ig h t fu tu re ,
also w e ig h ed w ith h e r jji th is m a tte r.
T h erefo re, w ith
■an in d e sc rib a b le w re n c h siie p a rte d fro m him , a n d fo r
years passed h er d ay s sh e d d in g te a rs. A bdul K a rira
to o k leav e w ith a h eav y h e a rt, a ^ d fo r some tim e
th e re w as n o t a m o rn in g in w h ic h th e p illo w
o n w h ic h
* h e s le p t w as n o t fo u n d w et w ith tiiars, sh ed in rem em ­
b ra n c e of h is lo v in g m other.
I n th o se d ay s th e re w as no ra il o r steam er se rv ic e
from Ci^lcuttrt to S y lh e t ; o nly some steam ers b e lo n g in g
to som e p riv a te com p an ies used to p ly th e re occcsion:ally d u rin g th e ra in y season.
So y o u n g A b d u l K juum
8
L IF E O F A. K A RIM
le ft hom e in u country-bftat, w ith th e la te M r. J o y
G o b in d Shom e, h is e o n sin ’s p u p il, w ho w as p r a c tis in g
iiT th e C a lc u tta H ig h C o u rt.
I t to o k h im ab o ut a f o r t­
n ig h t to re a c h G oalu iid o , w h ere th e y c a u g h t th e tr a in
to C a lc u tta . S h o rtly a fte r h is a r r iv a l in C a lc u tta , A bdul'
K ap im to o k h is ad m issio n in th e P re sid e n c y C ollege,
w h ic h , a t t h a t tim e, h a d *on its sta ff su ch ren o w n ed
P ro fe sso rs as M essrs T aw ngy, Row e, •W eb b , E llio t
P e rc iv a l, F c d le r, a n d B o o th . H e also joined th e d e b a t­
in g clu b in th e college a n d g a in e d p o p u la rity b y h is
speeches in th e debates. T h e re he cam e in to close co n ­
ta c t w ith th e la te S ir A sh u to sh M ukerjec a n d th e late
S ir Syed S ham sn l H u d a , tw o years se n io r to him ,— b o th
o f w hom c o n tin u e d to be h is fa st »friendj u n til th eird e a th . A m o n g h is class f^'llows w ere th e la te R a m c n d ra
S u n d e r IV iv e d i a n d S ir A b d u r i^iihim .
A t th is sta g e a n in c id e n t o ccu n 'o d w h ic h show s how
in th o se d a y s u n e d u c a te d b ig o ts p ersecu ted E n g lis h e d u ca te d people. A t th e close o f th e F i r s t v ear E . A.
C lass, A bdul IC arim wcmt hom e d u ritig th e college
v a c a tio n . Some of tlio se w ho h a d h e a rd h im sp eak a t
p u b lic m eetin g s, one of w h ic h w as h eld to c o n g ra tu la te th e la te S ir S u re n d ra X a th B a n n e rje e on h is release
fro m im p riso n m e n t ft)r c o n te m p t of c o u rt, requested
h im to d e liv e r a lectflre a t S y lh et. A t a la rg e ly a tte n d ­
ed m eetin g , p resid ed o v er by D r. S u n d a rim o h a n D as,
h e sp o k e on ‘ Id e a l c h a ra c ter."' I t b e in g a H a t d ay,
som e o f th o s e w ho w ere r e tu r n in g hom e fi’om th e H a t
crow d ed ro u n d th e h a ll in w h ic h th e le c tu re w as beingd eliv ered . N ex t d a y a ru m o u r w as sp read b y sftme of
iHiese p eo p le th a t A b d u l K a rim h a d been c o n v e rte d to-
ED U CA TIO N C A R E E E
9'
C liris tia n ity an d h a d p reach ed i t a t th e m eetin g , a n d m ore­
o v e r h a d d isc la im e d h is p a re n ta g e . T h is c re a te d su c h a
b ad fe e lin g tlia t A b d u l K a rim h a d to g iv e u p p assiilg
by th e p u b lic stre e ts. A fte r th is he d id n o t feel in c lin e d
to go to S y lh e t fo r som e tim e .
.*
I l l s d« ^hiency in M a th e m a tic s stood in th e w a y . of
A b d u l Ivarii(i'’s sucva^s in t h e ]*'. A . e x a m in a tio n of
•
1883. A f te r Iws fa ilu re , %\iiio.n h o w as th in k in g of sto p ­
p in g . h is stu d ie s a n d g o in g to A fric a , th e U n iv e rs ity
d e c id e d t<j h o ld a rc-cx am i;iatio n o f th e i)lucked c a n ­
d id a te s on a c c o u n t o f a ra d ic a l c h a n g e in th e co u rse of
stu d ie s f o r ‘ th e fu tu re F . A . a n d B . A . e x a m in a tio n s.
B y a h a p p y a c c id e n t, A bdul K a rim fo u n d t h a t tlic V(;ry
p ro p o s itio n s , of G e o m e try w h ic h h e had com m itted tO'
m em ory o n t h e w ay to th e e ja m in a ^ io ii-h a ll, w ere se t
a n d th e re b y p ass-m arks^ in M a th e m a tic s w ere assu re d .
A fte r th e su ccessfu l re s u lt o f h is F . A . e x a m in atio n w as
, g a ze tttid , lie jo in ed th e B . A . class. M a th e m a tic s b e in g
no w a n o p tio n a l su b je c t fo r th e B . A. (ixam ination, his
d ra w b a c k w as rem o v ed ,
P h ilo so p h y a n d P e rsia n .
c o n tin u e d th e s c h o la r ^ iip
h im befo re. I n 1885, he
a n d * h e to o k u p E n g lis h ,
T h e G o v e rn m e n t of A ssam
w h ic h h a d b e e n g r a n te d topassed th e B . A . exam ination,,
w ith H o n o u rs in E n g lis h . l i e w as t h e first M uslim
g ra d u a te from S y lh e t, if w e Ic a v * ojit of a c c o u n t a
g e n tle m a n n am ed M uham m ad D aira, w iio was so lo n g
aw ay from, h o m e t h a t S y lh e t p e o p le h a d fo rg o tte n t h a t
h e w as an in h a b ita n t o f S y lh e t. T h e A ssam G o v e rn ­
m e n t o ffered A b d u l K a rim th e p o st o f a S u b -D e p u ty
Co]lect(fr^ w h ic h h e d id n o t a c c e p t. X e v c r b efo re had!
m a n y M u slim s ta k e n th e B . A . d e g re e in o n e y e a r-
80
10
L IF E OF A. KARTM
B e sid e s A b d u l K arim , A b d u r K iliiin , Z a h id S u h ra w a rd i,
A bdul IL ui A bid, Aliiiiod, M ahm ood, Z a lm ru l H i q , A bdua
^^amad a n d Iisrail p assed tlic B. A. e x a m in a tio n iti 1885. •
S h o rtly a fte r A bdul K a riin hadt:> kea th e U n iv e rsity
degree, I t e r H ig h n e ss th e B egum o f B h o i)a l p a id a
v isit to C a ln u tta . S h e offer<;d a sum fo r m edical oducati:n i* iii
E u ro p e o f a M uslim s tu d e n t.. T h e
sc h o la rsh ip w as
o ffered to
th e
la te
D r.
B hopal
D audur
R v h m an , fa tlie r of M r. ^ lo w d u d u r R a h m a n , iie rh a o s
a t that? tim e th e only M uslim s tu d e n t in th e C a lc u tta
M edical C ollege.
B u t he d id n o t a c c e p t i t jjs h e w as
u n w illin g to g i to Euro[>e. A p p lic a tio n s w ere th e n
in v ite d fro m M uslim s tu d e n ts desirous of g o in g to
E u ro p e fo r legal o r o th e r stu d ies, a n d a com m ittee of
th e M uslim Fellow s of tu e U n iv e rsity w as a p p o in te d
f o r se le c tin g a c an d id ate. A b d u l K a r im ’s m a rria g e h ad
ju st ta k e n p lace, a n d ho w as d o u b tfu l if his w ife
w o u ld ag re e to his g u n g t > E a ro p c . W h e n sh e g av e
h e r co n se n t, he a p p r o j c 'i e i, th r o u g h his v e n e ra b le
fa th c r-in - law , th e jncihbcrs of th e com m ittee, a ll of
w hom p ro m ised him th e ir s u p p o rt- H e th e n w e n t to
S ylliet to p ro cu re th e pennission o f his p a re n ts. T h ey
•not o n ly g av e him perm ission, b u t his la te f a th e r ex ­
p ressed h is w illin g ifrss to c o n trib u te w h a t m ig h t be
req u ire d in ad d itio n to th e B egum of B h o p a l s d o n a tio n ,
w h ie h w as lik e ly to fa ll sh o rt of th e to ta l am o u n t of
■expenditure. W h e n his g o in g to E u ro p e w as th u s
se ttle d , G od w illed otherw ise, a n d a fiuecr aociiicnt u p -set e v e ry th in g .
•
O n r e tu rn from R ylhet, .Vbdnl K ainm su b m itted his
ijip u licatio n
fo r th e sc h o la rsh ip , a n d en clo sed th e re in
l-:i^UCAT10X CARKER
11
•copies of som e testim o n ials. O n e of th e se p u rp o rte d to
be fro m th e la te P rin c e I 'a r r u k h S h all, w ith w hom Iris
an a tc rn a l u n c lc -in -la w , th e la te M ecrza M uham m ad A li, w as
v e ry in tim a te . O u a c c o u n t of in d isp o sitio n , M corxa S a h ib
•could n o t c a ll on th e P rin c e fo r th e c ertificate, b u t,h e
a sk e d A b d u l K a rim to w rite P u t one, w h ic h he w ould
la te r g e t sig n ed . A copy ^ f th e cei'tificate w as subm it•ed
iy
a n tic ip a tio n
of
g e ttin g
ou
th e
o rig in a l
th e
sig n a tu re g f th e P rin c e . B u t, w h en M ccrza M uham m ad
A li c a lle d on th e P rin c e , he to ld him t h a t he Im ing u
I'c llo w o f «the ir n iv c r s ity , w as a m em ber of th e com ­
m itte e , a n d he w o u ld h av e to select th e c a n d id ate .
H e th o u g h t, i t w o u ld n o t be p ro p e r to com m it him self
l>reviously bj^ g iv in g a certificate, b u ^ he jirom iscd his
stiM ug s u p p o r t to A I kIi;! K a rim . W h e n th is cam e to
A I kIu I K a rim ’s k n o w led g e, he g o t so m u ch u p se t th a t,
. i n a h u ff, w ith o u t c o n s u ltin g his w cll-w ishcrs, he w ith ­
d re w h is a p p lic a tio n , fo r fear o f th e certificate b e in g
d e c la re d false. I f he h a d n o t d o b e so , pcrha})s he w ould
h a v e been a d v ised to w ith d ra w th e certificate an d n o t
th e a p p lic a tio n .
B u tln a n proposes an d G od disposes.
W h o know s w h a t w o u ld h a v e h a p p e n e d if h e h a d gone
to K urope. I t is n o t u n lik e ly th a t if ho h a d accepted
E x e c u tiv e S ervice, o r h a d become* a law y er, he w ould
, n o t h a v e been so uuselfisii as to m ak e sn e ji an en d o w ­
m e n t fo r th e e d u c a tio n o f h is eo-rc.ligioirists as no o th e r
B e n g a l M uslim h as d o n e, a n d ho w o u ld n o t h av e ex erted
him self
m uch as he h as been d o in g in th e la te r p a r t
of his life , fo r th e fu rth e ra n c e o f th e cause of Isla m .
O n th e w ith d ra w a l of A b d u l K a rim ’s a p p lic a tio n , A b d u r
H a h im (now’ S ir A b d u r R ahim ), w'ho w as a b o u t to be
12
irF K o r A.
a p p o in te d a D e p u ty M a g istra te , w as a w ard ed th e B h o p a l
scliolar'ship.
D u rin g his college career A b d u l K a rim w as an
a c tiv e m em b er o f th e S y lh c t U n io n , foi'nied in C a lc u tta
b y th e stu d e n ts of S y lh c t fo r I'u rth c rin g th e cause of
ed u catio n in th e ir hom e d is tric t a n d fo r lo o k in g a f te r
th e ^in terests of S y lh c t stu d e n ts in C a lc u tta . S ubse­
q u e n tly he was^clect(Kl its V k c - P i’osideut, w h ich office
he s till holds. T h e S y lh c t U n io n b ro u g h t iiiin .iiito
intiinat<; c o n ta c t w ith tw** d istin g u ish e d pc**sonalities
of
Sylliot,
th e
la te
M r.
B e p in
C h a n d ra
P al
and
D r. S u r.d ari M o h an D as, w hose frie n d sh ip * he v a lu e d
m uch . H e h a d first m e t tiiem w hile lie w as a scliool
s tu d e n t a t a m eetin g h e ld in tiic S y lh e t Z ilk i scho{)l tow elcom e R am a B a k tiie ro*iowned M a rh a tta lad y on th e
occasion o f h er v is it to S y lh et. •
CH A PTK R III.
K
a r r ia g e
.
I ll 1885, a f te r ta k in g the* B . A . degree, A b d u l K a rim
.m arried M usautm at A y c i!;t K h a to o n , a iy g h ly in te llig e n t ’
a n d . acco m p lish ed lad y , d a u g h te r of tlie la te M a u la n a
H a fe z Mi*}iammad H a te m Sirhib, a ren o w n ed sa jn t a n d
/saviint of th e tim e, w hose b irth -p la c e w as also S y lh et,
b u t wlxo liad se ttle d in C a lc u tta e a rly in life. T h e
re la tio n b etw een h u sb a n d a n d w ife w as th e b e st im a g in ­
ab le. I n fa c t A b d u l K a rim 's c a re e r w as m oulded by
tw o cxee]>tionally pious wofiien, lift m o th er, th e late
R ezw an B ib i, a n d h is* w ifc, A y esh a K h a to o n , w ho, b y
a s tra n g e coincidouce, possessed c e rta in sim ilar lau d ab le
^jhara(;leristies. B o th wore ideal house-w ives, co n g en ial
p a rtn e rs , a ffe c tio n a te m o th ers a n d g en ero u s n eig h b o u rs.
B o th of th e m w ere e v e r re a d y to se rv e h u m a n ity . I n
fa c t th e y h a d n o t th e ir equal in th e ir p assio n fo r se rv in g
th e p o o r a n d th e afflicted. T h e s p iritu a l a tta in m e n ts
of A b d u l K a rim 's m o th e r, w ho sp a re d sc a rc e ly tw o or
tlire e h o u rs d a ily fo r sleep, w crq b ey o n d conception.
B esides, h e r e x cep tio n al know ledge o f local lierbs a n d
d ru g s m ade h e r so p o p u la r t h a t scores o f people alw ay s
th ro n g e d a t iicr p lace lo r m edicines, b lessings, a n d
p e c u n ia ry
assistan ce.
llu s a m m a t
A y esh a
K h a to o n
w a s w ell-kiiow n in h e r c irc le fo r lier e x tra o rd in a ry
g e n e ro sity a n d k in d -h earted n ess. She w as in c lin e d to
g iv e aw ay h e r a ll to th e d e se rv in g poor. W h e n h e r h u s-
14
I.IF E OF A. KAUIM
b a n d , in la te r life, expressed a d esire to en dow I'a lf o f
hrs p ro ]ierty , w o rth a b o u t fifty th o u sa n d ru p ees, fo r c h a rit­
a b le a n d r e li^ o u s p u rp o ses, she e n q u ire d of him . “ A n d
w h y n o t, th e w h o le ? ” A s fo r th e c h ild re n she said,,
tlu^v h a d b een given as good a n e d u c a tio n as th a t of
th e ir fa th e r a n d th e y sh o u ld be a b le to s h ift f o r tiiem seiv es as he liad done.
^
,
She b ro u g h t u n her c h ild re n in th e m ost u p -to -d a te '
m ethod. W h e n h er th ree sons, Profc.ssor A b d a r K ahim ,
A.* P rin c ip a l A b d u l H ak im , M. A. a n d In te r p re te r
A b d u l A lim , B . A., to o k
U n iv e rs ity degrges, p e rh a p s
th e re was n o t a s iiig le M u slim fam ily in th e w hole of
BftJigal (in c lu d in g B ih a r a n d O riss ) a n d A ssam , w liieh
h a d fo u r g ra d u a te s in o ne a n d th e sam e fam ily. H e r
youtigc.st so n , ^ir. A b d iir B asuJ, w ho Avas n o t pcvinittcid
b y h is m edical a d v ise rs to join a college on a c c o u n t of
d efe c tiv e c y e-sig h t, a c q u ire d b y p riv a te stu d y a n d b y
e x te n siv e tr a v e llin g in K n ro p e a n d A m e ric a such g cueraP
a tta in m e n ts a s are n o t ifife rio r to th o se o f a g ra d u a te .
S he h a d also some p a r t in th e !> ringing-un o f tAVO o th e r
re la tio n s , w ho have m ade th e ir m a rk in a fte r-life . T hey
w ere h e r o n ly b ro th e r, K h a n B a h a d u r M uham m ad
H am id , a t p re se n t a m em ber o f th e P u b lic S e rv ice s Com ­
m issio n of B ih a r, f)rissa a n d C. P., a n d h e r nephew ,
MaulaA’i A bdiil H a m id , ex -ed u catio n l^ lin ister of
A ssam , son of h e r h u s b a n d ’s o n ly b ro th e r, M . A b d u l
Q a d e r, w ho w as re m a rk a b le fo r his p ie ty a n d s p ir itu a l
p ro g re ss. H a v in g lo st h e r first c h ild , a d a u g h te r, in h e r
e a rly life , M usaam m at A yesha K h a to o n alw ays* lo n g ed
fo r a d a u g h te r. A t la s t G o d blessed h er Avith a d a u g h te r,
h e r la s t c h ild , a v e ry g o o d -n atu red ,
c h a rita b ly -d isp o se d '
M AKKIAOE
and
s p ir itu a lly - m in d e d
g irl,
li)
m arried ,
d u rin g
lior
m o th e r’s life tim e , to a n acco m p lish ed g en tlem an , M r .‘A.
S. M .A k ram , a n a d v o c a te of th e C a lc u tta K ig h C o u rt,
a t p re se n t a Ju d g e of th e vSmall C auses C o u rtfC a lc u tta .
B esides 3 :erfo rm in g h e r dom estic d u tie s lik e an id eal
w ife, M rs. A b d u l K a rim d isc h a rg e d h e r p u b lic d iitie s
to th e b e s t o f lit-r a b ilitie s . She w as th e first P re s id e n t
of tlie A n ju in a u -C 'k h a w a tin -e -Isla m , e sta b lish e d by iier
bosom frie jid , M rs. S ak h u w at H o sa in , th e fo u n d ress of
th e first A fuslim G ir ls H ig h E n g lis h School in C a lc u tta .
S he always* to o k a n a c tiv e p a r t in th e M ow iood a n d
o th e r p a rtie s a rra n g e d by th e A n ju n ian . O n h e r d eatii
in 1934, at^ th e ag e of 07, a f te r e n jo y in g a m a rrie d life
of a b o u t h a lf a c e n tu ry , th e /o llo w iy g reso lu tio n w as
passed b y
th e A n ju n u y i-e -k h a w a tin -e -lsla m , a n d
th e
fo llo w in g o b itu a r y n o tic e s w ere p u b lish e d in some of th e
uews])aperri.
“T h is m e e tin g of th e A n ju m a n -c -k h a w atec n -e-lslam
B c u g a la , i>Iaccs on re c o rd its (^leep sense of so rro w a t
th e d e a th of ^ [rs . A b d u l K a rim , th e first P re s id e n t of th e
A n ju m u u a n d ex p resses its lie a rt-fe lt synip atiiy w ith th e
b re a v e d fam ily.*'
O u r Iie a rt-felt sy m p a th y goes ^ fo r th to M a u lav i
A b d u l Iv a ritn S ah cb , M. 1^. 0 .. re tire d In sp e c to r of
Schools, in th e sad b c re a v o m c n t he h as s u s ta in e d by th e
d e a tu o f iiis w ife, th o u g h a t th e old age of fi7. M rs. A b d u l
K a r im w as a p u b lic -s p irite d lady a sso ciated w ith som e
o f th e in!T>vements s ta r te d to p ro m o te th e m o ral a n d
m a te ria f w e lfa re o f M uslim w om en.
S h e w as th e first
P r e s id e n t o f th e A n ju m a n -e -k h a w ate e n -c -Islam , w h ic h
w a s th e first o rg a u isa tio ii of e d u c a t e d M uslim w om en
16
LTFR
Ot-
A.
K -m rM
ii> C a lc u tta , b ro u g h t in to e x iste n c e b y th e la te M rs. R . S.
H o s a iii. She w as a p io u s a n d c h a rita b ly -d isp o se d
woman,* a n d , \vc u n d e rs ta n d , it w as d u e to h e r d o m estic
•econom y a n d m o ral co -o p eratio n t h a t M a u la v i A b d u l
K a rim was a b le to mak<i t h a t w e ll-k n o w n W a k f f o r
relitrioua a n d e d u c a tio n a l p u rp o ses w h ich h as beticfited
*
•
m a n y in ‘B engal a n d A ssam . M ay h e r soul r e s t in
•e te rn a l iicaco is o u r fe rv e n t p r a y e r .’'
•
»
T
h e
M tT H S A L M A X .
' ‘T i\c d e a th to o k p la c e a t th e rip e ag e o f 67 a t R a n c h i
'On th e 1 4 th S e p te m b e r of M rs. A y csh a K h a to o n , w ife
of A b d u l K a rim , M . L . C., r e tire d Inspcct(>r ofvSchools.
M rs. A b d u l K arinj. w as th e first L a d y P re s id e n t of th e
A n ju m a n -c -k h a w ate e n , th e firs t S o ciety of e d u cated M us­
lim lad ies in B en g al, fo u n d e d a t C a lc u tta . T h e decea­
sed w as a d a tig h te r o f th e ren o w n ed s a in t H afcn. H a te r a .
S alieb of S y lh e t” ( U n ite d P ress.)
« Tim A m rita B a z a r P a tr ik a .
T h e d a i t h h as occniTcd a t ■^ho ag e o f 67 of A yesha
K h a to o n , w ife of M a u la v i A b d u l K a r im S ah eb , M . L .C ., a re tire d In sp e c to r of Schools, a n d fo rm e r m e m b e r
o f th e C ouncil of S tate.
M rs. A b d u l K a rim w as th e first P r e s id e n t of th e
M u slim Ladies* A ssociation, fo u n d e d in C a lc u tta .
'
T h e S ta te sm a n .
ch a
? t :e h I V .
.
A n E » rro R
A fte r t:ijsiag th e B . A. degree, -M iulvi A b .lul K a r im
acce,-)tcd t h e cditorjship of th e
“ D a ru s -s a lta n a t," a t
t h a t tim e th e o n ly U rd u n e w sp a p e r in C a lc u tta . H is
jo a rtia lis tic c a re e r, th o u g h sh o rt, w as p o p u la r. T h e
a ’tic le s he w ro te, o n t h e Hues o f *Eu g lin h jo iirn alg ,
w e re w ell a p p re c ia te d b y th e p u b lic . T h e se c re a te d a
fa v o u ra b le im p ressio a re g a rd in g th e y o u n g jo u rn a lis t
o n som e o f th e le a d in g M uslim s of C a lc u tta . T h e la te
M r. A m e e r A li, a t t h a t tim e ,.a p r a c tis in g b a r r is te r ,
b e g a n to ta k e p a r tic u la r iu tc re A iu him . A s a n e d ito r
h e jo in ed t h e d e p u ta tio n th a t w aited u p o n L o rd R ip o n
to p r e s e n t a n ad d ress on th e re p e a l o f th e V e r n a c u la r
P re ss A c t. H e h a d to re sig n th e
h e e n te re d G o v e ra ra e u t S ervice.
h e g a in e d d u r in g
good
ste a d
th is sh o rt
in a fte r-life .
p e rio d
D u rin g
e d ito rsh ip w h e n
T h e e x p e rie n c e
sto od h im
in
th is perio d a n d
w hen he w as a te a c h e r, h e a tte n d e d th e Law le c tu re s.
H e c o m p le te d t h e course, b u t he d id n o t s it fo r th e
B . L . . e x a m in a tio n , a lth o u g h som e of th o s e w h o k n e w
h is p a r ts w ell, w ere o f o p in io n t h a t he w ould m ake a
good la w y e r a n d u rg e d h im to joiri th e B a r .
C H A P l’E R V .
A ScHOOL->rASTER.
In
1886 M a u lv i A b d u l Ivrtrim w as a p p o in te d a tou­
c h e r in th e A n g lo 'P c rs ia n D e p a rtm e n t of th e C a lc u tta
M a d ra sa li. W ith in a sh o rt tim e h e acq u ired th e r e p u ­
ta tio n of b e in g a n e ffic ie n t te a c h e r a n d a s tr ic t d iscil i n ^ i a n . H e w as e x c e p tio n a lly p o i)u la r b o th w ith his
p u p ils a n d hii^ colleagues.
T h e Prineip*al of th e M ad­
ra sa h , tlio la te M r. H o e rn lo , h a d a h ig h o p in io n of*him .
H e p cosented him , r a th c f ea rly in his catt'.er, in th e '
V ic e re g a l L ev ee, a n d s tro n g ly recom inetided h im f o r
p ro m o tio n . T h e g u a rd ia n s of som e o f his* pupils used'
to c a ll o n h im o ccasio n ally to ex p ress th e ir a p p re c ia tio n
a n d g r a titu d e fo r w h a t he d id fo r th e ir w ard s. U n i­
v e rsa l w as th e re g re t w^ien M a u lv i A b d u l K a rim le ft
th e M a d ra s a h on p ro m o tio n t» th e p o st o f a n A s s is ta n t
In s p e c to r of Schools. Som e o f his p e t p u p ils, su ch asth e la te M r. H a sa n Im am ,* Ju d g e of th e C a lc u tta H ig h
C o u rt, th e la te K h a n B a h a d u r A m in u l Islam , In sp e c to r2 4 th F eb . 1912.
* My D e a r M a u lv i Saheb,
I am m u ch o b lig ed to you fo r th e congratulations^
conv ey ed in su c h a ffe c tio n a te term s. O ld m em ories a re
alw a y s d e a r to onfe a n d o ld asso ciatio n s a r e n a tu ra lly c h e ris h e d b y a ll. T h u s c o n g ra tu la tio n s from you n a tu r ­
a lly ta k e m e b a c k to m y school days.
P le a s e a c c e p t t h e a ffe c tio n a te re g a rd s of
Y o u r old punil
•
S yed H a sa n Im am
( W r itte n
H iffh C ourt.)
•
w h en a p p o in te d Ju d g e o f th e C alcutta»
A SCHOOL MASTER
G o u e n il o f R e g is tra tio n , M r.
G K azau far
I . C. S., O . B . E ., C. 1. E ., som etim e ago a
l9 -
A li
K han,
E ivisioinrf
C o m m issio n er in th e C e n tra l P ro v in c e s, K h a n B a h a d u r
A b d n l M om en, C. 1. E ., once a D iv isio n al C om njissionor
in B o n gal, a n d a t p r e s e n t C onim issioner o f W a q fs, r^ s c
to so m 0 of th e liig h cst p o sts o p en a t th e tim e to th e n a ­
tiv e s o f th e coujijtry.
^
*
W h e n M a u lv i A b d u l K a rira le ft t h e M a d ra s a h on
p ro m o tio n , som e o f liis p u p ils p re s e n te d him w ith th e
fo llo w in g a d d re ss :—
*
“ Sir ,
W e , th e s tu d e n ts of th e 2 n d class, A n g lo -P e rsia ii
D c i)a rtm e u t, C a lc u tta M a d ra sa h , beg to ta k e th e lib e r ty of
a d d r e s s in g you th e fo llo w in g le tte r o f c o n g ra tu la tio n .
S in c e w e a ll, th e s tu d e n ts o f M a d ra sa h w e re d e b a rre d
fro m g iv in g you a p iib lic address, w h ilst you w ere am o n g st
u s, y o u b e in g a G o v e rn m e n t se rv a n t, w e th e stu d e n ts
of t h e 2 n d c la ss ta k e th is o p p o rtu n ity of e x p re ss­
in g o u r fe e lin g s w itli re g a rd to you. S ir, yout» s in c e rity ,
h o n e sty , s u a v ity o f m a n n e rs an'd a m ia b ility end eared
y ou n o t o n ly to us, y o u r p u p ils, b u t also to th e g e n e ra l
p u b lic . A s a te a c h e r, S ir, you h a d few eq u als ; your
k n o w le d g e of E n g lis h , y o u r m ode o f te a c h in g a n d y o u r
lo v e fo r y o u r p u p ils, w ere m ore tha*n w h a t co u ld b e dc^ s ir e d in a te a c h e r. T h e m o ral lessons t h a t you o ften
tr ie d to im p re ss o n o u r y o u n g m in d s, w ill re m a in ev e r
fr e s h in o u r m em ory a n d th e y w ill serv e as some of th e
g u id in g p rin c ip le s of o u r life . W h a t is m ore, y o u r p e r ­
sonal
e x am p le w as to us a .b e a c o u fo r g u id in g u s in th e
t r u e re lig io u s a n d m o ral p a th .
M a d ra sa h stu d e n ts h a v e
l o s t in you. S ir, o n e o f th e ir a b le s t a n d m ost a ffe c tio n a te
20
L I F E OF A. KARIM
te a c h e rs. T h e ir loss seem s to be irre trie v a b le . O u r res­
p e c t a n d esteem fo r you a n d y o u r iitfc c tio u fo r u s c a n n o t
b e ex p ressed in w ords. I t w as w ith g re a t re g re t t h a t
w e b a d e you good-bye, b u t w e h a v e th is c o n so la tio n
t h a t you h a v e b een c a lle d u p o n to occupy a f a r m ore
re sp o n sib le a n d lio n o u rab lp p o st, a n d t h a t you w ill h a v e
occftsions to d o im m ense good to y o u r c p m m u u ity . W e
h a v e n o te d w ith g re a t p le a su re t h a t y o u r a p p o in tm e n t
•
h as g iv en e n tire s a tis fa c tio n to th e M u h an im edan com m u u ity of B e n g a l. I n co n c lu sio n w e p ra y to th e A l­
m ig h ty G o d to g r a n t you lo n g life, sou in j h e a lth a n d
a su ccessfu l c a r e e r.”
O n th e s tr o n g reco m m en d atio n o f th e la te M r. J u s ­
tic e A m ir A li a n d th e la te N aw ab B a h a d u r X b d u l L a tif ,
M a u la v i A b d u l l^ a rim w as a p p o in te d a n A s s is ta n t
In s p e c to r of Schools fo r M u h am m ad an E d u c a tio n . T h a t
his a p p o iiitm o n t g av e m u ch s a tisfa c tio n to th e p u b lic
is e v id e n t fro m w h a t th e C a lc u tta c o rre sp o n d e n t of t h e
P a t n a I n s titu te G a z e tte w ro te in its issue of th e 2 4 th
X ovcm bci', 1889:—
'
“ M a u la v ie A b d u l K a r im ’s ap p ® in tm en t as a n A ssist­
a n t I n s p e c to r of Schools has givpn e n tire s a tis fa c tio n
to th e M u h a m m a d a n co m m u n ity o f C a lc u tta , a n d I
b e lie v e t h a t th e %fhole M u h a m m a d a n
co m m u n ity
of
B e n g a l w ill be q u ite satisfied w ith th is selectio n , a n d
w ill, lik e o urselves, h e a rtily c o n g ra tu la te M a u la v ie A b d u l
K a rim f o r h is success, a n d S ir A lf r e d C ro ft f o r hia
s e le c t io n ...................... A s a m an h e is v ery ^ o o d a n d
a m ia b le , as a s e rv a n t he is v e ry u p rig h t, h o n est a n d h a r d ­
w o rk in g , as a te a c h e r he w as v e ry a ffe c tio n ate , k in d
a n d sin c e re .
H is m ode of te a c h in g w as, I believ e, f a r
A SCHOOL^ MASTER
21
s u p e r io r to m a n y m c rito rio iis te a c h e rs a n d p ro fesso rs of
m a n y w e ll-k n o w n schools a n d co lleg es. I n him th e
A la d ra sa h
s tu d e n ts w ill
lose th e ir
te a c h e r, w ith p e r h a p s the. e x c e p tio n of
H ead M a s te r.
”
b e st a n d a b le st
Ijo rim e r, th e
•
I n his tw e n ty -fifth year,* d u rin g th e la s t y e a r
his
serv ice in th e M a d ra sa h , X . A bdul K a r im lo st b o th his
parcikts w ith in five m o n tiis of each o th er. H is f a t h e r
died in M .w d i, 18S9, a n d his m o th e r in J u ly of th e sam o
y ear. U n f o r tu n a te ly he w as n o t ]>resent on th e occa­
sio n o f tli^ d e a th of e ith e r of th e m . H e a rin g of h is
fa th e r 's illn e ss h e w e n t to S y lh et, a n d a tte n d e d on him
fo r a m o n th - O n his g e ttin g b e tte r, M . A bdul K a rim
le f t S y lh e t w h e n h is leav e cjii)ired. . H u t som e tim e a f­
te r his f a th e r died . Sii«.ilarly w h en he h e a rd t h a t
m o th e r w as s e r io u s ly ill, h e h u rrie d hom e, b u t, to
u tm o st g rie f, s h e brcatli^ed h e r la s t ju st a d a y b e fo re
a r r iv a l.
H e h ad , h o w ev er, th e m ef^n ch o ly c o n s o la tio n
h is
h is
Ms
of
m e e tin g his p a tr o n , th e la te H a m id B iik h t M azum dar,
w h o w as v e ry se ri )usfy ill a t th e tim e. H e d ie d d u r in g
M . A b d u l K a rim ’s s ta y a t S y lh e t, a n d h e a tte n d e d his
fu n e ra l cerem o n y . A ll th is ])rodiice^d su ch a d e p re s s in g
effe c t o n h im t h a t he d id n o t feel in c lin e d to v is it S y l­
h e t fo r a b o u t ft decade, u n til h e h a d to jo in th e m a rria g e
o f h is n e ic e to M a u la v i (now K h a n B a h a d u r) A b d u r
R a h im , w h o se d a u g h te r is th e first w om an gi*adiiatc
of S y lh e f. A fte r th e c e le b ra tio n of th e m a rria g e , h e
d e l i v e r ^ a le c tu r e in U rd u on M uh am m ad an E d u c a tio n
a t a la rg e ly a tte n d e d m e e tin g , p resid ed o v e r b y R a ja
G ir is h C h a n d ra , th e p h ila n th ro p ic Z a m in d a r of S y lh e t.
CHAPTER VI.
A
shtctant
I n spector
for
jM u iiA ii^ rA D A ir E
d u c a t t o it .
I n m a k in g th e p ro p o s a l fo r th e a p p o in tm e n t of A ssista n t* In s p e c to rs of Schools fc^r M n ln m n ja d a n E d u c a tio n
i n accordance* to tlie reco m m en d atio n s of th e E d u c a tio n
O om raission, th e D ire c to r of P u b lic I n s tr u c tio n o b s e rv e d ,
“ w h a f seems to be re q u ire d is th e prosoncc in e v e ry c irc le
o f a n e d u cated M u h a m m a d a n , a b le a n d -vwlling to in ­
fluence his c o -relig io n ists in fa v o u r of Avestern e d u c a ­
tio n a n d to w a tc h over tlic in te re s ts of M u h a m m a d a n
schoo ls a n d p u p ils ” W h^ai th e se o fficers -were a p p o in t­
e d th e fo llo w in g in s tru c tio n s w e re issu e d to th e m :—
T h e o b ject w ith w h ich th e se a p p o in tm e n ts h a v e b e e n
s a n c tio n e d is th e im p ro v e m e n t of M u h a m m a d a n ed u ­
c a tio n g e n e ra lly in schools o f ‘ every class. F o r th is
p u rp o se th e A ss is ta n t I n s p e c to r is re q u ire d , in th e first
in sta n c e , to a sc e rta in th e sp ecial e d u c a tio n a l w a n ts of I\Iuh a m m a d a n s in h is C ircle, a n d to r e p o r t th e m to th e
In s p e c to r fo r a n y fu i'th e r o rd e rs of th e D e p a rtm e n t o r
o f G o v e rn m e n t t h a t m ay be necessary, a n d , in th e n e x t
.p la c e , to en d e a v o u r to acq u ire influence w ith th o s e in
a u th o rity a m o n g his co -relig io n ists, in o rd e r to in d u c e
th e m to a c c e p t su ch ch an g es a n d re fo rm s in th e su b ­
je c ts of e d u c a tio n as m ay be ])roum inced to be sa lu ta ry .
. . . T h e d iffic u ltie s t h a t b e se t M u h a m m a d a n tvducation
a r c of tw o k in d s— o n e a risin g fro m th e ir p o v e rty a n d
t h e o th e r fro m th e i r relig io u s p reju d ices. B o th a lik e
o p e r a te to p re v e n t M u h a m m a d a n s from ta k in g f u ll
.
ASSISTANT IN SPECTO R, M. EDUCA TIO N
23
^advan tag e o f th e e d u c a tio n a l fa c ilitie s t h a t e x is t . .
l u p laces w hore o u t of a la rg e M u h a m m a d a n populiiH;iou a s u tfic ic iit p ro p o rtio n d o n o t a tte n d th e lo cal
E n g lis h school, th e cau se m ay be t h a t th e p u p ils a re
to o p o o r to p ay th e fees, t)r t h a t th e school is to o pc^or
t o m a in ta in a M a u la v i a n d give th e m th e e d u catio n
th e y desire. A i)e g in n iiig yf re lie f in th is d ire c tio n lia a
now .been m ade by th e a p p ro p ria tio n of a sm all sum
fro m th e A lo h sin fu n d fo r t^io p u rp o se of p a y in g a p o tt i o u o f th e fees of M u h a m m a d a n p u p ils, o r of ’m a in ­
ta in in g a M a u la v i in a few selected schools fre q u e n te d
b y M u h a m m a d a n s . . . T h e d iific u ltie s t h a t a rise fro m
p re ju d ic e in fa v o u r of a p a r tic u la r m ode a n d sp e c ia l
su b je c ts o f in s tru c tio n re q u ijo d iif e r e n t m easures of
tr e a tm e n t. I n th is class^of cases th e o b je c t w ill bo g a in ■ed, if a t a ll, n o t so m uch b y e x p e n d itu re of m oney a s b y
exercise of influ en ce. T h e A s s is ta n t I n s p e c to r sh o u ld ,
th e r e f o r e , en d e a v o u r to g a in th e confidence a n d secure
th e good-w ill o f th e le a d in g ihem bers o f th e M iiham m a d a n co m m u n ity on th e o n e h an d , of M iatijis, M a u la v is
a n d a ll w ho a r e d irc d tly en g ag ed in te a c h in g , on th e
•other of m en o f p o sitio n an d in flu en ce w hose view s on
m a tte rs o f e d u c a tio n d e te rm in e th e a ttitu d e o f th e com ­
m u n ity a t la r g e on su c h q u e stio n s.’^
A s s i s t a n t I n s p e c t o r o f S c h o o l s f o r E a s t e r n C iR C iiE .
I n J a n u a ry , 1890, M . A b J u i IC irim jo in ed h is new p o st
a t D ac c a , as A s s is ta n t In s p e c to r fo r M u h am m adan E d u ca­
tio n , wit^i ju ris d ic tio n o v e r th e w h o le of D acca a n d
C h itta g o n g D iv isio n s, c o n sistin g of eig h t d is tr ic ts .
H is
T cp iitatio n seem s to h a v e p reced ed him a n d he wiis
w a rm ly receiv ed w h e re v e r he liad occasion to go. A t
24
L IF E OF A. K A RIM
D a c c a th e la te N aw ab S ir A b d u l G h a n i a n d th e lateNai«wab S ir A h s a n n lla h show ed him u n th o u g h t-o f k in d ­
n e ss a n d c o rd ia lity . H e w as c o n su lte d b y th e m in all'
p u b lic m a tte r s an d so m etim es in p riv a te a ffa irs as w ell,
a s m ay be testified to b y th e o ld est s u r v iv in g scion of
th e fam ily , K h w a ja A tiq u U ah . T h e C o m m issio n er o f
^ Dacc*a, th e la te M r, L u tm o u Jg lin so u , a n d th e I n s p e c to r
of S chools, th e Tate R a i S ahcb D in a n a th S en e tio o iy a g ed h im m uch b y th e ir a p p re c ia tio n o f h is w q rk . Twoo th e r g e n tle m e n o f D acca, th e lato K h w a ja M uham m ad
A sg h a r a n d th e la te X a w a h M u h am m ad Y o u su f, re n d e r­
ed h in m u ch a ssis ta n c e in h is w o rk . T h e fo rm e r added
to his p o p u la rity by g e ttin g h im n o m in a te d a s a co m m is­
s io n e r o f th e D a cca M u n ic ip a lity , w hen th e la te Tssur
O h u n d e r D as w as its c h a irm a n . H is frie n d s, t h e la te
K h a n B a h a d u r Ryed A u lad H a s a n , th e la te S h am su l-u lam a
A b n l K h a i r M u h am m ad Siddiq a n d th e Q a z i b ro th e rs ,
th e la to Z ia u d d in A h m ad a n d R a z iu d d iu A h m ad w o re of
m u c h h e lp to him d u rin g his sta y a t D acca.
I n M ym o n sin g h , th e late M uham m ad A li K h a n P a u i,
f a th e r o f th e la te W ajed A li K h a n P a n i o f K o ro te a ,
re c e iv e d M . A b d u l K a rim v e r y w arm ly , an d h a n d e d
o v e r to him ru p e e s fiv e th o u sa n d fo r th e D u ffo rin
H o s te l fo r M u slim s tu d e n ts a t D acca, in eo m in oinoratioa
of L o rd D u ffe rin ’s v isit. T he la te C how dhury, a fte rw a rd s
N aw ab B a h a d u r, N aw ab A li of D h a n b a ri, w elco m ed
M . A b d u l K a rim to his v illa g e , a n d g av e him in fo rm a ­
tio n re g a rd in g th e co n d itio n of th e M uslim s of*the loca­
lity .
I n B a ris a l th e la te I^IauIvi W a jid A li, f a th e r of
M a u lv i A . K . F a z lu l H a q , g re a tly h elp ed M . A b d u l
K a rim in h is w o rk fo r th e fu rtlic ra n c o of e d u c a tio n
AKHISTANT Ih 'S P E C W R ,
y[.
EDUCATIO.V
25-
a m o n g th e M u s lim s o f t h a t d is tric t. T h e Inte N aw ub
M u a z z a m I lo s s a in o f vShaistabad a n d th e la te M aulviA m iru d d ia , g r a n d - f a th e r of P ro fesso r H u m a y u u K a b c e r,.
w ore also h e lp f u l to him .
T h e la tte r w as one of th e la s t
th re e M u slim D e p u ty M a g is tra te s in B e n g a l w ho d id n o t
k n o w E n g lis h a n d d id th e ir w o rk in P e rsia n .
T h e o th e r
tw o w ere th e la te !MauIvi A b d u l K a rim of E la ch iiiftr,
a n d t h e la te M a u iv i A lim ad, f a th e r o f K h a n B a h a d \ir
A b d u l K a r•im o f C o m illa. T)ie
la te N aw ab ITussaro
•
H a id a r C h a w d h u ry of C o m illa w as of a p p r e d a b le
a ssista n c e to« M . A b d u l
K a rim in h is sp e c ia l w o rk fo r
M u h a m m a d a n e d u c a tio n in h is d is tric t. H e established
a n e d u c a tio n a l in s titu tio n w h ere a la r g e n u m b er of
M u slim s tu d e n ts re c e iv e d re lig io u s as w e ll as secu lar
•
•
e d u c a tio n . B u t fo r th e sy^mpathy a n d s u p p o rt of th ese
a n d o th e r p u b lic -s p irite d ^Muslims, it m ig h t n o t h a v e
l)een possib le fo r !M. A b d u l K a rim to achieve m uch
su ccess in his w o rk as sp ecial o ffic e r fo r IVFuhammadan
E d u c a tio ji.
T h e o rth o d o x
*
M uslim s o f E a s te rn B e n g a l w ere n o t
in fa v o u r of th e se c u la r education^ im p a rte d in V e rn a c u ­
la r a n d E jig lis h scliools. D u rin g M uslim r u le in In d ia ,
P e rs ia n Was th e la n g u a g e o f th e
C o u rt.
W h e n th e
E a s t I n d ia C o m p an y to o k o v e r the* a d m in istra tio n of
th e c o u n ti> , th<^y m ad e n o c lia n g e in C o u rt languagefo r so m e tim e . So th e ed u catio n im p a rtM in j\ta k ta b s
a n d M a d ra sa h s a d e q u a te ly qualified p e o p le fo r G o v e rn ­
m e n t a c r ^ c e . L a te r on, w lisn E n g lis h a n d th e pro-v in c ia l v e rn a c u la rs w e re m ade C o u rt lan g u ag es, theM uslim s w ere p la c e d a t a g re a t d isa d v a n ta g e .
T hey
e sch e w e d th e P a ts h a la s a n d schools, a n d c o n tin u e d to-
'2 6
LIl'-E OF A. KARIM
p e rsu e o rie n ta l stu d ie s. T h e re s u lt w as t h a t th e y w ere
g ra d u a lly re p la c e d in sa rv io e a n d th e b a r b y non-V Iiislim s. T h e a tte a tio ii of th e G o v e rn m e n t w a s d ra w n to
th is , b u t fo r som e tim e n o a c tio n w as ta k e n . B y th e
♦
tim e tlie E d u c a tio n C om m ission, a p p o in te d by L o rd
-R ipon, m ade som e specific soo o m m en d atio n s fo r th e e d u ca-ticfti o f M uslim s, m ost o f th e G ovorn irv in t o ffic e s w ore
filled by non*M uslim s, a n d th e b a r a n d th e Z a m in d a r ’s '
K u to h o rric s had fe w M \islim s le ft. T o re m e d y th is
■ deplorable s ta te of a ffa irs , o ne of t h e ste p s rec o m m en d ­
ed b y th e E d u c a tio n C om m ission w as th e .a p p o in tm e n t
of sp ecial in s p e c tin g o fficers fo r f u r th e r in g se c u la r
-education am o n g th e M uslim s. O f th e first tw o A ssia.ta u t In s p e c to rs o f schools fo r M uham m adan ed u c a tio a
.in B e n g a l, M. A bdul K a rim w as one.
O n tiic a ssu m p tio n of h is o ffice, M. A bdul K a rim
ad d ressed a le tte r to th e le a d in g M u slim s of B e n g a l,
in v itin g su g g e stio n s fo r th e s p re a d of usefu l e d u c a tio n
m m ong t h e M uslim s. * B u t th e re sp o n se w as m eagre;
•only a fe w g e n tle m e n re p lie d a n d th e ir su g g e stio n s w e re
•not v e ry h e lp fu l.
I t w as v ery d i4 fic u lt to rem o v e th e
p re v a ilin g p re ju d ic e a g a in s t se c u la r e d u c a tio n . M.
A b d u l K a rim h a d to w o rk v ery c a u tio u sly b u t assiduous'ly. T h e fo llo w in g In c id e n t show s how ta c tf u lly he h a d
ito proceed, i)a rtic u la rly w h en p eo p le w h o to o k p rid e
in th e i r o rth o d o x y h a d to b e ta c k le d . I n th e d is tr ic t
o f ^M ymensingh th e r e is a p la c e nam ed B o w lai, w h ere
som e v e ry re sp e c ta b le M u slim fa m ilie s re sid e. T lic re
m M u slim Z a m in d a r, w ell-v erscd in Is la m ic k>re, h a d
•e sta b lish e d a M a d ra sa h , a n d eq u ip p ed i t w ith a la rg e
.lib rary of o rie n ta l w o rk s.
W hen
he m e t M . A b d u l
A S SIST A N 'l’ IX rti'J X JrO U , J t.
KDUCATION
27
K a r im h e sp o k e a g a in s t tlie e d u catio n im p a rte d in P a th ■shaJas an d Kj)g}ish schools, w h ere n o rcJigioiis in s tru c ­
tio n w as given. T lie re u p o n M. A b d u l K a rira said it
was v e ry m uch to be re g re tte d tlia t h e did jio t re alise
w h a t in c a lc u la b le ijiju ry w as b e in g d o n e to th e iiite re sts
of th e co m m u n ity b y p ersiy n lin g M uslim y o u th s *to
eschew se c u la r c-ilueation. T hose re sp o n sib le fo r th is , he
a d d e d , w ould be a n sw e ra b le to G od.
T h is ciiuscd m u ch
ilu tte r am o jig th e assem bled people, w ho looked upon th e
^^am iiidar w ith v e n e ra tio n fo r liis oricnfcil Jojtf'ning.
S eeing th is, M . A b d u l K a rim e n q u ire d how m any o fficers
th e 2 a n iin d a r h a d fo r th e m a n a g e m e n t o f h is z am ijid a ri
a n d how m an y o f th e m w ere j\tu8lim s. T h e a n sw e r w a s
t h a t o u t o f a b o u t a score o f officers, o jily one w as
A M uslim . “ Is tliia how you fo llo w IsTam, by e x c lu d in g
:your c o -rc lig io n ists from y o u r ow n s e rv ic e ? he p r o m p t. ly ask ed . “ T h e w o rk of th e Z a m in d a ri is c a rrie d o n
in B e n g a li, w h ile th e M u slim s d o n o t k n o w s u f f ic ie n t
B e n g a li,” w as th e re p ly . “ Y o u a d v ise th e m n o t to le a r n
75ongali, a n d th e re b y m ake th e m ’ in e lig ib le fo r s e r v ic e
ev e n in y o u r own z a m in d a ri n o t to sp eak of o th e r se rv ic e
a n d y e t von claim to be a tr u e l^fuslim ,” was
A bdul
K a rim ’s re to rt. T h is is how M. A b d u l K a rim w e n t
ab o u t a r g u in g w ith o rth o d o x M usliftis a n d c o n v in c in g
th'^ni of tlie u tility of secu lar e d u c a tio n .
A fte r lie h a d been a t D a c c a fo r five years, a p ro p o sa l
w a s m ade fo r M . A b d n l K a rim ’s tra n s fe r tu th e P r e ­
s id e n c y D iv is io n .
B efo re th e tr a n s f e r to o k place,
m e t w it^i a serio u s a c c id e n t.
W h ile o u t o n to u r in
M y m e n s in g h th e g reen b u d g ero w in w h ic h h e w as fra ’v c llin g su d d en ly g o t u p s e t in th e B ra h m a p u tra , a n d
2S
L IF E OF A. K A R IM
floatecl d o w n stre a m w ith M. A b d u l K a r im s ittin g on its-h u ll, o n ly a little of w h ic h w as ab o v e w ater. A s h e d id ’
n o t k n o w how to sw im , h is n a rro w escap e fro m im m i­
n e n t d ro w n in g w as m iracu lo u s. AVhcn t h e b o a t a p ­
p ro a c h e d a ch o r in tlie m id d le of th e r iv e r , h e jum ped
on it an d sav ed h im self. X he b o a t a fte r flo a tin g do w n
sew eral m iles stru c k a n o th e r c h a r, a n d y a s s u n k . S eeing
th is t h e cu ltiw ato rs in th e n e ig h b o u rh o o d k e p t a w a tc h , ’
a n d tiie n e x t d a y w ith g r e a t dilV iculty reflo ated it. Tlioy
s e n t ]->eoplo in s e a rc h of M. A b d u l K a rim , a n d fin d in g
him a t tlie ch a r re m o v e d h im to th e ir hous», w h e re fro m
he c a m e b y a d in g h y to M y m en sin g h to w n , a n d c a u g h t
tlic rc th e tr a i n to D acca.
K a rim
N e v e r in his lifc^ h ad A b d u l
ta k e n su c h co arse ric e an d u n sa v o u ry c u rry as
w as p ro v id e d b y th e c u ltiv a to rs ,
cnjoyed th e b re a k -fa st so w ell.
sin g le .
a n d n e v e r h a d lie-
M isfo rtu n e n e v e r com es
J le fo re he h a d lo ft fo r th e a b o v e -m e n tio n e d -
to u r, he liad v e ry n a rro w ly escap ed b e in g c ru s h e d u n d e r
a bam boo w hen tlie coolc-shed in th e house w as b e in g
re p a ire d .
B esides, h is lu te w ife also m et w ith an a c c i­
d e n t a t t h a t vcr>" tim e.
p a rty in t h e N aw ab of
S h e w as in v ite d to a m a rria g e D a c c a ’s
fam ily.
AVhen sh e
b o a rd e d th e p a la n q ip n tlia t w as b r o u g h t to ta k e h e r, its
b o tto m g a v e w ay a n d sh e d ro p p e d dow n to th e g ro u n d
below .
A lth o u g h m ost u n w illin g to a tte n d th e p a rty ,
a n o th e r p a la n q u in w as b ro u g h t, a n d sh e w as ta k e n toth e
A hsan
M a n z il. M isfo rtu n e follow ed h ^ \ "While-
s te p p in g o u t o f th e p a la n q u in , h e r a n k le w as ^levercly
s p ra in e d , a n d th e p ain co n tin u e d fo r m o n th s. A ll t h i s
m ad e th e tra n s f e r
w clco '^ c.
T h e M u slim s of D a c ca
a h s ik t a k t
INS1>ECT0E, M. KDUCATIOX
29
rgave M . A b d u l K a r im a g r a n d e v e n in g p a rty on th e
•eve of h is d e p a r tu r e .
0-1 M a u la v i A b d u l K a r im 's tr a n s f e r fro m D a cca
a n E a s t B e n g a l ^ lu h a m m a d a n c o rre s p o n d e n t p u b lish e d
th e fo llo w in g le tte r, d a te d th e 5 th . A p ril 1895, in tjie
M oslem C h r o n i c le ;—
" T h e tra n s f e r of th e A ss is ta n t In s p e c to r of schools
fo r M u h am m ad an e d u c a tio n , is a v ery g re a t loss to
E a s t B en& il. B y h is am iab le c h a ra c te r a n d s u a v ity
•of m a n n e rs, M a u lv i A b d u l K a rim m ad e him self* v e ry
p o p u la r in * E a s t B e n g a l.
H e w as n o t o n ly lik e d
•but also re sp e c te d b y th o se w ho h a d o c c a sio n to com e
in c o n ta c t w ith him . A s lo n g as h e w as a t D a cc a, th e re
w a s sc a rc e ly a p u b lic m o vem ent atfcictin g M u h am m a ­
d a n in te re s ts in w h ic h Jie d id n o t ta k e a n a c tiv e p a rt.
H is a d v ic e w as s o u g h t a fte r b y a ll classes o f h is co. re lig io n is ts . B y h is p r iv a te c h a r ity he h a d so e n d e a re d
him self to th e p o o r o f D a c c a , t h a t som e of th e m a c tu a lly
d n irs t in to te a r s w h en th e y h e a rd ’of h is tra n s fe r,
A d e ta ile d a c c o u n t o f w h a t M a u lv i
A b d ul K a rim
h a s d o n e fo r fu rth e ra n c e of M u h a m m a d a n E d u c a tio n in
Eu'st B e n g a l w o u ld re q u ire a v olum e. I s h a ll v e r y
briefly s ta te w h a t I h a v e been a b le to a s c e rta in . H e
m ade a s tro n g r e p re s e n ta tio n r e g a r d in g th e n ec essity
of siKJcial p rim a ry sch o o ls fo r th e M u h am m ad an s. T h e
o rd in a ry p a ts h a la s , g iv in g as th e y d o only se c u la r educ a tie n , a re n o t su ite d to th e re p u ire m e n ts of th e M u h am ­
m ad an s. *They d e s ire t h a t re lig io n s a n d se c u la r ed u ­
c a tio n *of th e ir c h ild re n sh o u ld go h a n d -in -h a n d . T h e
•e x istin g sch em e of in s tru c tio n w as fra m e d w ith to o ex ­
c lu s iv e a r e f e r e n c e to th e re q u ire m e n ts of th e H in d u
30
L U 'E OF A. K A R IM
s tu d e n ts , a n d th e M uham m adan s tu d e n ts h a v e beeir
p la c e d a t a g ro a t d isa d v a n ta g e . In ju s tic e is d o n e tc*
th e M u h am m ad an s b y s p e n d in g th e fu n d s w h ic h arc
le v ie d iip p a r tia lly fro m a ll classes fo r s ta te ed ucation
on^a sy ste m a d a p te d to o ne class. T h e p o lic y o f g ra d u a l­
ly m o u ld in g th e M aktabs* in to P a ts h a la s has p ro v e d
a fa ilu re . T h e b e s t so lu tio n , lies in a* co m b in atio n o f
re lig io u s a n d s e c u la r ed u catio n — th e e d u c a tio n ^ iv e n in th e M a k ta b s a n d th e e d u c a tio n givotv iu th e P a t­
shalas! S u c h are th e a rg u m e n ts w h ich M a u lv i A bdulK a r im a d v a n c e 1, a n d th e re b y convinced*
C ro ft o f th e n ecessity o f e n c o u ra g in g a n d
M a k ta b s, w h ic h te a c h B e n g a li in a d d itio ti t^
a n d M u h am m ad an lite ri^ u re .
S ir A lfre d
S ir A lfred
a id in g theth e K o ran
issu e d an
e x c e lle n t c irc u la r o n th e subject, a n d th u s b u n d red s of
M a k ta b s in E a s t B en g al a r e now r e c e iv in g a id .
W ith r e r a r d to S eco n d ary ed u catio n , ^ f a u lv i A b d u l .
K a rim u rg e d w ith su ch fo rce th e n e c e ssity of in c lu d in g U rd ii in th e c u rric u lu m *of th e M id d le E n g lis h a n d M id ­
d le V e r n a c u la r S c h o la rs h ip E x a m in a tio n , a n d of a p ­
p o in tin g U rd u te a c h e rs in m id d le'sch o o ls, th a t th e D i­
re c to r of P u b lic In a tru c tio ii a d m itte d th e c la im of th e
M u h a m m a d a n s to in s tru c tio n in th e la n g u a g e w h ic h is
a n e c e ssa ry p a r t o f th e ir e d u c a tio n ,— n ecessary forh o ld in g a re sp e c ta b le p o s itio n in life, a n d fo r th e p e r­
fo rm a n c e o f re lig io u s d u tie s.
T h e ab sen ce o f M uham m adan te a c h e rs a n d in s p e c tin g
o ffic e rs is v e ry k een ly felt. M u h am m ad an te a c h e rs a ttr a c t
M u h a m m a d a n b o y s to sch o o ls. A n x io u s as M uh aiifm adans
a r e to h a v e t h e i r c h ild re n tra in e d u p as t r u e M oslem s^
t h e y a r e v e r y d esirous o f p la c in g th e m u n d e r M uham —
A«HI S t A N T IN S P K C T O U , M. E D U C A T IO N
31
m a d a u te a c h e rs , w h o , w t h o u t g iv in g a n y d ire c t religiouain s tru c tio n , m ay, b y w ay o f r e f e re n c e a n d illu stra tio n ,in s til in to th e i r y o u n g m in d s '’th e p rin c ijjle s of th e irre lig io n a n d u sa g e . M iiham iuadari in s p e c tin g o ffic e rs
a r e m o re in to u c h w ith th e M ian jis a n d A roulvis, a n d
th e y a r e a b le to g iv e th e m tlio in s tru c tio n th e y a r e in
n e e d of. Y o u ai;e aw are, M r. E d ito r, o f th e G o v e n im e n t C irc u la r o n th e su b je c t, issu ed on M a u lv i A bduh
K a r im ’s r e p re s e n ta tio n . Y’ou w ill be g la d to h e a r t h a t
som e M uh am m ad an te a c h e rs h av e a lre c d y b e e n ajip b in ted, a n d t h e . o n l y
v a c a n c ie s in
su b -in sp e c to rsh ip of
schools, o ne in T ip p e r a h a n d tw o in M y m e n sin g h , hav eb e e n filled u p b y M u h am m ad an c a n d id a te s. I d o u b t
w hetlio r in th e la s t fifty years e v e n o n e M u ham m adan
•
•
S u b - I n s p e c to r o f schools w as a p p o in te d in thosed is tr ic ts .
P o v e rty is o n e o f th e g r e a t o b stacles w h ich s ta n d in thew a y o f e d u c a tio n o f th e M u h am m ad an s. M o u lv i A bduh'
K a rim u rg e d th e n e c e ssity o f a llo w in g a c e r ta in n u m b e r
o f M u h a m m a d a n s to r e a d fre e a n d a c e rta in n u m b er on
re d u c e d foes. D r. M a rtin , w 'hile ofTiciatirig D ire c to r
of P u b lic I n s tru c tio n , issued a c irc u la r s a n c tio n in g a
c e r ta in n u m b er o f f r e e stu d c n tsliip s a n d h a lf-fre e stu ­
d e n ts h ip s fo r M u h am m ad an boys in h ig h a n d m id d le
sch oo ls. T h u s se v e ra l M u h a m m a d a n boys a re n o w
p ro se c u tin g th e ir stu d ie s, w ho, b u t fo r th e se concessions,
w o u ld n e v e r h a v e b e e n in a n y school.
■\Vhcii .r u r s ia n w as th e c o u rt lan g u ag e, a la rg e n u m ­
b e r o f o ffic ia ls a n d p ro fe sa io n a l m en w ere M u h am m ad ­
a n s, w h o u sed to g iv e fre e b o a rd a n d lo d g in g to a largen u m b e r of
M u h a m m a d a n stu d e n ts.
N ow on accoun
32
T.TFE O f A. KARI-M.
'o£ th e p a \ic ity of M u h am m ad an o ffic e rs a n d p ro fea sio iia l
Hien, M uh am m ad an stu d e n ts a re p u t to g re a t d iffic u lty
i n fiiiding b o x rd a n d lo d g in g . AVaut of b o a rd in g -h o u se s
f o r Afi^hammadan s tu d e n ts is, th e re fo re , v e ry k e e n ly
fe lt.
O n M a u lv i A b d u l K a r im ’s re p re s e n ta tio n th e
D ire c to r o f P u b lic lnstr»iC tiou issu ed a c ir c u la r to th e
e tfc e t t h a t G o v e rn m e n t w o u ld c o n tr ib u te to w a rd s th e
c o st o f b u ild in g b o ard in g -h o u se s f o r M u h a m m a d a n
p u p ils, a n d th e boarders^ w o u ld b e g ra u te jJ c a p ita tio n
fees.* Som e b o a rd in g -h o u se s, su c h a s th o s e a t C h itta ­
g o n g a n d F e u y h a v e a lre a d y b een estab lish ed . Ouherg,
such as th o se a t B a ris a l a n d M y rn eu sin g h , a rc lik e ly
to b e b u ilt sh o rtly .
I believe you a re aw are, M r. E d ito r , o f M o u lv i A b d u l
•
•
K a r im ’s p ro p o sa ls fo r th e re v isio n
•
o f th e M a d ra sa h
c o u rse of stu d ie s w ith a view to m a k e th e se in s titu ­
tio n s m o re useful th a n th e y a rc a t p re s e n t, a n d fo r
c o n fe rrin g c e r ta in p riv ile g e s u p o n th e M a d ra sh a s tu ­
d en ts. T h e s e a re s till u n d e r c o n s id e ra tio n .
I n th e
m ean tim e, th e M a d ra s a h i^asscd s tu d e n ts h a v e b een
g ra n te d th e p riv ile g e of a p p c a r i i ^ a t th e M u k h tc a rsh ip
E x a m in a tio n .
T h e M ohsin F u n d is in te n d e d fo r th e a id of poor M iihainm adaii students*. B u t now n o t an in c o n sid e ra b le p o r­
tio n o f th e M o h sin a llo tm e n t fo r Z i 11a schools is s p e n t
in p a y in g w h o lly o r p a rtly th e M a u lv ie s in th o se in s titu ­
tio n s . M o u lv i A b d u l K a rim p o in te d o u t th e im p ro p rie ty
o f p a y in g th e M o u lv ies fro m th is so u rc e • w h e n th e
P u n d its a r e p a id o u t of th e g e n e ra l re v e n u e s of th e
scho o ls.
I t is hop ed t h a t b e fo re lo n g G o v e rn m e n t
w ou ld see its w ay to p a y th e Z illa h sch o o l M oulvieS
A S H IS T A N T IN S P E C T O R , M . E D U C A T IO N
fro m th e school
33
fu n d , a n d th u s s e t fre e th e w h o le
o f th e M o h siii a llo tm e n t f o r th e aid of p o o r V luham m adAii s tu d e n ts .
T hese a re , as fa r as w e ki\ow , som e of th e im p o rta n t
s te p s ta k e n b y M o u lv i A b d u l K a rim fo r th e im p ro v e ­
m e n t o f M u h am m ad an e d u c a tio n . I h a v e h e a rd th a’t
• h e h as m ade se v e ra l o th e r re p re s e n ta tio n s re g a rd in g
' “ ^ th c r subjects, su c h as aw ard* o f sc h o la rsh ip s,' selectio n
•of text*-books c5ic., b u t I h a v e n o t been a b le to a sc e rta in
w ith w h a t re s u lt. T iiis le tte r h a s a lre a d y r u n a g re a t
le n g th , o th e rw ise I w o u ld h a v e given sev eral in s ta n c e s
o f w h a t he h a s d o n e fo r in d iv id u a l sch o o ls, in d iv id u a l
p u p ils , a n d in d iv id u a l c a n d id a te s fo r a p p o in tm e n t.
T h u s you ^ i l l see, M r. E d ito r, t h a t M o u lv i A bdul
K a r im h a s h a rd ly le ft viudcalt* a n y ilh p o r ta n t subject
co n n e c te d w ith M u h a m m id a n e d u c a tio n . H e h a s d is­
c h a rg e d his d u tie s to th e e n tire sa tisfa c tio n of his
co m m u n ity , w hose b est th a n k s a re d u e to him. I t
,
is now fe a re d t h a t M uliam m adain ed u catio n in E a s t
B e n g a l w o u ld v e ry g re a tly su tt'er b y his tra n sfe r.
E a s t B e n g a l has th<j la rg e s t M uham m ad an p o p u la­
t i o n in B e n g a l, a n d i t m ay w ell c la im t h e services
o f a sp ecial M u h am m ad an in s p e c tin g o ffic e r. I t is
v e ry d e s ira b le t h a t M u h am m ad an s o f E a s t B e n g a l
sh o u ld m em orialise G o v e rn m e n t fo r p o s tin g perm a­
n e n tly
in
E ast
B engal
a
M uh am m ad an
A s s is ta n l
In s p e c to r."
A
ss is t a n t
.
^
nhpector
E
of
S
chools,
,
W
estern
d u c a t io n
for
C
M
ir c l e
uham m adan
.
M a u lv i A b d u l K a rim ’s tra n s fe r to C a lc u tta g re a tly
-enlarged th e field o f h is a c tiv itie s. O n S ir A lfre d C ro ft’s
3
34
I.T F K
O F A. K A K I M
reco m m e n d a tio n , he w as a p p o in te d
a F e llo w o f tfioC a lc u tta U n iv e rs ity , a n d as sncli he cam e in c o n ta c t
w ith som e o f th e m ost e n lig h te n e d
e d u c a tio n ists of
B e n g a l, ,sn c h as th e la te S ir G u ru d a s B a n e rji, th e
la te M r. A . M . B ose,
th e la te M r. P. K . R oy, thela te S ir J a g a d is h C h a n d ra •B o se , th e la te S ir A sh u to sh
M n lflierji, th e la te S ir D g v a P r a s a d S a rb a d h ik a ry ,.
t h e late M r. ‘ B h n p e n d ra N a th B ose, th e late^ D r..
C h o o n ila l B o se , th e la te ^ M r. C m esh C h a ijd ra D n tt,.
th e lath M r. H eram b o C h a n d ra M o itro , a n d ho p ro fitf?d m uch b y a sso c ia tio n w ith them . A t t h a t timeth e re w ere o n ly a fe w >rusHm F ello w s, a n d M .
A bdul K a rim w as o n e o f th e m ost a c tiv e a n d u se fu l
a m o n g them . U n til the^ n ew U n iv e r s ity A c t w as
passed, in F o rd Cfurzon's tim e, ho c o n tin u e d a S en a to r,,
a n d th e n ho b ecam e an H o n o ra ry F e llo w fo r life.
Som e tim e a fte r his tr a n s f e r from D acca, i\[. A bdul
K a rim w as elected a m em b er o f th e A s ia tic Society,,
a n d a m em ber o f th e •B a n g iy a S a h ity a P a ris h a d , in
th e p ro c e e d in g s o f b o fh o f w h ich he to o k an a c tiv e
p a rt. W h e n th e C h a ita iiy a L ib ra ry a n n o u n c e d a g o ld
m edal in h o n o u r o f its p a tro n , S ir J o h n W o o d b u rn ,
th e th e n L ie u te n a n t-G o v e rn o r of B e n g a l, fo r th e b est
essay on A k b a r, t h d g r e a t M oghal E m p e ro r, th e com ­
m ittee a p p o in te d to exam ine th e essays p ro n o u n ce d
M . A b d u l K arim as essay to be th e best* a n d he w as
a w a rd e d th e W o o d b u rn g o ld m edal.* T h is b ro u g h t
•C h a ita n y a L ib ra ry
G o l p M k d a l :— Som e tim e
ago i t w as an n o u n c e d in th e p a p e rs th a t th e C h a ita n y a
L ib r a r y w o u ld o ffe r a gold m ed al to be c a lle d a fte r S ir
ASSISTANT INSPKCTOR, M. ED U CA TIO N
3»
hiiti to tiio n o tice o f S ir J o h n W o o d b u rn , w ho b egan
to ta k e iiit'irc s t in him . A fte r g o in g th ro u g h h ia
U rd u h isto ry o f I n d ia , lie exp ressed a good o p in io n
a n d g.v\'e him perm ission to d e d ic a te to h h n his
*‘S tu d e :'ts H is to rv o f I n d i a ” in E n g lis h , w h ich w as
p re sc rib e d by
th e C alcutta* U n iv e rs ity as a te x t
^ b o o k for th e .NHitriculatioi* E x a m in a tio n• . S ir ' J o h n
W o o d U irn 's u n tim e ly d e a th p ro v e d m ost d o tri- m ental
to tiio pro.-i^)ects of M . Abdwl K a rim .
D u rin g ids five y e a rs ’ sta y in C a lc u tta M . A b d u i
K a rim
had ju ris d ic tio n o v er tlire e D iv isio n s, n a m e ly ,
th e Presid en cy D iv isio n , th e C h o ta N a g p u r D iv isio n
a n d th e O rissa D iv isio n .
In th o se d a y s th e r e w a»
n o ra ilw a y c ith e r to C hota* N agi)w r o r to O rissa.
T h e jo u rn e y on “ push-pujih’* fro m P u ru lia to G irid ih ,
v ia K anchi a n d I la z a rib a g h ,
th o u g h teilious a n d
som etim es d a n g e ro u s (once th e p u sli-p u sh in w h ich
M . A bdul K a rim w as tr a v e llin g w as c h a se d by tig ers)
w as v e ry in te re s tin g . Some cjcceed in g ly b e a u tifu l
scen eries, su c h as th e h ills o f C h o tu p a lu a n d th e
w aixirfall of H o o d ru g h U (p e rh a p s th e h ig h e st th o u g h
n o t th e la rg e s t w a te rfa ll in th e w o rld ) m ig h t b e seen
on t h e way.
T h e trip to O rissa tvh ^Chandbali, though
J o h n "W oodburn fo r th e b e s t essay o n th e “ L ife a n d
T im e o f A k b a r ’'- - a su b ject th a t w as selected by H is
H o n o u r h im self. O f th e m an y essay« t h a t w ere w ritte n
on th e sul^juot, t h a t of M o u lv i A b d u l K a rim , b . a ..
A s s is ta n t In s p e c to r of S chools, h as been p ro n o u n c e d to
be th e b*est, a n d th e W o o d b u rn G o ld M ed al w ill bo
a w a rd e d to him .
T h e B en g alee, J u ly 5 9 ,1 0 1 .
36
L IF E
OF
A.
K A R IM
so m ew h at risk y , was re fre s h in g . T h e la s t tr ip t h a t
h e to o k to C h o ta N a g p u r a n d O rissa w as p a r tly
d o n e b y ra ilw a y , w h ic h w as th e n b e in g la id to b o th
o f these* p laces.
• I n h is o fficial w o rk in C a lc u tta M . A b d u l K a r im
g o t^ m u c h s u p p o rt fro m *the la te D r. M a rtin , w ho
a c te d us D ire c to r of Public* In stru cticfn fo r so m etim e.
H e to o k m u ch in te re s t in M u h am m ad an e d u c a tio u a n d
so m e im p o r ta n t G o v e rn ra a n t o rd e rs f o r its f u r th e r a n c e
w ere ])assed on his s tro n g reco m m en d atio n s. O n D r.
M a r tin 's re tire m e n t, th e M uslim s ra ise d f\!nds fo r his
co m m em o ratio n a n d h a d a m em orial m a rb le s la b p u t
u p in th e S e n a te H o u se, a n d c re a te d some s tip e n d s
fo r M u slim stu d a u ts. T h e la te S ir A lfre d C ro ft h a d
a good o p in io n of M . A b d u i K a rim , a n d he a lw ay s
fa v o u ra b ly c o n sid e re d h is p ro p o sals. T h e la te R a i
B a h a d u r R a d h ik a P ro sa m ia M u k h e rji, a n d th e late!Mr. R a d h a N a th R oy, In s p e c to rs of Schools, w ere
v e ry h e lp fu l to
A b d u l K a rim . O u tsid e th e D e jia rtm e n t he re ceiv ed h elp fro m M r. (a fte rw a rd s S ir
D en iso n ) R oss, P rin c ip a l, Oalo’ i tta M a d ra sa h , a n d
M r. S la c k e . S e c re ta ry to th e G o v e rn m e n t of B e n g a l,
A m o n g th e p u b lic ^ w ho h elp ed M . A lxlul K a rim in ,
his w o rk w ere th e la te M r. J u s tic e Syed A raeer A li,
th e la te -Nawab Syed A m eer H o ssa in , th e la te N aw ab
A b d u r R a h m a n , th e la te N aw ab S ir S harosul I lu d a ,
the. la te
M a u la v i M u h am m ad Y o u su f, ' th e la te M r. '
D ila w a r P lo ssain
A h m ad ,
th e
la te
S h a rasu l-U la m a
A ta n r R a h m a n , a n d th e la te M r. A b u l H a s a n , fo u n d e r '
o f th e C a lc u tta M uslim O rp h a n a g e . I n M u rsh id a b a tl '
M . A b d u l K a rim w as v ery k in d ly a n d c o u rte o u sly
A S S IS T A N T
received
by
th e
IN S P E C T O R , M .
lato N aw ab
B a h a d u r, w hose k in d
h o sp ita lity h e g ra te fu lly rem em bers.
la te K h a ti B a h a d u r
to him A t ‘ C u tta c k
frie n d s in M.
37
E D U C A T IO N
Ilis
D ow an,
th e
F a z le R ab b i, w as v e ry h e lp fu l
M. A b d u l K a rim fo u u d good
M uham m ad
G h u la n i G h a u s
and fh e
la te ^^r. IT a rib a lla v B ose, led d er of th e C a tta c k B a r a n d
•
th e
la te M r. J;Tnoki N ath«B oso, f a th e r o f M essrs. S a r a t
C h a n d ra B o se
a n d S u b a sh C h a n d ra B ose. A t B a la s o re
th e
B.
la te M r.
a n d th e
c u la rly
D ey, the* th e n D is tr ic t M a g istra te ,
la te M r. A lidus Soblian B h u iy a n w ere xiarti}iel])ful to him .
/
A t th e close of j\[. A b d u l K a rim ‘s te rm in
C a lc u tta th e
A ll- liid ia M u h am m ad an E d u c a tio n a l
c o n fe re n c e lield its a n n u a ] <?ession I n C.'^lentta, u n d e r
th e p re sid e n c y o f th e h ite M r. fTustice A m eer A li.
A s an e d u c a tio n a l o fficer. M . A b d u l K a rim n a tu r a lly
't o o k a p ro m in e n t p a r t in its p ro ceed in g s. H is speeches
m ad e a
good im pression
c o n fe re n c e he Ixrcame
th e m a ste r-m in d s o f. th e
of I n d ia ,
th e
su c h a-;
th e
on t|ie
au d ie n c e .
w cll-accfiiaintcd w ith
tim e
am o n g
la te K aw ab
th e
At
th is
some of
M uslim s
M o h sin -u l-m n lk ,
la te p o e t A lta f H o ssain H a li, th e la te lite ra tc u rs ,
M o u lv i ^sazcer A h m ad a n d M a n lb n a S h ib li X om ani,
w ith
som e o f w hcm h e iiged to c o rre s p o n d as lo n g as
th e y w ere a liv e . I t w as a t th is c o n fe re n ce t h a t some of
th o se M u slim s, s u c h as th e late S ir A li im a m , tiie la te
S ir
M u h a m m a d Shafi, D r. S ir Z ia u d d in A h m a d a n d S ir
A b d u l ’K a d e r, w ho a fte rw a rd s cam e in to m uch p ro m i­
nence, first m ade th e i r m ark . M . A b d u l K a rim
w e ll-a c q u a in ted w ith a ll of th em .
b e ca m e
38
L IF E OF A. K A RIM
' ‘M
u iia m m a d a x
E
d u c a t io n
in
B
kngal
“
III coniicic.tioii w ith th e O iilc u tta session of th e M iih a in m a ^ a ii E d u c u tio n u l C o n fe re n c e M au h iv i A bdul K a ­
rim n n b lish e d a broc.liure, “ M u h am m ad an E d u c a tio n
in IJeiig al. ” T h e p re sid e n t of tiio co n feren ce, th e la te
M r. A m ir AJi, sp o k e w ell
it, a n d th o se w ho h a d occa­
s io n to read* i t a p p re c ia te d it. S ir A lfre d O ro ft, th e
r e tir e d D ire c to r of P u b lic lu s tr n c tio n , w rote^from En}jla n d ,’ “ Y o u r le tte r of th e Cth J u n e re a c h e d m e by th e
m ail b e fo re la st, a n d th e fo llo w in g m ail b ro u g lit me
y o u r p ro m ised p a m p h le t. T h is I h a v e re a d w itli g re a t
in te re s t. T h e a c c o u n t t h a t you g iv e o f p ro g re ss a lre a d y m ad e a n d y o u r p ro p o sa ls fo r f u tu r e im p ro v e m e n t
s tr ik e m e as em in e n tly fa ir a n d reaso n ab le. A'^ou m ak e
a ll n eed fu l a llo w a n c e , an d you do n o t e x p e c t im p o ssi­
b ilitie s .
I am esp e c ia lly g la d to find t h a t so m an y
Jfu iia m m a d a n s h a v e been m ad e D e p u ty In sp e c to rs. I
h a rd ly k n o w w diether I o u g h t to ta k e it as a re p ro a c h
to m yself t h a t in my tim e b u t few of y o u r co -rc iig io n is ts w'crc a p p o in te d to th e se offices, b u t 1 rem em b er it
w a s a s ta n d in g d iffic u lty w’ith me. I am w illin g to hope
t h a t M u h am m ad an S u b -In sp e c to rs w ere g e ttin g to bQ
(pialified f o r th e h ig h e r a p p o in tm e n t o n ly a b o u t th e
tim e I le f t In d ia .
B u t it is e v id e n t t i i a t th e co m m u n ity ow es m u c h to
y o u r iie rsiste n t, a n d a t th e sam e tim e
te m p e ra te
iid v o c a c y .'
S ir A lfre d C ro ft w o u ld h a v e b een s till m ore su r])rised if h e h a d know n how m an y m ore M u ham m adan
D e p u ty In s p e c to rs , S u b -In s p e c to rs a n d sc h o o l-m a ste rs
A S M T ST A N T IN S P K C T O R , M . E D U C A T IO N "
•wore
siibsoquetitly
a})poiiited
39
d u r in g th e fo llo w in g
decade.
D r. M a rtin , a n o th e r r e tir e d D ir e c to r of P u b lic
In s tr u c tio n , u n d e r w hom M . A bdul K a rim h ad serv ed ,
w r o te “ V e ry m any th a n k s fo r th e c o p y o f y o u r boolf o n
M u h a m m a d a n e d u c a tio n wiift?)x is v e ry f u ll a n d co m p lete
■and w ill p ro v e m o st xise^ul if i t s tir s u p y o u r fe llo w - ,
■countrymen o f th e M oslem re lig io n t o e n d e a v o u r to
o b ta in e x c e lle n ce in lite ra ry .p u rsu its.
I am g la d to h e a r th a t y o u r tim e f o r p ro m o tio n is
•draw ing n ig h .
Y o u a re
e m in e n tly d e s e rv in g of th e
rsamc if you h a v e c o n tin u e d to w o rk , s in c e I le f t In d ia ,
w i t h th e iu,t(‘llig e n c e a n d a ssid u ity w h ic h you e x h ib ite d
w h i l e I se rv e d as D ire c to r o f ,P n b lic ^ I n s tr u c tio n .“
N o o n e k n o w s b c t ^ r th a n S ir A lfre d C ro ft a n d
D r . M a r tin how M . A bdul K a r im d is c h a rg e d his d u tie s
a n d w h a t g re a t s e rv ic e he re n d e re d to t h e ca u se of
M u h a m m a d a n E d u c a tio n in B e n g a l.
T h e fo llo w in g e x tra c ts frb in th e b ro c h u re m ay b e
in t e r e s t i n g :—
“ W i t h th e f a l l 'o f th e M u slim e m p ire in I n d ia in
1757 A . D , th e se a ts of le a rn in g w h ich s u p p lie d g o v e rn ­
m e n t o ffic ia ls, d is a p p e a re d . I t w as n ecessary , th e r e ­
fo re , to e sta b lish a n in s titu tio n to q u a lify M uslim s in
B e n g a l f o r p u b lic se rv ic e . I n 1782 W a r r e n H a s tin g s
la id th e fo u n d a tio n o f th e C a lc u tta M a d ra sa h . Tlxe
o b je c t in v ie w w as to “ p ro m o te th e stu d y o f th e A ra b ic
a n d Peiisian la n g u a g e s a n d of M u h a m m a d a n L a w , w ith
a v ie w m o re esp e c ia lly to th e p ro d u c tio n of qualified
•officers f o r t h e C o u rts of Justice.**
D or a b o u t h a lf a
<5enturv th e su ccessfu l stu d e n ts o f t h e M a d ra sa h m ono*
40
L IF E
O ^'
A.
K A R IM .
p o lisc d alm o st a ll th e jn d ic ia l a n d e x e c u tiv e ]iosts u n d e r
th e G o v e rn m e n t, a n d th e y p re tlo in in a te d a t tlie B ar.
'W hen L o rd W illia m B e n tic k w as G o v e rn o r-G e n e ra l
it w as dc(nded t h a t E n g lis h sh o u ld be th e m ed iu m of
ed u c a tio n fo r th e p eo p le o f I n d ia . L o rd M aca u lay , a
raam b er o f th e G o v e rn o r-G o n o ra rs C o u n cil, w ro te Insc e le b ra te d m in u te a n d B e fitic k p assed in 1835, tlio m em o rab le re s o lu tio n in fa v o u r of E n g lis h educaficn . »
W h e n i t w as prop'osed to a p p r o p r ia te th e w hole
o f G o v e rn m e n t E d u c a tio n a l g r a n t to E n g lisji e d u c a tio n ,
a p e titio n w as su b m itte d agaiiust it, sig n ed b y a b o u t 8000
M u slim s o f C a lc u tta , w ho b eliev ed th e in tro d u c tio n of
E n g lis h w as a ste p to w a rd s co n v ersio n to ‘C h ristia n ity .
A ltiio u g h iiie re \fa s n o Aial cau se fo r th is su sp ic io n , as
th e G o v e rn m e n t h a d declare^!, in 1808, th e p o licy of
re lig io u s n e u tra lity , th e M u slim s b o y co tted E n g lis h
ed u catio n .
I t is a p ity th a t room co u ld n o t h a v e been
fo u n d fo r b o th E n g lis L a n d o r ie n ta l e d u c a tio n .
M ad
o rie n ta l le a r n in g fo u lid a p la c e in th e c u rric u lu m of
E n g lis h sc h o o ls a n d co lleg es, a s a t p re se n t, m ost p r o ­
b a b ly th e re w o u ld n o t liav o b een a ll th is m isa p p re h e n ­
sio n .
T h e a d v o c a te s o f E n g lish ed u catio n seem to h a v e
o v e rsh o t tlie ir m a r k V h e n L o rd M a c a u la y , as th e ir m o u th ­
piece, d e c la re d , w ith h is c h a ra c te ris tic fa c ility fo r e x a g ­
g e ra tio n , t h a t “ a sin g le sh e lf of a good E u ro p e a n lib r a r y
w as w o rth th e w h o le n a tiv e lite ra tu re o f I n d ia a n d
A rabia.^’
T h e e x c lu siv e stu d y o f a fo re ig n d a n g n a g e -
confirm ed th e suspicion a n d t h e re s u lt, w as, as w ill bo
sh o w n la te r o n , niost d e trim e n ta l to th e in te re s ts of m y
co-relig io n ists.
ASSISTANT INSPEGTOE, M. ED U CA TIO N
41
O u r u tilita r ia n c o u n try m e n , tiic H in d u s, w ho diiringM u slim r u le h a d re a d ily le a r n t P e rsia n , a n d som e
w hom h a d even becom e te a c h e rs o f t h a t la n g u ag e , quick.
p e rc e iv e t h e im m en se a d v a n ta g e t h a t a k n o w led g e
o f E n g lis h lite r a tu r e a n d sc ie n c e w ould g iv e them , e a rly
d e v o te d th e m se lv e s to w e ste rp stu d ie s.
T h e ir a d v a n c e d
se c tio n , u n d e r th e g u id a n c e o f th e c e le b ra te d patt-iot
a n d lin g u is t, R a ja K am M o h an R oy a n d th e p h ila n th r o ­
p ic w a tc h -m a k e r, D a v id H a re , cstab lish etl an in s titu tio n
c a lle d ‘Vi<5yalaya'^ fo r th e ed u catio n of H in d u clfildron
in K tig lish la n g u a g e a n d lite ra tu re . I n th e c o u rse of
a few y e a rs a ta s te fo r E n g lis h w as ^Yidely
d issem in at-
od am o n g H in d u s, a n d s e v e ra l schools, c o n d u c te d b y
y o u n g m en, e d u c a te d in th e “ V id y a la y a ,’'* s p ra n g u p in
d ift'c rc n t jilaccs. 'llio tid e tlin s se t in s tro n g ly in fa v o u r
of E nglislv e d u c a tio n ,
I ’h e first f r u its o f ex clu siv e E n g lish e d u catio n in a
fo reig n la n g u a g c j .not w e lh g ro u n d e tl in th e ir ajic e stra l'
th e o lo g y a n d tra d itio n s , w e re in fected -with scepticism ,,
a n d th e H in d \i so c ie ty of t h e tim e p re se n te d t h e a p p e a r­
an ce o f chaos.
S o m e ^ f th e m ost in te llig e n t of th e E n g ­
lis h e d u c a te d H in d u s o f th e tim e, w hose b e lie f in th e ir
a n c e s tra l re lig io n h a d b e e n a ffe c ted , d id n o t h esitate
t o e m b ra c e C h ris tia n ity .
A ll th e se 'u n f o r tu n a te circu m ­
sta n c e s could n o t b u t a la rm a re lig io u s p e o p le lik e theM u s lim s,'m o st o f whi^m, f o r a lo n g tim e, k e p t a lo o f from
E n g lis h ed u catio n a n d g re a tly su ffe re d c o n se q u e n tly in
th e ir w orW ly p ro s p e c ts . A s t h e G o v e rn m e n t n e v e r a d o p ­
te d a n y ])roseIy tisin g policy an d E iig lish e d u catio n w’as
p u re ly se c u la r,
th e M u slim s h a d less cause to fe a r
co n v e rsio n th ro u g h E n g lis h ed u catio n th a n
any o th e r
■42
L IF E
OF
A.
K A R IM
'Oommunity in Iiidifi, Islam boiiig foundGd on priticiploB
too stro n g to be easily shaken. In fact it has been loss aff<5Ctcd by ■western education an d civilisation th a n an y
•other system. M uslim s should have nercievcd th e ad v a n ­
tag e of th e chango and should liave adap ted them selves
•.to th e exigencies of tho,.time. B u t as an a n c ie n t con•rin^iring ra(te can n o t easily divest its e li of th e tra d itio n s
its nobler days and as they were confident of th e supe­
rio rity of th e ir system of education, th e M uslinis co n tin u ed
■to pfirsue th e ir old studies w ith th e lam entable re su lt
•that before long they were jjractieally oKcluded fro m
th a t sh are of office and em olum ent in G o v ern m en t
service to w hich th e ir position entitled them an d wliich
cthey had once m onopolised.
T h e re sp e c ta b le M u salm an s of B e n g a l h a v e to le a rn
m o re o r less five lan g u ag es, v iz . A ra b ic a n d P e rs ia n ,
th e la n g u a g e of th e ir S c rip tu re s a n d L ite r a tu r e , U rd u ,
th e la n g u a g e o f th e ir so ciety a n d B e n g a li a n d U n g lis h
th e la n g u a g e s of t h e •co u rts. I t is th is t h a t s ta n d s , to
•some e x te n t, in th e w hy of fa ir co m p e titio n w ith o th e r
•classes o f people, w ho liave to ^ e a rn tw o o r th r e e la n ­
g u a g e s o n ly . T h o u g h U rd u is n o t th e v e rn a c u la r of
th e M u slim s of B e n g a l, i t is re g a rd e d as th e ir n a tio n a l
la n g u a g e , th e i r l^ingno } r o v c a b y w h ic h th e y com ­
m u n ic a te w ith tlie ir c o -re lig io n is ts a ll o v e r In d ia . B esides,
m a n y of th e re lig io u s b o o k s o f th e M uslim a h a v e
been tra n s la te d fro m A ra b ic in to U rd u . T h o se w h o
•can n o t aft'ord to te a c h th e ir c h ild re n A n ib ic , c o n te n t
'th em se lv e s w ith te a c h in g th em U rd u , th ro u g h w h ic h
th e y m ay le a rn th e fu n d a m e n ta l p rin c ip le s o f th e ir re li­
g io n a n d tra d itio n s.
ASK’HTANT INSPECTO R, M. E D U C A TIO N
43
T h e d e p lo ra b le s ta te o f th in g s m en tio n ed ab o v e r e ­
m a in e d alm o st u n n o tic e d t i l l re c e n t y e a rs.
A t la s t it
a ttr a c te d t h e a tte n tio n of llr itis h sta te sm e n w h o s tu ­
d ie d th e su b je c t. Jklr. IC. C. B ay lcy w rites, “ Is it a n y
s u b je c t fo r w o n d e r t h a t th e y h eld a lo o f fro m 'a sy stem
w h ic h , h o w e v e r good in itse lf, m ade n o concession to
th e ir p re ju d ic e s, m ade in fa c t n o p ro v isio n fo r '^ h a t
. tlie y esteem ed t*lxeir n ecessities a n d w h iy h w as in its
n a tn r'e u n a v o id a b ly a n ta g o n is tic to th e ir in te re s ts a n d
a t v a r ia n c e w ith th e ir socin 1 tra d itio n s.* ’ iSir
H u n te r w rite s m o re s tro n g ly , “ T h e la n g u a g e of o u r
G o v e rn m e n t sch o o ls in L o w er B e n g a l is H in d u a n d
th e m a ste rs a re H in d u s. T h e M iisalm an s w ith o n e
c o n se n t s])u tn e d th e in s tru c tio n s o f id o la to rs th ro u g h
th e m e d iu m o f id o la try . . . T h e a s tu te H in d u has cov e r e . th e c o u n try w ith •sc h o o ls a d a p te d to th e w a n ts
•of his ow n co m m u n ity b u t w h o lly u n su ite d to th e M uham ■m ad an s. . . . O u r r u r a l schools seldom en ab le a M u h lim m a d a n to le a rn th e to n g u e necessary fo r his h o ld in g
3. re s p e c ta b le p o sitio n in life a n d fo r th e p e rfo rm a n c e
•of h is re lig io u s d u tie s .” T h ese a n d sim ila r re m a rk s a t t ­
r a c te d t h e n o tice of G o v e rn m e n t a n d t h e E a rl of M ayo
d e a lt w ith it in a n e x h a u stiv e R e so lu tio n in 1881. H is
E x c e lle n c y d ire c te d th a t f u r th e r ^ n d m o re sy ste m a tic
■encouragem ent a n d re c o g n itio n sh o u ld b e given to th e
■classical a n d v e rn a c u la r lan g u ag es of th e M u h a m madaiiH in a ll G o v e rn m e n t sch o o ls a n d colleges : th.at in
n v o w e d ly E n g lis h schools, e sta b lish e d in M u h am m ad an
9
d is tr ic ts , th e a p p o in tm e n t o f qualified M u h am m adan E n g ­
lish te a c h e rs sh o u ld be e n c o u ra g e d ; th a t a ssista n c e
•should b e g iv e n b y g ra n ts-in -a id to e n a b le th e m to
o p e n schools of th e i r ow n, a n d tlia t g re a te r en c o u rag e­
44
L IF E
OF
A.
K A R tM
m e n t sh o u ld b e g iv en to th e c re a tio n o f a v e rn a c u la r
lite r a tu r e fo r M u h a n n n a d a n s /’
O n r e c e ip t of re p o rts from L o cal G o v e rn m e n ts an d
A d m in V iti a tio n s, l.o rd N o rth b ro o k cam e to th e con­
clu sio n “ T h a t w h c re e v e r th e o rd in a ry v e rn a c u la r of th e
c o u n try "was re a d a n d w ritte n in th e H in d u s ta n i or theU r^ ii c h a r a c te r th e re M uhaqiim adans occu p ied th e ir pro­
p e r p o s itio n in th e p rim a ry a n d se c o n d a ry schotils. . . .
a n d th e M u h am m ad an s w ere n o t so m uch a\;erse to th e
subiocta w h ic h th e G o v e rn m e n t h a d d ecid ed to te a c h
as to tlic m odes o r m a c h in a ry th ro u g h avhich in s tru c ­
tio n w as o ffe re d .” I n c o n clu d in g tlie K eso lution H is
E x c e lle n c y exp ressed th e h o p e “ t h a t in all ])i‘o v in ces
w h e re M u h am m ad an s w ^ e few a n d o fte n exposed to
a ll th e d isa d v a n ta g e s w h ic h ^ a ff'e c t a re lig io n s m ino­
r ity w ith o u t w e a lth o r in flu en ce, i t w o u ld be th e sp e ­
c ia l c a re o f
G o v e rn m e n t to sa tisfy th em selv es
th a t,
those e n d e a v o u rs to e n c o u ra g e th e ed u catio n of M u h a m ­
m ad a n s w o u ld bo ]>er§istently m a in ta in e d .” T h is re ­
so lu tio n w as co n sid e re d b y th e L o c a l (T overnm ents a n d
ste p s w e re ta k e n in th e d e sire d •‘d ire c tio n b y som e of
th em .
T h e G o v e rn m e n t of M ad ras, n o tw ith s ta n d in g th e
c o n tr a r y o p in io n s cxjiressed b y th e D ire c to r of P u b lic
In s tr u c tio n a n d th e S y n d ic a te of tlic M a d ra s L n iv e r sity . w as c o n v in c e d “ th a t th e e x is tin g sch em e of in s ­
tr u c tio n w as fra m e d w ith to o ex clu siv e re fe re n c e to th e
re q u ire m e n ts of th e H in d u s tu d e n ts, a n d tiiatf M uiiam m ad a n s w’cre p la c e d ,a t so g re a t a d is a d v a n ta g e th a t th e
w o n d e r w'as n o t th a t th e M uh am m ad an e le m e n t in thesc h o o ls w as
SQ
sm all b u t tlm t it .existed a t a ll.“ Some-
a h h is t a n t
in s p e c t o r ,
m . e d o c a t io n
45
im p o rta n t ste p s w ore a c c o rd in g ly ta k e n fo r th e sproivd
^ n d e n c o u ra g e m en t o f M u h am m ad an e d u c a tio n in th e
M a d ra s p resid en cy .
T h e D ire c to r o f p u b lic I n s tr u c tio n , B e n g a l, re m a rk e d
ill his r e p o rt fo r 1871—72, “ T h e M u salm an s h av e fa lle n
b e h in d th e tim e, a n d re q u ire still th e in d u c e m en ts h eld
• o u t fo rty y e a rs a g o to the* w h o le co m m u n ity , b u t of
which* o n ly H in d u s a v a ile d th em selv es. . . . U n less th e
s tro n g in d u cem en ts in g e u e ra f u se fo rty y e a rs ag o a rc
h e ld o u t to M u h am m ad an s now I h a v e litt l e h o p e of
;secing th e m d ra w n to <nir schools.'* T h e G o v e rn m e n t
of B e n g a l, h ow ever, d e c id e d t h a t i t w as n o t n ec essary to
•establish sp ecial sch o o ls fo r M u h a m m a d a n s. B u t one
im p o rta n t s te p w as ta k e n ; a* p o rtio ft o f th e M o h sia
•endow m ent w as s e t fre e fd t th e en co u rag em en t a n d ex­
te n sio n of e d u catio n am o n g th e M u h am m ad an s of B en •gal. M ad ras as w ere e sta b lish e d a t D acca a n d C h itta g o n g ,
sc h o la rs h ip s w ere c re a te d fo r M uh am m ad an s tu d e n ts a n d
.a llo tm e n ts w ere m ad e fro m th e M o h sin fu n d to th e z illa
•schools fo r p a y in g tw o -th ird s o f th e fees of ])Oor M uham ­
m a d a n s tu d e n ts a n d f o r a p p o in tm e n t of P e rsia n te a -chers.
T h e E d u c a tio n C om m ission o f 1SS2 m ade a n e x h a u s ­
tiv e in q u iry in to th e su b je c t, c o n su ltin g a ll a v a ila b le
re p o rts a n d re so lu tio n s a n d e x a m in in g v e te ra n M u h a m ­
m ad an cd u catio iiiats as w itn e sse s.
A fter th o ro u g h ly
th re s h in g * o u t th e su b je c t th e y fo rm u la te d recom m enda­
tio n s fo r th e f u r th e r e n c o u ra g e m e n t of M uham m adan
E d u c a tio n o f w h ic h th e fo llo w in g a re i m p o r t a n t :—
(1) T h a t th e special encouragem ent o f M uham m adan
40
LTFK O F A.
KARIM
e d u c a tio n b e re g a rd e d as a le g itim a te c h a rg e on L ocaP
M u n ic ip a l a n d on P ro v in c ia l .Funds ;
(2)
T h a t in d ig e n o u s M u h am m ad an sc h o o ls b e lib e r
a lly enco<iragcd to ad d p u re ly se c u la r su b jects to th e ir
couraC of in s tr u c tio n ;
(B) T lia t th e o ffic ia l v ei'n a c u la r, in p laces w h e re it
is tio t H in d u s ta n i, b e ad d ed ;v«a v o lu n ta ry su b je c t to thec u rric u lu m o f p rim a ry a n d m iddle sch o o ls fo r M u h a m ­
m ad a n s m a in ta in e d fro m \Miblic fu n d s, a n d tJia t a r ith m etic a n d ac c o u n ts be ta u g h t th ro u g h th e m edium of
t h e v e r n a c u la r ;
*
(4) T iia t in lo c a litie s w h ere M u h am m ad an s fo rm a
f a ir p ro p o rtio n o f th e p o p u la tio n p ro v isifv i bo m ad e
in m id d le a n d h ig h scliools, m a in ta in e d from publicfu n d s, fo r im p a r tin g in stru c tio n in th e H in d u s ta n i a n d
P e rs ia n la n g u a g e s ;
(5) T h e h ig lic r E n g lis h e ilu catio ii fo r M u h am raa d an a
b e in g th e k in d of e d u c a tio n in w h ic h t h a t c o m m u n ity
n ee d s s p e c ia l h e lp , be lib e r a lly e n c o u ra g e d ;
(o) T h a t w h e re necessary a g ra d u a te d system o f
sp e c ia l s c h o la rs h ip s fo r M u h a m m a d a n s be e s ta b lish e d ,,
to b e a w a rd e d (a) in p rim a ry seh o o ls, an d ten a b le in
m id d le sc h o o ls, (b) in m id d le sch o o ls, a n d te n a b le in
h ig h sch o o ls (c) on th e re s u lt o f th e M a tr ic u la tio n an-l
F i r s t A rts E x a m in a tio n s, a n d te n a b le in colleges ;
(7) T h a t in a ll classes of sch o o ls, m a in ta in e d fromim b lic fu n d s, a c e r ta in p ro p o rtio n of free stiidentshjp&
b e ex p re ssly re se rv e d fo r M uh am m ad an stu d e n ts ;
(8) T h a t M u h am m ad an in s p e c tin g ofl'icers b e emX>loyed m ore la rg e ly th a n h ith e r to fo r th e in sp e c tio n of
p rim a ry sch o o ls fo r M u h am m ad an s ;
A S .S L S T A yr TNHPf3CT0K, M. KDC7CATION
4T
III p ro ' o s itig tliese m easures tlio C om m ission re v iew e d
th e g 'iiie ra l s itu a tio n tliu s.—
“
from th e so c ia l a n d h is to ric a l c o n d itio n s o f
th e M u h a m m a d a n co m m u n ity in I n d ia , th e re a r e . causes
of a s tr ic tly e d u c a tio n a l c h a ra c te r w h ic h h e a v ily w cigji
i t in th e ram i o f life . T lie te .lc liin g o f th e m osque m ust
•
p re c e d e tlie lossows o f th e scjiooi. T iie o ne o bject of a
y o u n g f lin d u is to fit him fo r a n ofl'icial o r p ro fe ssio n a l
c a re e r. BuJ: b e fo re th e y o u n g .M u h a m m a d a ii is a llo w ed
to tu r n his th o u g h ts to s e c u la r in stru c tio n he m ust com ­
m o n ly i>ass som e y e a rs in g o in g th ro u g h a course o f
s a c re d le a rn in g . T h e M u h am m ad an b o y , th e re fo re ,
e n te rs Hchooj, la te r th a n th e H in d u . I n th e second
p la c e , he v e ry o fte n le a v e s th e sc h o o l J^t a n e a rlie r age.*
T lie M u h am m ad an p a r e n t J^ e lo rg in g to th e b e tte r classes
is u su a lly p o o re r th a n th e H in d u p a r e n t in a c o rre s­
p o n d in g so c ia l p o s itio n . H e c a n n o t oft’o rd to give h is
so n 8 0 c o m p le te a n e d u c a tio n . I n tlie th ir d p la c e , irr e s ­
p ec tiv e o f h is w o rld ly m eans, th e 'M u h a m m a d a n p a re n t
o fte n chooses fo r h is son w h ile a t school an e d u catio n
w h ic h w ill se c u re fo r h im a n h o n o u re d p lace am o n g tlie
le a rn e d o f h is c o m m u n ity , r a th e r th a n one w h ich w ill
co m m an d su ccess in th e m o d ern professions o r in o ffic ia l
life . T h e a b o v e a r e th e p r in c ip a l causes of a n educa­
tio n a l c h a ra c te r w h ic h r e ta r d th e p ro s p e rity of th e
M u sa lm a n s.”
O n th e e e m p le tio n o f five >citr» a i C a lc u tta , M a u la v i
A b d u l K a rim w as tra n s fe rre d , in 1900, to P a tn a , w itli
ju ris d ic tio n o v er t h e P a tn a a n d B h a g a lp u r D ivisions.
H is frie n d , th e la te K h a n B a h a d u r D r. A s d a r AH K h a n ,
w h o also cam e fro m S y lh e t, h e lp e d h im in g e ttin g com —
48
L IF E
OF
A.
K A R IM
fo rta b ly s e ttle d a n d m ade him a c q u a in te d w'ith
tlie
J o a d in g in h a b ita n ts of th e p lace. I n th e la te K h a n
B a h a d u r K h o d a B u k s h K h a n , th e fo u n d e r of th e re ­
n o w n ed ^ O rie n ta l L ib r a r y a t P a tn a a n d in t h e la te
N a w a b S y cd Ira d a d Im am , fa th e r of th e la te Syed A li
Im a m a n d th e la te S yad H n san Im am , he fo u n d h e lp in g
fr ie n d s . U n fo rtu n a te ly h is ^ a y in th e <iew c irc le w aa
s h o r t ; w ithin* a y ear of h is tr a n s f e r th e re , his h e a lth
b ro k e d o w n a n d he h a d to^proceed on lo n g lea v e.
O i U o f e v i l som etim es co m eth g o o d ; illn e s s seem s
to h a v e g iv e n a n ew tu rn to h is m in d ;• ho becam e
m o re p a r tic u la r a b o u t re lig io u s o b s e rv a n c e s a n d w as
-on th e lo o k -o u t fo r a s p ritu a l g u id e . H ii^ frie n d s, th e
k ite M a u iv i A bdul J a w a d a n d th e la te S h am su l-u lam a
M o u lv i A h m ad , sp o k e h ig h ly ^ o f th e s p ir itu a l a tta in ­
m e n ts o f , th e la te M a u la n a G h u la m S a lm a n i S a h ib .
T h e re u p o n he g o t h im self in tro d u c e d to h im a n d b egan .
to a tte n d h is s p ir itu a l s ittin g s . H e w as th e n in itia te d
in th e t a r i q a t of l l i z f a t M u ja'Jd id e -A la fi e-S aiii. In
a b o u t fo u r years d u rin g w h ich he s a t a t th e f e e t of his
s p ir itu a l guide, he m ade fa ir flrogress. B u t u n fo r­
tu n a te ly he fell serio u sly ill, a n d lo st m uch of w h a t ho
h a d le a rn t. B e fo re his re c o v e ry h is M u rsh ed su d d en ly
•d ie d to h is u tm o s t g rief.
B e fo re M a u la v i A b d u l K a rim re tu rn e d fro m m edical
le a v e , th e p o sts o f A ssista n t In s p e c to rs o f S^^hobls fo r
M u h am m ad an E d u c a tio n , w ere ab o lish ed a n d lie a n d his
C olleague, t h e la te M a u la v i M uham m ad IbraK lm , w ere
ab so rb e d in to th e g en eral c a d re of In s p e c to r s of S chools.
M
ath.
\Y i A r d u l K
a r im
A ssis ta n t in s p e c to r of S cho o ls, M u h a m m a d a n E d u c a tio n ,
ISnO to 1900.
4
CHAPTER V II.
W
,
ork
as
a
S
p e c ia l
E
o f f ic e r
d u c a t io n
•
for
M
uhammadan
.
•
O f th e sev eral ste p s t h a t M a n iv i A b d u l K a rim .to o k
fo r th e f u rth e ra n c e o f cduoation am o n g th (; M u slim a,
th e m Sst im ])o rta n t w ere (1) A p p o in tm e n t o f M uslim s
in th e E d u c a tio n D e p a rtm e n t, (2) A llo tm e n t of fu n d s
fo r th e a ssista n c e o f p o o r M uslim stu d e n ts , (3) R e la x a ­
tio n o f A g e L im it. (4 ) E s ta b lis h m e n t of B oarding-liousea,
(5) R efo rm of th e systojn o f M a d ra s a h a n d M a k ta b
E d u c a tio n . A s w ill be seen fro m th e s ta te m e n t below ,
in som e of th e d is tr ic ts a n d oven in th e w h o le of som e
of th e D iv isio n s th e r e w as n o t a s in g le M u slim o fficer
in th e h ig h e r g ra d e s of e ith e r th e te a c h in g o r th e in s­
p e c tin g lin e o f th e E d u c a tio n a l S erv ic e . T h is m u st
h a v e b e e n m ost d e trim e n ta l to tiie sp re a d of e d u c atio n
am o n g th e M uslim s. A s re g a rd s fa c ilitie s f o r th e edu­
c a tio n o f p o o r M u slim s tu d e n ts , th e re w ere n o s p e c ia l
fre e s tu d e n ts h ip s fo r th em a n d a la rg e a m o u n t of th e
M o h sin F u n d w a s * u tilis e ! in p a y in g th e s a la r ie s of
P e rs ia n a n d A rab ic te a c h e rs in G o v e rn m e n t Schools.
T h e c o u rse of stu d ie s fo r M .adrasahs a n d M a k ta b s d id
n o t (lualify th e ta u g h t fo r serv ice, n o r d id i t m ake th em
th o r o u g h A ra b ic sc h o la rs.
A s w ill be seeiw fro m t h e
s ta te m e n t b elo w th e p ro g re ss m a d e in e d u c a tio n b y th e
M u slim s o f B e n g a l d u rin g th e la s t q u a r te r c e n tu ry is
S P E C IA L O F F IC E R M . E D U C A T IO N
5 1
m a in ly d u e to th e s te p s t h a t w ere ta k e n o n M a u lv i
A b d u l Karini*B p ro p o sals.
I n B e n g a l, w h ic h in c lu d e d B ih a r a n d
O rissa , th e re
•were, in 1893, 4 6 D e p u ty In s p e c to rs of sc h o o ls, 190
S u b -In s p e c to rs o f S ch o o ls a n d 290 sc h o o l m a ste rs m
‘G o v e rn m e n t schools, of w h o m b n ly 2, 9 a n d 11 r c s p ^ t i v c l y w ere M u slim s. T h is d is p a r ity w as m o st g la r ­
i n g in B e n g a l proi^er as sh o w n b elow .
1.
I n th e P re s id e n c y D iv isio n a ll th e 6 D e p u ty
I n s p e c to r s o f schools, a ll th e 32 S u b - I n s p e c to rs o f
s c h o o ls a n d a ll th e 36 sch o o l-m astcrs w e re n o n -M u slim s.
I n th e D a c c a D iv isio n a ll th e 4 D e p u ty I n s p e c to r s ,
a l l th e 21 S u b -In sp e c to rs a n d a ll th e 18 seh o o l-m astersw ere n o n -M u slim s.
•
I n th e
C h itta g o n g
D iv isio n
a ll
th e
3
D e p u ty
In s p e c to r s w ere n o n -M u slim s a n d o u t of 12 S u b -In s­
p e c to rs , 2 a n d o u t o f 22 sc h o o l-m a stc rs 2 w cr e M uslim s.
I n th e B u rd w a n D iv is io n a ll th e 7 D e p u ty In s p e c to rs
' a n d a ll th e 17 sch o o l-m asters w ere n o n -M u s lim s a n d
-out of 28 S u b -In sp e c to rs* o n ly o n e w as a M u s lim ,
I n th e R a js h a h i D iv is io n a ll th e 7 D e p u ty In si^ e cto rs
w e re n on-M uslim s a n d o u t o f 28 Sub-In% pecto rs o n ly one
a n d o u t of 51 school m a s te rs o n ly 2 w o re M u slim s.
M . A b d u l K a rim m ade a s tr o n g r e p r e s e n ta tio n to
th e D ire c to r of P u b lic I n s tr u c tio n , p o in tin g o u t how
s u c h pau city * an d d is p ro p o rtio n of M u s i im o ffic ers h a d
a m ost in ju rio u s effect o n th e p ro g re s s of e d u c a tio n
a m o n g th e M usUiuJ a n d ppopo3iug th e
a p p o in tm e n t of
LIFE
52
O F A. KAftCJf
M u slim s oi^ th e o c c u rre n c e o f v a c a n c ie s , p ro v id e d c a n ­
d id a te s w itli th e re q u is ite q u a lific a tio n s w ore a v a ila b le ^
t i l l su c h ti m e as th e M u slim c le m e n t in th e e d n c a tio n a l'
s e r v ic e w o u ld be in creased som ew hat in p ro p o rtio n to
th e M uslim p o p u la tio n in th e p ro v in c e . T h e G o v e rn ib e n t a g re e d w ith him a n d on th e w h o le a c c e p te d hisliro p o s a ls a s t!ie fo llo w in g c irc u la rs w ill show :—
•
•
CIECL'LAR Xo. 79.
F ro m th e D ir e c to r of P u b lic T n stru ctio n, B e n g a l.
T o a ll I n s p e c to r s of S chools (e x c e p t th e In s p e c to r of
of E u ro p e a n S chools, B en g al).
D a te d , D a rje e lin g , th e 2 5 th Ju n e , Ib-94.
S in ,
1 h a v e th e h o n o u r to s ta te th a t in a le tte r Xo. 59T .
d a te d th e 2 3 rd J u n e , 1893, to th e a d d re ss of G o v e rn m e n t
(co p y en clo sed ), D r. C. A . M a rtin c a lle d a tte n tio n totlic fa c t t h a t f a r less th a n th e ir fa ir s h a re o f a p p o in t- *
m e n ts in t h e E d u c a tio n D e p a rtm e n t, v iz ., S u b -In sp e c ­
to rs h ip s , D e p u ty In s p e c to rsh ip s , a n d te a c h e rsh ip s in
G o v e rn m e n t sch o o ls, w ere g iv e n to M u h am m ad an s, a n d
t h a t th is disp ro j) o rtio n co u ld n o t b u t h a v e an in ju rio u s
o ffect on t h e p ro g re s s of JM uham m adan e d u c a tio n . T h e
G o v e rn m e n t, a c q u ie sc in g in these v iew s, has e x p re sse d
a d e s ire t h a t M u h a m m a d a n s sh o u ld in fu tu re bo a p p o in t­
ed to tlio se o ffic e s to a la rg e r e x te n t ;*and you a r e
a c c o rd in g ly re q u e ste d to ta k e o p p o rtu n itie s, as occasion
m ay a ris e , o f reco m m en d in g to D is tric t B o ard s
the-
B P E C IA T .
O F F IC E R
M . •E D U C A T IO N ’
5 3
a p p o in tm e n t of q u alified M u h am m ad an s as S u t- I n s p e c - .
to r s o f Schools, esi)ccia]]y w hen tlie p o p u la tio n of th e
d is tr ic t is la rg e ly M u h am m ad an . A s v a c a n c ies in
D e p u ty In s p e c to rs h ip s a rc g e n e ra lly fille d u p b y p ro ­
m o tio n fro m S u b 'In s n e e to rs , ,it w ill n o t b e p o ssib le to
■ a p p o in t M u liaju m ad an s to th ese p o sts to an y g re a t
•
•
•ex ten t so lo n g as th e b u lk o f th e S u b Jfisp e c to rs a r e
H in d u s , th o u g h M uham m ad an g ra d u a te s m a y b e occa*
^
sio u a lly a p p o in te d as D e p u ty In s p e c to rs w ith o u t h a v in g
-serv(;d as S u b ^ In sp ecto rs, ju st as H in d u g ra d u a te s
l)ccn so ap p o in te d .
h av e
D a rje e lin g , th e 5 th S e p te m b e r 18 9 7 ,
P
rom
M . F i n u c a n e E s q .,
S e c re ta ry of th e G o v e rn m e n t o f B c n g a !,
To
•
T
he
C
o m m is s t o n h r s
R
a js h a h i,
B
:S iR ,
D
of
B
the
acca,
i i a g a i .p u r
urdw an
,
C h it t a o o n g
D
P
r e s id e n c y
and
iv is io n s .
•
T h e a ttc iitio n of th e L ie u te n a n t-G o v e rn o r h a s b een
■drawn t«) th e i)auciiy «>f M n h n m m a d a n s em p loyed aa
S u b -In sp e c to rs of Schools, co m p a re d w ith th e n u m b e rs
o f t h e p o p u la tio n w ho a re M u h a m m a d a n s. T h e a n n c x ■ed ta b le show s ( I) th e p ro p o rtio n o f M u h a m m a d an s to
H in d u s in th e to ta l p o p u la tio n , (2) t h e n u m b e r o f S u b In s p e c to r s em p lo y ed by D is tr ic t B o a r d s , a n d (3) t h e
54
L I F K O F A. K A R IM
n u m b e r w h ic h sh o u ld be held b y M u h a m m a d an s in pr<>p o rtio n to th e p o p u la tio n ;—
•
c.;::
4 )^
Hri
C:-
| ? g | ^
0 5 « > rt
- g j l i
| | § g |
ip 'M
f ) is t r ic t s .
c 3 = 2 i * ^ ' > v £ - . * ‘
g Z '^.^
= 't
^
,
=
-
't 'r r t " '
^ --S • "
5 ^ £ . 2 - c — . 5 « ! s
,£ci*”
grf-13
acj
fP « i5
r5
^ S
< i 't J
1— 1
- a
M . II.
3
K a js h a h i
4 1
6
D in a jp u r
10 9
3
.J a lp a ig u r i
1 2
•8
E a iig p u r
15 • 9
2 *
B o g i’a
30 7
4
P a b iia
3 1
6
D acca
3 2
7
M y m c n sin g h 7 3
4
F a r id p u r
8 3
* 5
B a k a r g a n j 15 7
*
5
T ip p e r a
9 4
4
J^oakliali
3 1
4
C h itta g o n g 3 1
4
P u rn e a
5 7
2
M a ld a
19 20
h
'—
S _ - c D S O
«H 3 Sp .c* j
2-4
3
1
5
1-G
3
3T>
4*9
2-5
3-4
3*5
^3
3
1-7
1
oi
3
<
I
,rs
- ( j= 2 s
&. • L b - E - ^
cl, co 5
•
P$
- S o‘ <s
2
3
1
5
1
3
3
4
2
3
3
3
3
2
1
2. T h o u g h a p p o in tm e n ts c a n n o t b e re se rv e d a b so l-ite ^
ly fo r M u h am m ad an s to th e exclusioji of c a n d id a te s
o f o th e r relig io u s p e rsu a sio n s, y et I l i s H o n o u r th in k s
t h a t w h ere qualified M u h am m ad an s a rc a v a ila b le tlie y
slio u ld g et p re fe re n c e in fillin g u p a f a i r p ro p o rtio n of
th e s e a p p o in tm e n ts u p to tlie n u m b e r in co lum n 5 of
th e ta b le g iv e n ab o v e, ev en th o u g li m en o f eq u al or even
h ig h e r a tta in m e n ts of o th e r relig io u s p e rsu a sio n s m a y
S P E C I A L O F F IC E P M. E D U C A T IO IT
55
be fo rth c o m in g a n d ■wiJling to ta k e su c h a p p o in tm e n ts.
I f th e re a re tw o c a n d id a te s fo r one a p p o in tm e n t,
e a c h o f th e m p o ssessin g th e re q u is ite q u alificatio n s, t h e
L ie u te n a n t- G o v e r n o r c o n sid e rs t h a t p re fe re n c e siiould
be g iv e n to th e M u h am m ad an c a n d id a te u n til tjie
n u m b e r o f a p p o in tm e n ts in<*luded in co lu m n 5 of t h a t
B tatcm cn t givoiv ab o v e a iv h e ld by p erso n s of tlia t
re lig io n . . .
•
F ro m F .
D a rje e Jin g , th e 2 4 th J u n e J901.
k . S 1; A c k e , E hq. l c . s .
S e c re ta ry to th e G ovt, of B e n g a l.
To
T
S
ir
he
I I ir e c t o r
of
P
u r t .i c
I n s t r u c t io n ,
B e n g a l.,
,
I am d ire c te d to aclcuow ledgc th e r e c e ip t of y o u r
le tte r N o; T -014, d a te d th e 3 0 th M ay, 1901, w ith w h ich
you forw ax'd a r e p o rt r e g a r d in g
th e e m p lo y m e n t of
M u h a m m a d a n s in 2 i l l a sch o o ls d u r in g th e y ea r 1900,
2.
T h e c o m p a ra tiv e sta te m e n t a n n e x ed to your le tte r
sh o w s th a t, n o tw ith « ta n d iiig th e d is tin c t o rd e rs of
G o v e rn m e n t on th e su b ject, o n ly 20 o u t of th e 3S2
te a c h e rs in G o v e rn m e n t serv ice w e re M uham m adajig.
T h is is a tti'ib u te d to th e p a u c ity *of su ita b le M u h am ­
m a d a n c a n d id a te s w ho a r c w illin g to a c c e p t s e rv ic e
on th e sam e p a y as H in d u s ; b u t w ith r e f e r e n c e to th is
I a m to e n q u ire if In sp e o to i’s o f Schools s trlo lly a d h e re
to th e d eg ree la id d o w n as th e q u a lific a tio n fo r th e
v a c a n t p o st, a n d do n o t g iv e p re fe re n c e to a H in d u
a p p lic a n t o v e r a M u h a m m a d a n o w in g to th e fa c t t h a t
t h e fo rm er possesses a h ig h e r
degree,
th o u g h su ch
-^6
L IF E
OF
A.
K A n rS f
d e g re e is n o t a n esse n tia l qualificatio n fo r t h e v a c a n c y .
* 3. W ith a v ie w to in c re a s e th e n u m b e r o f M u h a m m a d a u te a c h e rs in G o v e rn m e n t se rv ic e , th e L ie u te n a n tG o v e rn o r d ire c ts t h a t in fu tu re , on
th e o c c u rre n c e
o f v a c a n c y in a Z illa school, if th e r e is n o s u ita b le
lo cal M uh am m ad an c a n d id a te , a p p lic a tio n sh o u ld b e
m ade b y th e In s p e c to r to 4 h e n e a re s t M u h a m m ad a n
M a d ra ss a a t C a lc u tta o rD a c c a . F u rth e rm o re , H is H o n o u r
d e s ire s t h a t th e P rin c ip a ls of a ll colleges* sh o u ld b e
re q u ire d to a sc e rta in fro m a ll M u h a m m a d a n c a n d id a te s
f o r th e F . A . E x a m in a tio n a n d th e B . A. D e g re e th e ir
ad d re sse s, a n d w h e th e r th e y w ish to o b ta in a p p o in t­
m e n ts in Z illa schools, a n d , if so, t h e lo w est in itia l p ay
th e y a r e w illin g to ta k e ; •■and to f u r n is h you h a lf y ea rly
w ith a lis t g iv in g th e s e p a rtic iila rs . Y o u s h o u ld th e n
h a v e a co m p le te l is t p r e p a r e d , o m ittin g t h e n am e of
a n y c a n d id a te s w ho h a d n o t p assed th e e x a m in a tio n s. •
T h e lis t sh o u ld c o n ta in th e n am es o f a ll tlie c a n d id a te s
fo r th e c u r r e n t a n d th e th r e e p re c e d in g y e a rs, a4id copies
o f it s h o u ld be sen t to a ll I n s p e c to r s w ith o rd e rs th a t
w h e n s u ita b le v a c a n c ie s o c c u rre d tlie y sh o u ld b co ffere< l
to th o s e in th e list w ho h a d e x p re sse d th e ir w illin g n e s s
to a c c e p t su ch a p p o y itm e n ts .
4. Y o u a r e f u r th e r re q u e ste d to is s u e o rd e rs to th e
In s p e c to r s t h a t w h en a M u h am m ad an c a n d id a te re fu se s
a p o s t o ffe re d to him , his re a so n fo r d o in g so sh o u ld , if
p o ssib le , be a s c e rta in e d , a n d re^^orted in t h e h a lf-y e a rly
s ta te m e n t w h ich th e y w o u ld h a v e to s u b m it'to you to
e n a b le you to p r e p a r e y o u r a n n u a l s ta te m e n t.”
E f f e c t w as g ra d u a lly g iv en to tlie a b o v e -m e n tio n e d
c i r c u l a r s . T h e a n rc c ia b le i u m b e r of M uslim e d u c a -
•S P K O IA L
O F F IC K R
M.
E D U C A T IO N
57
t i o n a l o fficers now in d iffe re n t d is tr ic ts of B e n g a l ow ed
th e ir a p p o in tm e n t to th e s tq )s tak en o n M . A b d u l
K a rim 's r e p re s e n ta tio n . I n th e b e g in n in g of h is serv ice
a s an in s p e c tin g o fficer w iien he w e n t to in sp e c t an y
•ficliool, lie w as looked upon as a r a r ity , a n d s tu d e n ts a n d
p e o p le o f th e lo c a lity w ho cam e to h a v e a lo o k a t him
u sed to re m a rk • ‘’d o es a
algo becom e an ][ispect o r ? ^ . AViiat a g re a t c h a n g e to o k p la e e a t th e e n d of
.his service* m ay be ju d g ed from w h a t h ap pcncd^on a
p a r tic u la r o c casio n . O n ce w h en as an I n s p e c to r of
■Schools he
g o in g to v is it th e B a rin a l >^il]a School,
^perhaps fo r th e la s t tim e , he fo u n d a ll th e o ffic ers, th e
A s s is ta n t lu s n c c to r . th e D e p u ty In s p e c to r, th e S u b in s p e c to r a n d even th e in s p e c tw g P a n d it, accom panying*
"him to th e sciiool, w ere iNCkisHms. T h is w as an e x c e p ­
tio n a l case, b u t, as a ru le , in th e d is tr ic ts h a v in g p re p o n ­
d e r a tin g M u slim p o p u la tio n t h e m a jo rity o f th e o ffic e rs
w ere M uslim s. By t h i s tim e , it seem s th e M u slim s h a v e
g o t th e fu ll p re sc rib e d num ber.
A i . t. t .o t .m e n t
th e
o f k un d « fo r poo r students—
e d u c a tio n of p o o r
As re g a rd s
M usi in s tu d e n ts , th e INfohsin
F u n d w as tiic o n ly sou rce o u t of whi<ih th e y m ig h t g et
h elp . B u t u n f o r tu n a te ly a la r g e aiTKiunt of it w as u tilis ­
e d in p a y in g th e M au lav is in G o v e rn m e n t schools. H ow
th is am o u n t co u ld b o fre e d fo r poor s tu d e n ts e n g a g e d
M .\b d u l K a rim 's a tte n tio n . A s th e a m o u n t re q u ire d
f o r AFanlnvis* s a la rie s Would h av e to be p a id o u t o t IT o v iiicia l
ilS v en u es, i t w as d o u b tfu l if th e D ire c to r of
P u b lic J n s trn c tio n w o u ld a g r e e to m a k e su c h a i)ro]>osal
diirin g th e re g im e o f S ir C h a rle s E llio t, w ho w as u n ­
w i l l i n g to a d d to th e e x p e n d itu re fro m P ro v in c ia l R evenues
58
L I F E O F A . K A R IM
if th is c o u ld b e av o id ed . M . A b d u l K a rim w as on th e look
o u t fo r a n o p p o rtu n ity to a p p ro a c h , if p ossible, th e
L ie u te n a n t- G o v e r n o r him self. F o r tu n a te ly su c h an
o p p o r tu n ity w as n o t lo n g in com ing. O n tlie occasion'
of S ir C h a rle s E lli o t ’s v isit to D a c c a , th e la te XawabS ir K h w a ja A h s a n -u lla h <*ntriisted M . A bdul K a rim w ith
th ? d ra w in g u p o f a n add reg s th a t w a s . t o bo p re se n te d
to th e G o v e rn o r on b e h a lf of th e M u slim s of D a c c a .
T h e ad d re ss d ra w n u p b y ,M . A b d u l K a rim w as a p p ro v ­
e d by a ll c o n c e rn e d a n d he w as g iv en a p ro m in e n t p o si­
tio n a t th e D a rb a r a t w h ic h it w as ])rescn ted. W h e n
th e G o v e rn o r v is ite d th e c o lle g ia te school, M r. L u ttm o n
flo hn so n , t h e D iv is io n a l C om m issio n er, in tro d u c e d him
d n h ig h te rm s , of w h ic h J)hc la te S ir H e n ry C o tto n , th e
C h ief S e c re ta ry , seem ed to^ h a v e ta k e n note. T h e
M u slim s o f M ym cn sin g h requested if, A td iil K a rim to
d ra w u p a n a d d re ss t h a t w as to be p re se n te d by them t o
S ir C h a rle s E llio t a n d he com plied w ith th e ir req u est.
A t M y m cn sin g h also htj succeed ed in fa v o u ra b ly im p ress­
in g th e G o v e rn o r. H*c th e n follow ed th e G o v e rn o r toN o a k lia li, w h e re h e fo u n d th e O p p o rtu n ity h e w as on
th e lo o k -o u t for. "While c o n d u c tin g th e G o v e rn o r to
th e classes in th e Z illa sch o o l lie d re w h is a tte n tio n to
th e g rie v a n c e o f tfle M u slim s. B u t th e G o v e rn o r said
i t w as n o t u n re a s o n a b le t h a t th e I\rau lav is, w’ho ta u g h t
M uslim s tu d e n ts th e ir c la ssic a l lan g u ag es, w ere p a id
o u t o f th e M ohsin F u n d . T h e re u p o n M . A b d u l K a rim
said t h a t w h ile th e P a n d its , w ho ta u g h t H in d u s tu d e n ts
th e ir c lassical lan g u ag e, w ere p aid o u t of provincial"
revenuc.s tiie re w as n o reaso n w h y th e M a n lv is sh o u ld
n o t b e p a id o u t o f t h a t rev en u es. T h is p ro d u ced th e
S P E C IA L
O F F IC E R
M.
E D U C A T IO N
59»
d e s ire d e ffe c t ; th e G o v e rn o r to ld M . A b d u l K a rim t h a t
h e m ig h t m a k e a r e p re s e n ta tio n on th e su b ject th ro u g h
th e p r o p e r c h a n n e l. W h e n th e D ire c to r w as a p p ro a c h ­
ed a n d w a s in fo rm e d w h a t th e G o v e rn o r had to ld M .
A b d u l K a rim , lie m oved th e G o v e rn m e n t ; a n d sitice'
th e n t h e M a u la v is in a ll Go-^fernment sch o o ls h av e been
p aid o u t of P ro v in c ia l K ev ^n u es. T h u s a la rg e am o u n t
o f th e M o h sin F u n d w as s e t free fo r th e a ssista n c e o f
p o o r M u slim s tu d e n ts .
B esides, on M . A b d u l K a rim ’s
p ro p o s a l a n u m b e r o f fre e a n d h a lf-fre e stu d e n tsh ip s fo r
M u slim s tu d e n ts w ere cre a te d o u t of P ro v in c ia l R e v e n u e s,
R E L A X A T IO N O F A g e LIMIT.— O n h is a p p o in tm e n t as
A s s is ta n t
I n s p e c to r
fo r
M u h am m ad an
E d u c a tio n ;
M . A b d u l K a r im fo u n d th a t* som e M u h am m adan s tu ­
d e n ts w e re d e b a rre d fj*om e n te rin g H ig h E n g lis h
sch o o ls b y a D e p a rtm e n ta l C irc u la r w h ic h la id do^v^.
“ t h a t n o b o y w h o h a s a tta in e d t h e ag e o f fo u rte e n yearss h o u ld bo. a d m itte d to an y class o f a G o v e rn m e n t h ig h
sch o o l b elow th e fo u rth .” H e p o in te d o u t to th e D i#
r e c to r o f P u b lic In s tru c tio n t h a t M uh am m adan boy&
g e n e ra lly join schoolS la te r th a n
H in d u boys, as th e y
h a v e to go t h r o u g h a p r io r c o u rse o f re lig io u s in s tr u c ­
tio n a t hom o b efo re jo in in g a n y school. T h e ru le w as
a c c o rd in g ly r e la x e d in case o f M u h am m ad an boys.
B O A R D IN G -H 0 U H F > < .— — O n c o f th e stc p s re q u ire d
to be ta k e n f o r M u h am m ad an s tu d e n ts o f H ig h Enp-lish
scho o ls w as th e e sta b lish m e n t of b o ard in g -h o u ses. ISfost
o f th e E n g lish sch o o ls w ere s itu a te d a t d is tric t a n d
su b d iv isio n a l h e a d -q u a rtc rs w hore th e re w e re few M u ­
h a m m a d a n o fficers a n d m em bers o f th e b a r w ith w hom
M u h a m m a d a n boys m ig h t p u t u p .
O n M a u la v i A b d u l
*60
L I F E OF. A . K A R IM
K a rim ’s re p re s e n ta tio n a c irc u la r w as issu ed b y th e
D ire c to r o f P u b lic In s trn c tio u in w h ic h it w as s ta te d
“ I f it is d e sire d to b u ild a c h e a p b o a rd in g -h o u se G o ­
v e rn m e n t m ay be e x p e c te d to c o n trib u te to w a rd s th e
•coijt, b u t th e ch ief sliare ^would h av e to b e b o rn e b y
locftl su b sc rib e rs.
O n e o f th e M u h am m ad an te a c h e rs
-of th e school w ould ])robal)]y 1 )0 th e m ost s u ita b le p e r­
so n to b e p u t in c h a rg e of th e ho stel, a n d he w o u ld b e
•entitlod to th e o rd in a ry 'c a p ita tio n f e e o f 8 a n n a s a
h ead m o n th ly .” E f f e c t w as g ra d u a lly g iv e n to th is
•circular. B a c k c rg a n g e w as o ne of th e first d is tric ts to
a v a il o f th e concession. W h e n t h e m ajo r p o rtio n of
th e re q u ire d a m o u n t w as c o lle c te d , G o v e rb m c n t g av e
a g r a n t o f E s. 5008,
*
M a d ra sa lis.— T h e fo llo w in g is a n e x tr a c t fro m a
lo n g le tte r w h ich ^I. A b d n l K a rim a d d re sse d to G o­
v e rn m e n t re g a rd in g th e M a d ra sa h s in B e n g a l:— T h e
M a d ra s a iis a r c th e o n ly in s titu tio n s f o r h ig h e r e d u c a tio n
•of M u salm an s in th e ir eJassical la n g u a g e s. I n B e n g a l
th e re a re fo u r p rin c ip a l M adrasahs^ one m a in ta in e d by
•G o vern m en t a n d th r e e fro m th e M ohsin T ru s t. T lie re a r e
s till a few p riv a te M a d ra s a h s , th e relics o f th o se no b le
in stit\itio n s w h ic h iu4)ygone tim es w ere s c a tte re d th r o u g h ­
o u t th e le n g th a n d b re a d th of th e c o u n try . T i ic ir
te a c h e rs a re e m in e n t ^ la u la v ie s w ho c h a rg e n o fees
a n d d ev o te th e ir liv es to a d v a n c in g Is la m ic le a rn in g .
AVhen P e rs ia n w as tiie C o u rt la n g u a g e , tiicse M a d ra s a h s
w e re th e m o st u se fu l a n d la rg e ly -a tte n d e d e d u c a tio n a l
in s titu tio n s in B e n g a l.
T hey n o lo n g e r s e r v e th a t
puri>osc, b u t th e y a re t h e o n ly in s titu tio n s o f M u sa lm a n s in w h ich , in th is u tilita r ia n a g e w h en m ost p eo p le
S P E C IA L
O E F IC K R
>1.
E D U C A T IO N
G I'
th in k of n o th in g b u t th e brcacl a n d b u tte r p ro b lem , tlietr u e lo v e o f le a r n in g su rv iv es.
T h e ir p u p ils p u rsu e
le a rn in g fo r its ow n sak e in o rd e r to d ev o te th e ir livcsto th e cau se o f tlic ir re lig io n , la w a n d lite ra tu re . I f
th e s e in s titu tio n s cease to ex ist a n d th o se wh& a tte n d '
them, p lu u g o th e m s e lv e s in to^the m aterin lisro , sccptictam
a n d godlessnosa r a g in g a ll aro u n d , th e d ay w ill in ^ b e ­
lo n g in c o m in g V h e n Islaifl in Tiidia w ill.c e a se to havca hoh.1 o n h e r fo llo w e rs. I t is d esirab le, th e re fo re , t h a t
th e re shoifld b e a n u m b e r o f such in s titu tio n s . I t s h o u ld ’
b e s e e n , h o w ev er, t h a t th e y g iv e th e b est of th e ed u ­
c a tio n th e y p ro fe ss to im p a rt a n d th e ir successful s tu ­
d e n ts
f in d
a d e q u a te
scope
fo r
th e ir
a tta in m en ts-
a n d en erg ies.
A a a t p re se n t ta u g h t, th e M ad rasa li
s tu d e n ts a r e h a r d ly w ell-qualilicd f o r *any c a ree r in life.
F o r w a n t o f a s u ffic ie n * .k n o w le d g e of C o u rt lan g u ag e s
th e y c a n n o t, as a ru le , e n te r th e p u b lic se rv ice o r thele a rn e d p ro fessio n s; f o r w a n t o f a re q u isite k n o w led g e
o f th e v e r n a c u la r of th e P ro v in c e th e y c a n n o t find em p lo y ­
m e n t in th e s e rv ic e of Z a m in d a rs, tru d c rs a n d o th e rs;
fo r w a n t of te c h n ic a l k n o w le d g e a n d c a p ita l tliey c a n ­
n o t ta k e to tra d e ; f o r w a n t o f a th o ro u g h k n o w led g e
o f H a d is an d T a fsir a n d of th e v e r n a c u la r of th e P r o ­
v in c e th e y c a n n o t be successful proiichcrs; a n d fo r w a n t
of a th o ro u g h k n o w ledge o f A rab ic a n d P e rsia n th e y
c a n n o t be even v e ry effic ie n t te a c h e rs o f these languages^
T h u s u n q u alified fo r a n y u sefu l c a re e r, m an y of th e
M a d ra s a h s tu d e n ts, a f t e r fin ish in g th e i r ed u catio n ,
becom e a b u rd e n o n th e ir co m m u n ity a n d som e o f
tiie m
a re d riv e n to su c h s tr a its t h a t th e y a r e fo rc e d to-
h a v e re c o u rse to q u e stio n a b le m eans o f g a in in g t h e i r
■02
L I F E O F A . K A R IM
liv e lilio o d . S u c h b e in g th e s ta te of M a d ra s a h s tu d e n ts ,
i t .i s m o s t d esirab le th a t su ch ste p s s h o u ld b o ta k e n as
■will g iv e th e m a n e d u catio n t h a t w ill c re a te fields f o r
sthe em p lo y m en t of th e ir a tta in m e n ts a n d w ill e n a b le
4hem to c h a lk o u t a u se fu l c a r e e r in life .”
’W ith th e le tte r M . A b d jil K a rim s u b m itte d a w e llth o n g h t- o u t co m p reh en siv e schem e fo r th e im p ro v e m e n t
o f th e M a d ra sa h s. T h e course o f s tu d ie s p r e s c rib e d f o r
M id d le M a d ra s a h s a n d fo r th e T itle classes of* h ig h
M a d ra sa h s a re b ased on t h a t schem e. I f a ll his su g g e s­
tio n s re g a rd in g rem o d ellin g of M a d ra sa h s h a d b een
a d o p te d th e ir u tility w ould h a v e been m u c h i jic r c a s e d .
CHAFPER V III.
A
On
re tu rn
n
I n s i >e <:t o r
of
S chools
fro m leav e M a u iv i A b d u l K a r im ^^as a p ­
p o in te d to a c t as In s p e c to r of Scliools, D a c c a D iv isio if,
■when th e p e rm a n e n t I n s p e c to r of S cho o ls, M r. M uthur^an a th C h a tte rjc e , vfent o n le a te . H e w as jvaruily w el­
comed l5y a ll his frie n d s , b o th > ru s lim sa n d n o n -M uslim s.
I lls w o rk a3 a c t in ? I n s p e c tm 'o f S chools, m a rk e d by
p ra is e -w o rth y a c tiv ity a n d im p a r tia lity , w as w cli a p p ro c ia te d b o th by th e D e p a rtm e n t a n d t h e p u b lic. H e a r in g
of h is a p p o in tm e n t S ir A lfre d C ro ft w ro te from E n g la n d ,
■
“ I am g la d to k n o w th a t you a r e d is c h a rg in g th e r e s p o n ­
sib le d u tie s o f a n In s p e c to r-* -s a tis fa e to rily I h o p e ;
h o n e stly a n d e n e rg e tic a lly i am s u re .
I tr u s t in good
tim e you w ill b e confirm ed in th is p o sitio n a n d g ra d e .
D r. M a rtin w ro te , “ I am g la d to h e a r you h a v e been
A cting as I n s p e c to r of Schools, D a c c a . I t is in m an y
w ay s a tro u b le so m e p o st to fill. 1 tr u s t t h a t th is a c tin g
A p p o in tm e n t m ay s u b se q u e n tly lead to y o u r g e ttin g su c h
a p o st p e rm a n e n tly .”- M r. P . M u k h erjee, I n s p e c to r of
Schools, P re s id e n c y D iv isio n , w ro te , *‘I t is a p le a su re
i n th e s e tim es o f d e a r th o f c a p a c ity tc^see a fe w c a p a b le
•men lik e y o u rse lf s till left. P e o p le h a n k e r a f te r p ro ­
m otion b u t th e y m u st first d e se rv e i t .”
J u s t on th e ex ])iratio n o f th e te rm o f a c tin g I n s p c c to r -ship o f M . A b d u l K a rim , th e th e n L ie u te n a n t-G o v e rn o r,
S i r J o h n AVoodbuT*'., p a id h is la s t v is it to D acca. W h e n
o fficia ls an d n on-officials w ere w a ittin g a t th e B u c k la n d
64:
L I F E O F A. K A R I M
15un(l to w elcom e h im on h is a rriv a l,
su d d e n ly h a d a fa in tin g fit.
■j)itched on t h e B u n d .
'Si. A bdul K a rim
lle 'w a s rem o ved to a t e n t
W h e n a fte r a s h o rt w h ile ho
r e g a in e d co n scio u sn ess, h e saw tw o g en tlem en a tte n d in g
on hin i, o n e w as tlie la te S ham su l-n lam a M a u iv i A b d u l
M u m in , t h e S u ])c rin te n d e n t of tlie D a c c a M ad rasah ,
w ho ow ed Ills a p p o in tm e n t to him , a n d th e o th e r w as a
H undu g e n tle m a n w ith w hom ho wag n o t a c q u a in te d .
E x p r e s s in g ilis g ra titu d e fo r k in d ly a tte n d in g on him
w h ile , lik e o th e rs, he sh o u ld h av e been p re se n t f o r in tr o ­
d u c tio n to
th e G o v e rn o r, he ask ed liis n am e. “ M y
n a m e ' s a id
ho “is H a r jn a th De. I
cojild n o t h a v e
passed t h e U n iv e rs ity E n tr a n c e E x a m in a tio n in H is to ry
i t y o u h a d n o t p u b lish ed y o u r epitom e of H u n te r ’s
• H is to r y o f In d ia , M y |e u s o o f g ra titu d e h a s b r o u g h t
m e h e re .”
O n th e G o v e r n o r ’s a r r iv a l, th e assem b led gentlem en
w e re in tro d u c e d to him . W h e n M r. R a n k in , th e tiic u
D is tr ic t M a g is tra te o f.D acca, in tro d u c e d ^^r. C h a tte rje e ,
w h o h a d ju s t ta k e n c4iarge o f in sp e c to rsh ip , H is H o n o u r
e n q u ir e d “ is n o t M a u lv i A bdul K '^rim th e I n s p e c to r o f
S c h o o ls h e r e ? ” I n a n sw e r M r. R a n k in in fo rm e d him'
of th e ex p ira tio n of h is te rm of in s p e c to rs h ip a n d of t h e
a c c id e n t.
N e x t d ay w hen he m et h is H o n o u r a t th e
D a c c a M a d ra s a h , he ask ed h im “ h a d you fe v e r lik e m e” ,
a n d m ad e k i n d en q u iries a b o u t h is hoaltli. S h o rtly a fte r
his
r e tu rn
fro m
D ccca,
S ir Jo h n
W o o d b n rn died..
In d e s c rib a b le w as th e so rro w f e lt by a ll^ th o s e w ho,
lik e M . A b d u l K a r im , k n e w w h a t a k in d h e a rt he had.
I n th o s e d ay s e d u c a tio n a l officers had to d ra w th e pay
A N IN S P E C T O R O F SC H O O LS
65
of th e ir g ra d e until yacancy occurred e ith e r b y re tire m e n t o r
death. F o r o v e r a d e c a d e M . A b d u l K a rim h a d to d ra w
th e sam e sa la ry a s no v a c a n c y o c c u rre d in th e h ig h e r g ra ‘
d e d u rin g th is perio d . T his stood in th e w ay o f h is promo*
tio n to th e p o st o f a n In s p e c to r, th e s a la ry of w h ieh
w as h ig h e r th a n w h a t he w as d ra w in g . W h e n h e saw
S ir J o h n W o o d b u rn a t t h e 'A h a a n M a n z il, w h e re he
w as stay in g , h e »cpre8entedj:hi8 to him . H e w as a sk e d
t o p u t d o w n on p a p e r w h a t h e h a d to say. T h e C hief
S e c re ta ry , M r. B u c k la u d , w ho w a s w ith th e G o v e rn o r,
w as in s tru c te d to se n d M . A b d u l K a rim 's re p re se n ta tio n
to th e E d u c a tio n S e c re ta ry , M r. M a cp h erso n , f o r d o in g
w h a t m ig h t be p o ssib le fo r h is e a rly p ro m o tio n to th e
p o st o f a n In s p e c to r o f Schools. Som e tim e a f te r h e
w as a p p o in te d In s p e c to r of G h ittag o ijg D iv isio n , with*
a n allo w an ce to b e d r a jr n u n t i l h is p ro m o tio n to th e
n e x t h ig h e r g ra d e .
E
v id e n c e
1902.—
B
efore
T
he
U
n iv e r s it y
C o m m is s io n
of
B e fo re h is a p p o in tm e n t as p e rm a n e n t I n s ­
p e c to r of S ch o o ls M . A b d u l K a rim a c te d a s A s s is ta n t
In s p e c to r o f S cho o ls, D acca D iv isio n . D u rin g th is
p e rio d he h a d to give* e v id en ce b efo re th e U n iv e rs ity
C om m ission, a p p o in te d b y L o r d C u rz o n , p re sid e d o v e r
b y S ir W a lte r R e le ig h .
H e w as tl^e o n ly in s p e c tin g
o ffic e r in th e w h o le o f B e n g a l, B ih a r a n d O rissa , w h o
w as selected b y S i r A le x a n d e r P e d le r to g iv e ev idence
b e fo re th e C om m ission. T h e fo llo w in g a r e e x tra c ts fro m
th e “ N ote'* he p la c e d b e fo re th e Com m ission •—
“ I am* a G ra d u a te o f th e C a lc u tta U n iv e rs ity a n d
a n A s s is ta n t I n s p e c to r o f S ch o o ls of m ore th a n tw e lv e
y e a rs sta n d in g .
I h a v e b een d ire c tly c o n n e c te d w ith
66
th e
L I F E O F A . K A R IM
U n iv e rs ity as
seven y e a rs. A s a n
one
of
its F e llo w s
in sp e c tin g
fo r
ab o u t
o ific e r I h a d
o c ca ­
sion to v is it som e of th e colleges, m ost of th e H ig h
E n g lis h S ch o o ls a n d m an y of th e M id d le an d P rim a ry
S cho o ls in t h i r ty d is tr ic ts of B e n g a l, B e h a r a n d O rissa.
I p ro p o se to ap eak m a in ly a b o u t th e s ta te of H ig h
E i ^ l i s h S ch o o ls, o f w h ic h I h a v e se e n a good deal.
M y v iew s o n 's o m e p o i n t s ’ c o n n e c te d w ith th ese i n s ­
titu tio n s a r e lik e ly to d iffe r fro m th e v iew s of those
w hose o b se rv a tio n s a re confined to p a r tic u la r lo c a litie s
a n d p a r tic u la r in s titu tio n s . . . .
IN C R E A S E O F H I G H E N G L IS H S C H O O L S .
T h e num ­
b e r of h ig h E n g lis h schools has c o n sid e ra b ly in c re a se d
p f la te .
W h e re a few y ears ago th e re w as n o t even
a sch o o l o f th is 'c la s s , ^here h av e s p ru n g u p m any in
t h e co u rse o f a few years. I n c o m e p la c e s th e n u m b e r
is m u ch la r g e r th a n n ecessary to m eet re a l re q u ire m e n ts.
T h ese sch o o ls owe th e ir o rig in to fo u r causes. W h e n '
th e s ta n d a r d o f p ro ficien cy in
g e n e ra l
a tta in m e n ts
re q u ire d f o r adm ission in to th e M ed ical a n d S u rv ey
schools a n d fo r c a n d id a te s fo r th e M u k h te a rs h ip E x a ­
m in a tio n w as raised , a la rg e n u m b e r o f M id d le S chools
w e re c o n v e rte d in to E n g lis h S chools.
O n ly a fe w
of th e s e m e t a real* d e m a n d fo r h ig h e d u c a tio n . T h e
m a jo rity w e re s ta rte d c ith e r as m ere m o n ey-m aking
c o n c e rn s to satisfy in d iv id u a l v a n ity o r p a rty feelings.
Some! p e o p le of m o d e ra te m eans a n d e d u c a tio n , w hen
th e y fa il in o th e r w a lk s of life, th in k o f tr a d in g in
schools a n d sch o lars. A g ain , w hen a M r. G h o sh esta ­
blish es a school, a M r. B ose of t h a t lo c a lity th in k s
it n ecessary fo r ra a in ta in g h is p re s tig e to o pen a r iv a l
AN
IN S P E C T O R O F SC H O O LS
67
schoo l of th e k in d . T h u s th e re h av e sp ru n g u p a num ­
b e r of sch o o ls,
u n h e a lth y r iv a lr y am o n g w h ic h
f a r from f u r th e r in g th e cause o f so u n d e d u c a tio n g r e a t­
ly re ta r d s it.
T h e u n seem ly s tru g g le
am ong th e s e
schoo ls to se c u re boys, has m ad e th e s tu d e n ts m asters
of th e s itu a tio n . T h e re h as, been in co n se q u en ce a
p e rc e p tib le d e te rio ra tio n b o th in elficien cy a n d d ise ip lin c of o u r schools.
*
Th*e U n iv e rs ity , I re g re t to h a v e to say, is to b lam e,
to som e e x te n t, fo r c a llin g in fo ex isten ce schools of th e
k in d m e n tio n e d a b o v e . I f th e U n iv e r s ity h a d refu sed
to g r a n t th e m th e p r iv ile g e o f s e n d in g u p c a n d id a te s to
its e x a m in a tio n s, th e y w o u ld h a v e died, b e fo re long, a
n a tu r a l death*. I n som e cases in s p ite of s tro n g adverse^
o p in io n s ex p ressed b y D e p a rtm e n ta l t>fficers, th e U n i­
v e rs ity a u th o r itie s t h o u ^ i t i t fit to reco g n ise schools.
I t is m ost d e s ira b le tlia t b e fo re re c o g n is in g a school
ev ery c a re s h o u ld b e ta k e n to a s c e rta in w h e th e r it
s u p p lie s a r e a l d em an d , w h eth ey th e cau se of so u n d
ed u ca tio n w o u ld b e f u r th e r e d b y i t a n d how f a r th e
ex istin g e d u c a tio n a l iu s titu tio n s in th e n eig h b o u rh o o d
w ould b e a ffe c te d by i t . . . . „
D
e t e r io r a t io n
in
d is c ip l in e
bo y s a r e m a ste rs o f th e s itu a tio n ,
.— I n
some
schools
'[Kicse sch ools h av e
to s tr u g g le fo r th e i r v e ry e x iste n c e a n d d e p e n d e n tire ly
u p o n th e in c o m e d e riv e d from fees a n d fines. T hey
c a n n o t a ffo rd to lose boys w hose deficien cies a n d d e lin ­
q u en cies h a v e to b e o v e rlo o k e d .
B oys m ig ra te fro m
o n e sch o o l to a n o th e r if p u n ish e d f o r m is b e h a v io u r o r
n o t p ro m o te d f o r u n s a tis fa c to ry p ro g re ss. T h e T ra n sfe r
R u les a r e m e a n t to c h e c k th is re g re tta b le s ta te of th in g s.
68
L IF E
OF
A . K A B IM
B u t a lth o u g h w e h av e re p e a te d ly b een p o in tin g o u t to
th e school a u th o ritie s t h a t n o th in g te lls so serio u sly
u p o n t h e offio ien cy o f a sohoo! a s dcKss in d iso rim in a to
prom otjon> w o h a v e n o t succeed ed in c h e c k in g i t . I n
m a n y sc h o o ls a n o v erw h e lm in g m a jo rity o f bo y s a r e
to ta lly u n fit f o r th e classed in w h ic h th e y a re . .
'T E A C H IN G STAFF. —
t eachi ug staff in m any
schools is far* fro m sufficient an d efficient. T h e jia y is
too low to a ttra c t qualified^men o r to induce them to stick
long^o. th e posts when they accept them . T h ey h av e to
w o rk without, in terru p tio n fo r fu ll five hours a n d have
som etim es to. teach a t a tim e more classes th a n one.
T h e re su lt is that, th e teachers do n o t care e ith e r to
*work w ith th e ir heart, o r, to stick to th e posts. Schoolm astering; has th us come to^ be looked upon b y somc'
of o ur grad u ates an d undergraduates as a stepping-stone
to b e tte r posts or,, m ore generally^ as a halting-place.
fo r p re p ara tio n fo r th e B ar; They have n o t th e ir h e a rt
in th e w o rk an d as ^ o n as th ey find a n y th in g b e tte r
th e y th ro w up th e ir appointm ent in th e school- Thus
th e re is freq u en t change in th e teaching staff a n d this
tellS-seriously upon both, th e discipline, a n d efficiency
of th e schools..
M e th o d o f T eaching.:—T h e m e th o d o f te a c h in g ' in
o u r'sc h o o ls is. f a r fro m w h a t i t o u g h t to. b e - A n a v e ra g e
boy does- n o t a c q u ire a good know ledge o f th e subjects
femght,. T h e d efect in te a c h in g seem s to b e c h ie fly duet o fo u r c au ses, viz.. (1) W a n t o f qualified a n d d u tif u l
te a c h e rs;:(2) L a r g e classes m a k in g in d iv id u a l a tte n tio n
iin p O B sib l'e (3) M u ltip lic ity o f su b jects a n d tex t-b o o k s
and! (4) E x a m in a tio n q u estio n s en c o u ra g in g c ra m .
AN
IN S P E C T O R
OF
SCH O O LS
69
I h a v e a lre a d y to ld y o u th a t m o st o f th e te a c h e rs
a r e n o t w e ll-g ro u n d e d in th e a r t o f te a c h in g a n d m an y
o f th e m h a v e n o t th e ir h e a rt in th e w o rk , a n d som e of
th e classes a re so la r g e th a t it is n o t p o ssib le f o r te a ­
c h e rs to a tte n d to ev ery stu d e n t.
U n le ss th e a p p o in t­
m e n t o f tra in e d te a c h e rs arrd p a y m e n t o f su ffic ie n t
s a la rie s to then^ a rc in sistg d u p o n , a n d th e classes a re
com posed o f a lim ited n um ber o f boys, th e q u a lity of
te a c h in g is ^ lo t lik ely to im p ro v e.
A t p re se n t th e o n e
object o f b o th th e te a c h e rs a n d th e p u p ils being* a n y
how to pass th e e x a m in a tio n as easily a n d as soon as
possible, o n ly t h a t w h ic h is lik e ly to b e useful fo r th a t
p u rp o se is ta u g h t a n d le a rn t. T h u s c ra m m in g ta k e s
th e p la c e o f in te llig e n ts tu d y a n d th e m em ory is cu ltjv a-*
te d to th e n e g le c t o f re a s o n a n d ju d g m e n t
B esides,
m u ltip lic ity of su b jects a n d te x t-b o o k s also sta n d s in
th e w ay o f acq u irem en t o f a th o ro u g h k n o w led g e . So
m a n y su b jects h a v e to b e le a r n t a n d so m an y te x t-b o o k s
h a v e to be re a d t h a t in som e cases th e re is no a lte r ­
n a tiv e b u t to c ra m . . . .
A g e L im it.— I am an fa v o u r o f fixing a lim it of age
fo r c a n d id a te s f o r th e E n tra n c e E x a m in a tio n . I n my
o p in io n i t is n o t d e sira b le to a llo w a b o y to go u p to
th e E n tr a n c e E x a m in a tio n b e fo re he is fifteen, if n o t
s ix te e n . I h a v e fo u n d e v e n v e ry s m a rt boys, w ho s ta n d
h ig h in th e ir c la s s e x a m in a tio n s, h a v e to d e p e n d m uch
m ore u p o n t h e i r m em ory th a n on u n d e rs ta n d ’* ';" U n ­
less th e re is a s u tfic ie n t d e v e lo p m e n t of in te lle c t, it is
n o t possible to u n d e rs ta n d th o ro u g h ly some o f th e su b jects.
B esides, th e effect o f ru s h in g u p a boy in his
s tu d ie s is d isa stro u s to h is h e a lth .
The
o th e r d a y I
70
L IF E
OF
A.
K A R O f
h a d a t a l k w ith th e H e a d -m a ste r of a v e ry la rg e ly
a tte n d e d school in my D iv isio n .
H e m en tio n ed to ­
m e th r e e in s ta n c e s o f boys h a v in ? p assed tiic E n tr a n c e
E x a m in a tio n from his school a t th e e a rly a g e of t h i r te e n . T h e se boys a q u itte d th em sclv s c re d ita b ly a t th e
U n iv e rs ity
E x am in a tio n * a n d g a in e d sc h o la rsh ip s^
B ift th e u ltim a te re s u lt h as been d is a s tro u s in a ll th e
cases. O n e of th e boys d ie d s h o rtly a fte r he l e f t th e
U n iv e rs ity , o ne
is in a lu n a tic asy lu m a n d th e
other*, th o u g h a m em ber of th e B a r, is in a m iserab le
s ta te of h e a lth .
S ev eral cases lik e th is ^came to my
n oticc.,,
S ir A le x a n d e r P e d le r was w ell-i)leased w ith M . A b d u l
•K arim ’s ev id en ce. W ith r e g a r d to th is S ir A lfre d
C ro ft w ro te , “ J am v e ry ghid to re c e iv e th e copy of
th e E v id e n c e you g a v e b e fo re th e C om raision, w h ic h
I r e a d w ith m uch in te re st. T h e view s t h a t you ex­
p re ss seem to me to b e g e n e ra lly so u n d a n d sag a cio u s
a n d th e y h a v e th e advjantagc of b e in g b ased u p o n ap re tty w id e e x p e rie n c e of sch o o ls a n d th e ir m a n a g e rs,
as w e ll as o f th e U n iv e rsity .”
•
W h e n M . A b d u l K a rim to o k c h a rg e o f th e C h itta ­
g o n g D iv isio n he fo u n d th a t th e s te p s he h a d ta k e n , a
d e c a d e befo re, as* A s s is ta n t In s p e c to r of S chools fo r
M u h a m m a d a n E d u c a tio n , h a d a p p re c ia b ly im p ro v e d th e
e d u c a tio n a l c o n d itio n o f th e M uslim s o f t h a t D iv isio n .
Som e sc h o o ls w ere e sta b lish e d fo r se c u la r e d u c a tio n of:
M uslim s, th e n u m b e r o f M u slim stu d e n ts h a d ,in c r e a s e d
a n d m o re M uslim s w ere a p p o in te d te a c h e rs a n d in s p e c tin g
o ffic e rs. H e now g a v e h is co -relig io n ists to u n d e rs ta n d
t h a t he w a s no lo n g e r a sp ecial o ffic e r a n d i t w ould n o t
AN
I N S P E C l 'O R
71
O F S C H O O I.S
b e p ro p e r fo r th e m to e x p e c t t h a t he w onld d e v o te all
lu s a tte n tio n to th e m , h is d u ty now b e in g to look aftey
th e
in te re s ts of a ll
co m m u n ities— M uslim s, H in d u s,
B u d d h is ts a n d C h ris tia n s .
Som e tim e a f te r assu m in g c h a rg e of th e C h itta g o n g
D ivision M . A b d u l K a rim h eld a c o n fe re n ce of school
m a ste rs a n d iiis})eeting o fficers. I t w as o p en ed by th e
D iv is io n a l C om niissiouer a n d w as a tte n d e tl by th e h ea d
m a ste rs a n d som e o t h e r te a c h e rs of alm o st a ll th e
schools in th e D iv isio n and* also by th e
h ig h
in s p e c tin g
-officers. I t w as a v e ry su ccessfu l c o n fe re n ce as w as
testified to by th o se w h o to o k p a r t in it. Som e of th e m
w e re h e a rd to say t h a t th e y h a d le a r n t m o re in th ese
f e w d ay s th a n w h a t th e y co u ld le a rn in six m o n th s o f,
th e i r tr a in in g . T h e su m m ary given below of th e p re ­
s id e n tia l speech of M. A b d u l K a rim w ill show w h a t
w a s th e object o f th e c o n fe re n ce a n d w h a t su b jects w ere
discussed.
“ G e n tle m e n , th e im p o rta n c e ^ n d
u tility
of such
a c o n fe re n ce c a n h a rd ly be o% 'er-estimated. I t is
v e ry d e s ira b le t h a t th o s e w h o a re engaged in th e m ost
re sp o n sib le w o rk o f e d u c a tin g th e y o u th , sh o u ld occa­
sio n a lly m eet to g e th e r in o rd e r to c o m p a re n o tes as to
w h a t h a s a lre a d y b e e n d o n e in dWVerout p la ces by
dift‘e rc n t p erso n s a n d to d iscu ss a n d d e c id e , in th e lig h t
o f p a st e x p e rie n c e, w h a t f u r th e r ste p s sh o u ld be ta k e n
8 0 as to e x te n d th e field of e d u c a tio n a n d to imnr<^vp
th e q u a lity ^of iiistiu o tio n .
iSuch m u tu a l in te rc h a n g e of
th o u g h ts a n d ideas, te n d in g as it does to broadeii our
view s a n d ra is e o u r id e a ls, c a n n o t b u t be h ig h ly beneficial
to th e cau se of e d u c a tio n . T h e m a tu re e x p e rie n c e a n d
72
L IF E
O F
A.
K A R IM
com m en d ab le d e v o tio n to d u ty o f th o s e w ho h a v e sp e n t
th e b e s t p a r t of th e ir liv es in th e n o b le wovk of tr a in in g
th e fa c u ltie s a n d fo rm in g th e c h a r a c te r of y o u n g m en,
c a n n o t f a il to p ro d u ce th e i r effect o n th o se w h o h a v e
la te ly e n te re d th e a re n a , n o r c a n th e y o u th fu l e n th u siasm
a n d a c tiv ity in th e n ew w p rk ers in th e field of ed u catio n
g a u n a p p re c ia te d b y th o se w h o w ill n o t c o n tin u e lo n g
in t h e ir usefuJ c a re e r.
*
I h a v e ex p e rie n c e o f n o less th a n th ir ty d is trfc ts in
th e •Province. I do not? th in k I sh a ll be* justified in
sa y in g t h a t th e sta te of ed u catio n is w h a t is o u g h t to b e ;
th e re is a m p le room fo r im p ro v em en t in m a n y resp ec ts.
T h e p ro g ress o f tr u e e d u c a tio n h a s been g re a tly r e ta r d e d
^ by ill-m a n a g e d , ill-o ffic e red a n d ill-e q u ip p e d schools,
by u n h e a lth y eO m petitiou betw een r iv a l in s titu tio n s , by
irre sp o n sib le te a c h e rs w ho dl) n o t re a lise th e g r a v ity of
t h e i r p o sitio n , by u n e n lig h te n e d a n d u n re a s o n a b le p a re n ts ,
w h o ta k e l i t t l e c a r e fo r th e p ro p e r e d u catio n of th e ir
c h ild r e n . . . I n som e p laces th e re h a v e s p r n n g u p , ow ing
e ith e r to p a rty fa o tio n o r s p e c u la tiv e o b ject, m o re
sch o o ls th a n a re necessary to ^ e c t r e a l re q u ire m e n ts.
T h e u n h e a lth y r iv a lr y b etw een su c h in s titu tio n s , w h ich
h a v e to d ep en d m a in ly u p o n th e incom e d e riv ed from
fees a n d cannot,* th e re fo re , a ffo rd to lose p u p ils, h as
m ad e th e boys m a ste rs o f th e situ a tio n . S ch o o ls such
as th o se can n e v e r f u r th e r th e cause of s o u u d edueation..
T h e n u m b er o f u n tra in e d a n d u n w illin g te a c h e rs in
o u r schools is by no m eans sm all. Some o f them j, u tte rly
ig n o r a n t of th e a r t of te a c h in g , h a v e co m e d ire c t from
t h e co lleg e to th e te a c h e rs' c h a ir, as if e v e ry g ra d u a te ,
a n d u n d e rg ra d u a te is fit to te a c h a n d n o tra in in g is
AN INSPKOTOR OF tiCUOOl.ii
73
ticcessso'y fo r th e p u rp o se. T h e re a re o th e rs w ho look
upon th e te a c h e r ’s p o st as a ste p p in g -sto n e to some^
th in g b e tte r o r a s a h a ltin g -p la c e
fo r p re p a ra tio n for
th e B a r. S u c h a te a c h e r can h a v e n o h e a r t in his w ork.
A fte r s e r v in g fo r som e tim e w hen he le a rn s so m eth in g
of th e a r t a n d b e g in s to b e ns(?ful. th e h ire lin g h asten s
to p u rs u its m ore .co n g en ial ^ 0 h is ta s te . I need h a rd ly
sa y tli^ t we w a n t f o r o u r schools a b o d v o f g ifte d m en
w ho by tl\^iir n a tu r a l a p titu d e , p ro fessio n al tra in in g ,
u n im p e a c h a b le c h a ra c te r a n d d ev o tio n
to
d uty, are
w o rth y of b e in g e n tru s te d w ith th e ed u catio n of th o se
up o n w hom a ll o u r f u tu r e hopes d ep en d . I t is tru e th a t
in th e se d a y s ,w h e n so m an y p a th s o f w e a lth a n d em olu­
m e n ts a re opcr), th e b est m in d s , in th e ^ c o u n tr v cannot*
b e w on to a n o ffice so resim n sib le a n d lab o rio u s as th a t
of te a c h in g w ith o u t su ffic ie n t in d u cem eu ts. "We p ro p o se
Jo d iscu ss a t th is c o n fe re n c e how to ra is e th e p ro fessio n
o f te a c h in g in p u b lic estim atio n a n d to b e tte r th e p ro s­
p e c ts of te a c h e rs .
T h e good o f b u r c h ild re n , th e w ell­
b e in g o f so c ie ty , th e p h y sical, m en tal a n d s p ir itu a l p ro ­
g re ss of m a n k in d , re q u ire t h a t o u r e d u c a tio n a l in s titu ­
tio n s s h o u ld b e u n d e r th e c a re of th e b e st a n d w isest
in th e c o u n try .
^
T h e in a tte n tio n
a n d in d iffe re n c e of p a re n ts to th e
p ro p e r tr a in in g o f th e ir c h ild re n c a n n o t b u t s tr ik e
th o se w’ho th in k i)f tlie a d v a u c c u ie n t of le a r n in g in th is
c o u n try . I t is v e ry m uch to b e d e p lo re d t h a t p a re n t?
are in c lin e ti to bo eco n o m ical in a m a tte r o f such v ita l
im p o rta n c e to th e ir c h ild re n . T h o se w h o sq u an d er
th o u sa n d s on d re s s , f u r n itu r e a n d am u sem en ts, h esita te
to sp e n d c o m p a ra tiv e ly sm all su m s fo r th e e d u catio n of
74:
I, F R
th e ir c h ild re n .
OF
A.
K A R IM
T h ey seem to c a re m ore f o r a c c u in u la t-
in g w ealth fo r th e ’r c h ild re n th a n fo r g iv in g th e m
so und ed u catio n . T h u s to s ta rv e th e in te lle c t of a
c h ild in o rd e r to le a v e h im a fo rtu n e , is a fo lly t h a t
c a n n o t 6e co n d em n ed i n too s t ro n g a la n g u a g e .
1 need
h a rd ly say t h a t p a re n ts shguild re d u c e e v e ry o th e r item
of .o x p e iid itiire in o rd e r to g iv e th e ir c h ild re n such an
e d u c a tio n as w ill m ak e th e m fit to b e a r a m an ly , usefu l
a n d h o n o u ra b le p a r t in th e w.orld. T h ey sh o u ld alw ays
re m e m b e r H e r b e r t S p e n c e r’s d e s c rip tio n of e d u ca tio n
a s a m e a n s of- fo rm in g th e p a r e n t, th e ^w orker, th e
th in k e r , th e subject a n d th e c itiz e n .
Some p a re n ts a re in c lin e d to
u n d e re s tim a te th e
te a c h e rs ' o ffice. They seem to th i n k t h a t th e m ost m oderate
a b ility is c o m p e te n t to d isc h a rg e th e d u tie s o f th is , re s ­
p o n sib le p o st. I t is n o t a lto g e th e r u ncom m on to find
p a re n ts p u ttin g th e i r c h ild re n u n d e r th e d a ily c o n tro l
o f o n e w ith w hom th e y d o n o t c a re to associate. U nless
a tr u e e stim a te is fofm ed of th e te a c h in g p ro fessio n ,
u n less th e te a c h e r's re sp o n sib le w o rk is w ell u n d e rsto o d
a n d h is v a lu a b le s e rv ic e s are p ro p e rly a p p re c ia te d , u n ­
less p a re n ts se c u re th e serv ices o f su c h in s tru c to rs as
m ig h t becom e g u a rd ia n s a n d guides to th e ir c h ild re n
a n d h e a r tily co-oiJerate w ith th e m , tr u e
c a n n o t m ak e m uch p ro g ress in th e la n d .
e d u c atio n
A s you a re aw are, I h a v e ta k e n , sin ce a ssu m in g
c h a rg e o f th i s D iv isio n , so m e ste p s calcv ilated to im ­
p ro v e th e e ffic ie n cy of te a c h in g , to ra ise th ^ s ta tu s of
te a c h e rs a n d to re fo im th e c h a ra c te r o f th e ta u g h t. I
find t h a t som e of th e se m easures, p ro b a b ly o w in g to m is­
a p p re h e n s io n re g .ird in g th e ir u sefu ln ess a n d a d a p ta b ility
an
in s p e c t o r
of
HCH007.H
75
w h ic h c o u ld n o t be c le a rly e x p la in e d in b r ie f cfPicia)
circnlarB , h a v e n o t b e e n so p o p u la r as d esirab le. Befor.e
ta k in g o th e r s te p s o f th e k in d I h a v e th o u g h t it d e s ir ­
a b le to c o n s u lt you a b o u t th e m . I iiav e n o d o u b t th a t
J sh a ll h a v e som e v e ry v a lu a b le su g g estio n s fro m you,
speciH liy fro m th o s e w ho h a v e d ev o ted a c o n sid e ra b le
p o rtio n o f th e i r liv e s to fo s te rin g ed u catio n in th e Iw id.
W e p ro p o se to d iscu ss, as f a r as th e tim e a t our dis­
posal p e rm its , v a rio u s su b je c ts c o n n e c te d w ith th e
m a n a g e m e n t o f schools, o rg a n is a tio n o f classes, m ethod
o f te a c h in g ,^ q u a lific a tio n s o f te a c h e rs, in te lle c tu a l, m o ral
a n d p h y sic a l c u ltu r e o f boys a n d suc!i o th e r m a tters.
G e n tle m e n , in o u r d iscu ssio n s we m ig h t h a v e to set
b e fo re you id e a ls w h ic h m ig h t seem to be u n a tta in a b le
o r w e m ig h t h a v e to e x p re ss o p in io n s a n d e n u n c ia te
p rin c ip le s ' w h ich m ig h t a p p e a r to be d e trim e n ta l to th e
in te re s ts of p a r tic u la r in d iv id u a ls o r p a r tio u la r in s titu ­
tio n s. I n s u c h a case i t is hoped you w ill rem em ber th a t
you a re en g ag ed in a w o rk w h ich , re q u ire s n h ig h aim
a n d g r e a t se lf-d e n ia l a n d self-sacrifice. W h en a n y id eal
a p p e a rs to you too h ig h , rem em b er t h a t th e first co n d i­
tio n of its b e in g a tta in a b le is t h a t you s h a ll b elie v e it
t o be w o rth y of a tta in m e n t.
Y o u te a c h e rs sh o u ld alw ay s b e a r I n m in d t h a t yours
is th e n o b lest a n d m ost r e s p o n s ib le w o rk — th e w o rk of
fa sh io n in g th e in te lle c t, th e co n scien ce a n d th e c h a ra c te r
o f fu tu re g e n e ra tio n s o f y o u r co u n try m en . I t has been
v e ry tru ly said t h a t “ m o th e rs a n d sc h o o l-m a ste rs p la n t th e
seeds o f n e a rly a ll th e good a n d e v il in th e world.*’ No
g r e a t in te lle c tu a l o r m o ra l c h a n g e in th e com m unity
c a n t a k e p lace u n less i t is e ffe c ted b y you.
To my *
76
LTFK OF A. KARIM
m ind you iirtld in y o u r h an d s tlie le a d in g s trin g s of t'lo
n a tio n a n d you can m a k e o r m a r its fu tu re p ro sp ec ts. If
>t)u d o n o t o ccupy a h ig h p o sitio n , lik e judges a n d
m a g istra te s, you sh o u ld rem em ber t h a t you a re th e m akers
of ju d g e s a n d m a g is tra te s. N o p ro fessio n a ffo rd s
g re a te r o p p o rtu n itie s of u se fu ln e ss a n d no la b o u r
is f r a u g h t w ith m o re m om entous r e s u lts . U n d e r such
circ u m sta n c es ^is it to o m u ^ to expc(ft t h a t you w ill
b e a n im a te d b y a h ig h sense o f re s p o n s ib ility , a c tu a te d
b y a solem n sense o f duty^ so th a t y o u m ay “succeed in
p e rfo rm in g th e im p o rta n t ta s k e n tru s te d to you to the
b est of y o u r a b ilitie s a n d in fu lfillin g th e noble m ission
u n d e rta k e n b y you to th e s a tis fa c tio n o f yoiir co n sc i­
e n c e ? A lth o u g h y o u r th a n k le s s a n d ill-p a id b u t m ost
ib a p o rta n t serviceg a r e yet b u t little a p p re c ia te d , a l­
th o u g h u n c o n g e n ia l
and
diBConraging
y o u r d u ties
m ay som etim es a p p e a r, a lth o u g ii p e c u n ia ry su ccess an d
p u b lic a p p ro b a tio n may n o t alw ays b e y o u rs, aU hough
u n g e n e ro u s c ritic ism a n d fa lse s ta n d a rd s o f e stim a tio n
m ay o fte n be ap p lied , to y o u r w o rk , you sh o u ld n o t
d e sp a ir.
I h a v e re a so n to hope th e tim e is d ra w in g
n ig h w h e n y o u r m ost v a lu a b le service.s w ill be w ellu n d e rsto o d , w e ll-a p p re c ia te d a n d
w e ll-p a id . Y o u ■
s h o u ld n e v e r fo rg e ^ y o u r re sp o n s ib ility .
Y o u sh o u ld
n e v e r c o u rt p o p u la rity by ta m p e rin g w ith
o r p a n d e rin g to p reju d ices.
p rin c ip le s
Y o u sh o u ld n e v e r tr u c k le '
to p u b lic o p in io n w hen you a r e c o n v in c e d it is m is­
d ir e c te d . H o n e sty a n d c o n siste n c y c a n n o t b u t com ­
m a n d re s p e c t in th e lo n g ru n .
I f you d isc h a rg e your
d u tie s in th e m a n n e r in d ic a te d b y m e, you a re su re to
ris e in -p u b lic e stim a tio n , you a re s u re to b e w e ll-tre a te d
AN lA’SPECTOB O F .SCHOOT.S
7 i
by tlie autliDrifcies, you a re su re to b e g ra te fu lly rem em ­
bered by y o u r piii)ils, som e o f u’^lioin m ig h t dcdicH te tcj
you lilies sim ila r to tlio se d e d ic a te d b y th e M arquis of
W ellesley to E to n .
*‘0 n lo ftie s t deed s to fix th e a s p ir in g g aze,
’i 0 se e k th e p u re r lights; of a n c ie n t days.
T o l o v e tl^ o s i m p l e p i j t l i s o f m a n l y t r u t h ,
T h e se w ere th y lessous to m y o p e u ii g y o u th ,
I f ot^ la te r life som e g lo ry s h in e ,
Som e h o n o u rs g ra c e my nam e, th e m eed is th in e .”
O il th e la s t d a y of th e C o n fe re n c e M . A b d u l K a r im
g a v e a n e v e n in g p a rty to w h ic h th e le a d in g M uslim s
a n d non-M usU m s of C h itta g o n g as w ell as th o s e w ho ^
h a d t a k e ” p a r t in th e C o n fe re n c e w ere u iv itc d .
a w
A fte r th e C o n fe re n c e M. A b d u l K a rim o lfe re d to
t w o
m ed als fo r th e b est essays on “ W h a t m akes
a r d
« M odel T e a c h e r” a n d ‘ H ow to ra is e th e T e a c h in g p r o ­
fessio n in p u b lic e s tim a tio n .”
^
A te le g ra m from C h itta g o n g to th a n e w sj'a p e rs ra n as
follows:-—
,
“ T h e C o n fe re n c e of T e a c h e rs d o s e d ycsterd^iy. M aula v i A b d u l K a r im d e liv e re d a n im p re ssiv e sp eech .
A v o te of th a n k s o n b e h a lf of th e te a c lie rs AVas c a rrie d
w ith a c c la m atio n , B ab u J a t r a M ohon Sen th a n k e d th e
le a rn e d M a n la v i on b e h a lf of th e p u b lic a n d said th a t
he had in fu se d a n e w life in to th e te a c h e rs a n d th o
lu u g h t- T h e w h ole p a rty w a s 'p h o to g ra p h e d .”
T h e “ E 'ast” o f D a c c a w rotei-v “ T 'hat M a u lv ie A bdnl
K a rim , as I n s p e c to r o f S ch o o ls, C liitta g o n g D iv isio n ,
has b e e n w o rk in g in r ig h t e a rn e s t fo r th e im p ro v em en t
78
1 .1 F E O F
A . KARTM
of e d u c a tio n in liis C irc le , is in d eed n otew oi’th y .
la te ly h eld a C o n fe re n c e o f T e a c h e rs a n d in
He
his open­
in g P re s id e n tia l ad d re ss, h e c a lle d a tte n tio n to v ario u s
su b jects c o n n e c te d w ith th e m an ag em en t of schools,
o rg a n iz a tio n o f classes, m e th o d o f te a c h in g a n d q u a lifi­
c a tio n s o f te a c h e rs, inteJIectuftl, m o ral a n d p h y sic a l
c n U u rc o f y o u n g m en a n d o th e r m a tte rs . W e sh o u ld
com m end h is so u n d a d v ic e To th e g u a rd ia n s of th e boys
s e n t to sc h o o ls fo r e d u c a tio n ..............
T h e “ W e e k ly O h ro n ic a r’ w ro te
- “ M r. A b d u l
K a rim , In s p e c to r o f S cho o ls, O h ittag o n g ^D iv lsio n , is
an e d u c a tio n ist o f re p u te in B e n g a l a n d has a lre a d y
m ade h is m a rk in ‘ h e s e rv ic e to w h ic h he b e lo n g s
As
a n a tiv e o f o u r d is tr ic t w e a re p ro u d o f him , a n d h is
w ay s a n d w o r k 'h a v e afw ays possessed sp e c ia l in te re s t
fo r us. A m an o f v e rs a tile ta le n ts a n d th e v ery re v e rse
o f w h a t L o rd C n rz o n w o u ld c a ll a n “ a d m ira b le au to ­
m a to n ,” M r. A b d ul K a rim does n o t w a lk in th e stereotyi^ed p a th , b u t is e y e r busy to d isc o v e r n e w lines f o r
th e sp re a d a n d iin p ro \* e m e u t o f e d u c a tio n in his C irc le .
I n fa c t sin ce h is a d v e n t to tli£ C h itta g o n g D iv isio n
h e h as d o n e a g re a t d eal to in fu s e life a n d v ig o u r in to
th o se w ho a r e e n g a g e d in th e re s p o n s ib le w o rk of
e d u c a tin g th e y o u th a n d h a s a lso ta k e n som e step s c a l­
c u la te d to im p ro v e th e e ffic ie n cy o f te a c h in g , to ra is e
th e s ta tu s o f te a c h e rs a n d to re fo rm th e c h a ra c te r of
th e ta u g h t
W e c o n g r a tu la te M r. A b d u) K a rim
o n h is la u d a b le e ffo rts fo r p ro tn o tiu g t h e ca u se of edu*
<;ation a n d d e sire also to ad d th a t t e co n su m m ate
a b ility w h ic h he has b ro u g h t to b e a r on t h e d is c h a rg e
o f his re sp o n sib le w o rk stami>s- him n o t o n ly a s a h ig h ly
A.N IN S P E C T O R O F S C H O O l.S
u sefu l s e r v a n t o f G o v c rm u e n t, b u t a lso a s a p a tr io t
o f no m eau o rd e r.”
T h e c lim a te of C h itta g o n g h a d d e te rio ra te d by th e
tim e M- A bdul K a r im to o k c h a rg e of. it. H o hoped
to g et b e fo re Jong a tr a n s f e r to so m e o th e r D iv isio n .
B u t iie h id to g iv e u p tills ho'pe. L o rd C ur;!on, d e c id in g to p a rtitio n J.5engal, p a jd a v i s it to C liittag o n g an d
h eld a ,D a r b a r th e re in o rd e r to p re p a re t h e p eo p le fo r
w h a t w as com ing. S h o rtly a f t f r h is v is it, th e D acca
a n d C liitta g o n g D iv is io n s w ere s e p a ra te d fro m B e n g a l,
a tid w ith A ssam a new P ro v in c e w as fo rm e d .
S ir
B a m fy ld e F u lle r w as a p p o in te d its first L ie u te n a n tG o v e rn o r and^ h e b e g a n h is a d m in is tra tio n w ith u n ­
p re c e d e n te d a c tiv ity . H e , ho\v ev er, to o k som e h a sty *
s te p s to p u t d o w n th e v ig o ro u s a jp ta tio n th a t was
•
s ta rte d to g e t th e p a rtitio n o f B e n g a l a n m illed . T he
V ic e ro y , L o rd M in to ,
w ho h ad succeed ed
L o rd
C u rz o n , d isa p p ro v e d o f h is a c tio n a n d th e re u p o n he
te n d e re d h is re s ig n a tio n . This* p ro v e d very d e triiH cntal to th e in te r e s ts of M . A bdtd K a rim , w ho w ith in
a s h o r t tim e h a d gaftied S ir B am fy ld e F u lle r's a p ­
p ro b a tio n fo r h is e ffic ie n t a d o iiu istra tio n . D u rin g
h is v is its to som e o f t h e schools he^sixike w ell of
A b d u l K a rim a n d a sk e d th e p u p ils to re a d from
h is history.*
A ll th is ra ise d th e M a u la v i in p u b lic
g o v fr n m ex t h o u se
*
,
SHlliI.ONG, 27 l'U SwrKWRKR, 1905.
* D e a r S ir,
1 am m uch o b lig e d fo r th e books y o u h a v e se n t
la e . B u t I h a v e re a d a lre a d y y o u r Hi&tory of In d ia
80
l .U 'E O F A . K A R I M
estim atio n and h e h ad reason to feel keenJy th e loss
such a frie n d ly G overnor^
i n AiJinl j 9 0 ()M . A b d n l K a rim a tte n d e d th e Prt>v in e ia l M iiliatninadau. hM iicational ('onf<;rence held, a t
D a cc a u n d e r tlie p re sid e n c y o f X aw ab S ir S a liiu u lla h
B a h a d u r,
lie
liad to ta k e a ])rom ineiit i)a ri in its
*
proco cd in jjs and th is w as m uch a p p re c ia tw l by a ll p re -,
«
•
se n t.
T h e fo llo w in g a r e exti*acts fVotu o n e of h is
speeches a t tlic C o n fo rcn e, p u b iish w l by A L uiIvi S ycd
A bdrtl J a b b a r, Z a m in d a r of C om illa;-—
“ G en tlem en , 1 h a v e b e e n a sk e d to Sivy
le w w o rd s
in re s p o n s e to th e lic a rty w elcom e a c c o id e d by K h a ja h
iM uham inad A sg h a r ISahibj P r e s id e n t of th e K ecep tio ii
•C otnm ittee, to tlm g en tlem en w h o h a v e com e h e re fro m
d iffe re !it p.nrts 0 / th e P ro v in c e . 1 need h a rd ly say t h a t
o u r b est th a n k s a r e d u e to "th e p ro m o ters of th e Con­
fe re n c e fo r g iv in g n s su c h an e x c e lle n t o p p o rtu n ity of
m e e tin g to g e th e r.
I t is. indc<H.I a h a p p y sig n of th e
tim e s t h a t a gentlem aw of th e N a w a b B a h a d u r s h ig h
p o sitio n h as c o iid e sc e h d e d .to ta k e so p ro m in e n t a p a r t
ill su c h a m o v em en t. T h e im p o rta n c e a n d u tility of »
co n fo ro n c e lik e th is c a n h a n lly b e o v e r-e stim a te d . . .
S uch m u tu a l in te r c h a n g e o f th o u g h ts a n d id eas, te n d in g
as i t d o e s to brixiSen o u r v iew s a n d to r a is e o u r id e a ls ,
o a n n o t b u t b e h ig h ly beneficial to t h e ca u se of e d u c a ­
tio n . . . W h ile o f la te th e M nL am nvidans h a v e b e e n
p ro g re s s in g o th e r co m m u n ities h a v e n o t been s ta n d in g
a n d y o u r nam e is fa m ilia r t o m e as t h a t o f a n e a r n e s t
e d u c a tio n a lis t.
Y ours very tru ly ,
J. B. F U L L E R .
A.V I N S P E C T O R
OF SC H O O LS
81
■etill. U n le ss, th e re fo re , v e ry v ig o ro u s e ffo rts a r e m ad^
it is n o t p o ssib le to re g a in th e lo st g ro u n d fo r a lo n g
tim e to com e. F ro m th e f a c t th a t M u h a m m a d a n s h a v e
fa lle n fa r s h o rt o f th e s ta n d a rd o f success w h ic h th e y
•should h a v e a c h ie v e d a n d t)je 'h ig h e r th e s ta n d a rd of
e d u c a t i o n th e m o re m a rk e d th e b a c k w a rd n e ss o f M iih am m a d a n s, a n im prfission seeofs t-> h a v e g a in e d g ro u n d
in sonle q u a rte rs t h a t M u h am m ad an s a re n o t
eq u a l
in
<other
in te lle c tu a l c a p a c itie s to t h e m em b ers
of
•coram uuities. My e x p e rie n c e a s a n e d u c a tio n a l o fficer
o f a b o u t tw e n ty y e a rs ’ s ta n d in g is o th erw ise. I h av e
h a d b e tte r o p p o rtu n itie s th a n m a n y o th e rs of ju d g in g
th e p a r ts o f p u p ils b e lo n g in g to d iffe re n t c o m m u n itie s ,,
a n d I b eliev e if th e sam e a d v a n ta g e s a!id sam e o p p o r­
tu n itie s be g iv en th em , M u sa lm a n s a re w ell a b le to
h o ld th e ir ow n w ith a n y o th e r class o f H is M a je sty ’s
su b je c ts in B e n g a l. O u r b e st e ffo rts, th e re fo re , sh o u ld
b e to rem o v e th e d iffic u ltie s th a t s ta n d in th e w ay
of th e e d u c a tio n a l advan cem en t; of th e M u sa lm a n s
* a n d to secu re f o r the>n th e special fa c ilitie s th e y re ­
q u ire fo r th e p u rp o se . . . .
B e fo re re su m in g ray s e a t I b eg to te n d e r , on
'b e h a lf of ray c o -re lig io n is ts assenil>lcd hero, o u r
h e a r tf e lt th a n k s to th e
o fficial a n d n o n -o ffic ia l
.E u ro p e a n a n d H in d u g e n tle m e n , w ho h a v e b een so
good as to g ra c e th is m e e tin g a n d c o u n te n a n c e its
p ro c e e d in g s b y t h e i r p re se n c e . N eed J a d d th a t we
a r e v e ry th d n k fu l to N aw ab M o h sin u l-M u lk S ah ib , th e
g ra n d o ld m a n of \ l i g a r h , w ho has d e v o te d h is life
a n d co n se c ra ted h is e n e rg ie s o ven a t th is a d v a n c e d ag e
t o th e s e rv ic e o f h is c o -re lig io n ists, a n d w ho is in tim a te b
/
82
L i r K OF A. K A R IM
ly c o n n e c te d w ith th e ren o w n e d C o lle g e a t A ligarh^,
w h ic h h a s becom e an in te lle c tu a l c e n tre o f th e M u salm a n s n o t o n ly o f I n d ia b u t o f th e w h o le o f A sia, an d
w h ic h ts a s ta n d in g m o n u m en t o f th e g re a t e ffo rts m ade
fo r t h e in te lle c tu a l elev atio n o f h is com m unity by th e la te la m e n te d S ir S y cd A h m ad , th e g r e a te s t In d ia n
M u s a lm a n of ^ h e n in e te e n th c e n tu ry , (t'hccrs).
Som e tim e b e fo re h e le ft th e O iitta g o n g D h n sio n M . J^bdiil K a rim h a d to perform a v ery u n p le a s a n t d u ty
w h ic h m ad e him u n p o p u la r am o n g th o se -who d id n o t
r e a lis e th e e n o rm ity of th e crim es c o m m itte d b y som e
o f t h e sch o o l s tu d e n ts in C om illa, C h itta g o n g a n d som e
o t h e r p la c e . O n s iftin g e n q u iry he fo u n d t h a t so m e g ro w n
u p wickfod stud<m ts a n d som e o u tsid ers w e re
p o ll u t i n g fa ir-lo o k in g y o u n g * stu d e n ts an d co m m ittin g
h o r r i b l e a ttr o c itie s on som e o f th e m . D e te rm in e d to
p u t d o w n a ll th is a n d to c le a r th e school a tm o sp h e re ;'
M . A b d u l K a rim to o k v a rio u s stops. H e c a lle d c o n ­
fe re n c e s o f g u a rd ia n s a n d c o n su lte d th em as to w h a t
s te p s th e y m ig h t su g g est. H e decid ed to give a c h a n c e
t o m o st o f th e s tu d e n ts c o n cern ed by a t first in flic tin g
lig h t p u n is h m e n t on th e m a n d to r u s tic a te only a few
w h o w e re u n p a rd ^ n a b ly a c tiv e in th e m a tte r. U n fo r­
t u n a t e l y M r. L u so n , th e C om m issioner, com ing to k now
w h a t w as g o in g on, s e n t fo r a ll th e p a n e rs a n d w ith o u t
c o n s u ltin g M . A b d u l K a rim , su b m itted d ire c t to th e
G o v e rn m e n t a s tro n g r e p o rt p ro p o sin g ru s tic a tio n of
a ll th e s tu d e n ts co n c e rn e d . H is p ro p o sa l w as a c c e p te d
a n d m ost o f th e s tu d e n ts c o n c e rn e d w e re ru stic a te d .
T h is c re a te d a sen satio n a n d M . A b d u l K a rim bcorim e
u n p o p u la r ,
as th e p u b lic
d id n o t
know
ho w 'farj
AX
IX S P E C T O K
O F .SCHOOLS
he w as re sp o n sib le fo r w h a t h a d h ap p en d .
85
N a tu ra lly
h is re la tio n w ith th e C om m issioner b ecam e s tra in e d .
IJesid es, ho h a d d itfe rc n e e s o v er som e a p p o itm e n ts
a n d o th e r m a tte rs w ith th e D ire c to r of P u b lic I n s ­
tru c tio n , M r. S h a rp , wlio had ^all a lo n g been so v e ry
k in d a n d c o u rte o u s to M . A b d u l K a rim as to cause
e n v y am o n g otl’lc ia ls in ttie D eprrtm oi>t. "When th e
D ire c fo r
d e c id e d to p ro m o te some o fficers w ho Rad
somehow' ha1)pened to h a v e irtfiiressed him , M . jVbdnl
K a rim o b je c te d to th is as som e o th e r o ffic e rs, w hom
th e D ir e c to r h a d n o o ccasion to kn o w , h a d jire fe rc n tia j c la im to p ro m o tio n . A ll th is g re a tly d isg u ste d
M . A b d n l K a r im w h o w'as a t t h a t tim e in a sh a tte re d ^
s ta te o f h e a lth on a c c o u n t dS c lim titic effect. H e
decid ed to p ro ceed on Ion|f leave.
C o m in g to k n o w
o f th is , th e D ire c to r offVred h im th e In s p e c to rs h ip o f
- t h e R a js h a h i D iv is io n , b u t h e d id n o t a c c e p t it.
He
p ro ce e d e d o n le a v e a n d w e n t to AValtair to re c o u p his
h e a lth . D u r in g his th re e montlus sta y th e re h e m et
som e of th e h ig h oft’icm ls of th e E d u c a tio n D e p a r tm e n t
of M a d ra s a n d a tte n d e d a c o n fe re n c e h e ld b y them
a t V ix a g a p a ta m . A t W a lta ir h e b e c a m e ac q u u iu tc d
w ith th e la te R a ja D iin b eh ari K a f iir , C. S. I., th e
fa th e r of tlie M a iia ra ja d h ira j of D u rd w a n , a n d w as v e ry
m u c h im p re sse d by h is so ciab ility .
i
9
I
CHAPTER IX .
I
n s p e c t io n
of
Sch oo ls.
^ l a u l a v i A b d u l K a r im ’s* inspcctioi* of schools had
a s p e c ia lty of its ow n . AVhilc o th e r in s p e c tin g oi¥icors
g e n e ra lly d id n o t sp en d m ore th a n a d ay in in s p e c tin g a
sc h o o l, he d e v o te d tw o a n d so m etim es th re e days to
t h e in sp e c tio n of a h ig h E n g lish School. A f te r a
th o ro u g h e x a m in a tio n of th e classes a n d t h e re c o rd s, ho
u sed to h o ld a c o n fe re n ce of te a c h e rs iii o rd e r to le t
fh e m k n o w w h cp e,h e foui»d th e m w a n tin g a n d how th e y
c o u ld m ak e u p th e i r deficiencies. O c c a sio n a lly h e also
h e ld a c o n fe re n ce o f g u a rd ia n s a n d te a c h e rs to d isc u ss
th e re q u ire m e n ts of th e school. B esid es, he g r a n te d •
in te rv ie w s to th e best stu d e n ts a n d fre e ly ta lk e d w ith
th e m . Som etim es h e fepoke to p a r tic u la r g u a rd ia n s
a b o u t th e ir w ard s. A ll th is p ro d u ced a s a lu ta ry e ffe ct in
t h e lo c a lity w h ere th e school w as s itu a te d . B ab u
K u n ja b e h a ri B ose, P e rso n a l A s s is ta n t to th e D ire c to r of
P u b lic In stru c tio n ,^ w h o was in te re s te d in th e B a ra s a t
H ig h E n g lis h school, used to say th a t w h e n M . A b d u l
K a r im v isite d th a t sch o o l ev en th e wom en fo lk in t h e
lo c a lity d iscussed am o n g th em selv es w h a t th e ir c h ild re n
re p o r te d to th em .
W h e n M. A b d u l K a rim ’s to u r p ro ­
g ra m m e w as p u b lish e d a sen satio n p re v a ile d in th e
lo c a lity w h ic h he in te n d e d to v is it.
R e fe rrin g to a c o n fe re n c e of g u a rd ia n s h e ld on th e occafiion of th e in s p e c tio n o f th e N o a k h a li Z illa sch o o l
<
iN s p E c rriO N o r
scho o ls
85
a c o rre s p o n d e n t o f th e “ B e n g a le e " w ro te in its issue
o f 2 2 iid A u g u st, 1903,
“ A lto g e th e r th e c o n fe re n c e w as a v e ry in te r e s tin g ,
n e e d fu l a n d p ro fita b le fu n c tio n . T h e c o n feren o e w as a
n e w o n e o f its k in d , a n d th e le a rn e d In s p e c to r d eserv e d
th e th a n k s o f th e p u b lic fo r s t a r t i n g su c h a n o rig in a l
id e a .
W e have; k n o w n In s p e c to rs w h o o n ly c are f o r
h a ltip g a llo w a n c e s a n d w h o se so -called in sp ec tio n
co n sists in .m a k in g a s ta te p ro g re ss th ro u g h th e school
«
classes a tte n d e d b y th e re tin u e o f te a c h e rs. T h e le arn ed
M o u lv ie c^jinced th e d eep est in te re st in th e w e lfa re
o f t h e boys, a n d fo r once te a c h e rs a n d stu d e n ts a n d
g u a rd ia n s w ere im p ressed w ith th e im p o rta n c e a n d u se ­
fu ln e ss of a n I n s p e c to r o f S ch p o ls." ^
•
P R A T IB A a ill” W R 0T 3-:^—
W e a re
u sed to m e c h a n ic a l ofl’icials.
V e ry few a re in th e
h a b i t of m a k in g a n y d e p a rtu re fro m th e system of
r o u tin e w o rk to w h ic h th e y succeed.
B u t M o u lv ie
THE “ p e o p le
and
A b d u l K a rim , tlic I n s p e c to r of Schools fo r C h itta g o n g ,
is, we u n d e rs ta n d , q u ite a new s o rt o f m an .
He
seem s to be a m an ins^nred w ith a h ig h e r sense of d u ty
th a n w h a t is to b e fo u n d in th e o rd in a ry r u n . H e does
th e m e c h a n ic a l w o rk , w h ic h o f course m u st b e d o n e ,
b u t he does s o m e th in g m ore, h e in v e stig a te s th e cau ses
o f a rre s te d p ro g re ss a n d in sp ire s o th ers w ith h is
ow n id e a l of w o rk . . . . T h is is a s in g u la r m eth o d of
worK. W e dv>n't k n o w w b n t re s u lt i t w ill y ie ld . M o st
p r o b a b l y .it w ill n o t be a p p re c ia te d in th is c o u n try
W'hcre id eals o f d u tie s a r e h opelessly lo w , b u t it is a
g re a t s a tisfa c tio n to us t h a t th e re a re in th e E d u c a tio n
D e p a rtm e n t m en w ith su c h co n c e p tio n o f d u ties."
)
t
66
L IF E
OF
A . K A R IM
T h e fo llo w in g is a su m m ary o f an in sp ectio n “ N ote”
o f M a u la v i A b d u l K a rim , r e c o rd e d in th e V isitors^
B o o k o f a school.
T h e fu ll “ N o te ’' w as p r in te d in th e
fo rm 0 ^ a c ir c u la r a n d s e n t to a il H ig h sch o o ls in h is
ju ris d ic tio n , so t h a t te a c h e rs a n d m a n a g e rs o f schools
m ig h t k n o w w h a t w as re q u ire d of them :—
I v isite d th e S ch o o l y e ste rd a y a n d ta rd a y .
N u m e r i c a l S t r e n g t h . — I am g lad t» fin d
th e n u m e ric a l s tre n g th o f t h e schocd is s te a d ily
in c re a sin g . There* has been a p io re c ia b le in c re a se
o f p u p ils sin ce my la s t v is it a b o u t a y e a r ago.
T h e re w ould h a v e been a la r g e r nuftiber of boys
o n tlie ro lls b y th is tim e if some n e w co m e rs
h ad n o t been re ru se d ad m ission. T h e la s t tw o
classes h a v e b een fa s t o v e rg ro w in g th e ir n o rm al
siz e and* unless* th e y a re d iv id e d in to sectio n s
m ore boys c a n n o t b e ta k e n i n t o th e m ; th e fixed,
m ax im u m h a v in g been a lre a d y re a c h e d . A d d i­
tio n a l accojiim odation a n d e x tr a te a c h e rs a r e
re q u ire d fo r th is p urpose. I th in k i t is n n d e s i r - '
a b le to re fu se adm ission in to tlie o n ly H ig h
E n g lis h Schocd in th e su b d iv isio n a t a tim e w hen
t h e ]ieople seem to be ju st a w a k in g to th e
n ecessity of E n g lis h cdue^^ation. . . . T’he p a u c ity
o f M uh am m ad an p u p ils in th e sch o o l is to be
re g re tte d . S tep s sh o u ld be ta k e n to attra(^t to
th e school a la rg e n u m b e r of M u h am m adan boys
o f th e neig^ibourhood
Som e free stu d e n tsliip s
m ay be h e ld o u t fo r th e ir a ttra c tio n .
SCHOOL R E i:o u P s . — O n th e w hole th e re ­
c o rd s m ay b e said to h a v e been w ell kc])t. B u t
th e ir r e g u la r itie s in t h e A dm ission R e g is te r
a r e to be re g re tte d . T lie H e a d m a ste r slio u ld
h a v e a th o ro u g h k n o w ledge of a il tiiC r e c o r d s ;
lie sh o u ld n o t dcj^end m uch u p o n th e c le rk . T h e
a c c o u n ts sh o u ld be re g u la rly a u d ite d a n d sig n e d
b y th e S e c re ta ry . T h e p re s e n t p ra c tic e of c h e c k -
IN SPE C TIO N OK SCHOOLS
67
iu g th e a c c o u n ts w h en g ra n t-in -a id b ills a r e
s u b m itte d , c a n n o t b e ap p ro v e d . T h e a tte n d a n c e
R eg ister of te a c h e r s show ed t h a t som e of th ed i
a re n o t v e rv lu in c tu a l in a tte n d a n c e . T h is is
to be re g re tte d . Roys slio u ld le a rn tiie im p o rt­
a n t lesson o f p u n c tu a lity e a rly in life, a n d it
sh o u ld b e ta u g h t m ore b y p e rs o n a l ex am ple
th a n by p recep t. P u tfc tu a l a tte n d a n c e b o th in
th e case o f te a c h e rs a n d p u p ils sh o u ld be stri(?tly
in siste d u p o n .
•
Ac<om5ioI)ATion— In s u ific ic n c y of accom UKxlation is s till tiic, m ost k o e n ly -fo lt w a n t of
th e sciiool. A suit.able site h as a t last*beeii
:ici[uired an d ste p s are b e in g ta k e n fo r c o n s tru c t­
in g th e re q u ire d b u ild in g .lt is hop ed th e school
tr ill luivo a d e c e n t h a b ita tio n of its ow n befo re
long^ 1 ’he e x p an sio n of tiie school in fu tu re
siiould be k c])t in view in b u ild in g th e house a n d
th e room s sh o u ld h a v e acconifnodation for th e
m a x im u m inim bev of boys fixed fo r d iffe re n t
cla^.ses by th e new R e g u la tio n s of th e C a lc u tta
U n iv e rs ity .
F i n a n i u a l C oN iui’iON— T h e school is in a
s o lv e n t c o n d itio n ; th e jn c o m o co v ers th e ex­
p e n d itu re . 'I'iie u p p a rc n t.d e ficit is d ue to th e fa c t
t h a t g ra n t-in -a id h as n o t been d raw n fo r som e
m o n th s ; w h cb th e a r r c a r g r a n t w ill be d ra w n
th e re w ill be a m o n th ly su rp lu s. T he r e s e rv e
fu n d a m o u n ts to a b o u t one th o u sa n d ru p ees.
1 ’h is is n o t s u ffic ie n t to o m e^t th e re q u ire m e n ts
of t h e sch o o l. FlVorts sh o u ld be m ade to r a is e
m ore fu n d s, ’i'he s u rp lu s b a la n c e sh o u ld b e
p laced in th e S a v in g s R ank.
i'EACHi.Ncr S r.^ F r.— I t is m uch to b e r e g r e ted t h a t th e re w ere so m any c h a n g e s in th e te a ­
c h in g sta ff d u rin g th e la s t session ; so m an y as
six o f th e te a c h e rs w e re a p p o in te d in 1910. I
n eed lia rd ly say tlia t su ch ch an g es a re v e ry m u c h
•<Ictrimciital to th e in te re s ts of th e sch o o l.
I
88
L IF E
•
•
OF
A . K A R IM
W h e n e v e r a n e w a p p o in tm e n t is m ad e a p r o p e r
g u a ra n te e o f th e s e le c te d c a n d id a te 's s tic k in g '
to th e p o s t fo r a t le a st tw o co m p lete sessionssh o iild b e in v a ria b ly ta k e n . O n ly th o se w h o
a d o p t te a c h in g as a p ro fessio n a n d a r e lik e ly to'w o r k w ith h e a rt, sh o u ld b e ap p o in te d . T h o se
w h o look u p o n a te a c h e r’s p o st as a s te p p in g s to n e to s o m e th in g 'b e tte r o r a s a h a ltin g -p la c c f o r
p re p a ra tio n fo r th e B a r, s h o u ld .n o t be a p p o in te d .
I t is nrost u n d e sira b le t h a t men w ho k n o w little o f
te a c h in g sh o u ld b e ta k e n in , a n d w h en th e y le a rn
s o m e th in g o f i t,, a n d begin to b e rP a lly u sefu !
s h o u ld be allo w 'ed to le a v e th e school.
T h e M o u lv i possesses th e re q u isite u tta in m e n ts in A ra b ic & P e rs ia n , b u t h is p ro g re ss in
E n g lis h h as n o t b een s u ffic ie n t. U n le ss ho
e x e rts h is b est a n d p ick s u p th e re q u isite k n o w le d g e of E n g lis h b e fo re lo n g , I am a fra id
h e w ill h a v e to be re p la c e d by a b e tte r qualified'
m an .
•
T h e H e a d M a s te r’s w o rk m ay b e ju d g ed by
f o u r c r ite r ia , v iz.,
(1) M a in te n a n c e o f p ro p e r d is c ip lin e in th e
s c h o o l;
(2) P ro g re s s m ade b y
d ire c tly in h is c h a r g e ;
th e
•
c la ss
or
cla sse s
(3) P ro g re s s m ade by th e cla sse s in c h a rg e of
th e A s s is ta n t M aster.s;
(4) B e s u lts
th e U n iv e rs ity E x a m in a tio n .
J u d g e d b y th e first c rite rio n th e H e a d
M a s te r m ay b e said to h a v e p ro v e d f a ir ly suc~
ccssfu l ; he seems to be g ra d u a lly g e ttin g a tig h ­
t e r h o ld o v er h is pupil.e, w hose b e h a v io u r a t
th e tim e of m y in s]iectio n w’as a ll tlia t w as
d e sira b le . F ro m w h a t I saw o f th e 'c o rre c tio n
o f th e ex ercises and jierfo rm aiice of th e boys
a t m y e x a m in a tio n , I c a n o t say his w ork in
c o n n e c tio n w ith th e clas.ses d ire c tly in h is c h a r g e
IN S P E C T IO N
OF 8C K O O L 8
89’
h a s b een q u ite u p to e x p e c ta tio n . A s fo r
h is "woTk o-f s u p e rv is io n , i t h as b e e n fa r fro m
sa tis fa c to ry . H e sh o u ld alw ay s b e a r in m in d
t h a t he is re sp o n sib le n o t o n ly fo r th e p ro g re ss
a n d m a n a g e m e n t of th e cla sse s d ire c tly in his
c h a r g e b u t also fo r t h e p ro g re ss a n d m anagem ent,
o f a ll th e classes in th e school. I f h e la c k s te a ­
c h in g c a p a c ity , o n ly h is cl.nsses s u ffe r, b u t if
he b e -v^anting in ^ a d m in is tra tiv e c a p a c ity 'th e
w h o le sch o o l su ffers. T lic H e a d Tklaster m u st
c a r e f u lly s u p e rv is e th e w o rk of a ll his a ssista jfts. H e sh o u ld now a n d th e n c a ll fp r thecx crcise books of a c la s s a n d lo o k th ro u g h
a c e rta in p e rc e n ta g e in o rd e r to see how th e w o rk
is d o n e.
H e sh o u ld issue in stru c tio n s to his
a s s is ta n ts , w h e n e v e r necessary , re g a rd in g th e
m e th o d o f te a c h in g , class m a n a g e m e n t a n d
o th e r m a tte rs , a n d sce^th at th e se a re fa ith fu lly
c a r r ie d o u t. T liese in s tru c tio n s sh o u ld be p re ­
se rv e d fo r in sp e c tio n . C o n feren ces of te a c h e r s
sh o u ld b e h e ld , a t le a st o n ce a f o r tn ig h t, in o rd e r
to d iscu ss d iffic u ltie s a n d d evise m eans fo r th e ir
rem o v al. T h e p ro ceed in g s o f th e s e con feren ces
sh o u ld b e k e\)t. Ju d g e d .b y th e re s u lts of th e
U n iv e r s ity E x a m in a tio n ^ th e H e a d M a ste r’s
w o rk m ay be sa id to h a v e b e e n sa tisfa c to ry .
S in c e he h a s Paken c h a rg e , th e re s u lts h a v e been
s a tis fa c to ry b o th in q u a n tity a n d (]uality. A
f a i r n u m b e r of th e ta u g h t a n d a la r g e n um ber
of th e c a n d id a te s h a v e alw^^i’s been successful.
CopUECTiON OF E xF .R n sK .— I t is to b e r e ­
g re tte d t h a t a d e q u a te .attention iiag r o t been
p a id to m y in s tr u c tir n s re g .ird in g th e c o rrec tio n
ot exercises. A s I p o in te d o u t .i,
c o rre c te d is a m ista k e confirm ed.” N o m istak e
slio u ld b e le ft u n c o rre c te d . Jlesides, m istakes
sh o u ld n o t be m e re ly c o u n te d b u t also w eighed,
a n d a tte n tio n sh o u ld b e g iv e n to th em in p ro ­
p o rtio n to tiie ir g ra v ity .
T h e tim e a t th e dis^
(
?90
LIKK
A.
K ^R IM
posaJ o f th e boj’s sh o u ld be tjilceri n o te of, a n d
o n ly as m iicli exorcise sh o u ld be se t as m ay be
thoronp:iily (lone by th e m ; h u r r ie d w o rk m ust be
d isc o u ra g e d .
:
,
,
*
OF
H had M a st e r ’s D i a r v .— I show ed th e
H o ad M a ste r a co])y o f tlie d ia ry k e p t by th e
H e a d M aster of tlu ‘ P iro jp o ro scliool. A s im ila r
d ia ry sh o u ld b e kc])t b y him . H is c ritic ism s of
th e w o rk o f h is a s s is ta n ts a iu i th e in s tru c tio n s
g iv e n "by h im sh o u ld be re g u la rly w i'ittep . A
se p a ra te book sh o u ld b e k e p t fo r e v e ry q u a rte r,
a t th e end o f whih'h it m ay bo ca lle d *for by me
fo r in sp e c tio n . I t w ill show how th e A ssista n t
M asters do th e ir w o rk , w h e th e r th e J lc a d M a ste r
p ro p e rly su p e rv ise s it, w h a t in s tru c tio n s lie g iv e s
a n d liow f a r tiicsc a re c a rrie d out.
P r i ’p a r /vrioN OF TBAcnKRK.— '4’li8 te a c h c rs
a s a bo(]y d o MOt k n o w m uch of th e A r t of
T e a c h in g . I ’ n ie ss th e y tnalve a sy ste m a tic stu d y
-of tile su b je c t, th e y •c a n n o t m ak e th em se lv es
m u ch u seful. T h e im p o rta n t w o rk s on th e A r t
o f T e a c h in g sh o u ld be purchascul a n d th('.so.
sh o u ld bo c a re fu lly stu d ie d by t h e te a c h c rs . , .
'r h e te a c h e rs m ust c a re fu lly p re tia re a t homo th e
Jcssons th e y h av e to g iv e a t s(diool. Xo lesson,
how ever sinpile, sh o u ld b e g iv e n w ith o u t a d e ­
q u a te iirc p a ra tio n . T’hc * te a c h e r’s k n o w led g e
o f tlie su b ject m u st n o t be courm cd to tex t-b o o k a ,
it sh o u ld be fa r a h e a d o f th e cla ss, p ro g ram m e.
\ o t e s fo r (4ass use slum ld b e caV cfully w ritte n ,
■keeping th e cai>ii.city of th e class in v iew , a n d
th e se sh o u ld bo c le a rly w ritte n a n d p re se rv e d
f o r in sp ectio n .
Co-oPKUATro.v B et w e e n tj -e achers a n d t e a CKERs, AND in-:TWi:i;N t e a c h e r s and G u a r d i ­
ans .— I t is e sse n tia lly necessary th a t th e r e sh o u ld
be u n a n im ity a n d c o rd ia lity am ong a ll th e
te a c h e rs .
T hey sh o u ld te a c h boys E sriR iT DB
COKI’S m ore by p e rso n a l e x am p les th a n b y p ro -
IX H P E C T IO N
O F S C ilO O L H
91
•cept«. T h e fjond o f th e w h o le scliool a n d n o t
m erely of th e class in liis c h a rtie , sh o u ld bo in
tlie h e a rt oF ev ery te a c h e r. T h ey sh o u ld h e a r ti­
ly c o -o p e ra te w ith o ne a n o th e r a n d c o n trib u te
to ilic su c c e ss o f th e school as m uch a n d .a s b est
a s ea c h o f th em ca n . T h e re la tio n b etw een th e
H ead M a ste r an d h is ;i« sis ta n ts s h o u ld b e like
t h a t o f an e ld e r b ro th e r a n d his y o u n g er l^roth e rs . 't h e fo rm e r *:liould bo k in d a n d c o n si­
d e ra te , b u t w a tc iifu l a n d u n s p a r in g in m a k in g th e
l a tte r do t h e i r du ties, w hile th e l a tt e r sh o u ld be
re sp e c tfu l a n d subm issive, a n d th e y sh o u ld
])rom)»tly a n d w illin g ly c a rry o u t in s trn e tio n s. I f
th e i> be d itf e re n e e in atiy m a tte r, it sh o u ld be
s e ttle d in a f r ie n d ly t a l k in w h ic h th in g s m ay
b e easily e x p la in e d ajid n o t b y s tr ic t e n fo rc e ­
ment* on th e o n e h an d o r a c tiv e op])05ition ou
th e o th e r.
•
,
•
T h e e o -o iieratio i\ o f th e g u a rd ian s m ust
!h‘ -o u g h t an d se c u re d . I t sh o u ld b e rem em ber­
ed t h a t boys a rc a t school, u n d e r th e te a c h e r,
o; V fo r .0 hours, w h ile th e y a r e a t hom e, w ith
t! i :ir g u a rd ia n s , fo r If) h o u rs. U n le ss b o th th e
le a c h c rs an d th e g u a rd ia ris c o -o p e rate m uch
good c a n n o t bo ex]iectetl. T h e claeg m aster
sh o u ld k n o w k>he g u a rd ia n s of his p u n ils. siiould
m eet tliom as fre q u e n tly as possible, sh o u ld sn eak
a n d w rite to th em a b o u t th e p ro g re ss a n d b e ­
h a v io u r of tln u r w ard s.
C t, ASS P rom otion .— G lass p ro m o tio n has
n o t been judicious. Som e boys h a v e been p ro ­
m oted to classes fo r w h ic h th e y a rc n o t fit.
T h is is to be re g re tte d . I t sh o u ld be b o rn e in
m in d th a t in d is c n m n ia te , \)rc>iiiutl.nj wf boys
sep 'o u sly t(dls u p o n th e efficiency am i d isci­
p lin e of a school. H a rd ly a n y good is done to
.'iifit boys wito a r e p ro m o te d to h ig h er classes.
5<nt th e good boys su ffe r ; th e p resen ce of unfit
b o y s in a c la ss h a m p e rs its p ro g ress. I find in
i
92
•
T i l F E O F A. K A R IM
som e cases boys h a v e been p ro m o te d sim p ly
because th e y h a v e b e e n in a class fo r tw o ses­
sio n s, a s if le n g th of stay in a c la ss is a su ffic ie n t
re a so n fo r p ro m o tio n . 1 th in k w h en a boy fa ils
, to q u a lify h im self fo r p ro m o tio n on tw o occa­
sio n s, he p ro v e s h is u n fitn e s s n o t once b u t tw ice
a n d h e m u st n o t Ije p ro m o te d to a h ig licr class.
P h y s i c a l e x k r c i h e . - 1 sa w so m o boys u t
d r ill. T h e y aequitJ;od th e m se lv e s fa irly . T h e
B r ill ISIaster seem s to k n o w his b u sin ess, w e lB
H e sh o u ld b e a r in m in d th e object of school
d r ill. B oys shoifld le a rn p ro m p t o b edience to
c o m m an d , a c tiv ity a n d a g ilitv in d o in g th in g s^
c o m b in a tio n a n d c o -o p o ra tio n in sim u lta n eo u sp e rfo rm a n c e s. T h e y m u st n o t be i> erm ittcd tod o a n y e x e rc is e carelessly a n d slo v e n ly . I t
sh o u ld b e seen th a t th ey c o n c e n tra te th e i r a tte n tio n on ,th e m i^ o le o r p a r t o f th e b o d y , th e
d e v e lo p m e n t of w h ic h is in te n d e d by a p a r ti­
c u la r exercise. I t sh o u ld be rem em b ered th a t,
i t is fo r th e sak e ol a so u n d m in d t h a t a so und
b o d y is re q u ire d . T h e o b ject o f p h y sic a l excr--.
ciae is n o t to a d d to b ru te fo rc e , b u t to p re se rv e
th e b o d y in a h e a lth y co n d itio n so t h a t th e
m in d m ay p e rfo rm its fu n c tio n p ro p e rly . T h o se
boys w ho a re ex cei)tio n alIy stu d io u s sh o u ld
in v a r ia b ly ta k e p a r t in p h y sical e x e rc ise . T h e
c o n s titu tio n of th e boys sh o u ld be ta k e n in to
c o n sid e ra tio n in se le c tin g e x e rc ise s a j’d gam es
f o r them . • A s a v e ry h a rd g am e o r exercisem ay do harm to a w’eak c o n s titu tio n , a ll boys
sh o u ld n o t be re q u ire d to u n d e rg o a ll k in d s o f
e x e rc ise s o r to p la y a ll so rts o f gam es.
K e s t j l 't o f C l a s k E x a m i n a t i o n . —T h e re su lt,
o f my e x a m in a tio n of th e classes w as n o t w h a t
i t sh o u ld h a v e b een . T h is seem s to bo c h ie fly
d u e to ■want of good m eth o d of te a c h in g a n d
la c k o f p ro p e r s u p e rv isio n o f th e w ork of t h e
te a c h e rs. . . E n g lis h a n d o th e r su b je c ts h a v e n o t
IN rtP K C n O N O F S C H O O L a
93
b een ta u g h t u e e o rd iiig to c o n v e rs a tio n a l m ethod,
a s in s tru c te d , a n d little use seeois to oe m ad e
o f th e B la c k -b o a rd in class-teach irig . . .
I ta lk e d to tlio te a c h e rs a t som e le n g th on
th e m e th o d of te a c h in g d iif e r e n t su b jects. T h e
d itfo re n c c b etu 'ceii a s c h o la r an d a te a c iie r
sh o u ld b e alw ays b o rn e in m in d . Afere acade­
m ical a tta in m e n ts d o n o t m ak e a su ccessfu l te a ■cher.
A sc h o o lm a ste r m ay p o ssess a so und
k n o w led g e of a su b je c t, b u t h e c a n n o t be suc■cc>'aful as a te a c h e r iiniess he h as th e c a p a c ity
And a c q u ire s th e s k ill o f c o m m u n ic a tin g t h a t
k n o w led g e to o th ers.
A t hom e th e te a c h e rs
shoiifd th o ro u g h ly p re p a re th e lessons a n d a t
sch o o l th e y sh o u ld w o rk lik e m en a n d n o t lik e
m achines. T h e y sh o u ld ta k e n o te of th e te m ­
p e ra m e n t a n d capacit;^ o f th e boys a n d suit*
th e ir te a c h in g to th ese. 'Hie e x c e p tio n a lly
s m a rt boys a n d thcrflullH rds sh o u ld n o t b e ta u g h t
in th e sam e m a n n e r. T h e c o n v e rs a tio n a l m e­
th o d s h o u ld b e in v a r ia b ly a d o p te d ; no lesson
siiould b e fo rm a lly g iv e n u n til th e su b jectm a tte r is w e ll-ta lk e d o v e r in th e class.
A
s u b je c t sh o u ld be in te llig e n tly ta u g h t w ith a
v ie w to d e v e lo p th e in te llc c iu a l fa c u ltie s a n d
n o t m e re ly to o u ltiv a te th e m em ory a n d to feed
t h e m in d w ih a m ass of ill-d ig e s te d fa c ts. A
la n g u a g e is le a r n t m o re b y s p e a k in g it a n d
h e a rin g it sp o k en th a n by tlie stu d y of its vo­
c a b u la ry a n d g ra m m a r. S p e a k in g in E n g lis h
by th e boys am o n g th em selv es a n d w ith th e
te a c h e rs sh o u ld b e issiste d u p o n fro m C lass
V I . u p w a rd s, if n o t from a lo w er class. T h e
d ire c t m eth o d o f te a c h in g a fo re ig n languu.ge
sh(juld b e tr ie d in some of th e classes.
I t sh o u ld be n o t e l th a t we do n o t come
e v e ry tim e to ta lk . S erious n o tice w ill be
ta k e n if th e in s tru c tio n s g iv e n a re d isreg ard e d .
'T e a c h e rs of some s ta n d in g seem to be too w ed-
(
94
I.IF K
•
OK
A. KARIM
cd to th e ir old wfiys to ta k e s n ffic ie iit n o te
of w h a t th e y arc to ld a b o u t m o d e rn 'm e th o d s.
T h i s ‘c a n n o t he to le ra te d . I f a te a c h e r b e u n ­
w illin g o r u n a b le to c a r r y o u t in s tru c tio n s
’g iv en liim by iiis s u p e rio rs, h e m u st m ake room
f o r a b e tte r m an . I t is hop(>d t h a t in a m a tte r
of su c h v ita l im p o rta n c e - -tlie p ro p e r ed u c a tio n
of th e i r ow n c h ild re n a n d th cd r n e ig h b o u r’s
c h ild re n -- th e m aj5agers w ilf ris e ab o v e a ll
p e rso n al feelings, a n d th e in te re s ts o f th e
school, in v o lv in g fphe in te r e s ts of h-undreds of
boys- Avill n o t be sacrificed fo r tlie in te re sts of
p a r tic u la r in d iv id u a ls.
T h e fo llo w in g is th e sum m ar\- o f a le tte r w h ic h M .
A b d u l K a rim w ro te to o n e of th e oll’ic ia ls u n d e r him
«vho asked fo r h is p erm issio n to in s p e c t h ig h schools in
*
h is c irc le : —
G am p P a tu a k h a lf,
12-2 11 .
“ . . . A b e tte r system of e x a m in a tio n m e a n t to be a
se a rc h in g te s t of k n o w je d g e h as been in tro d u c e d a n d it
is in te n d e d th a t th e old m e c h a n ic a l m eth o d o f te a c h in g
w h ic h feeds th e m in d w ith f i c t s t h a t c a n n o t be easily
d ig e s te d a n d c u ltiv a te s th e m em ory t o an e x te n t t h a t is
f a r from d e sira b le , sh o u ld g iv e p la c e to .an in te llig e n t
m eth o d calcul.atcd to d e v e lo p th e intelJrctn.al fac u lties.
B u t th e se ch a n g e s c a n n o t a v a il m u ch u n less o ur teacherH
a n d in sp e c to rs (te a c h e rs o f te a c lie rs ) a lso c h a n g e . . . .
Y o u arc p e rh a p s a w a re tlia t I h a v e m ade th e su b je c t my
sp e c ia l study, b u t so n n ic h lig h t is b e in g th fo w n on it
b y m odern re se a rc h es a n d so m an y new th in g s are b e in g
p re sse d on o u r a tte n tio n ev e ry d a y t h a t w ith a ll m y
e ffo rts I find m yself u n a b le to k e e p a b re a s t of th e tim e s..
TXSPECTION. OF KCHOOI.S
95
S o y o u see liow studioua a n d o b s e rv a n t o ne m u st be' to
b e u p to d a te . M y “ H in ts on S chool M ana};em ent ancl
M e th o d o f T e a c h in g ’ w as m i t t e n al>out th r e e y e a rs a g o .'
A lth o u g h it h as been a p p ro v e d an d is in u se in d iffe re n t',
p a r t s o f In d ia , J w ish I h a d n o t "Written i t th en w itii
m y lim ite d k n o w le d g e o f th e subject. I h a v e le a rn ^ so •
m a n y th in g s a ft^ r its pxibli^ation t h a t sc \;c ra l p a r ts of
th e
b o o k h a v e to be r e w ritte n in o rd e r to b e re a lly •
u s e fu l. Jt^ first ed itio n h as b e e n e x h au sted , a n d J am
r e v i s in g i t fo r its second e d itio n . T h u s if a n o ffic e r b en o t a consta*nt a n d c a re fu l r e a d e r of th e e v e r-in c re a sin g
l i t e r a t u r e o n th e s\ib jc c t an d if he h as n o t h is eyes a n d
e a rs w ide o^>cn, he c a n n o t be v e ry u se fu l. N o th in g is
so f a ta l to th e u se fu ln e ss of“an ed u « a tio n a I o ffic e r as
seH -sufficieiicy.
I f he th y ik s he kn o w s a ll t h a t is w o rth
know ii^g, he w ill n e v e r le a rn m a n y th in g s w h ic h h e
•sh o u ld kn o w . U n le ss I am satisfied t h a t a n o ffic er u n d e r
m e re a lise s th e g r a v ity o f th e situ a tio n a n d he is re a lly
a liv e to h is re s p o n sib ility , T fe e l m u ch h e sita tio n in
e n tr u s t i n g him w ith th e in s p e c tio n o f schools in m y
c h a r g e . . . . I th in k ev ery o ffic e r e n g a g e d in th e n o b le
w o rk of e d u c a tio n sh o u ld be a n im a te d by a h ig h
sense
of d u ty a n d a c tu a te d b y a solem n sense o f re sp o n sib lity ,
a n d t h e a p p ro b a tio n o f h is co n sc ie n c e in h a v in g p erfo rm ­
ed h is d u tie s to th e b e st o f h is a b ilitie s s h o u ld be h is
h ig h e s t re w a rd . . . . n’liey sh o u ld b e a r in m in d th a t th e y
h o ld in th e ir h a n d s th e le a d in g -s trin g s of th e n a tio n
a n d t h e y b a n m ak e o r m a r its f u tu r e p ro sp ec ts. F o r,
th e y h a v e to m ould th e in te lle c t, th e co n scie n ce a n d
th e c h a r a c te r o f th e fu tu re g e n e ra tio n s o f th e ir c o u n tr y ­
m en a n d c o u n try w om en. I n f a c t n o g r e a t in te lle c ttla l
3
L
'9 6
L IF E
OF
A. KARIM
■or m o ra l c h a n g e in th e coxintry c a n ta k e p la c e u n le ss
n t is b r o n g h t a b o u t b y them . T h e re is n o o th e r p ro fessio n
t h a t a ffo rd s g re a te r o p p o rtu n itie s o f u se fu ln ess a n d
th e r e is ' n o la b o u r t h a t is f r a u g h t w ith m o re m oraentuouB r e s u l t s .. . .
T h e s tu d e n ts of to d a y w ill b e th e
c itiz e n s o f to m o rro w , a n d th e stu d e n ts a ll o v e r th e
c o u n try ta k e n , to g e th e r w ilf from the* n a tio n . T h u s
th e m ost re sp o n sib le w o rk o f n a tio n -b u ild in g is in
th e h^iids of ed ucational* officers. T h e in s p e c tio n of
a school in o rd e r to be r e a lly useful m u st b e th o ro u g h .
I do n o t th in k a h ig h sch o o l can be thorough*ly in s p e c t­
ed u n less a t le a st tw o o r th r e e d a y s a re d e v o te d to it.
A g la n c e a t th e school re c o rd s a n d a w a lk th ro u g h
tlie classes, p u ttin g a que.^io n h ere a n d a q u e stio n th e re ,
is c e rta in ly n o t in sp e c tio n . I am n o t a t a ll in fa v o u r
of su ch h u rrie d in sp e c tio n , w h ich u n n e c e s s a rily d islo ­
c a te s class w o rk a n d leav es a n u n d e sira b le im p re ssio n
on th e m in d s o f th e te a c h e rs t h a t d e fe c ts m ay escap e
th e n o tic e of in s p e c tin g o ffic e rs.'^
I t w as b u t n a tu ra l t h a t e.'ca-nination su c h as th a t
h e ld by M. A b d u l K a rim on th e o ccasio n of his in sp ec ­
tio n o f sch o o ls sh o u ld so d eep ly im p ress th e stu d e n ts
ex am in ed t h a t th e y »em em bered it th ro u g h o u t th e ir life.
O n c e rta in o ccasions som e o f th o se e x am in ed b y him
in schools w ere h e a rd to re fe r, t h ir ty o r even fo rty y e a rs
a f te r, to th e e ffe c t p ro d u ced on th em . Som e tim e ag o
in a g a th e rin g to m eet P artd it M a d a n M ohan M a la v y a
a t B ir la p a rk , M . A bdul K a rim co m in g to know t h a t
th e re n o w n e d M r. R a je n d ra P ra s a d o f P a tn a w as p r e ­
s e n t th e re , a sk e d a g e n tle m a n to in tro d u c e him to
H a je n d ra B a b u . W h e n he w as a p p ro a c h e d , R a je n d ra B a b a
IN 4 P B C T I0 S OF SCIIOOLB
\
91
\
^
■fitood up w ith folded h a n d s a n d said “ I rem em b er H u z u r
-exam ined m e in th e C h a p r a ^ illa e c h o o ] .” K h a n B a h a d o r
A-xizul H n q , p re s e n t V ic e -c h a n c e llo r o f he C a lc u tta .
U n iv e rs ity , w as h e a rd to say, on m ore occasions th a n
o n e , th a t he w as n o t c e rta in if he w o u ld h a v e ^been
•given high e d u c a tio n if M- A bdul K a rim , a f te r ex­
a m in in g him in t h e S a n tip u r if id d lo
M atlrasah, h ad
n o t to ld h is g u a rd ia n how w ell he h a d a c q u itte d hint^
se lf a t his e x a m in a tio n a n d how d e sira b le ft w as t h a t
h e sh ou fd be a d m itte d in to a h ig h E n g lisli school.
J n D ecem b er, 1938, M . Abffnl K a rim accid en tiflly
m e t a t M a d h u p u r C a p ta in D r. D . C. M aju m d ar.
He
t o l d him t h a t h e w o u ld n e v e r forgot how he w as ex­
am in ed by him in th e fifth class o f th e N e tro k a n a h ig h
E n g lis h sc h o o f in 1902. B u t fo r t h a t im p re ssiv e e x a m in a tio u , he s a id , iie ith e r he n o r h is b ro th e r, M r.
S u rc n d ra C lia n d ra M aju rad ar, P ro fesso r of H is to ry ,
p re sid e n c y C o lleg e, n o r s e v e ra l o th e rs am o n g w hom
w as M r. S a c h in d ra k n m a r R oy, a d v o c a te H ig h C o u rt,
•could h a v e le a r n t so w ell th e su b jects, p a r tic u la r ly
E n g lish , in w h ic h th e y w e re exam iired by him . I n fa c t
h e said, th e w h o le a tm o s p h e re o f th e school w as c h a n g ­
ed by th a t o n e in sp e c tio n a n d b o th te a c h e rs a n d
s tu d e n ts h a d le a r n t m any th in g s
w h ic h th ey d id n o t
k n o w befo re a n d w o u ld n o t h a v e k n o w n a f te r . T h e th e n
S e c re ta ry to th e sch o o l, R a i N ik h iln a th R oy B a h a d u r,
re tir e d D is tr ic t
M a g is tra te ,
h e ld a
m e e tin g
of t h e
te a c iie r s a n d d iscussed w ith them th e in s tru c tio n s giv cii
by th e In s p e c to r a n d in siste d u p o n th e ir fo llo w in g th o se
in s tru c tio n s
c a re fu lly .
T h e good re s u lt a tta in e d
by
t h e school fo r som e tim e a t t h e u n iv e rs ity e x a m in atio n
7
•
f
98
L I F E O F A. K A R IM
/
s
WAS a sc rib e d by D r. M a jn m d a r to tliis in sp e ctio n of
th e Bchool. H e c o n c lu d e d w lia t he h a d to say w itli
• tiie w o rd s “ S ir, y o u r nam e is s till g ra te fu lly re m e m b e red
tliro iig h o u t
th e S ub -d iv isio n .^'
N u m ero us
a re
such
s ta te m e n ts m ade b y th o se ex am in ed in sch o o ls b y M.
A bdul K a rim a n d now o c c u p y in g good p o sitio n s ii^ life.
O n th e o ccasion o f * h is v isits ad d resses w e re p r e ­
s e n te d to M . A bdul K a j i m by som e of th e schools.
T h e fo llo w in g is th e su m m ary of tw o a d d re sse s, presen-^
te d to him , one b y a scljool in h is ju ris d ic tio n a n d th e
o th e r b y a sch o o l a t K a ila s h a h a r, o u t of his ju ris­
d ic tio n .
•
“ S ir,
W e , th e m em bers o f th e M a n a g in g C o m m itte e of
th e D a b u rh a t H . H . Sghool, beg to o ffer yoii o u r h e a rty
a n d re sp e c tfu l w elcom e on th e au sp icio u s o cc asio n of
y o u r first v is it to o u r school.
A s a v e te ra n e d u c a tio n ist, a w o rth y m em ber of tJiC'
S e n a te o f th e C a lc u tta U n iv e rs ity , a m ost a c tiv e a n d
e n e rg e tic I n s p e c t o r of S chools a n d a n e ru d ite sc h o la r,
y o u r n a m e h as becom e a b yw ord u i t i i th o se w h o are*
a n y w ay c o n n e c te d w ith th e E d iicatio n D e p a rtm e n t. . . .
E v e ry c irc u la r, t h a t em an ated fro m you, b ears th e m a rk
of y o u r re fo rm in g h a n d fo r w h ic h w e h av e a p ro fo u n d
re s p e c t.
Y o u r o rg a n is a tio n s o f th e c o n fe re n c e s of
o f D e p u ty In s p e c to rs , g u a rd ia n s a n d te a c h e rs h a v e
b een th e success th e y w ere su re to be, a n d th e s e h a v e
h a d m u ch sa lu ta ry e ffe c ts as w ill m ake y o u r nam e
en d u re .
•
Y o u r so lic itu d e fo r th e w elfare of th e stu d e n t com iiu in ity is e v in c e d b y th e liv e ly in te re s t you always-
IN S PE C T IO N OF SCHOOLS
90
ta k e fo r tlie a m e lio ra tio n of th e ir m o ral s ta tu s .
I t is
to be h ig h ly re g r e tte d t l ia t a c o n sid e ra b le d e te rio ra tio n
in th e m o ra ls o f th e sch o o l p o p u la tio n has b een
p e rc e p tib le a lm o st e v e ry w h e re in th is b e n ig h te d D i­
v is io n .
B u t th e r a r e a c tiv ity a n d s tr ic t V ig ila n ce ,
w h ic h you h a v e been sh o w in g in y o u r a tte m p s to
e ra d ic a te th e ev il, h a s e x c ite d th e u n s tin te d a d m ira tio n
of th e in te llig e n t publi<^ a n d i t is h o p ed t h a t ere lo n g *
m o ra l d e p r a v ity am o n g s tu d e n ts w ill b e a th in g of th e
p a st. W e lio p e a n d tr u s t tlm t y o u r te n u r e of office w ill
b e a lo n g aiid e p o c h -m a k in g one in th e D iv isio n . . .
2 8 th J u ly , 1904:.
T h e M em b ers o f th e M a n a g in g C om m ittee of “ B a d h a K is h o re I n s titu tio n ,'^ K a ila s h a h a r, T r ip u r a , s ta te d in
th e ir a d d re ss “ th o u g h situfftcd in »the h ills, so f a r off
fro m y o u r ju risd ic tio n , > et we n o n e th e less a p p re c ia te
th e v a lu e of th e s tr ic t d is c ip lin e a n d m eth o d in tro d u c e d
b y you in th e sch o o ls u n d e r y o u r su p e rv isio n , a n d th e
r a r e a c tiv ity a n d v ig ila n c e show n b y you to pro m o te th e
e x is tin g m o ral co n d itio n of J,he s tu d e n t com m u n ity
a n d to h e lp th e m to^be h o n e st a n d u sefu l c itiz e n s."
M an y c o rre s p o n d e n ts
o f n e w sp a p e rs
w ro te
fro m
tim e to tim e in tlie s tr a in o f th e fo llo w in g l e tte r w r itte n
to th e M oslem C h ro n ic le by a • c o rre sp o n d e n t from
C huadanga
M a u iv i
A b d u l K a rim ,
r . a .,
has q u ite justified hi»
a ip io in tin e n t as A s s is ta n t In s p e c to r <>f ^ rn h n m m a d a n
lOdiication, P re s id e n c y an d O rissa D iv isio n s, by c r e a tin g
an in te re s t am o n g th e ]S[uham m adans o f th e p la c e in
th e sp re a d o f K n g lish E d u c a tio n a m o n g th em . I n his
l a t e v is it to th is p a r t of th e D is tr ic t, h is u n ique m ethod
100
L IF E OF A. K A RIM
o f e x a m in a tio n h as g iv en s a tis fa c tio n to th e te a c h e rs as
w ell as to th e boys w ith w hom his n am e has bocom o a
•terin of e n d e a rm e n t. T h e re is n o diff e re n c e o f o p in io n
a s to h is m e rits a n d a b ility w ith w h ic h he in sp e c te d
se v e ra l scJhools of th e lo c a lity . T h e M u h a m m a d a n com ­
m u n ity is p ro u d o f h a v in g su c h an a b le o tfic e r in th e
•
E d u c a tio n D e p a rtm e n t, w ho sp ares no p a in s to p a v e th e
• w ay fo r th e im p ro v e m e n t of M uham m adaftis in d if f e r n t
b ra n c h e s of studies.
I t a d m its of no d o u b t t h a t su ch
:a m erito rio u s o tfic e r w ill p ro v e a n e t f i c i e n f h a n d in
ra is in g th e s ta tu s of th e M u h am m ad an s in th e eyes of
th e H in d u s. . . T h e M u h am m ad an com m utifty of th is
p la c e th ro u g h th e m edium o f y o u r esteem ed jo u rn a l con­
veys a v o te of th a n k s to th e A s s is ta n t I n s p e c to r fo r th e
lo v ely in te re s t ho ta k e s in in f u s in g a re g e n e r a tin g s p ir it
in to th e society itse lf.’*
«
T h a t M a u la v i A b d u l K a r im ’s view s re g a rd in g th e
p re v a ilin g system o f e d u c a tio n w ere a p p re c ia te d by
w ell-k n o w n e d u c a tio n ists w ill b e seen fro m tlie fo llo w in g
re m a rk s m ad e b y S ir
R oy in an a r tic le on “ T h e
B re a d xiroblem a n d th e u n em p lo y m e n t o f y o u n g M uslims*’
p u b lis h e d in th e tw e n ty -first a n n iv e rs a ry n u m b er o f th e
■“ M u ssa lm a ji.’* ;—
“ I c a n n o t better: co n clu d e th is a rtic le th a n in th e
w o rd s of M o u lv i A bdul K a rim , w ho h as bestow ed m u c h
th o u g h t a n d a tte n tio n u p o n th e su b ject a n d w h o v e ry
p e rtin e n tly o b serv ed in h is r e c e n t a d d re ss a t N a ra y a n g a n j t h a t “ t h e p re se n t sy stem o f e d u c a tio n , a lth o u g h in
o p e ra tio n fo r a lo n g tim e , has n o t m ade th e c u ltiv a to rs
b e tto r c u ltiv a to rs n o r th e a rtis a n s m ore e ffic ie n t a r tis a n s
th a n th e y w e re before.
O n th e c o n tra ry , i t has m ade
IN SPE C TIO N OF SCHOOLS
101
th e ir c o n d itio n w orse by c re a tin g in th e m a d is ta s te fo r
m a n u a l la b o u r a n d fo r t h e i r h e re d ita ry c a llin g s an.d
m od e of liv in g a n d , w h a t is m ore to be reg rette d , b y
fo s te r in g
a n artifica! ta s te fo r fa sh io n s a n d ^fineries-
T h u s th e y a c c e le ra te r a t h e r th a n
r e ta r d th e decadence-
o f in d ig e n o u s in d u s trie s a n d th u s h e lp to a g g r a v a te
th e econom ic d iffic u lty of th e c o u n try .”
•
CHAPTER X.
L ast P ertod o f S e r Vio e — O ri th e e x p iry o f his
le a v e , M . A b d u l K a rim , iinw ylliiig to g(\ b a c k to C h it­
ta g o n g , w e n t to D a c c a as S econd I n s p e c to r of S<;hools
a n d sta y e d th e re till h is r e tir e m e n t in 1 9 1 2 , T h e la s t
p e rio u of Ins se rv ic e w as r a th e r u n e v e n tfn l a n d also
u n p le a s a n t. M u ch o f h is tim e w as tak eru u p by en­
q u irie s r e g a rd in g re c o g n itio n o f sc h o o ls b y th e U n i­
v e rs ity a n d c o rre sp o n d e n c e w ith th e h ig h e r o fficers
b w in g to d ifferen p es w itlv th em .
H o h a d th e m isfo rtu n e
o f lo sin g from tdme to tim e som e o f tlm se w ho w e re v e ry
•
frie n d ly to him . T he p re m a tu re d e a th of N a w a b S ir AhsanTJilafi an d S ir Jo h n IV oodburn a n d th e r a s ig n a tio n of
S ir B am fy ld o F u lle r p ro v e d d e trim e n ta l to h is in te re s ts .
O n his la s t p o stin g to D acca, ho fo u n d a v e ry f r ie n d ly
D ire c to r o f P u b lic I n s tr u c tio n in M r liro w n in g . B u t
s h o rtly a fte r, M r. B ro w n in g sulldonly d ie d a tid M .
A b d u l K a r im h a d to come in c o n ta c t w ith u n sy m p a th c l i e o ffic e rs w ith w hom he co u ld n o t p u ll on w e ll.
I n f a c t d u rin g th e w h o le p erio d of h is se rv ic e lie w as
n e v e r in su ch a ]ired icam en t,
T h e re w as, h ow ever, o n e
r e lie v in g tliijig , frie n d s h ip %vith th e la te N aw ab S ir
S a lim u lla h , w ho had g r e a t re g a rd fo r h im , a n d alw ay s
a d d re sse d h im as “ H u;^nr’' nnd n e v e r sm oked in his
-p rcic n c e. H e u sed to see him w h en he h a d d iffe re n c e s
w ith liis f a th e r a n d on succeed in g to th e Z a m in d a ry
a n d th e lit tl e on h is f a th e r ’s d e a tli, he a lw a y s c o n s u lte d
M . A b d u l K a rim n o t o n ly in p u b lic a ffa irs b u t also
L A ST P E R IO D OF SE R V IC E
111
som e
of h is p riv a te
c o n c e rn s.
W h en
103
h e le a r n t
o f M . A b d u l K a r im ’s i n te n tio n to r e tir e e a rly
a c c o u n t o f d iffe re n c es w ith h is s u p e rio r officers,
g av e h im to u n d e rs ta n d t h a t h e w o u ld d o T ill
co u ld fo r him if he e n te re d p u b lic life . W h e n
h e a rd of M . A b d u l K a r im ’s
in te n tio n to
oif
he
he
he
m ake an
•
■endowment, he n r^ e d h im to id o th e n eed fu l a s soon as
p o ssib le, so t h a t i t m ig h t n o t re m a in u n fu lfille d as in th e
-case of a Z a m in d a r of B a ris a l, w h o a f te r m a k in g su c h an
a im o n n c e in e n t d id n o t g iv e e ffe c t to it. A ll th is w as
k n o w n to K h w a ja A luham m ad A zam , o n e of th e se n io r
s u rv iv in g m em bers o f th e N aw ab fam ily , w h o h im s e lf
h o ld s M. A d d u l K a rim in h ig h e s t esteem .
T h e o n ly im p o r ta n t p u b lic affaiy in w h ich M . •
A b d u l K a rim to o k p a r t d u r in g th e la s t period- of his
■service w as th e a n n u a l session of th e A ll-In d ia M a h o oaiedan E d u c a tio n a l C o n fe re n c e h eld a t D a c c a , in w h ich
h is frie n d , N aw ab S ir S a lim u lla ii, to o k a v e ry p r o m in e n t
p a r t in c o n su lta tio n w ith him . 'rifc ro he m e t n o t only
som e of th o se w h o se a c q u a in ta n c e he had m ade in 1000
u t th e C a lc u tta sessio n of t h e C o n fe re n c e , b u t m any
o th e r d istin g u is h e d M uslim a w h o c a m e from d iff e re n t
p a r ts o f I n d ia to lay th e fo u n d a tio n o f th e M uslim L e a ­
gue. As u su a l w ith him on su c h o ccasions he took an ac­
tiv e p a r t in th e p ro c e e d in g s of th e C o n feren ce.
Jn J u ly 1912 a ll o n a snddf'ii M. A bdul K a rim
gob
s e rio u s ly ill. O n e d ay fo r a b o u t fifte e n h o u rs he was
sp e ech lesa* an d n o t e v e n a d ro p o f w a te r co u ld be p o u r­
ed dow n h is th r o a t d u r in g t h a t tim e . W h e n he w as
i n th is s ta te of com a, a ru m o u r sp re a d w id e ly t h a t he
w a s d ead a n d m a n y p e o p le cam e to a tte n d th e fu n e ra l.
T h e la te h la n lv i M a tlu b A h m a d to ld p eo p le th a t a f t e ‘
104
L I F E OF A. K A R IM
s e e in g th e p a tie n t in th a t se rio u s co n d itio n w h ile he w a s g o in g do w n , he m et on th e s ta ir s tive la te Q a z i A la u d d in
A h m a d , fa th e r-in -la w o f N a w a b z a d a L a tif u r R alim an ,
w h o cn*quircd of him w h en th e fu n e ra l pro cession w ould
s t a r t a n d w as to ld t h a t lifg W’as n o t y et e x tin c t. E ighteenye^rs a fte r, w hen M . A b d u l K a r im w as on a v is it
to D a c c a , w h e re he w as in v tte d by Mr.* A b u l M u z a ffa r
A h m a d , r e tire d D is tr ic t J u d g e , to p re s id e o v e r th e
m in u a l m e e tin g o f th e Isla m ia E d u c a tio n T r u s t a n d th e
p r iz e - g iv in g cerem ony o f t t e Is la m ia E d u c a tio n T ru s t
H ig h E n g lis h school a t N a ra in g u n g e , b e t o o k p a r t int h e f u n e r a l cerem o n y of th e la te Q,azi A la u d d in A h m ad B e fo re M . A b d u l K a rim w as o u t o f sic k -b e d , a C iiitta •
g o i’g g e n tle m a n in sistcd * u p o n se e in g him . "When c a lle d
to th e bod-side he r e la te d < h a t he w a s co m in g from
C h itta g o n g a n d w hen he re a c h e d C h a n d p u r, he saw in
a n o p en sp ace, n e a r th e s ta tio n , a la rg e g a th e rin g o f '■
M uslim s in a p ra y in g p o stu re . C u rio sity to o k him th e r e
a n d he le a r n t t h a t M .jV b d u l K a rim w as d e a d a n d th e y
h a d assem b led th e re to p ra y fp r h im .
p a r t in th e p ra y e r.
H e also to o k
O n r e a c h in g D a c c a , h o w e v er, h o
le a r n t th a t M. A bd u l K a rim
w as a liv e a n d co u ld n o t
re s is t th e d e s ire t>f s e e in g h im . R e p o rts cam e from i
G o ila an d some o th e r p laces th a t th e sch o o ls th e re were*
closed in h o n o u r of M , A b d u l K a rim ’s d e a th .
A ll th ia
sliow s how v e ry p o p u la r h e w as.
M n u lv i A b d u l K a r im ’s e a rly r e tir e m e n t ft-om G o v ^
e rn m e n t S e rv ic e w as re fe rre d to in eu lo g istic te rm s b y
s e v e r a l new 'spapers. T h e fo llo w in g is a q u o ta tio n from /
t h e “ M u ssa lm a n .”
L A S T P K R IO D O F S K R V IC K
105
“ T h e r e tir e m e n t of M o u lv i A b d n l K a rim , A s s is ta n t
In s p e c to r o f S chools, D a c c a D iv is io n , h a s rem ovcd«a
n o ta b le figure from tlie r a n k s o f e d u c a tio n a l o ffice rs,
b e lo n g in g to th e P ro v in c ia l S erv ice.
H e w as first a p ­
p o in te d , in J u ly 1RS6, a s a n a s s is ta n t M a s te r in th e
A n g lo -P e rs ia u D e p a rtm e n t o f th e C a lc u tta M a d ra ssa h
w h en ce he w as, tran sferr(jjd to D a c c a as a n A ssisfa n t
I n s p e c to r o f Scliools f o r M o h arn cd an E d u c a tio n , in t h e
y e a r 1890. . T h e la s t a p p o in tm e n t he h e ld is w ell-k n o w n
to t h e re a d e r. T h ro u g h o u t h is c a re e r M o u lv i A b d u l
K a rim disclK irgcd h is d u tie s to th e co m p lete satisfac tio n
o f th e G o v e rn m e n t a n d th e p u b lic .
A b le , in d e p e n d e n t
a n d paiiis-ta|j;in g , M o u lv i A b d u l K a rim w on th e golden
o p in io n of th e c o m m u n ity to *which he b e lo n g s.
Hifi
se rv ic e s to th e cau se o f e d u c a tio n , a n d s p e c ia lly of
M o h am ed an e d u c a tio n , h a v e b e e n im m ense.
H is recom -
..m en d a tio n s to G o v e rn m e n t, r e g a r d in g re fo rm s in ed u c a ­
tio n a n d th e sp e c ia l n eed s a n d re q u ire m e n ts of th e
M o h a m e d a n s, w e r e g e n e ra lly a c c e p te d , a n d m ost of his
o ffic ia l s u p e rio rs h a d a h ig h o pijfion of him . N ow th a t
he has r e tire d fro m o ffic ia l life, we h ope h e w ill d ev o te
t h e r e s t of h is d ay s to th e se rv ic e of th e co m m unity,
a n d his m a tu re e x p e rie n c e w ill, we tr u s t, c o n trib u te to
th e e d u c a tio n a l p ro g re ss a n d a d v a n c e m e n t of t
M u ssalm an s. T h o u g li r e tir e d fro m G o v e rn m e n t serv ic e
M o u lv i A b d u l K a r im is n o t
o ld as to be u n fit fo r
w o rk a n d w e f e r v e n tly hope he w ill le n d h is se rv ic e s
r o
to th e ccm im unity w ith re a d in e ss a n d a la c rity .
M u ssalm an — S e p t. 11, 1914.
The
E v e n w h ile M . A b d u l , K a r im w as in t h a t c ritic a l
s t a t e a ll h o p e of h is s u rv iv a l w as n o t g iv en up as tw o
106
life
of
a . KAllIM
e m in e n t s p iritu a lis ts h ad g iv en a s s u ra n c e t h a t he w o u ld
n o t die. T h e la te A h sa n AH S h a h S ah ib o f M u sa rik h o la
seeing h im in t h a t c o n d itio n said t h a t th e r e w a s no
f e a r o f d e a th . M . A b d u l K a r im ’s m u r s h e o , th e la te
M a u la n a G h u la m S a lm a n i S a h ib , s e n t w o rd fro m
C a lc u tta t h a t th e c risis
o v er. A s h e h im se lf su d d c n iy died w ith in a few d ay s, M . A b d u l K a r in has
a l l a lo n g been c n d e r a n irap tessio n th a t, as h e loved
him d e a rly , he m ig h t h a v e p erfo rm ed Salb,* and* th is
m ig h t, h a v e b ro u g h t a b o u t fa ta lity .
For
a b o u t tw o
m o n th s M . A b d u l K a rim c o u ld n o t s tir o u t of th e
fiick-bed. H e w as re d u c e d to a m ere sk e leto n , a n d
he h a d to c ra w l f o r som e tim e b efo re h e w as in a
p o s itio n to s ta n d . T h e la te N aw ab S ir S a lim u lla h w as
in m u ch a n x ie ty fo r M . A l)'iul K a rim . W h e n h e h e a rd
t h a t M . A b d u l K a r im
w as <»ut of d a n g e r, h e th o u g h t
t h a t he m ig h t h av e to p ro c e e d on lo n g le a v e .
So h e
e x p re s s e d a d esire to hold a c o n fe re n c e r e g a r d in g
M u ham m ad an E d u c a tio ji b efo re M . A b d u l K a rim le ft
D acca.
A confcrenci} w a s
w h e n h e w as n o t in a p o sitio n
N aw ab S ir S a lim u lla h , th e
C h a u d h u ry M r (now N aw ab
h e ld in his sick-room ,
to st^ir o u t o f it. B esides,
la te N a w a b N aw ab A li
B a h a d u r) A b d u l K a rim
G h u z a a a v i a n d o tiier lo a d in g M u slim s p re se n t a t th e
tim e a t D acca, a tte n d e d th e m e e tin g , a t w h ic h se v e ra l
•S a lb is a s p iritu a l ex e rc ise by w h ich o n e m ay d ra w
u p o n o n e se lf t h e a ilm e n t o f a n o th e r, as w as d o n e by
B a b a r w h e n H u m a y u n w as se rio u sly ill. I f p e rfo rm e d
w ith d u e c a re a n d c a u tio n , th e r e is no ris k , b u t a n y
a lig h t m ista k e m ay e n d a n g e r th e life o f th e p e rfo rm e r.
L A 8 T P E R IO D O F S E R V IC E
107
m a tte r s c o n n e c te d w ith M tiharam adan E d u c a tio n w ere
■discussed in M. A b d til K a rim a s p resen ce.
O n re c o v e ry M a n la v i A b d n l K a rim proceeded on
fu rlo u g h a n d w e n t to R a n c h i, w iicre he h ad p u rc h a se d
a la rg e p lo t of la n d . D u rin g his s ta y th e r e hft b u ilt
a fine house, w h ic h was c h ris te n e d “ P e a c e C o tta g e ,’*
w h e r e he th o u g h t o f e n jo y in g p e a c e a f te r a stre n u o u s
life o f a c tio n .
A s w ill be 8 e#n fro m w h a t fo llow ed, he
w a s n o t d e stin e d to enjoy a p e acefu l life . O n th e e x p iry
of h is fu rlo u g h h e re tire d ou p en sio n . T h us ended
TVIaiilvi A b d u l K a r im ’s official c a re e r a t t h e ag e of 49
y ears, F in d w ig t h e c h m a te o f R a n c h i a g re e a b le, he
th o u g h t of p a s sin g th e r e th e re m a in in g d a y s of his life.
B u t d e stin e d * as h e w as, to p la y a n a c tiv e p a r t in th e
so c ia l .and p o litic a l life o f B e n g a l, he could n o t stay*
■there long. H is r e tire d li^e a t R a n c h i w as e n liv e n e d
b y a sso c ia tio n w ith som e frie n d s , su c h as th e la te M r.
J y o tir in d r a n a th T ag o re, b ro th e r o f P o e t T a g o re , th e la te
M r P . N. B ose, f a th e r-in -la w o f S ir B . L . M ittra , th e
la te B a b u K an tib h u sh .a n Sen, th e *la te B a b u K a lip a d a
O h o sh , th e la te B a b u .Tag.adish C h a n d r a Roy, th e la te
D r. J . N. R ose, th e late*S ir F a k h r u d d in , th e la te K h a n
B a h a d u r M u h iu d d in A h m ad a n d X faulaiia A bul K a la m
A z a d , w ho h a d to re s id e a t R a n c h i f o j so m e tim e.
A s w ill be seen from P a r t I I . o f his b io g ra p h y ,
M a u la v i A bdul K a rim w as b u sy d u r in g h is s h o rt s ta y
a t H a n c h i in fo rm in g p la n s fo r so cial a n d p o litic a l w o rk
to w h ic h h e su b s e q u e n tly d ev o ted h im self for a b o u t a
■quarter of ^ c e n tu ry .
PART il.
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SERVICE.
C H A PTER * I.
E N D O W M E N T O F R U P E E S F IF T Y T H O U S A N D .
A fter h is Retirement from govern m en t service th e
first th in g to w hich M aulavi A tyiul K a rim devoted h is *
atte n tio n w as th e endow m ent h e was th in k in g for some
tim e to m ake. A s fo r a b o u t ?hree years he could n o t leave
R an ch i on acco u n t of ill-h ealth and b ein g engaged in
b u ild in g a resid en tial g ard en house at M orhabadi, th e best
.p lac e in th e n o rth e rn su b u rb o f R an ch i, it w as in M arch,
1 9 1 6 , th a t h e cam e to C alcu tta an d had th e W u k f N a m a k
d raw n u p by th e la te Mu. A . R asul, B ar-at-L aw , and th e
late P rin c e S ultan-i-A lam , A tto rn ey -at-L aw . T w o pro­
perties, 1 3 / 1 , W ellesley S quare and 1 1 / 5 , K ara y a Bazar
R oad (at p re se n t N o rth R ange) w o rth a*>out R upees F ifty
tho u san d an d yield in g an a n n u al incom e of about
Rs. 2 , 5 0 0 / - w ere endow ed. A fter p ay m en t o f G overnm ent
revenue, M un icip al ta x e s and collection charges and
necessary repairs, th e incom e w as to be sp en t as follows : —
“ O ne-half o f incom e is to be devoted to th e prom otion of
M uham m adan ed ucation and th e o th er h a lf to Islam ic
work. O ne-half o f th e form er, th a t is o ne-fourth of th e
2
l if e o f
a.
KARIM
total incom e, is to be expended for th e benefit of b o n a f id e
Jvluham m adan stu d e n ts of Sylhet. O u t of th e am o u n t to
be devoted to th e prom otion of M uham m adan education a
n u m b er of scholarships shall be aw arded to deserving
M uham m adan stu d en ts, w ho a fte r receiving sufficient
A rabic education a n d ^ t e r passing th e M atriculation
exam in atio n are desirous of p ro secu tin g fu rth e r education
in a Collegej provided thflt if a t any tim e for lack of
deserving candidates th e whole of th is a m o u n t c&nnot be
sp en t th e n stip en d s sh all be aw arded to ta n d id a te s for
teachership o r stu d e n ts read in g for tech n ical or eng in eerin g
or m edical ex am in atio n s o r p rep arin g fo r tlf t M . A. exam i­
nation. Provided also th a t, if fu n d s p erm it, assistance m ay
also be given occasionally to School, College and M adrasah
stu d e n ts fo r th e p u rchase of books or for pay m en t of
exam in atio n fees. I n ad m in isterin g th e said fund th e
M utaw'alli o r th e C om m ittee shall satisfy him self or th e m ­
selves th a t the persons to w hom assistance is g iven are
really in poor circum stances an d are of good c h arac ter and
th a t th e y from tim e to tim e nm ke satisfactory p ro g ress I n ,
th e ir stu d ies an d the* recipients of such stip en d s sh all be
giv en to u n d e rsta n d th a t su ch •stipends w ill be in th e
n a tu re of Q a r z - i - H a s n a , an d th a t th e y sh all be required
to co n trib u te to th e fu n d of th e said W a k f p ro p erty or to
sim ilar fu n d s whA i th e y shall be in a position to do so,
and th e o th e r h alf of th e incom e of th e said W ak f p ro p erty
shall be spen t for th e prom otion and fu rth eran c e of
Islam ic w o rk , v i z . , for tra in in g religious teach ers and
preachers, fo r com position and tra n sla tio n *of religious
books and tracts, fo r aid in g Q o ran an d o th er religious
schools, and generally fo r Islam ic M ission w ork . . . and
should n o t spend any am o u n t out of th e said fu n d on
ENDOWMENT OF RUPEES FIFTY THOUSAND
3
a n y th in g th a t m ay be c o n tra ry to th e d o ctrin es of th e
H auafii se c t.”
T h e follow ing le tte r w as issued
to th a n k M aulvi A b d u l
K arim
e n d o w m e n t: —
for h o ld in g a m eeting
fo r
h is rautiificent
C alcutta, th e 9th A pril, 19 I6 .
B k a r
S is ,
•
,
A pfiblic m eeting of the M ussulm ans of C alcutta will take
place on W ednesday, th e 12tli A p ril.a t 6*30 p .m . a t th e O vertoun
H all, 86, College S treet, u n d er tlie presidency of th e H onourable
N aw ab Syed N’awab Ally Chowdhury to th a n k M oulvi Abdul
K arim for bis m unificent E ndow m ent of Rs, 50,000 fo r Mahomed a n E ducation an d Islam ic W ork.
m
Y our faith fu lly ,
S E R A JU t
,
ISI.AM
A.»K. F azlui. H uq
A. lUSUL
N a jm u d d in
A H M A D
A larg ely -atten d ed m eetin g , \n th e o rganisation of
w h ic h N aw abzada A . F . M. A bditl AH took a n active p a rt,
w a s h eld in th e O vertouji H a ll an d speeches w ere delivered
b y som e of th e g en tlem en p re se n t th a n k in g M attlvi A bdul
K a rim for h is m unificent endow m ent. O ne o f th e speakers,
th e late H akim M uham m ad S h a b b in is said to have
rem ark ed th a t th e M aulvi vSahib deserves m ore cred it th a n
even th e la te H a ji M uham m ad M ohsin because th e
fo rm e r h as several child ren w hile th e la tte r had none.
T h e follow ing are some of th e rem ark s m ade by
new spapers re g a rd in g th e W a k f :
“ M aulavi Abdul
K arim ’s contem plated endow m ent of
R s. 50,000 has now become an accom plished fact a n d as m ig h t
4
LIFE OF A. KARIM
be expected, th e cause of M ahom edan educaticu in Sylhet, th e
land of his birth, receives a legitim ate place in its dispensation.
5laulvi Abdul K arim w as n o t b om w ith a stiv er spoon in his
m outh an d does n o t su rely ra n k w ith tlie possessors of long
purses ^ n d broad acres as th ey go in th e country. O n tlie
contrary, he p erhap s p a rts w ith h is liard -earaed lim ited reso u rces
dep riv in g his successors of a^ considerable portion of th e h e rita g e
to w hich th ey n atu rally aspired. F o r tHis reason if for nooth er th is princely g ift has ^
significance a ll its own and
invests its donor w ith a character for piety and philan^hropj- so
rare in B engal an d Assam. S ylhet is proud to claim in M aulavi
Abdul K arim a distinguished son an d a g re a t benefactor of h is
fellow m en.”
T h e E a s te r n C h r o n ic le , 14-3-16.
•
“ R etired Inspecto rs of Schools a re n o t o rd in arily endow ed
w ith a superfluity of th e good th in g s of th e world. T h e ir pay
^never rises beyond th e m odest lim it, so th a t usually th ey can­
n o t save m uch d u rin g th efr service. To th e cred it of Bengal,
how ever, it m ust be acknowle|^ged th a t one re tire d H in d u
In sp ecto r of Schools h ad le ft n early th e whole of h is savings,
am ounting to over one lak h of rupees, for th e encouragem ent of
S an sk rit education and th e B ishw anath C hatuspathi w ill certain ly
p erp etu ate th e m em ory of its B rahm in founder, th e late illu strio u s
B hudeb M ookerji. A nd now, Moulvi Abdul K arim , a n o th er
re tire d In sp ecto r of Schools, h as followed B hudev's exam ple by
m aking an endow m ent of half a la k lf of R upees fo r th e prom o­
tion of M ahom edan education and for carry ing on Islam ic
religious w ork. The M ahom edan com m unity of B engal Jtas
produced m any Nawajps, b u t we venture to th in k th a t th is retire d
In sp ecto r of Schools has proved a g re a te r benefactor to h is co­
religionists th a n dozens of N aw abs a n d o th er M ahom edan title d
personages p u t to g e th er.’’
T h e H in d o o P a ir io t, 11-3-16.
In h is p resid en tial address delivered a t T:he A nm ial
C onference o f th e S y lh et M oslem S tu d e n ts’ A ssociation,
held a t S u n am g an j in M ay, 1 9 1 7 , the H o n ’ble M auIavi
(now Sir) S yed M um am m ad S aadullah, K x-prem ier <‘f
ENDOWMRNT OF RUPEES FIFTY THOUSAND
5
A ssam , m ade th e follow ing rem ark s re g a rd in g M aniavi
A bdnl K a rim ’s en d o w m e n t: —
“ I th in k , w ith your A ssociation, a new daw n is com ing over
M oslem Sylliet, an d an o th er hopeful sig n of th e tim es is th e
princely donation of M anlvi Abdul K arim , one of y o u r'g re a te s t
sons, a nam e th a t an y co untry an d society m ay be proud of, for
th e cause of M oslem education. \ few m ore A njum ans like
yours, and a few m ore exam ples of th e m agn an im ity shown* by
M aulvi Abdul K arim an d th e <lart: n ig h t for Sylhet will be over.
I w ish m any of our aristocracy a n d m iddle class g en try w ill follow
w ith alacrity tile good use o f m oney«m ade by th e learn ed M aulvi.
G entlem en, in th e nam e of th e Moslem com m unity of th e pro­
vince, le t m e of(pr o u r h e a rtfe lt th an k s to him fo r th e m agnificent
g ift to S j'lhet, an d in re tu rn let m e say J a z a k -A lla h fid d a r a in
k h a ir a “M ay he be recom pensed Jby th e L ord in both th e w orlds.”
T he seed w hich th e noble soul h as sown has already germ inated,
n a y fructified, a n d an o th e r M o sle m ,g e n tle m a n from ray valleyf
M aulvi .Abdul M ajid of G auhati, has endow ed a com paratively
-considerable p ro p erty fo r th ^ upkeep of a M aktab, w herein
h u n d red s of youn g sters are g e ttin g free religious p rim ary educa­
tio n . ”— T h e L i g h t .
M aulavi M uham m ad Y aq u b K h an , E d ito r of th e
“ L ig h t” o f L ah o re, w rites in th e , “ L ig h t” of M arch 8 ,
1935 : —
" A G r a n d O ld M a n . A very in sp irin g personality from whom
I received g re a t en couragem ent, sym pathy an d h elp was th e
w ell-known M aulvi Abdul K arim , M .L.C. T hose w ho know an y ­
th in g of B engal will appreciate th a t I ha^e fitly described th is
venerable old g en tlem an, whose silvery Islam ic b eard and gen eral
Islam ic fervour are rem in iscen t of th a t g re a t school of S ir Syed
Ahmnd lla li a n d Shibli, as th e G rand Old M an of C alcutta.
T here is h afd ly an y public activity in Bengal in w hich you do
n o t find M aulvi Abdul K arim figure. If you go to C alcutta a n d
com e back w ithout m eetin g th is elderly p atriarch al personality
you m ay tak e it th a t you have m issed h alf the public life of
•Calcutta. H av in g re tire d as a n Inspector of Schools, M aulvi
l i f e o f a . KARIM
6
S ahib h as devoted n o t o nly h is old w om -out lim bs to th e service
of h is people but also th e h o ard in g of a life-tim e. H e ha.s m ade
w a q j of Rs. 50,000, th e proceeds of w hich are sp en t on th e
education of th e poor, on th e relief of th e o rplians an d the
widows an d on Ishaat-i-Islam . H e re is a n old m an w ho should
serve as a m odel and insp iratio n fo r m any a youth of Is la m .”
T h e follow ing n o tic e w as p u b lish ed in new spapers
wlien th e W a k f deed w as a b o u t to be p rep ared : —
•
S a iO L A R S H IP S F O R ARABIC SCHOLARS. •
T en scholarships of R s., 10 each will be aw arded to p o o r
studeA ts w ho a fter receiving A rabic education passed th e M atricu­
lation E x am ination an d have joined or in te n d to jo in a College
w ith a view to prepare them selves for th e I.A . E x am in atio n . Thescholarships, for th e p resen t, w ill be tenable fo r tw o y ears on
th e u su al conditions of satisfactory progress a n (i good behaviour.
*Half of th ese scholarships w ill be reserved fo r th e in h a b ita n ts
of th e d is tric t of Sylhet.
A pplications should be subm itted to th e u n d ersig n ed on orbefore th e 15th Decem ber, 1915.
C alcutta,
T he 10th Nov., 1915.
A b d u l K a rim ,
*
26, S outh R oad, E n tally ,
C alcutta.
A t first th e re w as n o t th e req u ired n u m b e r of
M aulavi can d id ates an d som e of th e scholarships w ere
aw arded to A rts and Science course B .A . an d M .A ,
stu d e n ts. S eeing ^ la t some o f th e M aulavies availing
them selves of M aulavi A bdul K a rim ’s scholarships took
U n iv e rsity d egrees and are now h o ld in g responsible postsin G o v ern m en t Service, th e n u m b er o f M aulavi candidates
for th e scho larsh ip s h as increased to su ch a n e x te n t th a t
th e value of th e scholarships h a d to be red u ced and even
th e n all th e can d id ates can n o t be aw arded scholarships.
So, as a n ile , stip en d s are n o t aw arded to o th e r stu d en ts.
ENDOWMENT OF RUPEES FIFTY THOUSAND
7
Som e of th em are, how ever, given d o n atio n s for purchase
o f books an d fo r p ay m e n t of u n iv e rsity ex am in atio n fees.
M ore th a n rup ees tw en ty -th o u san d h a s already been
g iven to poor M uslim stu d e n ts o n ly to p rosecute th e ir
studies. I f even h a lf o f th is a m o u n t had been refunded
in accordance w ith th e stip u latio n of Qarzi-H(isna, a large
n um b er of poor stu d e n ts could h av e been aided. I t is to
be re g re tte d th a t a lth o u g h som e of th o se , w ho received
assistaifCe from th e W a k f F u n d are now in good position
an d drawing* good pay, th e y Imve n o t co n trib u ted an y ­
th in g to th e W a k f F u n d , in sp ite o f rep eated rem inders.
T h e stu d e n ts S3f B engal are m ore to blam e in th is respect
th a n th e stu d e h ts of S y l h e t ; w hile ab o u t tw enty-five per
cent of th e la tte r h av e refu n d ed w h a t th e y d re w from th e
W ak f F u n d , n o t even tw o p e r ,c e n t of th e form er h a v ^
done so.
Proposal to offer a iifle .— S h o rtly a fte r th e E ndow ­
m e n t w as m ade th e H o n ’ble M r. P . C. L y o n, th e n one
of th e m em bers o f th e E x e c u tiv e C ouncil, B engal, w ho
h ad a good opinion o f M aulavi A bdul K arim , as w ill be
seen from h is le tte rs in th e follow ing C h ap ter I I I , spoke
h ig h ly of M . A b d u l £ Iarim an d h is endow m ent w hen
presid in g over th e p rize d istrib u tio n o f th e C alcutta
M adrasah. H e th e n to ld h is colleague, th e late N aw ab
S ir S ham su l H u d a , th a t it was desirable to confer som e
title on M aulavi A b d u l K arim . A few d ay s after this,
N aw ab S ham sul H u d a m et M aulavi A bdul K arim at a n
evening p a rty and took him to h is place. T h e re he
enqu ired of him if h e w ould lik e to have some title.
“ W h ich title ” , e n q u ire d M aulavi A bdul K arim . T h e
re p ly w as “ K h a n B a h a d u r.” M aulavi A bdul K arim said
“ no” , an d th e N aw ab said, “ I th o u g h t so ,” In course of
8
life
o f a . e _ \r im
th e conversation th a t follow ed M aulavi A bdul K arim told
th e N aw ab th a t as th e title o f K h a n B ah ad u r w as conferred
long before on som e of those w ho w ere a t one tim e his
subord in ates and also o n some w ho w ere h is pupils,
conference o f th is title a t h is age w’o uld be no h o n o u r to
him . M r. L y o n is said to^have th e n to ld N aw ab Sham sul
Hi^da th a t a h ig h e r title , th a t of “ N a w a b ,” m ig h t be
conferred, b u f he did n o t* d o a n y th in g fu rth e r in th e
m atter.
B u ild in g of M osque».— W h ile in servide M . A bdul
K arim b u ilt, a t his ow n cost, a m osque a t P a th a n to la, in
S ylh et, th e village w here h is fam ily h a d s ^ tle d a fte r th e
destru ctio n b y fire of th e ancestral resid en tial q u a rters and
afte r th e ir rem oval from S h a ik h g h a t. M , A bdul K arim
presided th e re u n til he p assed th e U n iv ersity ICntrance
R xam in atio n .
H e h a d an o th er m osque b u ilt, by raisin g subscriptions,
a t B ariatu , th e village n e x t to M orhabadi, a t Ranchi^
w here he .stayed for some years a fte r h is retirem en t.
A n o th e r m osque, b p ilt b y sub scrip tio n s raised by him ,
is a t K aray a Bazar, in. C alcutta, in th e neighbourhood of
one of h is endow ed properties, w h^re he resided fo r some
tim e.
I n ord er to com m em orate h is late father-in-law ,
M au lan a H afiz IVfcihainmad H atim S ahib, M . A bdul
K arim had th e nam e o f th e G ab u rtek i P rim ary School
chan g ed in to “ H atim ia M ak tab ” an d provided it w ith
a decen t b uilding. O n th e d eath o f h is w ife th e people
of G ab u rtek i, th e b irth-place o f h e r fa th e r, ‘established
th e re th e “ A yesha M em orial M ad rasah ” in com m em ora­
tio n of w h at she h a d done for them .
CHAPTER II.
E V ID E N C E BEF.ORE R O Y A L COM M ISSION ON
PU BLIC SE R V IC E S IN IN D IA .
•
D u rin g h is stay at R an ch i, M aulavi A l^lul K arim
xitilised h is tim e in g iv in g expression to h is view s reg a rd ­
in g certain im p o rta n t ed ucational, social an d political
su b jec ts. O ne of th e first su b jects he had to deal w ith
w as th e E d u c a tio n a l Service, re g a rd in g w h ich he gave
■evidence before* th e R oyal Com m ission o n P u b lic Services
ill In d ia , p resid ed over by L o rd fslin g to n . H e w as asked
to su b m it a m em orandum fi?st. W h e n it w as p rin te d the
C o v e rn m e n t o f B engal, if o u r inform ation is correct,
th o u g h t it objectionable a n d asked th e C om m ission to
o m it M . A b d u l K a rim ’s nam e from th e list o f those wdio
w e re selected to give evidence. T h e .la te M r. G okhale and
S ir T h eo d o re M orrisoi^ tw o o f th e m em bers of th e
Com m ission, w ho h a d read th e ^lem o ran d u m , raised
o b je ctio n to th is, a n d M . A b d u l K a rim w as called on behalf
o f th e C om m ission. C om ing to know « f all th is, several
gentlem en , such as th e la te D r. J . N . Bose, M r. (now
K h a n B ahadur) A zizul H u q , w en t to h ear M . A bdul
K a rim ’s evidence. S earch in g questions w ere p u t to him
h y L ord Islin g to n , th e la te M r. M acdonald (afterw ards
P rem ier of th e B ritish E m p ire), th e la te M i. G ukhalc and
o th e r m em bers of th e C om m ission. T ho se w h o h eard
h im w ere of opinion th a t he h a d acq u itted him self
lo
l if e
of
a.
KARIM
creditably. T lie follow ing is a siim niary of M . Abduls
K.arim ’s M e m o ra n d u m : —
M em orandum
M ethod of R e c ru itm e n t.
I t is n o t know n w h e th w
efforts a re m ade, to th e d esired '
ex ten t, to g et th e b est g rad u ates of th e E n g lish a n d other
E uropean U niversities for th e l^iapcrial b ran ch of th e E d ucational
Service. I f th ere is a n y service th a t req u ires th e m o s t'ju d ic io n s
selection of Officers it is th e E d ucational Service on account of th e
far-retiching consequences of th e im p o rtan t a n d responsible w ork
th a t h as to be done by its m em bers. I t is a m a tte r fo r en q u iry
w h eth er th e m an n e r in w hich officers are a t p rese n t selected
for th e Im p erial b ran ch h a s any way affected th e efficiency of
th a t service. People seetn to th in k th a t th^ere h a s been a• perceptible deterioration in respect of th e various qualifications
th a t go to m ake successful educationists. I t m ay be ascertain ed
by pro p er enquiry how m an y officers, a t p re se n t in th e service,
are of th e stam p of M essrs. W oodrow, Sutcliff, T aw ney, C roft,
C larke, G ough an d o th ers, and how fa r th e y p ossess th e h ig h
academ ic attainm en ts, en th u siasm for th e profession, zeal fo r
th e w ork, devotion to ^uty , ready accessibility a n d s^’m p ath y ^
w ith those placed in theiy charge, w hich ch aracterised th e officersn am ed above.
I t m ay be noted th a t natives of B engal have now m ade muchprogress in education, a n d som e of th e m have g reatly d istin ­
guished them selves in som e o f th e im p o rta n t branches of learn in g .
A Bose o r a R ay or ^ Seal is w ell able to h old h is own w ith th e
alum ni of any E u ro p ean u n iversity in th e p artic u la r b ranch o f
learn in g w hich h e h as m ade th e subject of h is special stu d y and
research. Such being th e case it is desirable th a t o nly such
re p u ted E uropean scholars should be appointed to .th e Im p erial
b ran ch of th e E ducational Service as, by th e ir a tta in m en ts an d '
devotion to duty, m ay be in a position to com m and th e respect
a n d reg ard of th e In d ian officers w ith w hom th e y m ay have to
w ork. U nless th e ir superiority in all these resp ects is established'
KVIDENCE BEFORE ROYAL COMMISSION
II
an im pression m ay n a tu ra lly g ain g round th a t it is by virtu e of
th e ir colour th a t th ey occupy th e ir responsible posts to th e
exclusion of th e natives o f th e soil. One of th e reasons fof
ap p o in tin g E uropean scholars to th e E d ucational Service in India,
even if qualified nativ es of th e co untry are available, spems to
be th a t th ey are in ten d ed to serve as m odels of a h ig h stan d ard
of efficiency, w orthy of im itatio n ^and em ulation. U nless this
purpose is served th e re can be h ard ly any ju stification for th e ir
appointm ent if th ere be, in th e ^ e l d , qualified candidates who
a re natives of In d ia.......................
Systc'nx o f T ra in in g and P robation.
*
I am n o t aw |tre w h eth er th e m em bers of th e Im p eria l branclr
of th e E ducational Service g e t an y tra in in g before th e y e n te r it.
F rom w hat is seen of th e ir w ork in th e b e g in n in g of th e ir service
it seem s th a t like th e m em bers of th e o th er bran ch es of th e
service th ey do n o t receive a n y tra in y ig w orth th e nam e. Unlike*
th e m em bers of o th e r services, w ho are n o t e n tru ste d w ith a n y
im portant w ork u n til th ey g e ? w ell-trained, th e officers of th e
E ducation D ep artm en t come to th e ir w ork, w hich is p erh ap s
th e m ost responsible, w ith o u t a n y tra in in g for it. T he teach in g
profession is supposed, i t seem s, n o t to n ee d e a rn e st study an d
p ain stak in g practice to learn it, and a good sch o lar is presum ed
to be necessarily a good teac h er. U niversity degrees are conse­
q uently considered th e o nly requisite qualification fo r a teacher.
T hus one w ho is a stu d e n t to-day is found to be a teach er
to-m orrow ; h e goes d irec t from th e college bench to th e tea c h er's
ch air, an d subsequently learns w h at little h e c a n of th e a rt o f
teach in g a t th e cost of h is p u p ils.......................M easures recently
ta k e n for th e provision of buildings an d fu rn itu re an d fo r th e
ap p o in tm en t of a la rg e r n u m b er of in sp ectin g officers before
supplying an adequate n u m b er of tra in e d teach ers, seem to have
given rise to .so m e m isapprehension. Some people have tak en an
u ncharitable view of th e in ten tio n of G overnm ent, supposing
th a t th e increase in ex p en d itu re fo r education is m ean t m ore for
show th a n for really fu rth e rin g th e cause of sound education.
A doption of necessary m easures fo r th e su p p ly of a n adequate
-12
LIFE OF A. KARIM
nu m b er of good teachers a n d fo r im proving th e ir prospects will
rem ove any such m isapprehension. N o te ac h er o r In sp e c to r should
go to his w ork unless an d u n til he receives th e requisite train in g .
A num ber o f teach ers should be specially selected a n d train ed
for the* w ork of head m asters. T h eir tra in in g should be som e­
w hat different from th a t of o th e r teachers. T he h ead m aster
be.sides being a n efEcient teatfher, m ust be a capable ad m in istrato r
an*l a stric t disciplinarian. All teach ers can n o t be expected to
possess all these qualifications.* B ut a t p resen t th e p resum ption
seem s to Ije th a t alm ost every te ac h er is fit to be a hehdm aster.
Seniority regulates promotio;^ an d , as a ru le, th e •senior assistan t
m aster, if th ere is n o th in g serious a g a in st him , is appointed
head m aster, w ithout inquiry as to w h eth er h e possesses the
.special qualifications required fo r tlie post. T he re,snlt h as been
th a t th e headm asters of o u r schools (b ailin g honourable excep­
tions) do not possess th e requisite qualificatior;s. H ave we any
• head m aster like th e headm asters of R ugby a n d H arro w ? If not,
wliy ? C annot th e n ativ es of In d ia m ake as good headm asters
a s those veteran educationists, #vcn if th ey g e t th e necessary
tra in in g and suitable opportu n ities ? T hese a re questions th a t
should engage th e serious atten tio n of th e au th o rities as w ell as
^of th e people....................
T he in specting officers, who have to deal w ith a m uch larg er
nu m b er of people th a n •h ead m asters a n d principals, should be
selected w ith very g rea t care and givqp a thoro u g h tra in in g . No
•officer should be en tru sted w ith th e responsible w ork of inspec­
tio n until he learns how- to do it pro p erly an d unless h e possesses
exceptional pow er o f discrim ination, capacity to com m and and
contro l, an d unless ?ie is tactful, considerate, sym pathetic and
-easily accessible. An In sp ecto r's w ork m ay be th e heaviest or
lig h te st possible ju s t as he chooses to m ake i t ; he m ay be so
very absorbed in h is legitim ate w ork th a t he m ay have no tim e
to th in k much of an y th in g else, or he m ay ta k e it*so lig h tly as
to have am ple tim e fo r m any th in g s m ore—fo r shooting, picnicing,
h u n tin g coins and inscriptions, search in g fo r zoological curiosities,
•etc. If an Inspecto r is to properly inspect schools, carefully
sc ru tin isin g th e records, th o ro u g h ly ex am in in g th e classes, giving
KVIDENCE b e f o r e ROYAE COMMISSION
I 3:
nseful m structions to teach ers, if he is to hear, a fte r h is inspec­
tion, w hat th e teachers and th e boys m ay h av e to say, to h ohl
conferences of teach ers a n d g u ard ian s a t suitable o pportunities;,
to check th e w ork o f h is subordinates a n d to teach th em how
they are to inspect schools, w here is th e tim e to th in k ,of any­
th in g e lse ? If, o n th e o th er hand, he glances th ro u g h th e records
m erely w ith a view to g e t some figures, w alks th ro u g h theclasses p u ttin g a qu estio n h ere and a question th ere, a n d no tin g
w hether th e room s a re k e p t c l ^ n an d th e lu rn itirre are in
order, dashes off a few lines of rem ark s em bodying statisticsra th e r th a n criticism s an d instru ctio n s, declines to m eet teachers
an d refuses to g ra n t interview s t o ‘guardians a n d o th e rs ,.w h y
should he not find tim e for a n y th in g fo r w hich he m ay tak e afan cy ? I need •h ard ly say th a t an in sp ectin g officer should
devote all his tim e, atten tio n , a n d energies to th e perform ance of
his legitim ate du ties................ F orm erly no o n e w as ap p o in ted anInspector of Schftols u n til he had been in th e co untry fo r a
sufficient len g th of tim e, go t acqu.'lfnted w ith th e ways and
m anners of th e people, proved an efficient teac h er and strong
adm inistrator. Such w ere M essrs. W oodrow, Croft, B ellet, M artin,
G arret, Pope an d o th ers who had long been in th e country and
ha'd m ade th e ir m ark in th e service before th ey were ap p o in te d '
Inspectors.
Fem ale education h as m ade very .little progress in this
country. A.lthough th e p resen t educational system has been in
operation for about h a lf a centun,' only a v ery sm all percentage
of fem ale population of school-going age are u n d e r instruction
an d th e m ajority of those w ho are a t school, belong to the
prim ary stage. I f progress is to be m ade at* th is reg rettab ly slow
ra te it w ill ta k e ,I am afraid, cen tu ries to g et th e fem ales of
th is country educated to th e desired e x te n t................T he ap p o in t­
m en t of a num ber of ladies possessing h igh academ ic attain m en ts
as Inspectresges an d A ssistan t In sp ectresses o f schools does not
seem to be necessary fo r th e present. T h ere are n o t m an y g irls ’
schools th a t require inspection by h ig h er in specting ofBcers............
In sp ectin g officers rarely succeed in g e ttin g new schools
established, though they can easily kill old ones. It is Indian
14
LIFE OF A. KARIM
■officers w ho have ready access to th e people, cau talk freely w ith
them and can convince th em of th e necessity of educational
institutions, who som etim es succeed in indu cin g people to open
new schools, l l i e a p p o in tm en t of educated In d ia n ladies, who
know tlie real requ irem en ts of th e ir countryw om en, an d n o t th a t
-of E uropean ladies, is 'th e re f o re lik ely to fu rth e r th e cause of
fem ale education in th is cc»intry.
* Fem ale education should be such as to m eet th e req u ire­
m en ts of a nation.
H ig h er education is p erh ap s n o t th e ideal
. education for In d ia n g irls, who should be thorouglily wellgrounded in such subjects ,a s m ay be essential!^' necessary for
th e m after they leave schools. A thorough know ledge of the
th re e R ’s, of hygiene, sew ing, cooking and c.ye of in fan ts, is
far m ore useful to th em th a n a u n iv ersity degree w hich, in some
- cases, proves to be a m ere academ ic accom plishm ent. T h e educa­
tion of o u r girls should develop th e ir w om anly n a tu re and
• aptitude so as to m ake tl ^ m good wives a n d good m others.
At a critical tim e like th is w hen som e of th e stu d e n ts seem
to be g e ttin g out of h an d and ^ 'h e n m easures are likely to be
m isju dg ed and m otives m isconstrued, exceptional ta c t a n d caution
have to be exercised by th e educational officers. Any ill-advised
m easure o r hasty action on th eir p a rt m ay create a situation
which it m ay be difficult to save. The teach ers can do m uch to<
im prove th e presen t stat£ of th in g s, as
no g re at m o ral or intellec­
tual change in th e
co untry can tpke place unless it is brought
about by them . I t i.s e.ssentially necessary, therefore, th a t all
possible step s should be ta k e n to staff th e educational institu tio n s
w ith th e m ost efficient, tactfu l and sym pathetic teachers.
T he success of th e proposed R esidential U niversities chiefly
. depends upon the ap p o in tm en t of an efficient staff of Professors.
T he educational in stitu tio n s in th is cou n try have all along been
of tlie residential type, th e close association of pupils and
professors being considered essential b oth for p ro g rA s in learn in g
an d form ation of character. The d istinguished professors of old
w ere not only repu ted scholars bu t also exceptionally pious m en
w ho, by th e ir character a n d conduct, could influence th e risin g
.. generation, Tf th e proposal for th e estab lish m en t of R esidential
EVIDENCE BEFORE ROYAI. COMMISSION
15
U niversities has not m et w ith an en th u siastic reception in In d ia
iit is because th e people have m isgiving as to th e k in d of
professors by whom th ey w ill be staffed. N atu rally parents
desire th a t th e education of th e ir child ren should n o t interfere
w ith th eir traditions a n d usage, m an n ers a n d customs^ I t is
th o u g h t th ere m ay be risk in th e close association of In d ian
boys a n d K uropean Professors. F rom w hat I h e ard of th e late
M r. Beck an d saw of* M r. A rnold a t A ligarh I have reason i o
th in k th a t Fhiropean P rofessors «nay accom m odate them selves
lo local circum stances a n d m eet th e requirem ents, if they so desire.
Popularity of tj^e m issionary colleges, in spite of th e teaching
of C hristian religion, is due largely to th e g re a t in te rest thken
by th e ir professors in th e w elfare of th e ir pupils an d to the
carefu l deference* show n by th e m to th e m an n ers an d custom s
of th e country. T he ex istin g relation of th e college staff w ith
th eir pupils p erh ap s leaves m uch to be desired; To ensure the
p o p u larity of th e proposed U niversities it w ill have to be im proved
to au appreciable ex te n t.
*
•
C onditions o f Service and Salary.
• T he good of o u r bo 3's, th e well-being of society, th e in terests
o f G overnm ent an d th e m en tal and m oral pro g ress of th e country
•require th a t o u r educational institution* should be un d er the
g u id an ce of th e b e st an d th e w isest scholars. B ut w hen so m any
p a th s of w ealth an d em olm jients a re open th e best m inds can ­
n o t be won to a n office so resiw nsible a n d laborious as th a t of
te a c h in g w ithout suflBcient inducem ents. T he cost of living is
g rad u ally risin g an d th e sp irit of self-sacrifice, w hich characterised
th e teachers of old, whose m otto was "p lain liv in g a n d h ig h
th in k in g " , is now-a-days scarcely m et w ith.
In stan ces such
a s th a t of a G okhale, w ith a ll llie advantages of a tow ering
genius, serving his college on a very m oderate salary for eighteen
lo n g years, ane very rare.
I t would be sunerfluou.s to sav th a t the educntioiial officers
a re n o t adequately p aid like th e m em bers o f o th er services. Con­
sequently those who can m anage to e n ter o th e r services do not
care to conre to th e K ducational Service, an d even som e of those
l
6
LIFE OF A, KARJM
who failing to g et an y th in g better, accep t appointm entH in ouir
schools a n d colleges, look upon th e te a c h er’s p ost as a step p in g stone t o s o m e t h i n g better. A fter serv in g fo r som e tinje when,
they le a rn som ething of th e A rt of T each in g an d begin to be
really aseful, they betake them selves to o th e r posts o r pro­
fessions th a t offer b e tter pay an d prospects. I t is a m a tte r fo r
enquiry how m any officers^ left th e E d ucational Service after
hav in g joined it, an d w hy. I need h ard ly say th a t it is m ost
desirable th a t
th e pay of tlje educational officers should be
raised an d th e ir prospects bettered .
^
S u c k L iin ita lio n s as Exflst in th e E m p lo y m e n t o f N o n E uropeans and ik e W o rk in g of the E x is tin g S y ste m
o f D ivision o f S ervices in to Im p eria l a n ^ Provincial.
In m ost of tlie o th e r im p o rtan t sendees qualified natives of
India are being gradually appointed to h ig h posts to w hich th e y
• were n ev er ad m itted befqj-e. N ot to speak of o th e r ap p o in t­
m ents, qualified In d ia n s are bein g appointed m em bers of even'
H is M ajesty’s Privy Council a n d 6f th e S ecretary of S ta te s Council
in E n g lan d and E xecutive Councils in India. B ut by a stran g e
irony of fate,
In d ian m em bers of th e E d ucational Service .in
India are n o t
only n o t g e ttin g any fresh concessions b u t arebeing g radually deprived of w hat th e y all alo n g enjoyed s in c e ,
th e creation of th e D ep artm en t o f E ducation. At first th ere
was o n ly one su p erio r service to w hich qualified n ativ es of
In d ia, such as Babus P rasa n n a K u m ar S arbadhikary, Bhudeb
M ukherjee an d others, were freely ad m itted. W hen a larg er
num ber of Indians b egan to qualify them selves fo r th e superior
service, it w as rule<;I*that th e pay of th e In d ian m em bers of th a t
service would be tw o-thirds o f th e full pay draw n by its E u ro p ean
m em bers. Som e d eserving In d ian s, w hose qualifications wereeven superior to those of som e of th e ir colleagues, th u s suffered
by th e introduction of th is ru le. Some tim e aftcij a Provincial
Service was organised and In d ian s educated in E u ro p e were
included in th is service.
D istinguished In d ia n g rad u ates of
E uropean U niversities w ere th u s pr.'icticnlly debarred from gettinginto th e Indian Service.
EVIDENCE BEFORE ROYAE COMMISSION
17
The E ducation Comm ission a fte r m uch investigation had
come to th e conclusion th a t a fair proportion of th e Insp ecto rates
an d I’rincipalships should be held by Indians of approved m erit
an d it was in pursuance of this policy th a t 4 o u t of 7 posts of
inspector and 5 out of 8 posts of P rin cip al w ere h eld bx d istin ­
guished Indians. I t is no t know n why all on a sudden it was
decided th a t no m em ber of th e Provincial Service, how ever h igh
h is attain m en ts an d satisfactory th e record of h is services m ight
be, was to be appointfcd any l o i t e r to th e p ost of D ivisional
Inspector of schools—a post w hich was h eld from tim e to tim e by
several In d ian officers w ith m uch credit. To th e u tte r surprise of
all concerned a* retrospective effect w as given to th is ru le ,, and
m em bers of th e Provincial Service, who had been already
Inspectors of ScJjools, were replaced by m em bers o f th e In d ian
Service. T his perhaps is unp reced en ted in th e history of Services.
W hen a ru le like th is comes in to force it applies only to future
appointm ents a n d "not to appo in tm en ts m ade in th e p ast. If it is
ru led th a t natives of In d ia are no longei*to be appointed H igh Court
Jud g es will those w ho are already on th e Bench be replaced ?
This was actually done in the case of In d ian Inspectors.
H ad not th e post of th e P rin cipal of th e C alcutta M adrasah
been reserved for E uropean s, qualified natives of In d ia m ig h t
have held it like th e P rin cip alsh ip of the S a n sk rit College.
^D istinguished A rabic scholars like M essrs S pringer, L ees and
Blochinan held, from tim e to tim e, th e post of P rincipal of the
M adrasah. W hen such meft becam e ra re th e post m ig h t have
been throw n open to qualified natives of In d ia as was done in
the case of th e S a n sk rit College. B ut th is has n o t y e t been done, ,
and th e re su lt h as been th a t som e of th o s4 who recently held
th e post did not possess th e requisite qualifications. Dr. H ctrn le
w as a rep u ted S a n sk rit scholar and he m ig h t have well adorned
th e ch air of P rin cip al of a S an sk rit College, b u t he long held
the' post of P rincipal of a n Arabic College although he did not
possess any know ledge of Arabic. O thers, such as M essrs
Rowe, Jam es an d L'hapman, w ho h e ld the post irom
h ad perhaps no pretension to a know ledge of any orientaV^
L ately after a good deal of search for a coinpi
tu an
l8
I,IFB OP A. KARIM
a H ebrew scholar has been appointed P rin cip al of th e M adrasah,
who for w ant of a know ledge of Arabic, Urdoo an d P ersian,
has to talk w ith h is pupils an d professors, if m y inform ation is
correct, through th e m edium of an in terp re ter.
On repeated rep resen tatio n s from th e M uham m adan com m unity
th e post of an A ssistant D irector of Public In stru c tio n for
M uham m adan E ducation has been created. T his also has been
reserved for m em bers of th& In d ian Service. If my inform ation
is c o rr e c t, th e p o st liad to go abegging fo r som e tim e ; failin g to
g e t th e service^ of an orientak scholar, tfie p o st was offered to
s o m e m e m b e r s of th e In d ian Service, who d id n o t see Jh e ir way
to accept it. At la st an officer has been ap p o in ted to th e post,
th e principal d u ty of which,* I undenstand, i.s to *n.spect M aktabs
and M adrasahs and to tak e step s for th e fu rth eran ce of M uham ­
m adan E ducation. As fa r as I am aw are th is o§icer h as been in
the country for a sh o rt tim e d u rin g w hich he had n o th in g to do
w ith th e M uham m adans a n d the com plicated problem of th e ir
education. P erhap s he is n o t even acquainted ^'ith th e alphabets
• of I'rd u , P ersian and Arabic languages through the m edium of
w hich in stru ctio n is im p arted in M aktabs and M adrasahs w hich
it will be his duty to re o rg a n ise
I t is unueces.sary to m ultip ly
instances an d i t is m ost un p leasan t to
com m ent on th em . Suffice
it to say th a t th e m em bers o f th e Provincial Service have a long
tale of grievances to tell. The sooner these grievances a re rem oved
th e b etter. W liat can be m ore discouraging an<l disap p o in tin g to
th e m em bers of a service th a n w hat has been sta te d above ?
Is it possible, w ith such*grievances as th ese alw ays in th e ir mind,*
to w ork w ith h e a rt ?
,
If I have expressed m yself rath e r strongly reg a rd in g certain
m atters it is because I feel very k een ly about th em . Besides,
p e rh a j^ it would ng t have been p roper to refrain fro m statin g
fully and fran k ly a lf facts which, I th in k , it is th e object of the
Comm ission to elicit.
R a n c h i,
)
. \ b d u l K a r im .
The I7th October, 1913. 1
T h e reorganization of th e E d u catio n al Service by
whicli th e prospects o f In d ia n officers o f th e D epartm ent
w ere appreciably b ettered , seems to have been based on
th e above m entioned m em orandum .
CHAPTER nr.
Q U E ST IO N O F K H IL A F A T .
•
F in d in g th a t a good deal o f m isapprehension was
p re v a ilin g re g a rd in g th e relation of th e In d ia n M uslim s
t o their* K h alifa, th e S u lta n of T u rk e y , M . A bdul
K arim w rote *some letters, of w hich th e follow ing .are
s u m m a rie s : —
•
R an ch i, th e 10th N ovem ber, 1914.
To
T he rioN ’BtK M r . P . C. LOYN, c.s.i.
S ir ,
*
I hope you will kind ly excuse th e liberty I am ta k in g in
w ritin g to you certain th in g s reg a rd in g th e a ttitu d e of my co­
religionists a t th is critical tim e. I have read w ith m uch reg ret
som e of th e letters an d speeches published in th e new spapers............
T u rk ey ’s ill-advised decision to b reak h e r n eu trality h as placed
Jhe helpless M uham m adans of In d ia in an extrem ely delicate, nay,
c ritical position. W hatever m ay be th e fate of T u rk ey it is certain
th a t m y ill-fated co-religionisfs w ill have to suffer seriously unless
th e y succeed in saving th e situation by th e ir conduct. T h at th e
M uham m adans of In d ia, as a body, have all along been sincerely
loyal to th e B ritish Crown, is an adm itted faSt. As th e ir loyalty
h a s n o t been called in question it were well if it h ad no t been
so prom inently paraded a t th is tim e in th e press and on th e
platform . I cannot persuade m yself to believe th a t E n g lish
ed ucated people, as a body, can afford to do an y th in g th a t is
likely to em h a y a ss th e au thorities. I t is th e m asses about whom
th e re need be som e m isgiving. I t cannot be said for certain th a t
in th is crisis th e feelings o f som e of the bigoted M ussalm ans, such
a s those w ho caused th e Sham bazar rio t o r created th e Cawnpore
20
L IFE OF A. KARIM
disturbance, will n o t g e t the b etter o f th eir discretion. Thesepeople are of sucit a n excitable n atu re th a t th ey lose th e ir h ead
•w henever th e ir religions susceptibilities are h u rt in th e least, and
g ettin g out of control com m it undream t-of excesses w ithout p re­
m editation, quite unm indful of th e consequence................ A lthough
it h as been a m aster-stroke of statesm an sliip to announce tlia t
our holy places will be im m une from m olestation by C hristian
arm ies, som e credulous people seem to be th in k in g th a t tlie
C3iristiau arm ies, in o rd er to stag g er T urkey and force h er to
subm it, are g&ing to occupy th e holy places, an d th a t certain
unscrupulous persons have been engaged to p rep are th*e m in d o f
th e M uham m adans fo r such a catastro p h e by previously talk in g
to th em on th e subject. I th in k , it is tim e to stop over-zealous
people from creatin g m ischief by ta lk in g wildly, otherw ise th e re
i.'.ight be trouble. '
T here are certain facts w hich should no t be overlooked ;—
(1) T h e M uham m adans of In d ia have for cen tu ries reg ard ed
th e T u rk ish E m pire as th e ir own and looked w ith veneration
upon its sovereign as th e ir K halifa a n d th e pro tecto r of th e ir
holy places.
P erhaps it is no t generally know n th a t every
F rid ay
in every m osque in In d ia and elsew here m ention is m ade
of th e
S u ltan of T urkey in th e K h u t h b a o r Serm on and prayers a re
offered for th e safety apd pro sp erity of h is em pire.
(2) T he T u rk s a re ^ g h tin g perhaps because th ey cannot helft
it, hav in g been ‘'h y p n o tised ” by G erm an influence. W hether^
w aged by th e yotm g o r old T urks, w hether it is secu lar o r holy,
i t is a w ar betw een C hristians an d M usalm ans.
(3) T he
T u rk s are fighting th e ir old in v eterate enem ies, th e
R ussians, an d it is spm ost u n fo rtu n ate coincidence th a t th e E n g lish ,
w ho so long helped them against th eir enem ies, should now be
in alliance w ith tliem .
I am afraid th ese th in g s could n o t be w ith h eld from th e
m asses who are perhaps already in possession of th e m in a m uch
ex ag g erated form. Such being th e case, n atu rally t^ e y sym pathise
w ith th e ir co-religionists in the trouble th ey have b ro u g h t upcfti
them selves. To try to com pel th e m n o t to do th is is likely to
be a s fu tile as C anute’s com m and to the tidal w aves. W hat som e
QUESTION OF KHITAFAT
21
■common people are th in k in g of th e despatch of In d ian troops to
th e fro n t and of th e realisatio n of m oney fo r th e w ar relief fund,
m ay be tak en as an instan ce of how th in g s are m isunderstood by*
these fools. I t is being said, I have been told, th a t because all
th e B ritish troops have been an n ih ilated by th e G erm ans,, In d ian
troops have been sen t for, a n d a s all th e m oney in th e B ritish
T reasury h as been exh au sted , m oney is bein g raised from the
people of I n d ia ; so m iserable is th e p lig h t of th e B ritish people
th a t an y th in g in cash mr k in d paid^by th e poorest of th e poor, is
being accepted.
I t would have been w ell if instead of being over-zealous in
m aking declaration of loyalty a n d in ta lk in g of th e viciousnes's of
th e T urks, th e feeling of p atriotism , the sense of self-interest and
th e in stin ct of self-preservation, w hich a re far m ore p o ten t factors
th a n an y th in g else in sw aying h u m an action, were appealed to.
I t is in fact a question of life a n d death , of n atio n al existence and
n ational annihilation. If a t th is critical tim e th e In d ian
M usalm ans do not conduct them selves as th ey should, th ey are
sure to lose w hat th ey are now opjoying under the fostering care
a n d protection of th e b enign G overnm ent—civic rig h ts, educational
facilities, official em olum ents a n d p erh ap s even religious liberty.
D eprived of these w hat will be th e ir position ? P erh ap s th a t of
Tiewers of wood an d draw ers of w ater. I'tiese are th e th in g s th a t
^hould be quietlj- but clearly explained a n ^ forcibly im pressed on
th o se reg ard in g whose conduct th e re m ig h t be m isgiving. I t is n o t
th e Nawabs, th e K han Bahadoors, th e E nglan d -retu rn ed people
(who have b u t little influence w ith th e bigoted M usalm ans) who
can do this, b u t th e pious M aulanas, M aulavis, M ianjis an d Im am s,
w ho com m and th e confidence and esteem of ^ h ese people. They
should be requisitioned a t th is tim e and requested to go about
q uietly am ong these people and speak seriously and earn estly to
th em . The F riday assem blies a t m osques m ay also be availed of,
w here advi-sable, for th e purpose. As th e m ost vital in terests of
th e Mnhamma^.Tn com m unity are a t stake, T hnm blv hone th ere
will be no m isconception on account of doubtful representations,
b u t all necessary steps w ill be tak en to d etect and n ip in the
b u d an y th in g th a t is likely to cause trouble to th e com m unity
22
LIFE OF A. KARIM
as w ell as to O overnraent. A nything th a t is likely to w ound o r
even to irrita te th e religious susceptibilities of th e people should
' be scrupulously avoided unless essentially req u ired by the
exigencies of any p articu lar case. I have w ritten , S ir, th is le tte r
under «a solem n sense of responsibility a n d d uty to m y com m u­
n ity as well as to G overnm ent, a n d I hope i t will be ta k e n in th e
sp irit in w hich it h as been w ritten.
,
•
,
M y D ear M a u ia v i S a h e b ,
.
3
*
,
Y ours obediently,
A bdui. K a r im .
M iddleton Row, Calcutta,.
l l i e 12th N ovem ber, 1914.
•
T his is a brief note to acknow ledge th e receip t of your
valuable an d in terestin g le tte r of N ovem ber ,10tli from R anchi.
I m ay have a fu rth e r opj^ortnnity of refe rrin g to i t la te r on. In
th e m eantim e I would say th a t I appreciate very fully th e dangers
and th e difficulties you d escribe; some of th em w ere alread y
p resen t to m e before your le tte r arrived. I th in k th a t you should
recognise m ore clearly th a t th is w ar is one of politics a n d n o t o f
religion, an d has been forced npon T u rk ey by th e am bitions o f
G erm any, a C hristian £ ta te . You include in your sta te m e n t of
facts w hich are overlooked one to th e effect th a t th is is a w a r
betw een C hristians and M uham m adans. Surely th is is n o t a fa c t
I t is a statem en t th a t I th in k you .should use all your loyalty •
an d all y o u r energy to controvert. T h e declarations o f M uham m a­
d ans throughout tl^e B ritish E m pire shew th a t th ey a re w illingly
fighting for us a /a in s t T u rk ey ’s new C h ristian ally, G erm any,
o u r enem y, who is fo r ever a ssertin g its claim to be considered
a cham pion of Christendom . W e have evidence w ith in th e B ritish
E m p ire, th a t orthodox M uham m adans object to th e w ar, and
G reat B ritain, th e g reatest M uham m adan pow er in th e w orld, h a s
g u aran teed th e inviolability of th e holy places, k hope th a t you
will use all th e influence you possess to convince y o u r co-religion­
is ts th a t th e ir faith is n o t involved in th is co n test and point
o u t th a t i t is a non-M uham m adan pow er th a t has forced th e h a n d
QUESTION OF KHII^AFAT
23
of T urkey for his own purposes. Y our le tte r will receive fu rth er
an d very careful consideration a t m y hands.
Y ours sincerely,
P. C. L y o n .
^ .
•
S IR ,
•
,
R anchi,
The 16th N ovem ber, 1914.
•
*
I beg to acknow ledge th e receip t of your k in d le tte r of the
12th in stan t. I , a™ happy to learn th a t m y la st le tte r will receive
careful consideration a t your h a n d s a n d th a t m y m otive in w titin g
it h as not been m isunderstood. I am , however, exceedingly
sorry to find th 5 t one statem en t in th e le tte r should have been
so w orded as n o t to convey clearly w h at was m ean t and th a t
it should have given you th e trouble of w ritin g so m uch about
it. As far as my inform ation goes th e re is no m isco n cep tio n ,
u p to th is tim e reg ard in g th e cause of w ar w ith T u rk ey . I t is, I
th in k , clearly understood th a t »this w ar is one of politics and
n o t of religion—th a t it is 1>eing w aged for te rrito rial conquest
an d n o t for the propagation of C hristianity and th e suppression
of Islam . I t is not, th erefo re, a w ar betw een C hristians and
M usalm ans in th e sense in w hich it seem s to have been under, stood. W hat I m eant is th a t th e T u rk s, who are M usalm ans and
co-religionists of th e M uham m adans of India, are fighting (though
- n o t for the sake of religion) ag ain st som e C hristians a t the
in stigation of o th er C hristians, a n d i t is n o t quite u n n atu ral (I am
afraid it cannot be pro p erly realised by non-M usalm ans how
stro n g is th e tie th a t binds one M nsalm an t o an other) th a t they
(the Ind ian M usalm ans) should be s o n y to see th e ir co-religionists
in trouble, although th e y are to th a n k them selves for foolishly
and recklessly d raw in g it upon them selves solely fo r th e benefit
of som e unscrupulous C h ristian s................
2.
As fqf your .desire th a t I shnuld use mv loyalty and
energy to controvert any m isstatem en t and rem ove any m is­
apprehension, I need hard ly assure you th a t I sliall n o t fail to do
all th a t lies in th e pow er of a retire d recluse like m yself for the
24
I 4 F E OF A. K A R IM
sake of th e G overnm ent a,s well as for th e in terests of my unfor­
tu n a te co-religionists, who have fallen upon evil tim es and are
HOW in g re a t distress for no fau lt of theirs.
3. My object in w ritin g m y last le tte r was to p o in t out
{!) th e im propriety of saying th in g s th a t m ig h t give rise to
m isapprehension an d lead to tro u b le ; (2) th e advisability of
ap p ealing to such feelings as m ig h t produce a m ore te llin g effect
in rallying th e Indian M usalrtians to th e side of G overnm ent th a t - ^
hae been so very solicitous of th e ir welfa^p, th a n to oth ers th a t
m ig h t be less effective in th is Respect a n d give rise to m isappre­
hension. As regards th e first point, I w rote a t som e le n g th in
m y previous letter. I sh all &dd only an in cid en t w hich h as come
to my know ledge. An E n g lish educated g entlem an on reading
one of th e rem arks m ade by an over-enthusiastic person a t a
m eeting, is reported to have said “ he should fiave been sh o t,”
w hile an o th er gentlem an equally w ell-educated re fe rrin g to a sim ilar
rem ark observed, “ H ad it been m ade a t a , m eetin g of th e
• orthodox M usalm aus he coi^ld n o t have come aw ay w ith h is head
on h is shoulders” . If th is is th e feeling of E n g lish educated
people, you m ay im agine w liat t*ie uneducated people are likely
^
to th in k of these th in g s ................
4. F or fear of being m isunderstood I d id not w rite to you in
m y la st le tte r about contributions to th e W ar R elief F u n d by the
In d ian M ussulm ans, aftei; T u rk ey ’s suicidal decision to participate
in th e w ar. B ut now tl\pt a declaration on th e su b ject has b e e n ,
m ade w ith regard to th e M ussalm ans of E g y p t, m ay I hum b ly ^ •
su g g est th a t th e sam e principle m ay be followed in th e case of th e M ussalm ans of In d ia ? L ike the E g y p tian s, th e In d ian
M ussalm ans hold th e S u ltan of T urkey in th e h ig h e st esteem.
I t is not alto geth er unlikely th a t if th e In d ian M ussalm ans
continue con trib u tin g to th e gen eral W ar R elief F u n d , some
fanatical M ullah will some day secretly circulate a F a tw a to the
effect th a t as th e m oney th u s realised m ay be utilised in cru sh in g
th e ir co-religionists, th o u g h th e y m ay n o t be th e ir countrym en,
th e C ontributors have ceased to be tru e M ussulm an^ T his, I am
afraid, will cause m uch m ischief. It, therefore, seem s desirable
th a t th e principle followed in th e case of th e E g y p tian s should
be adopted in th a t of Indian M ussalm ans also.
Q U ESTIO N O I' K H ILA FA T
2$
5. I t would be m o st presnm pluous on m y p a rt to say any­
th in g w ith reg ard to a pow erful a n d effective speech delivered
by th e P rim e M inister of th e E m p ire. I t m u st have been delibe.ra te ly m ade after consideration of a ll th e circum stances a n d I
th in k it has produced th e desired effect on those fo r whom it was
intended. I w ish, how ever, th a t portion of th e speecli w hich
refers to th e dism em berm ent of th e T u rk ish E m pire h ad n o t been
published in India. T he state o f tlfe feelings of In d ian M ussul­
m ans m ay be judgec^ from th e fact th a t a hig h ly educated
M uham m adan of whose loyalty to*the B ritish G overnm ent I have
n o t th e jflightest doubt, as its discom fiture m ay involve h is ruin,
b u rst into tears«w hen h e read th is p o jtion of th e speech, although
he has n o t p erhaps m uch doubt as to th e ultim ate resu lt of th e
suicidal policy th a t is bein g followed by the T u rk s. God knows
w hat th e m asses will th in k w hen th ey will come to know all
th is. I t would have been w ell if th e tran slatio n of th is portion
■of th e speech in |o th e vern acu lar new spapers could have been
prevented. T he less th e new s of T u rk ish defeats and th e o ccu p a-•
tio n of T urkish te rrito ry by th e .Allies is published in India, th e
"better perhaps for all concerned*
6. At such a tim e of g re a t ag itatio n , w hen feelings ru n h igh
arid m any unfounded th in g s are talk ed of, credulous people
readily believe w hatever th ey are told. I liave heard th a t it is
b ein g talked th a t as th e Ii*uropean lo w e rs were th in k in g of
d ividing th e T urkish E m p ire am ong them selves, E n g lan d tak in g
E g y p t, F rance Svria, G erm any M esopotam ia and Italy Tripoli,
th e T u rk s have decided to die fighting ra th e r th a n relinquish
th e ir em pire w ithout resistan ce, a n d hence th ey have joined tlie
w ar.
••
7. A ccording to a prophecy of our holy P ro p h et (I am not
in a position to vouch fo r its accuracy) th e M ahdi is to appear
in 1361 A .H . an d a fte r h is reig n of forty years th e w orld is to
come to an end. As th is is 1331 A .II. th ere are only about
th irty yenrc
th e M nhdi’a aopearance and 70 years fo r the
d estru ctio n of th e world. W ith in th ese th irty years m any
m om entous events are to tak e place. One of these is a g reat war
in which m ost of th e pow ers in the w orld are to p articipate, the
26
L IFK
of
a
. K A R IM
T urks are to be driven away from -Turkey to S y ria an d thence to
A rabia, w here only th e Islam ic E m pire is to su rv iv e ; a t the
pnd of th is w ar only one C hristian E m p ero r is to rule for som e­
tim e over th e whole world. So th e T u rk s it is being said have
inevitably been draw n to th e w ar to suffer w hat h as been p re­
destined.
I have referred to these th in g s, som e of w hich are perhapstoo irrelev an t to be w orth m entioning, in o rd e r to show th e tre n d of* people's feelings w hich m ay tak e a qiyte unex p ected tu rn a t
any m om ent. T h e authorities,* I th in k , should know all th a t isbeing th o u g h t and said so th a t th ey m ay be p rep ared fo r a n y
em ergency.
•
Y ours obediently,
A b d u i . K a r im .
C alcutta, th e 24th N ovem ber, 1914.
,
D ea r
S ir ,
I have to th a n k you for an o th e r very in te re stin g letter,
dated th e 16th November, Your* views a n d th e suggestions yoir
m ake w ill receive careful consideration.
Y ours sincerely,
P. C. L y o n .
B ankipore, th e I lth D ecem ber, 1914..
D ear
S ir ,
•
I m ust apologise for th e delay in answ ering y o u r le tte r of th e
18th ultim o. I have been exceedingly busy fo r some tim e p ast.
T he enclosures to y<^r letter, being th e copies of tw o w hich you'
have w ritten to th e H o n ’ble Mr. Lyon, are exceedingly in te re stin g
a n d afford m a tte r fo r m uch tho u g h t, and I have read th em very
carefully an d used th em in advising Ck>vemment on such o f th e
m atters w hich they deal w ith a s cam e up fo r orders. I have,
therefore, to thank you for sending th em to m e.
Y ours faithfully,
H . L e M k su r ier ,
(Chief Secretary to th e G overnm ent of Bihar a n d O rissa).
QUESTION OF EHILAFAT
2J
A fte r th e E u ro p e a n w ar w h en peace was concluded
an d peace celebrations w ere being held , M aulavi A bdulK arim d ealt a t som e le n g th w ith th e su b ject in his presi­
d en tia l speech a t th e an n u al session of th e B engal P re si­
dency M uslim L eague h eld a t Jessore. T h e follcfwing isa sum m ary of w h a t he said : —
•
T h e q uestion t^iat h as o f la te m ost inten sely exercised
th e m in d s of th e M usalm anS, n o t only ii> In d ia b u t all
over th e Islam ic w orld, is th e question of th e K h ila fa t a n d
th e in te g rity o f th e O tto m an •E m pire. So fa r b a fk a s
N ovem ber, 1 9 1 4 , finding th a t som e d esigning time-serversw ere m isleadifig th e G o v ern m en t as to th e real feelings o f
th e In d ia n M usalm ans re g a rd in g th e T u rk is h em pire a n d
its sovereign, I addressed to o ne of th e h ig h e st officials in
th e P resid en cy tw o le tte rs d raw in g h is a tte n tio n to th d
im m ense m ischief w hich w as being done b y th e overzealous o p p o rtu n ists b y abusin g th e T u rk s and disow ning
t.he K h a lif a ' in order to p ro p itiate th e au thorities. I
pointed o u t how th e M usalm ans of In d ia have, fo r
centuries, reg ard ed th e T u rk is h E m p ire as th e ir ow n and
looked w ith v en eratio n u p o n its sovereign as th e ir K h alifa
and th e g u a rd ia n an d p rotector o f th e ir h o ly places, a n d
w h y th e tie w hich b in d s a person in th e G an g etic valley
to an in d iv id u al o n th e B osphorus m a^ seem incom prehen­
sible o r even a b su rd to one w ho is n o f a M usalm an, T h e
letters p ro d u ced th e desired effect ; th e y w ere ty ped an d
circulated.
S ince those le tte rs w ere w ritte n the w orld has passed
th ro u g h tl^?
calam itous cataclysm and h u m an ity hasbeen stag g ered by th e m ost revolting b u tch e ry and
b ru ta lity ever recorded in m odern h isto ry . T h e m ap o f
:2'8
L Il'B OF A. KARIM
"Europe h as been recast in such a m a n n e r as w as never
dream t of before ; some of th e fairest p rovinces in th e
'C'ontinent have been laid w aste, some of th e m ost m ighty
em pires have cnim bled to pieces, som e of th e m ost au to ­
cratic despots have had to com e to a m ost trag ic end or
to m ake a m ost ignom inious e x it from th e ir k ingdom s. A ll
tliis h a s been b ro u g h t ab o u t b y th e cham pions of liberty
•an^ ju stice. B ut m ig h t stUl seem s to be r ig h t and lu st
for pow er and te rrito ry th e ru lin g passion in E u ro p e.
U n fo rtu n a te ly th e ru m o u ; referred to in my* second letter
-about th e division of th e T u rk is h E m p ire am ong th e
C h ristia n n atio n s o f E u ro p e h as tu rn e d o u t t o be tru e , the
■only discrepancy being th a t E n g la n d is ta k in g th e place
•of G erm an y in M esopotam ia. I t is b u t n a tu ra l th a t th e
•M usalm ans of In d ia , w ho look u p o n th e T u rk ish em pire
iis th e ir ow n, should be so m uch alarm ed and ex c ite d by
th e p e rsiste n t ru m o u rs ab o u t its possible dism em berm ent.
. . . . T o m y m ind n o am o u n t of so p h istry can
•explain aw ay th e pledge g iv en b y th e P rim e M inister of
E n g la n d , reg ard in g tHe in te g rity of th e T u rk ish em pire
a t th e tim e w hen t h e ‘w ar was in its m ost critical stage.
I t w as a solem n d eclaration seriously m ade from h is place
ill th e P arliam en t. T h a t i t was a m ere offer an d n o t a
pled g e is, I th in k ^ n o th in g b u t an a fte r-th o u g h t of th e
P rim e M in ister’s apologists. I can n o t p ersuade m yself to
believe th a t a gentlem an of M r. E loyd G eo rg e’s responsible
position could have so far fo rg o tten h im self as to be g u ilty
•of su ch deliberate d u p licity and dish o n esty as to have
solem nly given a pledge m ean in g all th e tiiiK to break
it a t th e first convenient o p p o rtu n ity . M y idea is th a t w hen
g re a t difficulties stared him in th e face a n d despair well-
Q U ESTIO N O F K H II vAFAT
29*
u ig h overw helm ed him a n d w hen th e fa te of th e em pire
in his ch arg e was h a n g in g in th e balance, he honestly
m ade th e prom ise in te n d in g to keep it. B ut w hen thed an g er was over, w hen th e stab ility of th e em pire was*
assured and h e fo u n d h im self m aster of th e situ atio n , th e
lu st of te rrito ria l ag g ran d isem en t and th e relig io us b igotry
of a descen d an t o f th e m ediseval cru sad ers g o t th e betterof his sense of h o n b u r and ji*stice, and he is now trying,
to back* o u t of h is com m itm ents. A bdul, as th e B ritish.
T om m y w ould call th e T u rk ish soldier, w as a “ clean
fig h ter” as long as he fo u g h t, b u t as soon as he ceased to
fight he bccanje an unclean fighter, g u ilty of all sorts of
barb arities an d atrocities. T h e M u salm ans h av e m ade it.
sufficiently clear th a t th e y can n o t acquiesce in an y settle­
m ent in w h ich th a t solem n pledge is n o t adhered to and*
th e in te g rity of th e O tto m an em pire is n o t m aintained. I t
was th ese a n d sim ilar assurrfhces w’h ic h in d u ced th e heroic
-.Jvlusalman soldiers to fig h t w ith all th e v alo u r of theirrace an d th e a rd o u r of th e ir religion in defence of theB ritish E m pire. W ould th e y have shed a drop of Islam ic
idood if th e y could have realised t[iat th e y w ere d ig g in g
th e grav e, as M r. Lloyd^ G eorge’s predecessor in office had
th e h ard ih o o d to say, o f th e g re a te st Islam ic em pire in thew orld ? W ould th e y have m oved one step fo n v ard if th e y
could have knowm th a t th ey w ere b e ii^ led to a crusade,,
as th e P rim e M in ister h a s been pleased to call it, for thean n ih ilatio n of th e ir co-religionists? W ould th e y have
lifted o ne finger if th e y could have foreseen th a t th e y w ere'
helpin g in g a in in g a victory w hich w ould let loose blood­
th irs ty b an d s of G reeks to sla u g h te r in cold blood'
tliousan d s ''f defenceless M usalm ans in S m yrna and its
neigh b o u rh o o d ? Is th e re a M usalm an w ith a drop o f
.3 0
LIFE OF A. KARIM
Islam ic blood in h is veins w hose h e a rt has n o t bled by
;the recen t re p o rt of th e h orrible atrocities com m itted upon
tiieir innocent co-religionists, whose villages have been
w iped o u t, w hose farm s have been destroyed an d whose
•enorm ous num bers, com puted betw een 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 to 2 0 0 ,0 0 0 ,
:are hom eless and in th e d ep th s of m ise ry ? W h a t w ould
have h ap p en ed if th e M usalm an soldiers h a d n o t sacrificed
•their lives to g a in victory fo» th e allied cause ? T h e Peace
C onference w ould n o t have p erh ap s sat in peace a t P a ris
t o decide th e fate of C h ristian em pires in accordance w ith
th e p rin cip le of self-determ ination and to divide th e Islam ic
em p ire am ong th e C h ristian natio n s. T h ^ e , gentlem en,
•are facts w hich th e IMusalmans can never fo rget. A s to
th e position of th e K h alifa, it should be m ost stro n g ly
•im pressed upon tho se w ith w'hom th e final decision lies
t h a t th e K h alifatu l-Islam , u n lik e th e R om an C atholic
P ope, m u st be th e m onarch of a pow erful em pire, able to
p ro te c t th e in terests of h is co-religionists an d h a v i n g - - '
so v e re ig n ju risd ictio n over th e Jaziraiul A rab, w here th e
holy cities of Islam , of w hich h e is th e g u a rd ia n a n d pro­
te c to r, are situ ated .
. I t is a m a tte r of som e satis- ,
fa c tio n th a t M r. L loyd G eorge h as a t last th o u g h t it p ru d e n t . ■
to disow n h is apologists a n d to ad m it th a t h is declaratio n ~
w as a pledge and n o t a n offer. T h e carry in g in to effect
of th e whole p le d g f should now be stro n g ly insisted upon,
•and it should be m ost d istin ctly m ade know n th a t its p a rtial
The
fulfilm ent can n o t satisfy th e M usalm an s..................
fidelity of th e M usalm ans to th e ir faith is a w onder to th e
•world. T h e re is n o sacrifice w hich th e y d o n o t und erg o
fo r its sake. F o r five years M uslim loy alty has stood
alm ost su p erh u m an test. I t w ould be m ost unw ise to p u t
it to a fu rth e r strain.
QUESTION OF KHILAFAT
31
.....................I w ould like to express o n behalf of th e
B engal P resid en cy M uslim L eag u e o u r g ra te fu l th a n k s to
th e little b and of noble-m inded lingU shm en, am ong whom*
is m y frien d , S ir T h eo d o re M orrison, an d to H is H ighness
th e A gh a K h a n , th e R ig h t H o n o u rab le M r. A m eer A li and
M r. A bdulla Y u su f A li, all of w hom , by a curious coin­
cidence, belong to a fa ith , whic*li does n o t recognise th e
sp iritu a l su zerain ty bf th e SuU an of T u rk e y , fo r all th a t
th e y have d one and are still d oing to uph o ld th e pow er
a n d prestig e o£ th e K h alifa b y p rev en tin g th e dism em ber­
m e n t of h is em pire. O u r th a n k s are also due to th e R'lght
H o n o u ra b le
M o n tag u fo r fu lly rep resen tin g to th e
P eace conference th e feelings and sen tim en ts of th e
IMusalmans of In d ia an d for forcibly advocating th e cause
o f m oderation and ju stic e in dealing w ith th e question of ,
th e K h ilafat. N o r should I om it to m ention how gratefu l
■we are to o u r fello-w c o u n try tn en of th e H in d u com m unity
- fo r th e ir k in d sy m p ath y and su p p o rt in o u r trouble.
• A s long as th e fate of th e M usalm ans of th e T u rk ish
em p ire is n o t satisfacto rily settled th e ir co-religionists in
•In d ia can n ev er know peace of m ind.. I t w as only n atu ral,
.th e re fo re , th a t th e y sh o u ld n o t be in a m ood to ta k e p a rt
in th e festivities in connection w ith w h at w as called th e
Peace C elebrations. W h e n som e sycophants organised a
p u b lic g a th e rin g to offer u p p ra y e rs f f r th e triu m p h of
B ritish arm s, a M uham m adan g en tlem an w as asked by a
h ig h official w h eth er he w ould jo in th e p rayers.
He
rep lied th a t as it w ould be practicallj’’ p ra y in g for th e
d efe at of h is co-religionists, h e could not persuade him self
to jo in su ch p ray ers, b u t he w ould p ray for th e early
term in a tio n o f th e w ar and conclusion of peace. W e m ay
well ask th e prom oters of th e Peace C elebrations w h ether
32
L IF E O F A. K A R IM
th e re is an y real peace anyw here in th e old w orld—in Asia^
in A frica, o r even in E u ro p e ? T h e conflagration in to
w hich h u m a n ity w as th ru s t b y th e d isastro u s w ar is still
b u rn in g . Besides, th e p a tc h o f cloud, p e rh a p s a t present
no big*ger th a n a m a n ’s h a n d , w hich h a s m ade its appear­
ance in th e C en tral A sian horizon, is g iv ing cause fo r
considerable a n x iety . I n 's u c h circum stances w ere n o t th e
Peace C elebrations w h ich opst so m u5h m oney a little bit
prem atu re ? . . . .
R eform and R eorganisation o f M uslim s.
D u rin g h is stay a t R an ch i, a fte r h is fetirem en t from
G overnm ent service and before en te rin g p o litics, M aulavi
A bdul K arim w as sw ayed by one th o u g h t— how to b rin g
ab o u t th e reform and reo rg a n iz atio n of th e M usalm ans
of B engal. W ith th is object ^in view h e form ed a schem e
an d issued a m anifesto, in th e draw in g u p of w hich h e
received appreciable help from h is frien d , th e late K h a n
B a h ad u r S ir F a k h ru d d in , th en E d u catio n M inister, B ih ar,
an d h is tw o sons, P rofessors A b d u r R ah im a n d A b d u l
H ak im . T h e follow ing is a copy of th e m a n ife sto : —
A njum an-i-lslahul M usilim een Bangala.
{Muslim R e f o r m M o v e m en t in Bengal).
Alike from national and com m unal points of view th e
ap p allin g di-sintegration an d dem oralisation of th e M uslim
com m unity of India, an d p articularly of Bengal, is a cry in g sham e
an d a n in sistin g cliallenge to our pow ers of reorganisation and
reform . The M uslim population in Bengal, p articu lajly in E astern
B engal, is m uch larg er th a n th a t of any o th er country in th e
world. An equally dense m ass o f M uslim population over a
sim ilar area does n o t e x ist e ith e r in T u rk ey o r in .Arabia or in
QUKSTION OF EHILAFAT
33
E gypt. Instead, how ever, of bein g a pow erful factor in national
a n d com m unal regeneration, th e B engal M uslim s are in a pitiable
state of m oral, political and economic degeneration. T h e bullc
of th e Bengal M uslim s have th e m ost ru d im en tary an d inadequate
idea of th eir religious faith a n d traditions an d are conspicuously
un-Islam ic in th eir deeds and th o u g h ts. Steeped in ignorance and
superstition an d divided am ong them selves, th ey are woefully
under the econom ic servitude of non-M uslim Zam indars. trad ers
and m oney-lenders an d politically* u n d e r th e u nhealthy influence
of desigwing parties an d persons who do not scruple to lead
them a stra y for selfish p u r p o s e s .
All this, I need scarcely say, is due to th e ir n o t im bibing th e
tru e .spirit of Islam . T he rep o rts th a t pour in from different
q u arters of th e *countrj’ of dacoities, m u rd ers, rap es an d other
unspeakable crim es indicate th e dep th of depravity to w hich our
people have sunk.^ C an it be doubted th a t m uch of th is crim inality
would disappear if religious a n d m oral principles are properly •
im pressed upon th e m asses ? Does i t n o t indicate th a t th e
stru ctu re an d outlook of M uslim society in B engal is frig htfully
debased w hen feuds over such triflin g m a tte rs as th e recitation
of D a a lin an d Z a a lin an d raisin g a n d low ering of han d s in prayers,
are m atters of alm ost everyday occurrence ? W h a t m ore violent
trav esty of Islam ic dem ocracy can be im agined th a n th e aversion
an d refusal of M uslim s of h ig h ra n k a n d culture to p erm it th e ir
hum bler co-religionists to join th em even in prayers ? If th e
annual, w eekly an d daily “congregation of M uslim s in m osques
h as any significance an d purpose, it surely is th e fostering of
a sp irit of equality, fra te rn ity am i solidarity am ong them .
O ur ignorance of Islam ic ideals a n d principles and our antiIslam ic conduct has not only re ta rd e d o u r progress, b u t has also
supplied a direct incentive to non-M uslim organisations to
m islead, dom inate an d ex p lo it us grievously. I t is path etic to
confess th a t th e conversion of th e C a r o s a n d o th er backw ard
tribes has been largely h am pered by th e un-Islam ic conduct
displayed b y th e so-called M uslim s, w ho practically tre a t th eir
converted and d estitu te b reth ren as social outcastes. T o th e sam e
source m u st be traced th e tran sito ry success of th e S u ddhi move­
3
34
U F E O F A. K A R IM
m e n t an d th e C hristian m issionaries in co nverting som e ig n o ran t
M uslim s in N adia and elsewhere;
F o r the salvation of the M uslim com m unity from th is universal
<iisorganisation and for th e ir em ancipation from econom ic thraldom
th e re
one an d only one prescription. On the one h a n d we
m u st m ake our m asses and classes thoroughly w elN grouuded in
Islam ic ideals and h abits a n d on th e o th er organise th e ir resources
a n d secure for them som e m easure of economic stab ility and
iiftlependeuce. I t has to be b(^-ue in m ind Jh a t all pow er, social
a n d political, m ust grav itate to w here economic pow ers yeside and
th a t no pow er can be long sustained unless it is fortified by moral
u plift an d social solidarity.* T o th e M uslim , ju s t as m uch as to
any o th er m asses, the m essages of social, educational o r political
reform m u st .sound as a cruel m ockery if n o th in g is done to save
th e m from starvatio n a n d economic uncertainty. U nless economic
rebuilding proceeds h an d in h a n d ' w ith spiritu al an d educational
reform , it is idle to expect any g re ate r o r p erm an en t resu lts from
• m ovem ents of th eir n p lift« a n d reorganisation.
If th e M uslim s of Bengal ar^ to tak e th e position to which
th e ir num erical stren g th and com m unal im portance e n title them ,
tlicy m ust be tru e M uslim s in every sense. As such th ey cannot
q u arrel am ong them selves o r w ith th e ir neighbours an d tliey
can not be led astra y by d esig n in g individuals an d organisations.
As tru e M uslim s, they ‘w ill learn to stan d on th e ir oum legs,
th ey will realise th e necessity fo r exercising self-control, selfden ial an d self-sacrifice. Besides, t h ^ ’ will inevitably be led t o '
com bine an d co-operate fo r th e protection of th e ir in te re sts and
a ssertio n of th e ir rig h ts.
«
W ould it be tocf m uch to expect th a t a ll in terested in the
progress of Islam would b estir them selves in tim e a n d join our
m ovem en t? As a religious organisation it m ay he joined by all
classes of M uslim s, non-officials as well as officials. In a le tte r
published som e tim e ago in th e “ M ussalm an” I proposed th e
form ation of an organisation for p ro p ag atin g in B engal th e noble
principles an d h ig h ideals of Islam . A provisional Com m ittee
is b ein g form ed to draw up a schem e an d to fram e rules. I t Is
hoped m en an d m oney required for th e w ork would be forthcom ing
QUESTION OF KHII.AFAT
35
before long. I hope to be able to contribute, fo r five years, rupees
tw o thousand an nually o u t of the incom e of my endowed estate.
M aulvi W ajid Ali K h an P an i, Z am indar of K arotya, has consented
to accept th e P resid en tsh ip of th e C om m ittee an d I have been asked
to be its S ecretary. M oulana S h ah Sufi Abu B akar Sahib, Siddiq
Jam al S ahib an d several o th e r g entlem en of lig h t and learn in g , have
already signified th e ir w illingness .to serve on the Com m ittee
T he nam es of th e office-bearers a n d m em bers of th e Committee
will be announced later. T he aiiws and object of Jh e organisation,
as tentaiively fram ed, a re given below. H elpful suggestions and
constructive criticism are earn estly invited.
1.^/1, W ellesley S quare,
Calcutta/i
r
The 1st October, 1925. )
.Abdui, K arim .
[ R e tir e d
In s p e c to r
o f S c h o o ls
and
E x - M e m b e r o f t h e C o n n c il o f Sfdfe).
A im s and OJjjects.
•
1. T o propagate tru e Islam ic ideals an d p rinciples and to
expound th e basic te n e ts and injunctions of Islam w ith o u t enterin g
4nto sectarian differences.
2. To establish Islam ic brotherhood by prom oting unity,
solidarity and equality am o n g st M uslim s of different classes, views
an d ran k s.
*
3. T o p u t a stop to un-Islam ic custom s an d practices and to
develop am ong tlie m asses and classes a s p irit of self-help,
self-control, self-sacrifice, m anliness and honesty.
4. To organise social servm e am ong th e d estitu te M uslims
an d relief w ork d u rin g th e prevalence of fam ine, flood and
pestilence.
To m ake organised efforts to m inim ise litig atio n an d p arty
faction by introducing arb itra tio n and prom oting m u tu al confi­
dence an d tru st.
6. T o am eliorate th e condition of th e M uslim s by encouraging
business enierprise, in d u stry , and technical an d com m ercial
pursuits.
7. T o establish a fund and an organisation in each centre
on co-operative basis fo r m u tu al h e lp and relief in th e purchase
36
L IF E O F A. BjVRIM
of seeds, m anure, im plem ents and husbandry an d raw m aterials
for cottage industries.
8. T o reorganise th e mosques as u n its of religious, educational
an d econom ic reconstruction.
9. To establish Islam ic M aktabs and Jla d ra ssah s fo r boys
and girls an d technical and n ig h t schools, w herever possible, a n d
to tak e steps for th e ir estabJishm ent by G overnm ent and I/ocal
bodies.
10. To establish a n insiStutiou fo r tr a in in g preachers,
m issionaries an d instru cto rs o n Islam ic lines, an d to utiKse th e ir
services for fu rth erin g th e objects of th e A njum an.
1>. T o found b ureaus in different cen tres for collecting
accurate inform ation reg ard in g religious, social, hygienic, econom ic
aifd ag ricu ltu ral conditions a n d needs of the Iflislim s.
12. T o carry on a propaganda for Islam ic reconstruction a n d
reform by sta rtin g an o rg an of th is m ovem ent ajid by p u b lish in g
*and circulating leaflets a n d lite ra tu re reg a rd in g Islam ic principles
an d trad itio n s and th e schem es and program m es of th e A njum an.
13. To organise reg u lar an d * sy stem atic collection of fu n d s
on th e basis of B aitul-m al, periodical subscriptions an d occasional
donations for any or a ll of th e above purposes.
*
A b d u l K a r im .
•
U rd u and B engali translations* of th e above m anifesto
were published.
M aulavi A b d u l K a rim ’si p lan w as to g et different
classes o f M usalm ajis interested in th e schem e. F irs t o f
all he th o u g h t of appro ach in g th e larg e M uslim clerical
staff in th e B engal Secretariat, from w hom a large am o u n t
m ig h t com e fo r carry in g o u t th e schem e. H is calcula­
tion was th a t over R s. 5 0 0 / - a m o n th could be ob tain ed
from th em if th e y could be p ersuaded to c o n trib u te one
per c e n t of th e ir incom es. A s th ere w as n o th in g objec­
tionable in th e m anifesto, a copy of it w as se n t to th e
QUESTION OF KHILAFAT
37
G ov ern m en t, so th a t n o ex ception m ig h t be tak en to
G overnm en t se rv a n ts’ c o n trib u tin g to th e schem e advo­
ca te d in it. T h is seem s to have been a m istake. W hen
an e n q u iry w asi m ade ab o u t one o r tw o statem en t in it,
a ru m o u r w as spread b y d esig n in g p ersons th a t G overn­
m en t h a d objection to its ‘serv an ts su p p o rtin g th e
schem e, although^ n o su ch objection was raised. W ith d u t
en q u irin g if th e re w as a n y tru th in the* ru m o u r, th e
M uslim s in th e S ecretariat decided n o t to su p p o rt th e
schem e.
Besides, M . A b d u l K arim could n o t ‘ give
u n d iv id ed a tte n tio n to th is m a tte r, a s h e h a d to e n ter in to
ft
*
a canvassing cam paign for election to th e B engal
L egislative C ouncil.
So h a rd ly a n y th in g w as done to
g iv e effect to sfich a n excellen t schem e. I t is h o ped th a t ,
it w ill be now ta k en u p by lom e y o u n g en thusiastic
M uslim s. I th in k th e reorg an isatio n o f th e M usalm ans of
B engal is m ore essential now th a n it w as w hen th e schem e
w as draw n up.
CHAPTER IV.
EVIDENCE BEFORE THE CALCUTTA
UNIVERSITY COMMISSION.
•
#
M aulavi A b d u l K arim w as requested to give evidence
before th e C alcu tta U n iv ersity Commission, o f 1 9 1 8 , p re ­
sid e d over b y D r, M . E . "Sadler. T h e follow ing are sum ­
m aries of h is answ ers to some of th e questions in th e
questio n n aire issued b y th e C o m m issio n :-^
1.
T he ex istin g system of U niversity exam ination does not
afford to young Indian s of ab ility fu ll oppo rtu n ity o f o b tain in g
*the h ig h est training. T he ceason is n o t fa r to seek. T h ere is
n o t sufficient scope fo r specialisation in p artic u la r subjects fo r
w hich a stu d en t has special apti^ude, U p to th e B.A. stan d ard
a stu d en t has to stud y a nu m b er of subjects, even if he has n o
special ap titu d e or predilection for all of them . T h us th e m ultip li­
city of subjects stan d s in th e way of concentration of atten tio n
an d energies on particnl&r subjects. T he stu d e n t learn s som e­
th in g of several th in g s, t u t he cannot m ake him self m aste r of
any one of them . Besides, such a larg e g round h as to be gone
over in alm ost every subject th a t it is difficult to acquire a
thorough know ledge of it w ithin the allo tted tim e. A fter th e
M atriculation E xam in atio n a stu d en t should have th e option of,
specialising in a few subjects fo r which he m ay have special
ap titu d e. H e should fu rth e r have th e option of stu d y in g onlv
those portions of a subject of w hich he m ay be able to acquire
a thorough know ledge. F o r exam ple, if instead of learn in g th e
whole of th e history of In d ia o r of any o th e r country, a stu d en t
has to study a p articu lar period, he m ay have tim ^ fo r o rig in al
research an d investigation.
E xam inations also stan d in the way of o b tain in g th e h ig h e s t
train in g in a subject. Both th e teachers an d th e ta u g h t care
EVIDENCE BEFORE CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY COMMISSION
39
m ore for success a t th e exam ination th a n for th e acquisition of
know ledge, an d devote m ore atte n tio n to w hat Jielps in p assin g
th e exam ination th a n to w hat contributes to sound know ledge. '
4.
T here is no doubt th a t resid en tial U niversities of th e type
of th e proposed Dacca U niversity, if properly conducted,* would
be m ore efficient in stitutio n s fo r im p a rtin g education on a sound
basis th an th e ex istin g U niversities o4 th e federal type. B ut those
who are fully acquainted w ith th e backw ard condition and povei^y
of th e people of this*country, canrltil be a lto g eth e r, blinded by th e
attractive*ideals of a resid en tial U niversity. T he cry in g need of
th e country is extensive education. .At th is stage of th e co u n try ’s
educational developm ent, surface should n o t be alto g eth er sacrfficed
for d epth. More atte n tio n should, th erefore, be devoted to the
extension and infprovem etit of federal U niversities, an d m ost of
th e available resources should be utilised fo r th is purpose. T he
n u m b er of stu d en ts w ho a re in a position to avail them selves o f
th e costly education, im p arted in a resid en tial U niversity, m ay ,
n o t be very large, a n d th e ir requirem ents m ay be m et by the
B enares, A ligarh an d Dacca U niversities for th e present.
8. T he p resen t conditions of adm ission to th e U niv ersity of
C alcutta are n o t q u ite satisfactory, O n th e ir en tran ce to th e
U niversity, students should have a g reater com m and of th e
E n g lish language, throug h th e m ed iu m , of which in stru ctio n is
im ported, th a n w hat th e m ajo rity of the^ M atriculates a t p resen t
possess.
•
I t is m ost undesirable th a t any stu d e n t possessing th e
requisite qualifications should be refused adm ission, on th e ground
of w ant of accom m odation, to a federal U niversity h av in g ju risd ic­
tio n over a wide area th ick ly populated by m illions of people
still to be educated. Besides, i t would be a source of d a n g e r to
society a s well as to G overnm ent if year a fter year num bers of
boys have to go
unnnalified fo r any useful career in life.
If th is deplorable state of th in g s is allowed to continue, it would
prove disastrous to th e in terests of th e M usalm ans, w ho have
ju s t aw akened to th e param o u n t necessity of E n g lish education.
9. (i) T h ere is n o doubt th a t in th e ex istin g U niversity system
teach in g is unduly subordinated to exam ination. I t is m o st
LIFE OF A. KARIM
40
desirable th a t th e rig id ity of th e exam ination system should be
reduced. I fully approve o f w hat has been stated in p arag rap h s
(fl), (&) a n d (c).
10. If an exam inee secures h ig h m ark s in a su b ject b u t fails
to obtain pass m ark s in a n o th er subject he should n o t be required
to sit in th a t subject a t th e n e x t exam ination. E ven if exam ined
attendance a t lectures in th e subject should no t be m ade com­
pulsory.
I t would liave been well ft it could have been so arran g ed
a s to exam ine a fte r a sh o rt in terv al (say th re e o r six* m onths)
those w ho g et plucked in one subject only.
m
Those whose h ig h proficiency in a p articu lar su b je c t is
certified to by any recognised in stitu tio n or so cijty should n o t be
required to pass th e U niversity te s t in th a t subject. F o r exam ple,
th e successful stu d en ts of th e sen io r M adrassahs an d of Tols
should be exem pted from exam ination in a n In d ia n classical
language, If th e ir exam ination be n o t dispensed w ith, th ey
should on n o account be required to atte n d lectures in th e subject.
As in th e A llahabad and scHne o th e r U niversities only the
Roll N um ber, and n o t th e nam e, of the candidate should be
w ritten on th e answ er paper.
*
11. (i) I am of opinion th a t under th e ex istin g circum stances
th e m edium of instruction and of exam ination a t every stage
above th e M atricu latio n in th e U niversity coarse should be
E nglish.
^
(ii) (a) I do not th in k stu d e n ts have o n th e ir entran ce to th e
U niversity a n adequate com m and of E nglish.
(b) In m y opinion up to Cla'^s V I (Middle E n g lish standard)
vernacular should be*m edium of in struction for a ll stu d en ts, and
from Class V II upw ards option should be given only to those
stu d en ts w ho prepare fo r th e M atriculation E x am in atio n , to learn
a su b ject eith er th ro u g h th e m edium of vern acu lar o r E n g lish .
(c) I am n o t a t all satisfied w ith th e k in d of tra in in g a t
p resen t given in E n g lish before entrance to th e y n iv ersity . A
num ber of volum inous books on E n g lish is recom m ended, and
stu d en ts are ta u g h t a t random w hichever book or books th e head
m aster of a school chooses to teach. I do n o t th in k th ey can
EVIDENCE BEFORE CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY COMMISvSION
4
I
th ereb y acquire a clear idea of sta n d a rd w orks o r a sound know ­
ledge of E n g lish . . . .
T'he m ethod of teach in g E n g lish in our schools is m ost
defective. Boys learn w ords w ith o u t realisin g th e ir sigjiificance
o r know ing th eir p ro p e r use. T eaching by m eans of tran slatio n ,
w hich is p erh ap s th e lea st effective m ethod o f teach in g a foreign
language, is g en erally followed i n 'o u r schools. I t re ta rd s the
quick com prehension of th e spoken tongue, and th e intervention
o f th e vernacular m edium postpones th e tim e w h & th e pupil can
speak w ithout consciously tra n sla tin g from h is nativ e speech
in to th e foreign language. In teac h in g E n g lish th e v e rn jc n la r
sh o u ld be very sp arin g ly u sed a n d tran slatio n should n o t be th e
m eans of u n d erstan d in g w ords and sentences in E n g lish . The
te a c h e r should endeavour to connect E n g lish w ords directly w ith
tiie ideas th ey express or w ith o th er E n g lish w ords know n to
th e boys an d th u s to replace tran slatio n , as fa r as possible, by
object-lessons, picture-lessons and CKplanations in th e E n g lish
language. As a new lan g u ag e is le a m t more by sp eak ing it and
h earin g it spo k en th a n by a stuBy of its vocabulary an d g ram m ar,
qnd a s boys cannot easily learn to speak th e language unless th ey
tlv n k in it, m uch m ore im portance should be attach ed to E ng lish
conversation in th e class room and outside it th a n is done at
p resen t. C orrect pronunciation, ex p ressife reading, good composi­
tio n and pro p er recitation, a t p resen t neglected, should be carefully
. atte n d e d to.
•
T he succe.ss of th e te ac h e r’s w ork chiefly dep en ds upon h is
m ethod, w hich should be su ited J:o th e needs of th e pupils, th e ir
capacity, know ledge an d stage of d e v e lo p m ^ t. T each in g should
be rational an d n o t m erely form al or m echanical. T he m in d should
n o t be m erely fed w ith facts, figures a n d w ords, b u t th e p u p il’s
n f feasoniug, ju d g in g , com paring a n d co n trastin g should
b e properly developed. T h a t m ere tellin g is n o t teach in g m u st
n o t be forgotten. B esides, th e teach er should b ear in m ind th a t
th e first th in g to be le a rn t by th e boys is not th e m ore or less
archaic language of E tig lish literatUTe, b u t th e spoken lan g u ag e of
daily conversation. Q uality, and n o t q u an tity , should be alw ays
aim ed at. “ L ittle an d w ell” should be th e te ac h er’s m otto. As
42
life
o f a . K A R IM
a rule th in g s should be ta u g h t first an d w ords n ex t. M any
stu d en ts g et up a book instead of stu d y in g a subject. Accuracy
of idea an d precision of state m e n t should go to g eth er. F u rth e r
th e teacher should n o t only see th a t th e pupils g ra sp h is m eaning,
b u t m ake them give back th e ir know ledge in th e ir own words.
(d) A distinction should be draw n in school, if n o t in U niver­
sity, betw een practical trainifig in th e use of E n g lish language
ancJ train in g in th e study of E n g lish literature.
(e) M atriculation exam ination in subjects o th er th a n th e
E n g lish language m ay be conducted eith e r in E n g lish or in th e
vernacular.
•
(.0 I do not th in k it is essentially necessary th a t E n g lish
should be ta u g h t beyond th e In term e d iate stage to stu d en ts w hose
general course of study m ay be o th er th a n linguistic.
13. Islam ic studies should be included in th e cu rricu la of
th e Calcutta' U niversity. T he histo ry of Tjlam should be
•separately ta u g h t as a s u b j ^ t of exam ination. Boys should have
th e option of ta k in g up eith er Islam ic histo ry o r th e h isto ry of
G reece and Rom e, or th e histo ry f t i In d ia or E ngland.
As in th e case of S an sk rit, th e different branches o f A rabic
learn in g should form sep arate subjects for h ig h er ex am inations.,
14. The U niversities should m anage th e ir own afiairs. O ut­
side interference, I th in k h inders th eir developm ent. A lim ited
pow er of veto m igh t, hbw ever, be reserved fo r th e Provincial
G overnm ent.
•
15. I t is undesirable th a t m ere U niversity exam inations should
be reg ard ed as qualifications foi. posts u n d e r G overnm ent. T he
different U niversity .e x a m in a tio n s are tests of th e different
stan d ard s of know ledge in gen eral subjects a n d n o t of th e special
know ledge an d train in g required for th e different branches of
public service. T here is n o b ranch of Service for w hich academ ic
attain m en ts arc m ore necessary th an fo r the E d ucational Service.
Y et even in th is Service m any officers, alth o u g h th ey possess
these a ttain m en ts, fail to prove a success for w an t of tra in in g in
and know ledge of the a rt o f teach in g a n d th e w ork of inspection.
If a good scholar can n o t alw ays be even a good teach er o r a good
educational inspector, it is much less likely th a t he would prove
E V ID EN CE B EFO RE CALCUT'rA U N IV E R S IT Y CO M M ISSIO N
43:
an efficient m em ber of any o th e r branch of service fo r w hich
special train in g in and know ledge of d ep artm en tal w ork is mucli*
m ore necessary.
To regard success a t th e U niversity exam ination as a qualifica­
tion for public service would be disadvantageous to th e stu d en ts,
because in th a t case th e y would be actu ated m ore by m ercenary
motive th a n by love of learn in g , and th e y would labour n o t fo r
the acquisition of know ledge b u t fo r som ehow p assin g tHe
U niversity te s t w ith a view to en te r service. T his fs th e principal
reason wily th e In d ian U niversities, as a rule, fail to produce
such scholars as m ake su b sta n tia l, contribution to learning.
P erh ap s it would n o t be alto g eth er a n ex ag g eratio n to say th a t
th e In d ian I^niversities do n o t, as a rule, produce sound scholar^
(there are, of course, honourable exceptions), b u t ra th e r m anufac­
tu re n\oney-m aking m achines.
18. A system »of periodical m edical exam ination of studentsa t different stages of instru ctio n should be introduced and cessa­
tion from studies an d non-participation in gam es insisted upon
in th e case of tliose w ho are ^ o t in a position to stan d such
strain . T h a t physical exercise is a s necessary as over-exercise
is injurious should be well im pressed upon th e stu d en ts. Boys of
weak constitution should n o t be p erm itted to take p a rt in h ard
gam es, such as football and hockey. In .‘f electing gam es for boys
th e ir physical stre n g th , th e n u tritiv e quality o f th e ir food and
th e clim atic condition of th ^ country should be tak e n into consi­
deration.
From w h at I have seen an d h eard I have no doubt th a t th e
eye-sight of o u r stu d en ts is perceptibly deteriorating. Special
care should be taken to ch eck th is deterioration.
22. (0 ) In th e govern m en t o f th e U niversity th e needs a n d
in terests of th e M unaiuuiaduii com m unity should be specially
considered. N um erically th e M ussalraans preponderate in th e
Presidency of Bengal. As such they should have p reponderated
in th e governing bodies o f th e U niversity th a t is in ten d ed for th e
education of all classes of people in Bengal. But fa r from th is
being th e case, since th e establishm ent of th e U niversity, th e
com m unity h as never had , e ith e r by nom ination o r by election.
44
U l-'E O F A. K A R IM
■even one-sixteenth of th e seats in these bodies. N otw ith stan d in g
fhe com parative backw ardness of th e M usalm aiis in w estern
education they m ig h t reasonably claim a m uch la rg e r share of
rep resen tatio n in th e ad m in istratio n of th e U niversity th a n w hat
th ey have h ith erto had. U nder th e New U niversity Act th e total
num ber of Fellows h as been fixed a t 100, of whom 80 are selected
an d 20 elected. The re sc rv ^ lo n by th e Chancellor of th e power
o ^ nom in ating so m an y as four-fifths of th e Fellow s, p erh ap s with
•a view to preserve the ndfcessary equilfbrium betw een the
different com m unities, in terested in th e University,- sh&uld have
secured th e representation ^of th e different com m unities o n th e
different bodies of th e U niversity in proportion to th e ir num erical
stre n g th an d com m unal im portance. E v en if allowance w ere m ade
for difference in educational advancem ent, th e ir rep resen tatio n
should on on account have been so absurdly d isproportionate as
it is a t present. T h at a n overw helm ing m ajp rity of even the
• n om in ated Fellows should ^have come from one p articu lar com­
m u n ity is reg ard ed as a grievance th a t calls fo r im m ediate redress.
I hope and tru s t th e Commissio* w ill see its w'ay to m ake such
recom m endations as w ill rem ove th e long-stan d in g grievances of
th e com m unity by secu rin g fo r its m em bers adequate an d effective
rep resen tatio n in th e ad m in istration of th e U niversity. The
sta tu to ry pow er of nom ijiation reserved fo r th e C hancellor should
b e exercised on so m e , principle, a n d a sufficient nu m b er of
M usalm ans should be selected by him to be Fellow s of th e C alcutta *
U niversity.
A.
fair proportion of th e h ig h er appo in tm en ts a n d of the
•m inisterial posts u n d er th e C alcutta U niversity should be given
to qualified M usalm ans. In ap p o in tin g ex am in ers also, th eir
claim s should be taken in to due consideration,
I am stro n g ly of opinion th a t th e special needs a n d require­
m en ts of th e M usalm ans should be tak en in to consideration in
connection w ith th e re-organisation of th e C alcutta U niversity,
a n d these should no t be left to th e proposed D acca U niversity
schem e. F o r I have m uch m isgiving as to how fa r th e com m unity
w ill be really benefited by th e Dacca U niversity. P oor a s the
M usalm ans are, I am afraid the cost of education in a resid en tial
RVIDHNCE BEFORK DVECUTTA UNIVERSITY COMMISSION
45
:.
U niversity will prove too h ig h to m any of th em to avail th em ­
selves of its benefits, an d th e special attractio n held o u t to them*
in th e shape of a t'a c u lty of Islam ic studies an d a M uham m adan
college, cannot induce th e m to overlook th e ir pecuniary difficulty.
Besides, th e scope of a resid en tial U niversity bein g lim ited, a
sufficiently larg e n u m b er of boys cannot be educated th e re .
M oreover, th ere is n o kno w in g w hen th e Dacca U niversity will
come in to existence. A federal U niversity lik e th a t of Calcutfa
is best suited for th e diffusion of know ledge oveV a wide area
w ith a la^ge population.
(b)
T h e needs a n d in terests of p articu lar com m unities w ith
reference to th e courses of stu d y al.so require careful considera­
tion. T he E n g lisl^ lite ra tu re ta u g h t in In d ian schools a n d college#
deals w ith RngHsh life a n d custom s, E nglish heroes and heroines
and E n g lish scenes an d scenery, and as such i t cannot prove as
in terestin g an d useful to In d ian boys as it should be. Besides,
it is difficult for th em to tlioroughIy*grasp th in g s w ith which
they are altogether unacquainted, I t is m o st d esirable th a t an
E n g lish literatu re dealing w ith In d ian life a n d histo ry and
depicting In d ian scenes an d scenery, should be created fo r Indian
boys, p articularly for tliose p rep a rin g fo r the M atriculation
exam ination. If the E n g lish language is to have a perm anent
place in th e course of studies fo r In d ian \>oys, th e creation of a
literatu re of th e k in d su g g ested above i^ essentially necessary.
T he p resen t denationalising* an d d istu rb in g tendencies, I am
afraid, cannot be counteracted u n less such a literatu re is taught.
H istorical text-l>ooks should «l>c very judiciously selected.
Books containing m isrep resen tatio n o f facts and u n ju st criticism s
of historical personages should n o t be included in th e list of
te.M-books. The object of tra c h in g histo ry bein g n o t sc m uch
to acquaint th e read er w ith dry facts and figures as to inspire
h im w ith p atriotic feelin g s a n d noble im pulses, such books as
give, w ithout sacrificing tru th , in te re stin g and ennobling accounts
of th e g re a t deed.s of th e ir g re a t m en of th e p ast, should be
prescribed as text-books in h istory. H isto ry of Islam should be
included in th e curricula of studies fo r th e U niversity exam ina­
tions.
46
U F E OF A. KARIM
Som e of th e B engali text«books prescribed fo r th e U niversity
•exam inations are n o t snitable fo r M uham m adan boys, 'th e se
books deal w ith subjects w hich, though in te re stin g to H indu
boys, cjo not appeal to M uham m adan stu d en ts, bein g fu ll of H indu
ideas an d sentim ents, illu stratio n s from H indu h isto ry and
m ythology an d quotations from H in d u S crip tu res a n d classics,
'th e y prove m ost u n in terestin g a n d even d istastefu l to M usalm ans.
5^ch books as draw largely^ upon th e Im to ry , trad itio n s and
scriptures of f s l a m and deal w ith subjects in te re stin g and in sp ir­
in g to M uham m adan youths should be included in th e list of te x t­
books prescribed fo r th e Lhiiversity ex am in atio n s.............
(c)
T he needs and in terests of th e M uham m adan com m unity
Should be taken into due consideration in c<mnectioii w ith the
arran g em en ts for the residence of stu d en ts. F o r w an t of suitable
lodgings a t educational centres, M uham m adan stu d en ts find g reat
difficulty in th e prosecution of th e ir studies. W hen P ersia n was
th e Court-ianguage many' of th e officers a n d m em bers of different
professions w ere M usalm ans autk a larg e nu m b er of M uham m adan
stud ents used to board an d lodge w ith th em , to feed a n d o th e r­
wise help a s t u d e n t being considered by th e M usalm ans as' a
sacred duty an d a social obligation. W hen th e nu m b er of such
philan thropic people oonsiderably declined o n account of th e
abolition of P ersian
C ourt-language, th e stu d en ts supported
by them h ad to sh ift fo r them selves. T his is one of th e chief
causes th a t has d eterred th e M usalmanS from av ailing them selves,
to an y appreciable ex te n t, of th e advantages of education im parted
in E nglish schools and college?. E \'e n p aren ts, who can afford to
pay th e high cost*'of E n g lish education, h esitate to sen d th e ir
children far from hom e fo r w an t of p ro p er gu ard ian s. In these
circum stances it is u rg en tly necessary th a t adequate hostel
accom m odation should be provided fo r M uham m adan students.
.At least h alf of th e m oney available for th e provision of resid en ­
tial accom m odation should be utilised for th e ir benefit.
•
As on account of th e ir poverty M usalm ans are unable to p ay the
h ig h seat-rent charged in expensively constructed hostels, cheaplyb uilt houses should be provided fo r th em . I am n o t in favour
EV’ID EN C E HEFORR CALCUTTA U N I V E R S ir v CO M M ISSIO N
47
of costly edifices for the residence of stu d en ts o f any com m unity.
If boys accustom ed to reside in scantily-furnished hum ble houses
are accom m odated in w ell-built an d w ell-furnished stru ctu res they
a re discontented w hen th ey go back to th e ir old dw elkng. In
m y opinion it is m ost undesirable th a t w ith a view to secure th eir
unnecessary com fort an d to raise th e ir stan d a rd of living, the
ta s te of th e boys should be changed a n d a desire fo r such lesidgntia l houses created m th e m as tliey had n o t ha(^ before com ing
to th e educational in stitu tio n s an d w ill n o t have a fte r leaving
tliem .
•
«
T he chief advantag e of th e resid en tial system lies in the
o p p ortunity i t affords for th e form ation of cliaracter th ro u g h tl^p
close association of pu p ils an d preceptors. T his is th e chief
reason w hy the residen tial system prevailed in olden tim es in
m ost of th e educational in stitu tio n s in th is country. I t would be
superfluous to say tlia t th e M usalm a»s atta c ii m uch im portance
n o t only to religion bu t also to m orals a n d m an n ers, and tliey
view w itl\ m uch disfavour any* deviation from th e established
social etiquette. U nless th e residence of M uham m adan stu d en ts
is placed in charge of good M usalm ans an d th e atm osphere in
\\'hich they live an d m ove is Islam ic, such deviation can n o t be
a lto g eth er avoided. T or exam ple, a C hristian P rofessor m ay no t see
, an y th in g objectionable in n o t only to le ra tin g b u t even in enforcing
a football o r a hockey ^nStcli a t a tim e w hen M uham m adan
boys should be engaged in th e ir M aghrib (evening) prayers, and
he m ay not have h esitatio n in calling for a p eg w hen he finds
h im self ru n down o n th e field. Such occurrerfces, if they chance
to h appen, cannnt h u t be view ed w ith alarm by th e M usalm ans,
an d cannot but d etract from th e popularity of th e institu tio n s
concerned. Such being th e case, I would stro n g ly u rge the
desirability of invariably p u ttin g M uham m adan stu d en ts in charge
of M uliam m adan Professors, w ho can com m and th e esteem and
confidence of th e ir co-religionists. T h a t th e success of h ostels to
a g re a t ex ten t depends upon tlie judicious selection of th eir
superintendents should n ev er be lost sig h t of.
4S
LIFE OF A. KARIM
The follow ing note on th e education im parted in th e
M adrassahs in Bengal was subm itted by M ouivi Abdul K arim fo r
th e consideration of the Com m ission :—
D u rin g th e M uham m adan rule in B engal th ere w ere M adrasahs
all over th e country. Besides th e ' w ell-organised in stitu tio n s of
th e k in d , every m osque was^ a M adrasah in m in iatu re. E m in e n t
scjiolars, w ho devoted th e ir lives to advancing Islam ic learn in g ,
ta u g h t Theology, Law a n d l i te r a tu r e o f , Islam w ith o u t any
rem u n eratio n from th e people. M any of th ese institu tio n s
collapsed w hen th e M ussulm ans lost th e ir w ealth a n d influence
on account of th e loss of 'sovereignty. As in th e b eg in n in g of
B ritish ru le in In d ia P ersian was re tain ed as th e C ourt-language,
ft was necessary to have an in stitu tio n , w ell-equipped an d w ellstafied, for th e tra in in g of officers. W arren H astin g s established
tlie C alcutta M adrasah in o rd er to m eet th is req u irem en t. Its
, course of studies w as so fram ed as to give G dvem m ent serv an ts
a good training. Some o f th e private M adrasahs also adopted
th is course. As long as a know ledge of P ersian a n d M ahom edan
Law was a p assp o rt to posts of h o n o u r and em olum ents, the
education given in th e M adrasahs w as very useful. W hen P ersian
w as replaced by E n g lish and the Provincial V ernaculars, "the
M adrasahs lost th e ir u tility and consequently lost also th e ir popu­
larity. B ut a large n u m b er of orthodox M ussalm ans who cared m ore
for religious th a n fo r secular education, continued to se n d their^
children to th e M adrasahs instead
^the schools a n d colleger.
As, how ever, tlieir course of stu d ies was n o t revised in view of
m odern ideas and p resen t conditions, th e M adrasah stm Jents, as
a t present educate^, are n o t qualified for any useful career in
life an d m any of them have to be a b u rd en upon th e com m unity.
In order to rem edy th is u nsatisfactory sta te of th in g s, th e course
of oriental studies has lately been revised and proposals fo r
fu rth e r revision are u n d er consideration. B ut unless th e M adrasah
stu d en ts acquire a fair know ledge of E n g lish th ey can neith er
properly earn th eir livelihood n o r con th e y m ake them selves m uch
useful to society. The question of E n g lish education of Arabic
scholars, therefore, dem ands careful consideration. I t is a m atter
in w hich th e M ussalm ans are vitally in terested . F o r, th e com­
EV^rDENCE BEFORE CACCUl'TA UNIVERSITY COMMISSION
49
m unity cannot be influenced fo r good o r fo r evil to such an
e x te n t by anybody else as it can be by th e “ U lam as.” I t is
th ro u g h tiieiii th a t th e g reat m ajo rity of th e people can be
reached. I t is, therefore, essentially necessary in th e in terests
of th e com m unity as well as o f tlje G overnm ent th a t >Jadra$ah
studen ts should be given such an education as will m ake them
in tellig en t and enlig h ten ed citizens.
S teps were tak en from tim e to tim e w ith a view to induce
th e stu d en ts of t h ^ M adrasahs ti» learn I?ngli.sh.^ But these Sid
n o t produce th e desired effect, because those who le arn t E n g lish
did n o t derive an y appreciable benefit. A lthough b etter educated
th a n th e M atriculates an d th e under-graduates, th e ir claim s to
posts u nder G overnm ent w ere n o t recognised. Unless some
inducem ents are •offered by the conferm ent o f special privileges,
M adrasah stu d en ts w ill n o t learn E n g lish to th e desired extent.
I t is desirable th a t th e C alcutta U niversity should do w hat th e
P unjab U niversity has been doing in th is respect. The P u n jab
U niversity has established O riental I% culties an d h as recognised
th e Arabic M adrasahs and th e ^ a n s k r it Tols. T hus th e different
intellectual abilities an d activities in th e Province are being
utilised by th e U niversity. T h e orien tal stu d en ts on th e ir passing
certain recognised exam inations, are p erm itted to sit for exam ina­
tio n in th e E n g lish papers of th e M atriculation, Interm ed iate and
B.A. exam inations an d on th e ir o b taining pass m ark s in E n g lish ,
they are declared to have passed th e ’U niversity exam inations.
T hus w ithout atte n d in g lectu res in coilege.s a n d w ithout exam ina­
tion in any subject except E n g lish , orien tal stu d en ts in th e
P unjab obtain th e M atriculatio« and I.A . certificates and even
th e B.A. degree.
,
n i e U niversity of Calcutta should have F aculties of O riental
Studies like those of th e P u n jab U niversity. T he Arabic D epart­
m ent of th e C alcutta M adrasah, th e course of studies of which
is in no w ay inferior to th a t of th e O rien tal Faculty in P ersian
an d Arabic of th e P u n jab U niversity, should be recognised by
th e Calcntfh U niversity an d its exam inations should be
held e ith er by th e U niversity o r, as a t p resen t, by a M adrasah
board of exam iners. T h ere is no reason w hy about fifteen years
4
50
OF A. KARIM
study in th e M adrasah should no t be regarded as of equal value
in po in t of m ental cu ltu re a n d m oral discipline to the stu d y in
an I^nglish U niversity. I t h as to be borne in m ind th a t in Islam ic
countries th e education th a t m ak es g re a t statesm en an d ad m in is­
tra to rs js sim ilar to w hat is im parted in th e M adrasahs in this
country. T ak in g all these circum stances in to consideration, I
would su ggest th a t th e M adrasah stu d en ts, on p assin g th e Ju n io r
and Senior exam inations, be exam ined by th e C alcutta U niversitv
orfly in khiglisli u p to th e B . \ sta n d a rd a n d on th e ir obtaining
pass m ark s be 'd eclared to have passed th e u n iv ersity e x a m in a ­
tion, th e E nglish p a p er of w hich is answ ered by them .
W h e n M . A bdul K arim app eared before th e Com m is­
sion several questions w ere p u t to him b y th e P re sid e n t
artd some of th e rpem bers. M r. P . J . H a rto g to o k excep­
tio n to M . A b d u l K a rim ’s statem en t th a t education
im parted th ro u g h th e m edium of A rabic can m ake g re at
statesm en a n d ad m in istrato rs. H e w anted instances, and
w hen M . A b d u l K arim said th a t A b u l F azl, A k b a r’s g re at
m in ister, h a d n o o th er education, M r. H a rto g required
instances of m odern tim es. T h ereu p o n M . A bdul K arim
said th a t in Islam ic countries, such as T u rk e y , E g y p t,
P ersia, th e g re a t statesm en g e t education th ro u g h the
m edium of o nly oriental langu ag es. M r. H a rto g insisted
u po n instances of m odern In d ia . W h e n M . A bdul K arim
m entioned th e n am es of S ir S alar Ju n g a n d S ir Syed
A hm ad, Sir A sh u to sh p ro m p tly said, “ any one of them
m ig h t have p u t all o f u s into h is p o c k e t.” I n th e Com­
m ission’s R eport M . A bdul K a rim ’s observations w ere
q uoted at some le n g th in different volumes.
CHAPTER V.
E N T R A N C E IN TO POLITICS.
M aulavi A bdul K arim had a m in d to en te r in to politics
o n his retirem en t from G oyerum ent service. B ut tfie
sudden tle a th o f h is frien d , N aw ab S ir S alim ullah, on
whose w hole-hearted su p p o rt he ^had co unted, m ade him
u n w illin g to com e o u t o f h is retirem en t. H e was, how ­
ever, u rg e d b y , h is frien d s (am ong w hom w ere th e late
M r. A . R asul, M aulvis A. K . F azlu l H u q , A kram K h au ,
M u jib u r R ah m an , th e late N ajm u d d in A hm ad and
M aulana A bul K alam Azad) to en ter th e B engal Legisla- ,
tiv e C ouncil. B esides, he w as rem inded o f w h at h is sp in tu a l preceptor* h ad said aboflt h is fu tu re . T h e follow ing
• * One day w hen M. Abdul K a rim ’s M u r s h e d was absorbed in
p ra y e r he h ad a v isio n ; he saw M. Abdul K arim sittin g in a
g ra n d assem bly, occupying a pro m in en t *po.sition. F rom th is he
cam e to th e conclusion th a t h is disciple would g et som ething
e xtraordin ary, w hich in th e«ordinary course he could no t expect.
As, how ever, n o th in g happ en ed as long as he was in service and
h is M u r s h e d was alive, he forgo^ all about it. H e was rem inded
th is w hcu th ere was a proposal of h is en terin g politics.
w Itph he was elected a M em ber of th e Council of S tate, it was
th o u g h t th a t th is w as Nvhat his M u r s h e d had re fe rre d to. But
som e of his frien d s th o u g h t som ething b e tte r w as iuicudcd
T hereupon th e m a tte r was referred to some renow ned spiritu alists,
such as th e la te S h ah N}’az Ahmad S ahib of Fyzabad a n d th e
late Shah W aris H asan Saliib of Lucknow, w ho th o u g h t som e­
th in g b etter was y et to come. B ut for all th is, m ost probably
Maulvi -Abdul K arim would have retired from public life long
■ago.
52
LIFE OF A. KARIM
lette r w as addressed to M . A b d u l K arim b y some of th e
electors of the B engal L egislative C o u n c il:
C alcutta, 1st S eptem ber, 1915.
“ D kar
S ir ,
In an editorial note iu th e M iilia m m a d i th ere is a statem en t
to th e effect th a t none of o iv co-religionists who by th e ir educa­
tion^ character and social position are really fit to re p resen t the
com m unity in .th e Ivegislative* Council of ^he P residency, are
inclined to seek election from th e P residency D ivisien. This,,
we need hardly say, is v ery m uch to be reg re tte d . I t is tru e
th a t Ajii th e last two occasions som e of those who had th e p rivilege
of voting a t such elections behaved in a m an n er th a t reflects
byt little credit upon th e com m unity, to wlllch th ey belong.
I t is hoped, however, th a t if w ell-directed efforts are m ade to
convince these people of th e ir folly and to en lig h ten them as
. regards th e qualifications th a t are necessary for safeg u ard in g th e
in terests of th e com m unity, b e tte r sense will prevail n e x t tim e.
You are not unaw are, S ir, th a t th jr e is a d earth in our com m unity
of such m en as are able a n d w illing to w ork earn estly for its
good. If th e few th ere are ab stain from ta k in g a n active part,
in m atters concerning th e v ital in terests of th e com m unity, its
fate is sealed. We, therefore, req u est you to take in to considera­
tion all these circum stances in com ing to a final decision in the
m atter. From w hat we have know n of your public sp irit, inde­
pendence, sense of d uty and earnestrfesa an d en th u siasm for the*
w ork of th e com m unity, we have reason to believe th a t you
a re em inently fit to re p rese n t k in th e L egislative Council o f
th e Presidency, a n ti we have no doubt your cand id atu re for
election to it will be readily welcomed and stro ng ly su p p o rted
by its m em bers.”
M aulavi K arim gave th e follow ing rep ly : —
C alcutta, th e 8th N ovem ber, 1915.
” D e .\r
S ir s ,
.
•
I am in receipt of your letter dated th e 1st in stan t. I have
read the M u lia m n ia d i’s editorial n o te referred to th erein. I th in k
ENTRANCE INTO POI.mCvS
S3
i t is rig h t in nrgiiig stro n g and effective rep resen tatio n of the
com m nnity on those bodies th a t guide th e affairs of th e P residency
in view of th e adm inistrativ e changes th a t are likely to take
place as a re su lt of th e unexpected stead fast loyalty displayed
by th e people in th is crisis. I have, how ever, le arn t witfi reg ret
th a t those w ho are able to w ork fo r th e com m unity a re unw illing
to u n d ertak e th e responsibility. A s»for ray hum ble self, I have
been leading for som e tim e a re tire d life and I would like to
le t alone. B ut if yqji can n o t perstfade any one, who m ay be in a
position Ao w ork b e tte r, to be a candidate fo r election, I may
com ply w ith your request, provided th ere is no u n h ealth y rivalry
w ith an y o th er candidate. I t should, how ever, be disthictly
understood th a t I shall n o t p erm it any of ray su p p o rters to have
recourse to an y Cbjectionable m eans o r m ethod. A lthough rea(jy
to sacrifice m y energy an d m oney for the com m nnity, I have
serious objection to th e ir being used for an y th in g th a t is unw orthy
o r im proper. If you th in k you will succeed in g ettin g m e ,
elected w ith o u t reso rtin g to im proper canvassing, you m ay propose
m e as a candidate. B ut befoi^ doing th is you should try to
induce som e abler per.son to seek election to th e Council.”
• O n receipt of M . A bdul K a rim ’s rep ly h is supporters
issued a m anifesto, of w hich th e follow ing is a
s u m m a r y :—
*
“ C alcutta, th e 25th N ovem ber, 1915.
l) E .^ K
B r e t h r e n ,
I ’erh ap s you are aw are tha* th e tim e for electing rep re sen ­
tativ es to th e le g is la tiv e Councils h as d r a \ ^ n ig h ; th e election
is to take place In 'March n ext. W e w ere exceedingly sorry to
find th a t m any of th e electors in th e rre sid e n c v D ivision were
so disgusted an d di.sappointed on account of certain objectionable
proceedings a t som e of th e previous elections th a t they decided
n o t to tak e any in te re st in th e n e x t election, fe arin g a recurrence
of such prqpeedings and hopeless of g e ttin g th e rig h t m en
elected to th e Council. I'in d in g th a t n e ith er th e electors nor
those qualified to be elected were inclined to move in th e m a tte r
we had to e x e rt ourselves in th is direction. I t was explained
54
U F E O F A. K A R IM
th a t th e privilege of electin g representatives to Councils was a
yalued one and it would have been a g re at m istake to m ake it
practically inoperative by failing to exercise it in a p ro p er m anner.
Besides, w hile im p o rtan t ad m in istrativ e changes arc expected
to tak e place after th e term in atio n of th e w ar, th e necessity of
hav in g capable rep resen tativ es to b ring our special w an ts and
requirem ents to th e notice
th e autliorities, could n o t be toO'
strongly urged.
2. The question now arises as to who at^ th e p roper persons
to be our represen tativ es in th e Councils. W e need h ard ly say
th at^o u r representativ es should be such m en as are in a position
to com m and th e esteem a n d confidence of th e com m unity and,
if possible, of G overnm ent and are able to ta k e such an active
a?id in tellig en t p a rt in th e deliberations of th e Council as is
necessary to safeguard its in terests—m en who are read y to
sacrifice personal in terests for those of the cotnm unity, who do
’ not th in k of self-advertisenjeut and self-aggrandisem ent, and who
have th e courage of th e ir convictions a n d th e in telligence and
capacity to give expression to tlftni.
3. W liile th in k in g of eligible candidates fo r th e Council
election, th e nam e th a t n atu ra lly occurred to our m ind was
.th a t of M aulvi Abdul K arim , re tire d In sp ecto r of Schools, whose
princely g ift of Rs. 50,t)00 fo r Islam ic w ork and M uham m adan
education an d s u b s ta n tia assistance to tlie A U Is la m , which owes
its publication m ainly to h is m unificence, have en d eared liitiv
to his co-religionists as one of its g reatest benefactors. At o u r
rep eated request he has consented to stan d as a candidate. W h at
has influenced us m ost in proposing M aulvi Abdul K arim for
election is th a t he is one of the m ost veteran educationists not
only in th e com m unity b u t in th e w hole country. I t is ad m itted
on all h an d s th a t th e m ost keenly-felt w an t of th e com m unity
is education, backw ardness in w hich has m ade us fall fa r behind
oth er com m unities. W e can th in k of no b e tte r person to b rin g
to th e notice of th e auth o rities o u r edncational w ants a n d re q u ire­
m ents an d to su g g est m eans fo r m eeting th em th a n M aulvi Abdul
K arim , w ho m ay be said to have grow n grey in educational
service an d h as m ade such a special stu d y of th e com plicated
ENTRANCE INTO POETTICS
55
questions connected w ith M uham m adan education as to be
regarded as an au th o rity on th e subject. P erh ap s it is no t
unknow n to you how m uch M aulvi Abdul K arim h as done for
M uham m adan education in Bengal, I t can n o t be g ainsaid th a t
th e rip e experience an d extensive know ledge of educational
questions possessed by such a m an would m uch benefit th e
com m unity if he w ere elected its 'rep resen tativ e. I t would be
superfluous to enlarge upon h is public sp irit, princely generosity,
independence of chtV^cter, co u rag ^ of conviction, devotion to d uty
and earnestness an d en th u siasm for th e w ork of th e com m unity.
Such a m an is pre-em inently fit to ^represent our com m unity in
th e Council an d it is confidently hoped th a t he would be elected
w ithout a contest. If, how ever, th ere be a contest we would
e arn estly requests yon to ta k e into careful consideration all th a t
has been stated in th is m anifesto before you record your vote
in favour of anv candidate.
Yours faithfully,
A. R asul (Bar-at-Law)
•
M uham m ad Ali (M.Sc.)
Md. S ultan Alam (Attorney-at-Law)
Serajul Islam (M.A.)
•A,_ K . Faj’.lul H uq (\^akil, H ig h C ourt)
Syed M ajid Buksh iB.A.)
Md. S hahidullah (Pleader, B asirhat)
Sham suddin A hm ad (B.A.)
And 72 o th er G raduates (B»Sc. & B.A.)
W ith all th e ir u tm p st efforts M aulvi A bdul K a rim ’s
supporters failed to g e t h im elected fo r th e shortage of a
single vote, on acco u n t o f ih e m achination, m isrepresen­
ta tio n and m alp ractices of one p articu lar su p p o rter of a
rival cand id ate. Som e tim e after, how ever, M . A bdul K arim
w as elected to th e C ouncil of S tate from th e E a ste rn
B engal C o n stitu en cy , consisting of D acca, C h ittag o n g a n d
R ajshahi D ivisions.
B e fo re 'h is election to th e Council of S tate, M aulvi
A bdul K a rim ex erted him self to b rin g about an am icable
settlem en t o f th e differences betw een th e H in d u s an d
56
I.1FE OF A. KARIM
M uslim s o f B engal. H e h ad prolonged discussion about
th e m a tte r w ith th e la te M r. C. R . D as and th e re su lt was
th e form ation of th e follow ing p a c t : —
A H i n d u -M u s u m P a c t .
,
I
• I t is resolved th a t in order to establish a real foundatio n of Self-G overnm ent in th is p rovince it is necessary
to b rin g about a p a c t betw een th e H in d u s an d th e M ahoraedans of B engal dealing w ith th e rig h ts of each com ­
m u n ity w hen th e foundation of S elf-G overnm ent is
secured.
II
t
Be it resolved th a t ;*
(a) R ep resen tatio n in Coitncil.
R ep resen tatio n in th e Bengal L egislative C ouncil on
th e pop u latio n basis w ith separate electorates.
(b) R ep resen tatio n in L ocal Bodies.
R ep resen tatio n to* local bodies to be in th e p roportion
of 6 0 to 4 0 ^ in every d istric t , — 6 0 to ’ th e com m unity w hich
is in th e in ajo jrity , an d 4 0 to th e m in o rity . T h u s in a
d istric t w here the^M ahom edans are in m ajo rity th ey will
g e t 6 0 p e r cent, and th e H in d u s 4 0 p er cent. S im ilarly
w here th e H in d u s are in m ajo rity th e y are to g et 6 0 per
ce n t, and th e M ahom edans 4 0 p er cen t. T h e question as
to w h eth er th e re should be separate o r m ix ed electorates is
postponed fo r th e p resen t to ascertain th e view s of both
com m unities.
• T his may be fu rth er considered.
KNTKANCK INTO POLmCvS
57
(c) G o v ern m en t Posts.
5 5 p er cen t o f th e G overnm ent posts
should g'o to th e
M ahom edans to be w o rk ed o u t in th e follow ing m anner : —
F ix in g of te sts fo r different classes of appoitrtm ents.
— T h e M ahom edans satisfy in g th e least test should be p re­
ferred till th e above p ercen tag e Is a tta in e d ; an d after th a t
according to p ro p o rtio n of 5 ^ to 4 5 , th e form er to fhe
M ahom edans an3 th e la tte r to th e non-M ahom edans,
su b jec t to th is th a t fo r th e in terv en in g years a sm all p e r­
cen tag e of posts, say 2 0 p e r cen t, should g o to th e H iftdus.
{d) R eligidus T o leratio n .
•
(1) In n o t allow ing a n y resolution o r enactm ent w hich
affects th e relig io n of an y different com m unities w ith o u t
th e co nsent o f 7 5 p e r c e n t o f t h ^ elected m em bers of th a t
com m u n ity .
•
(2 ) In not allow ing m usic in procession before any
m osque.
(3 ) In p ro v id in g th a t n o legislation o r en actm en t in
resp ect of cow -killing for food w ill be tak en u p in th e
• .C o u n c il. E n d eav o u r sh o u ld be m ade b y m em bers of both
th e com m unities outbide th e council to b rin g ab o u t an
u n d e rsta n d in g betw een th e ^communities.
(4 ) I n p ro v id in g th a t cow -killing sh o u ld be carried on
in such a m an n er as n o t tn w oiind th e religious feeling
of H in d u s.
(5 ) I n n o t in te rfe rin g w ith cow -killing o r religious
sacrifices.
(6 ) In*providing for th e form ation every y ear of rep re­
se n tativ e com m ittees in every su b -d m sio n , of w hich h a lf
th e m em bers sh o u ld be M ahom edans and h a lf H in d u s, each
SS
LIFE OF A. KARIM
com m ittee choosing its p resid en t from am ongst them selves
w ith pow er to p rev en t or a rb itra te u p o n an y d ispute be­
tw een th e H in d u s a n d M ahom edans in accordance w ith
th e provision hereinbefore stated.
S ubhas C handra Bose,
S ecretary, B. P . C. C.
*
•
«
1 8
-1
2
-2
3
.
«
A fte r some tim e M guivi A bdul K arim p u b lished a
histcTry of th e “ H ind u -M u slim P a c t.” T h e follow ing are
e x tra c ts from i t : —
,
“ I t is very m uch to be reg retted th a t th e proposed pact
betw een th e H indus an d th e M usalm ans of B engal should have
^upset som e of th e educated H indus an d given rise to so m uch
acrim onious discussion in tfie press and on th e platform . I'h e re
is, I am afraid, a g re a t deal of m ^ ap p reh en sio n as to th e motive
th a t led to th e proposal. I t w ill be seen from th e facte I am
going to state th a t th e idea of a pact did n o t o riginate in a tim e­
serving sip rit, b u t in a far-seeing endeavour to g u ard against
a situation th a t seem ed jn ly too likely to arise before long and
prove disastrous to th e in terests of both th e com m unities. I t will
be fu rth e r .seen th a t it was n o t M r. C. R. Das, w ho first m oved
in th e m a tte r w ith a view, as supposed,»to court th e su p p o rt of
the M usalm an m em bers of th e B engal L egislative Council. On
th e contrary, th e proposal in its *inception cam e from th e o th er
p arty concerned, and*was developed into its final fo n n a fte r care­
fu l deliberation on both sides.
R ealisin g th e necessity of a pact like th e one proposed, in
th e la tte r p a rt of Septem ber last, I sen t word to M r. C. R . Das,
througli M oulavi Tam izuddin, to arran g e fo r a free an d fran k
discussion of th is im p o rtan t question. I was inform ed th a t Mr. Das
would like to have a t first a ta lk w ith m e on th e subject. S hortly
after, how ever, I had to go to Dacca an d th e n to C hittag o n g in
connection w ith m y election to th e Council of S tate and I could
ENTRANCE INTO POLITIC.S
59
n o t m eet M r. Das for som e tim e. B ut from w hat I saw a n d heard
reg ard in g th e feelings of th e M ussalm ans, d u rin g m y stay a t
Dacca and C hittagong, I was all th e m ore con%’inced of th e urgency
of a clear u n d erstan d in g betw een th e H indus and the M ussalm ans
in order to av ert the ap p reh en d ed calam ity of a violent* ru p tu re
betw een the tw o connnunities an d to ensure success in th e ensuing
fight w ith th e bureaucracy fo r th e early a ttain m en t of responsible
self-governm ent. O n m y re tu rn to Calcutta I had an interview
w ith M r. C. R. IJas a t w hich *Mr. N asim Alj (now a H ig h
C ourt Jtfdge) and S reeju t Bijoy K risto Bose were present. I was
glad to find th a t Mr. Das was inclined, u nlike m an y of h is sh o rt­
sighted co-religionists, to tak e a long view of th e situation! H e
w anted to know th e term s on w hich th e M ussalm ans woirld
agree to have a ^ a c t w ith th e H indus. WTien th ese w ere broadly
stated to him , he said th a t th e dem ands were n o t unreasonable
an d he saw n o reason w hy th e y should n o t be accepted by th e
H indus. A ccordingly th e 9th of D ecem ber was fixed for a ,
thorough discussion of th is outstancling n ational problem . On
th a t day I called a t M r. D as’s 4 )lace w ith a d ra ft of th e proposed
pact, draw n up in consultation w ith som e of th e lead in g
M usalm ans. M aulana .\b u l K alam A^ad, Moulvis N asim Ali,
\Vahed H ossain and oth ers took p a rt in th e discussion w hich
ensued and lasted for over t%vo hour^.
As a re su lt, certain
definite term s w ere agreed upon, an d M r. Das undertook to p u t
up th e proposals for a P act before th e conference of th e
S w arajist m em bers of the ^Bengal Council th a t was to have been
h eld on D ecem ber 16. As th e conference was in ten d ed exclusively
for th e S w arajists, I did n o t* a tte n d it. I, how ever, came to
learn th a t a fter a thoro u g h discussion th » term s of th e d raft
pact w ere accepted w ith certain m odifications. I t was th e n issued
over th e signature of Mr. Subhas C handra Bo.se.
I t is to be re g re tte d th a t a v igorous ag itatio n ag ain st
th e p a c t ■'vns started w hen it w as pu b lish ed . A largely
attended nreetiug w as held in th e In d ia n A ssociation H all,
w ith th e late S ir S u re n d ra n a th B annerjee as p resid en t, to
condem n it.
M aulavis A b d u l K arim , N asim A li, an d
<60
LIFE OF A. KARIM
o th e rs ■went to th e m eeting to see w h a t w ould happen.
A lth o u g h M r. C. R . D as did not go, a n u m b er of his
follow ers w ere th ere. W h en S ir S u re n d ra n a th began his
presid en tial speech h e w as in te rru p te d b y them . Before
h e could deliv er h alf of h is speech th e in te rru p tio n became
so vio len t th a t he bro k e u p th e m eeting and m ade a preci­
p ita te re tre a t. T h e ag itatio n ag ain st th e p act was, how ­
ever, co n tin u ed . M r. D as Assured M . A b d u l K a rim th a t
th ere w as no cause to be d isheartened, as he w as sure th a t
th e a g ita tio n w ould cease* after some tim e. U n fo rtu n ate ly ,
to th e c o u n try ’s m isfo rtu n e, after a sh o rt tim e, M r. Das
fqjl seriously ill a n d th e n died. Althougli* M r. Bose an d
m an y o th ers im p licitly follow ed th e g re a test political
lead er of m odern B engal, as long as he w a^ alive, th e y did
•n o th in g to give effect t (4 th e p act, and it becam e a dead
le tte r. M . A bdul K arim th in k s th a t if th e p act, wdiich was
in te n d e d to be in force fo r five years, h a d been g iven effect
to , th e discord an d dissension betw een th e tw o com m u­
nities, th a t have d isgraced B engal, w'oiild have ceased
lo n g ago and th e p a c t w ould have been w ith d raw n and
jo in t electo rate cnforoed. M . A bdul K arim th in k s th a t
i t is o n ly w h en th e tw o com m uBities w ill be exhausted*
b y th e ir quarrels, an d will realise th e ir g re a t m istake, th ey
will have to com e to some a m ic a b le settlem en t as was
indicated in th e p act. T h e earlier G od gives th e m good
sense to w ork to g eth er, th e b e tte r w ill it be for th e
country'.
CHAPTER VI.
M E M B E R O F C O U N C IL O F S T A T E .
•
O n en terin g th e C ouncil o f vState M aulavi A b dul K arinr
found him self ra th e r in an uncongenial atrabsphere. T h e
failu re o f those, w ho h a d preceded him , to ta k e an in te lli­
g en t p a rt in th e p roceedings o f th e C ouncil, h a d created
a prejudice a g ain st th e M uslim m em bers from B engal and
h a rd ly an y notice w as, th erefo re, ta k e n of th em by other
m em bers, p a rtic u la rly th e officials. W ith in a sh o rt lim e,
how ever, h e succeeded in rem oving th is p rejudice. O n th e
1 9 th M arch, 1 9 2 4 , th e H o n ’ble M r. G . A . N atesan, non- *
official n o m inated m em ber ^from M adras, m oved “ T h is
Council recom m ends to th e G overnor-G eneral in Council
to take effective ste p s to p rev en t th e repeated a tte m p ts of
th e U nion G o v ern m en t of S o u th A frica to im pose restric­
tio n s an d disabilities on th e In d ia n C o m m u n ity sim ilar to
those em bodied in th e Class A reas 'B ill, as th e proposed
m easure c o n stitu tes a y id a tio n o f th e S m uts-G andhi agree­
m ent of 1 9 1 1 , and w ould dam age In d ia n in terests irre ­
trievably besides e n d an g ertn g th e solid arity of th e
E m p ire .” A fter th e long speech of M r. N atesan , th e
R ig h t H ono u rab le S rin iv ash S astri, th e H o n ’ble D r. Deva
Prasad S arv ad h ik ary , an d o th er m em bers spoke in support
of th e R esolution. N e x t day w hen th e discussion was
resum ed th e H o n ’ble M aulvi A bdul K arim su p p o rtin g th e
R esolution *i)oke as fo llo w s: —
“Sir, a fter hav in g h eard all th a t has been said on th e subject,
I feel th a t it would be undesirable to record a silen t vote. The
iyj.
U F E OF A. KARIM
discussion, I am afraid, lias ta k en a tu rn th a t is to be reg retted .
Solidarity an d unanim ity of opinion in a m atter lik e th is, I am
sure, would have carried great w eight. The R ig h t H onourable
Srinivasa S astri, I believe th e H onourable M erabers are n o t u n ­
aw are, was a t one tim e sanguine of success in b rin g in g about
a satisfactory settlem en t, a n d h e was pilloried in th e e x trem ist
p ress and platform for his optiniisiu. I th in k it is th e personal
know ledge of th e actu a l situation, w hich he acquired in th e course
of h is to u rs in* th e countries concerned, th a t tu rn ed him into
a pessim ist. A fter h av in g seen w ith h is own eyes th e 'inhum an
tre a tm e n t m eted ou t to liis c o u n tr y m e n i n those countries, an d after
hav in g h eard th e m any tales of grievances they h a d to tell, and,
above all, finding th a t th e ir opponent.s—I m ay say th e ir oppressors
—took up a m ost u n y ield in g a ttitu d e a n d showed a determ ined
unw illingness to en te rta in even reasonable proposals, he m ust
have realised th e futility of th e efforts m ade an^l th e step s tak en
from tim e to tim e to am eliorate th e pitiable co ndition of his
countrym en. In such circum stances, I believe, he was perfectly
justified in using th e stro n g laifguage th a t he used in giving
expression to his disap p o in tm en t a n d in su ggesting certain e x tra ­
ordinary m easures. I t seem s, S ir, th a t those w ho a re inclined
to ta k e exception to w h at th e R ig h t H onourable S rin iv asa S astri
said, are n o t in touch w ith th e in tellig en tsia of th e country, the
people w ho really and ‘seriously th in k about such m atters. I
believe if th e H onourable S ir N arasinjba S arm a had o p portunties
of personally seeing and h e a rin g all thS t th e R ig h t H onourable
S rinivasa S a stri saw an d h eard , he would n o t have th o u g h t th a t
th e m ild m easures he is in clin ed to advocate would produce th e
desired effect. In going th ro u g h th e m agazine, “ In d ian s A broad” ,
I happened to come across a passage in w hich public opinion has
been expressed by a certain person. I t ru n s as follows :
“ Is not th e tim e ripe fo r the In d ian leaders to devote th e ir
atte n tio n tow ards th e ir exiled b reth ren also ? I t is a n ad m itted
fa c t th a t in th e p a st, L eaders of In d ian th o u g h t an d th e In d ian
N ational C ongress did n o th in g to p revent and redress th e various
w rongs u nder which our people are labouring. T he m em ber in
-charge of th e E m igration Portfolio in th e V iceroy’s E xecu tiv e
MEMBER OF COUN'CIL OF STATE
63
Council is an Indian an d of our own blood—the H onourable S ir
B. N. Sarnia. H e m u s t be able to feel th e difficulties of h is owil
b reth ren in th e Colonies and h e should ta k e u p th is question.
H ith e rto he w as practically in slum ber. W e hope th a t jiow a t
least he will aw ake, fe a r G od, an d for th e sake of h um anity begin
to a c t.”
I th in k those who are really aw are of th e in ten sity of feeling
in th e country cannot be so callous as n o t to feel th e urg en t
necessity of adopting*snch m easu res as w ould prove really effective
in rem oving th e disadvantages, th e difficulties and th e disabilities
u nder wliicli our country m en are labouring. 1 do n o t th in k it
desirable to tak e u p th e tim e of th e Council by enu m eratin g th e
various grievances of o u r b re th re n in th e Colonies. I th in k tbcsg
are too well know n to need repetition. I believe, S ir, th e days
of p ap er de.spatches an d teleg rap h ic p ro tests a re gone, and th e
tim e has come fo r .ta k in g m ore decisive and stro n g er action. .\n
im pression seem s to be g ain in g ground* (it is n o t a t a ll th e cred it
of th e authorities) th a t th e G overnm ent of In d ia a n d even th e
Im p erial G overnm ent a re powerTess to p ro tect th e In d ian s who
a re en tirely a t th e m ercy of th e Colonial W liites. T hey have so
far ^ disregarded and, I th in k , will continue to disreg ard the
ag itatio n in th is country. W h at does it m a tte r to them if we
m ake a noise w ithout h u rtin g th em ? l*iiis is an age of selfa ss e rtio n ; unless we can effectively a sse ft ourselves, our repre•sentations an d o u r requests* will, I am afraid, be unheeded. I
th in k , Sir, th e self-respect o f th e people of India, a n d th e selfresp ect of th e G ov ern m en t of In^lia as well, dem and th a t such
effective re taliato ry m easu res should be adopted w ith o u t fu rth e r
delay a s w ould produce th e desired effect. T he tim e h as come
w hen th e policy o f rep resen tatio n should be changed. "We
should n o t a sk an y lo n g er as a m a tte r of favour w h a t we are
en titled to dem and a s a m a tte r of rig h t.
T h e speech, th o u g h sh o rt, w as im pressive. \V lten
th e C ouncil ifteeting w as over th e H o n ’ble M r. M issir told
M aulvi A b d u l K arim th a t M r. S rim v ash S astri h a d to ld
him , ‘'M r. A b d u l K a rim ’s speech w as su c h th a t it w ould
64
I.IFB OF A. KARIM
h av e done cred it to a n y speaker in th e w o rld .” W h at
f^appened th e day follow ing confirm ed th a t th e speech h ad
really created a good im pression. T h e la te H o n ’ble D r,
M ian vSir M uham m ad Shafi gave a n evening p a rty on th e
2 is t M arch. W h en M . A bdul K a rim ’s car arrived at th e
p a rty g ro u n d , th e H o n 'b le S ir N arasim h a Sarm a, th e leader
of th e CouncU of S tate, w hp so long h ad not even h ad th e
co u rtesy of speaking to him , quickly caitie to him an d con­
g ra tu la te d h im on h is prev io u s d a y ’s ‘‘excellent speech.”
O n th e 2 4 th M arch M anlvi A bdul K arim p u t a series
gf questio n s reg ard in g th e ap p o in tm en t o f M uslim s (i) as
su p erio r officers in th e Im p erial S ecretariat, ( 2 ) as Secre­
ta ria t S u p erin ten d en ts, (3 ) on th e N 'orth-W estern and
• E astern B engal Railwaj^s, (4 ) as su p erio r oflicers o n th e
R ailw ay B oard, {5 ) as officers o n th e R ailw ays an d in
vario u s D ep artm en ts of lu d fe n R ailw ays, (6 ) in A gency
an d L oco D ep artm en ts of R ailw ays. T h e H o n ’ble M r. J.
C re ra r and th e H o n ’ble M r. D . T . C hadw ick gave suitable
replies to the questions. Before leaving th e Council
M aiilvi A b d u l K a rim ,h a d th e satisfaction o f seeing M uslim s
ap p o in ted to some of th e p osts referred to above.
^
T h a t day th e H o n ’ble M r. 'A . C. M cw atters, th e
F in an ce Secretary, p resen ted th e In d ia n F in an ce B ill an d
M aulvi A b d u l K arim m ade th e follow ing speech : —
‘‘In sp ite of w hat m y H onourable frien d , N aw ab S ir U m ar
H ay at K han, said I th in k it is a wise decision on th e p art of
G overnm ent to reduce th e sa lt ta x w hich h it th e poor hard.
P eople in th e position of m y frie n d have n o t m uch occasion to
come in contact w ith th e poor, an d th a t is th e reason why
they cannot realise th e ir difficulties. As reg a jd s th e otlier
th in g s w hich th e H onourable M em ber said, I do n o t know
w hether he was a t all serious. W e have lived in In d ia fo r
centuries on term s of peace and am ity. E ven in th e autocratic
MEMBER OP COUNCIL OF STATE
65
days, w hen th e M ussalm aiis ruled over th is country, th ere w as
not, as th e gentlem an indicated, any very g re at fea r o f social
rupture. The M ussalm an K niperors took advantage of e x p e rt
know ledge in financial and even in m ilitarj’ m atters from th e ir
non-M uslim subjects.
*
As reg ard s th e dem and fo r self-governm ent, I would n o t use
th e w ord Sw araj about th e definition of w hich I find th e re has
been so m uch controversy. I t is n o t a fact th a t th e m em bers ©f
my com m unity are n o t as anxiousf to g et it as th e m em bers of
o th er co iim n n ities. I believe, Sir, if it is to be a R aj o th e r
th an a B ritish R aj it will be a n In d ian R aj a n d n o t a H indu
or a M uham m adan R aj. I do not th in k th a t the H indus, although
th ey are th e original in h ab itan ts of th is country, are in a positioa,
a fter we have be^n dom iciled fo r such a len g th of tim e, to do
w ithout u s and they should also bear in m ind th a t we have
come h e re to sta y .. So the only course is to come to a n am icable
settlem en t so th a t we m ay have self-governm ent,
............. ^I'he n e t addition to th e revenue of th e country in
th e year 1923-24, as th e re su lt o ^ doubling th e sa lt ta x , was only
about one-third of w hat was estim ated, a crore a n d a h alf instead
of four crores. I w ish. S ir, fo r such a com paratively p altry sum ,
w ithout which no g reat dislocation would have ta k e n place in
th e adm inistration of th e country, so ex trao rd in ary a m easure a s
“ certification” h ad not been resorted to.* If public opinion had
n o t been disreg arded in th » m an n er in w hich it w as done, and
if due deference had been show n to w hat th e represen tativ es of
th e people tried th eir b e st to im press upon th e au thorities, I
th in k th e re would n o t have been so m ufli irritatio n in th e
country and th e reg rettab le obstruction in th e way of a tim ely
satisfactory settlem en t of th a t vexed problem of expansion of
th e constitution so a s to m eet th e w ishes of th e people, could
have been, to a g re a t e x ten t, avoided. I t is hoped th a t
in
fu tu re care ,would be taken n o t to oRcrifice
w hich,
to my m ind, is a very g re at asset to th e adm inistration of a
country, p articularly by alien ru lers, to enthusiasm for a balanced
budget. I t would be unw ise, I th in k , to ignore th e unexpected,
I m ay say u n dream t of, change th a t is tak in g place in th e
5
66
LIFE OF A. KARIM
m en tality an d outlook o f th e people. I th in k i t w ould be states­
m an sh ip of a high o rd er to tak e careful n o te of th e se and to
revise and m odify th e ideas a n d ideals of power and prestig e so
a s to su it these to th e changed circum stances. I w ish, S ir, the
w ord
th e full connotation of w hich can h ard ly be conveyed
by a n y E n g lish ivord I know , had n o t found a place in the
vocabulary of adm in istrato rs, a n d statesm en. I believe i t is a t the
root of m any avoidable troubles. W ith instances before th em
of m an y a finally settled facto g e ttin g easily iinsettled , n o t only
in o th er countries such as E g y p t, b u t even in In d ia itself, it
would be, I th in k , too m uch to expect th a t people can any
longer be bulliel to acquiesce in m easures they do no t approve or
{appreciate. I w ould appeal w ith all th e earn estn ess I can
com m and to those whom Providence in this c titical stage o f the
h isto ry of m odern In d ia has given an oppo rtu n ity of m ak in g or
m a rrin g h e r im m ediate fu tu re, to be a c tu a ted by such a solemn
sense of duty, to be an im ated by such a liigVi sense of resp o n ­
sibility, as to able to ftilfil th e noble m ission o f m ak in g a
governed people self-governing. ^
I would like to refer to an o th er m a tte r, a n d th a t is the
M eston C om m ittee’s A ward to Bengal. Novt- th a t th e sa lt .ta x
h as been reduced I am n o t a t all certain w h at w ill h ap p en to
provincial contribution#. (The H onourabie S ir B asil B la c k e t t :
“ H ear, he{ir’'). I t wa» n o th in g sh o rt of an inju stice th a t was
done to m y province by th e M e sto n Com m ittee. W e have be^n
to ld th a t through som e m j’sterious m iscalculations th e Com­
m ittee did n o t see its way to allow B engal to have sufficient
revenue to m eet h«r norm al ex p en d itu re, n o t to sp eak of any
m argin for desire«f expansion in a n y direction. P e rh a p s the
H onourable M em bers are aw are th a t B engal gets n o th in g of
th e incom e of its various in d u strial a n d m an u factu rin g activities.
W hat h as been th e resu lt of th is ? T h e re su lt h as been th a t by
a n unfortunate irony of fa te one of th e w ealthiest provinces in
th e E m p ire has to live upon, w hat shall I say, charity. I t had
to ask, as a m atter of grace, for w hat it could have claim ed as
a m a tte r of rig h t. B ut for th e rem ission m ade by th e G overn­
m e n t of India of 63 lak h s of its c o n tr ib a tio n t h e ad m in istratio n
MEMBER OF C O U N aL OF STATE
67
o f th e province w ould have been very seriously dislocated. In
p resen tin g th e B udget fo r 1923-24 th e F in an ce M em ber of Bengal
observed :
"W e cannot look on th is B udget w ith any g re a t saiisfaction.
I t m akes no provision fo r the developm ent and allows for no
progress. I t ULerely perm its th e carry in g o n of th e adm inistration
in its m inim um essentials a n d tfiat, too, only by draw in g to
som e e x te n t on 5ur balan ces.’’ ^
*
S ir,, I cannot persuade m yself to believe, as som e people are
s o u ncharitable as to say, th a t th e financial em b arrassm en t of
B engal was purposely caused in o rd er to cripple h e r inchistrial
a n d political activities. AVliat I believe is th a t it was to k e c p ,th e
topheavy ad m in istratio n of th e C entral G overnm ent agoing th a t
th e financial resources o f th e provinces had to be draw n upon.
U nless th ere is a su b stan tial reduction in th e ex p en d itu re on
adm inistration, p articu la rly u n d e r th e m ilitary head, I do noj
th in k it is possible to resto re finaifcial equilibrium . T h a t more
th a n h alf th e revenues of th e ^country, over 60 crores o u t of 107,
is required for th e purposes of defence unm istak ab ly shows th a t
th e re is n o t th a t freedom from fear from e x tern al invasions and
in tern al disturbances w hich th e co untry is en titled to enjoy u n d e r
a G overnm ent such a s th e B ritish. I tjiin k . Sir, as m any of my
countrym en th in k , th a t th e m ilitary policy of th e G overnm ent
of In d ia requires a thorough revision, and a searchin g inquiry
in to th e proportion whfch th e m ilitary ex p en d itu re should bear
to th e g en eral expenditu re of th e adm in istratio n is u rg en tly called
for. U n til th is is done, unless th e perm an en t expenditure of th e
a d m in istratio n is cu rtailed to a n appreciable ex ten t, th ere can
be little hope, I th in k , of placing th e finances of th e country on
a sound an d satisfactory basis. In conclusion, I would like to
say th a t I endorse every w ord th a t m y H onourable frien d , Sir
D eva P rasad S arvadhikary, said w ith reg ard to th e rig h t of this
H ouse to scrutinise an d criticise th e details of th e B udget and
to come to a definite conclusion o f its ow n before passing the
Finance Bill sim ply because it was throw n ou t by th e o th er
H ouse.”
68
LIFE OF A. KARIM
O n 1 5 th Septem ber, 1 9 2 4 , th e I l o n ’ble M r. J. C rerar
(H om e S ecretary) m oved a R esolution re g a rd in g th e adop­
tion of th e recom m endations of th e R oyal C om m ission on
th e S u p erio r Civil Services in In d ia (generally kno w n as
Lee Com m ission). T o th is several am en d m ents were
m oved by different m einbere. T h e H o n ’ble M r. (now Sir)'
Y am in K h a n in h is speech re g a rd in g *liis am endm ent
observed “ I liave a p am p h let w ith me p rep ared by m y
H o n o u rab le colleague, M aulvi A b d u l K arim S ahib, whohas given th e figures here.* I t w'as sen t to th e G overnm ent
of In d ia , I believe, in th e la st w in ter session, a n d he has
given th e figures o f all. I shall n o t th ru s t tWe d e ta ils upon
th e H ouse, b u t I .shall give th e to tals of all th e figures—
th a t th e M usalm ans, in all these D epartm ents, R ailw ay,
F in an ce an d A ccounts, P d b lic W o rk s D ep artm en t, E d u ca ­
tion, Police, A g ricu ltu re, J a ils , M edical, Ju d icial, In d ian
Civil Service, in all of them to g e th e r th e ir p ercentage is2 . 9 . T h is is th e ir ra tio a t p resen t in th e A ll-India G overn­
m e n t Services . . . ”
A fter th e H o n ’ble M r. Y am in K h a n th e H o n ’ble
M aulvi A bdul K arim spoke as fo llo w s: —
“ Sir, I beg to second the am endm eflt,, th o u g h I am n o t quite *
sure th a t th is im portan t problem can be pro p erly solved by an
am en d m en t of th e k in d th a t h as been mov’ed. As reg ard s the
Ind ian isatio n of the ^prvices, m y com m unity is as k een as a n y
o th er com m unity in India, b u t n atu rally th ey desire th a t they
should g et th e ir legitim ate share in th e services of th e country
and Indianization should n o t am o u n t practically to nonM uslim isation. I th in k H onourable M em bers are n o t perhaps
unaw are th a t th e rep resen tatio n of th e M uslim s in G overnm ent
services h as h ith e rto been m ost inadequate. In som e of th e m ost
im p o rtan t Services, th ey are alto g eth er u n rep resen ted , an d in
o th ers th eir represen tatio n is fa r below w hat th e ir n u m erical
stre n g th , com m unal im portance an d ad m in istrativ e capacity
MEMBRR OF COUNCIL OF STATE
69
•entitle them to g et. In som e of th e Services, th ey are altogether
an rep resen ted , as I have said. In th e pam phlet, referred to h y
m y H onourable frien d , I have show n th a t in th e S uperior C iv il
Services in India th e ir proportion barely comes up to 3^per cent,
while the proportion of non-M uslim In d ian s com es up to over
20 p e r cent, an d th a t of th e E uro p ean s an d A nglo-Indians to over
76 p e r cent. Such d isp a rity i n ‘ th e num ber of G overnm ent
•employees belongkig to different com m unities cannot b u t foster
m uch discontent an d u ltim ately lead to greflt adm inistrative
difficulties. T his is a fact, Sir, th a t should n o t be lost sig h t of
by any of th e p arties concerned. I t is about tw o years ago th a t
a R esolution was passed in the Assem bly th a t—“ in m aking
recru itm en t for th e
Services u n d er th e C entral Go\'ernm ent, steps should be ta k e n to secure th a t Services
are not
unduly over-w eighted w ith re p resen tatio n of any one com m unity
•or province an d J:lmt as fa r as possible claim s of all com m unities
and provinces are consid ered .”
,
•
I believe i t was an am ended R esolution bv m y H onourable
C olleague in fro n t of m e. If •p ro m p t action had been tak en on
th is R esolution, th e re w ould have been h ard ly any cau.se for com­
p lain t. As far as I am aw are no effect h as been given to the
R esolution up to th is tim e, a n d th e IMuslims now
are as
con,spicuou5 by th e ir absence in m anyt of th e offices u n d er the
•G overnm ent of In d ia as th e y w ere iiefore. T h is had to he
.a d m itte d by th e Honourat>Ie M r. C rerar a n d o th e r officials who
gave answ ers to my qifestion.s on th e subject in tliis H ouse. I
do not like to tak e u p th e tim e of th is H ouse by citing concrete
instances of u n ju st ig n o rin g o f th e claim * of d eserving M uslim
candidates. Suffice i t to saj' th a t th e re ha?e been, to my know ­
ledge, m any instances of th is k in d .
So long th e excuse for n o t ap p o in tin g M uslim s was th a t they
did n o t possess th e requi.site intellectu al qualifications. Now
th a t they have tak en U niversity deg rees a n d have qualified th e m ­
selves in th a t respect, o th e r excuses are b ro u g h t forw ard, I reg ret
to say, to keep them back. I f due cred it h ad been given for
stro n g physique, fam ily trad itio n s, m en tal calibre, m oral stam ina,
adm inistrative capacity a n d a sense of honesty an d in teg rity , a
70
LIFE OF A. KARIM
com bination of all of which m akes a n ideal officer, I believe m y
com m unity would n o t have suffered so m uch as they have done.
I th in k it would be uncharitable to presum e th a t th e descendants
o f those ^who ruled In d ia fo r abo u t seven cen tu ries have so fa r
deteriorated as n o t to be able to discharge th e d uties of responsible
posts u n d er th e p resen t G overnm ent.
•
^W hen such is th e position of M uslim s in resp ect of G overn­
m e n t service, i t ;s stran g e tlia t «n im pression should h av e gained
ground am ong som e of th e non-M uslim s th a t G o vernm ant have
been especially favouring th e M uslim s a t th eir cost. I t is hoped'
th a t tfie facts an d figures gfven in the p am p h let referred to by
t h ^ m over of th is am en d m en t, would show th a t far from any
special favour having been show n to th e com m unity, ju stice has
not been done to th em in th e m a tte r of ap p o in tm en ts to G overn­
m en t service, I t has been noted, however, w ith satisfactio n th a t
^ u discussing the recom m endations of th e L ee Com m ission, S ir
A lexander M uddim an m ade a n an nouncem ent in th e L egislative
A ssem bly reg ard in g th e e m p lo y m ^ t of M uslim s a n d otlier m ino­
rity communitie,s. I t is hoped th a t early step s would be takento rem ove th e grievances of th ese com m unities.
U nem ploym ent am ong th e M uslim ^ a d u a te s a n d under­
g raduates h as been causkig for som e tim e in som e p a rts of the
country g reat anxiety. If th ey join h a n d s w ith th e unem ployed
g rad u ates an d under-graduates of o t^ e r com m unities, som e o f
whom, I re g re t to have to say, hav^ com m itted reg re tta b le
excesses, woe betide th e country. I hope an d tru s t th a t all w ellw ishers of India will* devise m eans to m inim ise u n em ploym ent
am ong th e educated as fa r as possible.
If I h ad an y h an d in th e h a m i n g o f th e am en d m en t moved
by m y H onourable frien d , I would have ex cepted B engal also
from th e am endm ent, because I a m n o t ce rta in th a t M ussalm ans
of B engal will • accept th e prop o rtio n h e h as fixed. • But, as X
have said I do not th in k it is possible fo r th is H ouse to solve
th is im p o rtan t problem . I th in k it is a case of m u tu al under­
stan d in g betw een th e different com m unities in h ab itin g In d ia, and
I have reason to hope th a t th e tim e is soon com ing w hen th ey
MEMBER OF COUNCIE OF STATE
71
will realise th e g rav ity of th e situ atio n an d will try to come to
a n am icable se ttle m e n t.”
M aiilvi A b d u l K a rim ’s speeches, tho se m en tio n ed and
others, created su ch a good im pression th a t h e was
requested, from tim e to tim e, b y som e o f th e h onourable
m em bers to su p p o rt th e resolutions th e y proposed to move*
T h e H o n ’ble S a rd a r Jo g e n d ra S in g h (afterw ards a M inister
in th e P u n jab ) req u ested h im to su p p o rt Ms resolution,
“ T h is C ouncil recom m ends to th e G o vernor-G eneral in
C ouncil th a t a t least one com phteut In d ia n should* be
appointed as ea rly as possible to th e R ailw ay Board tak in g
in to consideratidn th e w ide ra n g e of R ailw ay activ ities” ,
an d M . A b d u l K a rim spoke as follow s —
" I am exceedfngly g la d th a t G overnm ent has accepted th is
Resolution. T he R ailw ay B oard h a # th e larg est num ber of
em ployees in an y of th e dep artm en ts of th e G overnm ent of India.
I believe no o th e r d ep artm e n t req u ires s o m an y h an d s to c a r r y
on tlie w ork. O n th e 31st of M arch 1923 th e re were 750,000 rail­
w ay servants in India. I am so rry to have to say th a t fo r a long
tim e th e su p erio r railw ay service was closed to th e In d ian s. I
am glad, how ever, to have been to ld by th e H onourable M em ber
who has replied to vSardar Jo g en d ra S in g h , th a t of late In d ian isatio n has been g o ing on satisfactorily. T h ere a re about 2,000
officers in th e superior ran k s, an d of th ese only a few are Indians.
T h ere is h ard ly any Indian , I th in k th e re is no In d ian , holding
any responsible p o st in th e railw ay service, ^ u c h as A gent, Chief
E n g in eer, Loco S u perinten d en t, C hief C ontroller of Stores, or
Traffic M anager in an y o f th e In d ian railw ays. E v en in the
subordinate railw ay service, th e nu m b er of In d ian s is very sm all.
M ost of these posts are m onopolised by A nglo-Indians, w ho
no\v-a-days aall them selves p u re Indians.
The railw ays l>eing th e p ro p erty of In d ia n tax-payers, it is
b u t n atu ral th a t In d ian s should desire, nay dem and, th a t these
should be w orked in th e in terests of In d ian s. B ut I am afraid
th is h as n o t been th e case. I t has been said by th e H onourable
72
LIFE OF A. KARIM
M r. Bell th a t In d ian s cannot expect in th e n ear fu tu re to get
in to th e Railw ay B oard because th ey w ill have to gain the
requisite technical know ledge. As fa r as I see, th e w ork of th e
R ailw ay Board is broadly divided in to four p a rts : (1) com m ercial
a n d traffic, (2) financial, (3) engineering, a n d (4) adm inistrative.
I th in k th e re are In d ian s who can do each of these w orks as well
as it is being done now. F a r exam ple, M r. S. C. Ghose was th e
fi^st In d ian A ssistant Traffic S u p erin ten d en t *of th e E a st In d ian
R ailw ay and rose from R s. 2fK) to R s. 800. W hen he resigned
th is post, he joined th e lO ietra M ohan Com pany a n d constructed
th e Jessore-Jhenidah R ailw ay, of w'hich h e was M anager. On
sev ering his connection w ith th e K h e tra M ohan C om pany, he
jained th e McLeod Company and constructed th e Burdw'an-Katwa,
B ankura L ig h t and some o th er lines, an d w as jfppointed M anager
o f these lines on a salary of R s. 2,000 a m onth. H e th e n cam e to
th e Railway Board as a special officer on Rs.^ 1,500 a n d rose to
3,000. H e left the Railway^Board on th e com pletion of th e special
w ork. H e is a n ex p ert in rates, on w hich he w rote a book which
w as high ly appreciated by all liic railw ay officials. I th in k he
is well qualified to be a m em ber of th e R ailw ay Board. A nother
function of th e Board is financial. T here is M r. F lydari, w’ho
w as A ccountant-G eneral of Bombay and is now th e F inancial
M inister of H yderabad.* I th in k h e is quite co m petent to take
ch arg e of the financial \v>rk of th e Board. As for the E n g in eerin g
D ep artm ent, th ere is R ai B ahadur Ra^la R am , w ho w as th e Chief
E n g in eer of th e E astern B engal Railwaj* on R s. 2,500. I have no
doubt he would have been th e A gent of th a t Railw ay if he had
n o t been an Indian. #He is now th e M anager of the P a tia la S tate
Railw ays. I th in k fte is quite co m petent to do th e en g in eerin g
w ork of th e Railw ay Board. T h ere is an o th e r gentlem an, M r. AH
A kbar, who is a very experienced engineer. H e n'as th e S uperin­
te n d in g E n g in eer and S ecretary to th e G overnm ent o f Bombay.
I th in k he also is co m petent to tak e charge o f the^ en g in eerin g
w ork of th e Railw ay Board. .\s fo r th e adm in istrativ e d ep a rt­
m e n t, S ir Ibrahim R ahim tulla, th e P re sid e n t of th e F iscal Comm is­
sion and S ir P urshotam das, I th in k , are quite com petent to tak e
ch a rg e of th e adm in istrativ e w ork of th e Railw ay Board. I hope
MEMBER OF COUNCIL OF STATE
73
a n d tr a s t th a t one of these m en o r som e o th er co m petent m an
will he appointed a M em ber
of the Railway B oard in th e ne.ar
future. I need scarcely say th a t, unless a n d u n til a com petent
native of India i.s appointed a M em ber of th e Railw ay Board, the
interests of In d ian s will n o t be properly looked after.
T h is w as M . A b d u l K a rim ’g last speech in th e C ouncil
o f vState. D u rin g th e Sim la session M aulvi A b d ul Kaj-im
fe lt u n w ell and was to ld b y i!iedical e x p e rts th a t th e high
a ltitu d e of Sim la w as n o t agreeable to him . A t th is tim e
th e R ig h t I lo n ’ble Srinivash Sastri resigned th e m ejnbership of th e C ouncil of S ta te fo r th e sam e reason. W h en
•
M aulvi A b d u l «Karim th o u g h t of a tte n d in g th e w in te r ses­
sion at D elhi an d th e n to te n d e r resig n atio n , a vacancy
•occurred in thg B engal L egislative C ouncil. H e could not
stand fo r it w ith o u t resigning# th e m em bership of th ^
h ig h e r C ouncil. So h e ten d e re d h is resig n atio n a n d offered
h im self as a can d id ate for election to th e B engal C ouncil.
T h e g en tlem an , w h o h a d stood in h is w ay w h en he first
•sought election to th e B engal C ouncil, was again up
a g ain st him , a lth o u g h h e had su p p o rted h is can d id atu re to
th e Council of S tate. I t seem s, fo r.reaso n s k n o w n to him ,
•h e did n o t like th a t M^ A b d u l K arim should be a m em ber
of th e B engal C ouncil. H e again siicceeded in g e ttin g
him defeated b y a few votes. B u t a t th e n e x t C ouncil
•election M . Al-xKil K arim w as returned«hy a la rg e m ajority.
I t seem s to have been a sad m istak e on M . A bdul
K a rim ’s p a rt to leave th e C ouncil o f S ta te , w here h e was
•doing v ery u sefu l w ork, b y w h ich h e becam e know n
th ro u g h o u t In d ia . W h e n a vacancy o ccurred in th e post
o f P resid en cy M ag istrate o f B om bay, h e received a telegram
fro m th e M u salnians of th a t to w n to tr y to g e t a M usalm an
a p p o in te d to th e post. T h e o n ly o th er C ouncil m em ber
U F E OF A. KARIM
74
vv!io h ad received su ch a telegram w as M r. Jin iiah .
Srm j]arly som e M uslim s of some o th e r p a rts of In d ia sought
M. A bdul K a rim ’s advice an d assistance.
T hd follow ing is a copy of th e “ N o te ” of M aulvi
A bdul K arira referred to by M r. Y am in K h a n in h is
C ouncil speech : —
*
•
#
A N o te in conn ection with* the R eport o n th e Superior
C ivil S ervices in India.
U^Sien steps are ta k e n to* give effect to th e recoiiim endations
of th e Lee Commission reg a rd in g th e S uperior Civil Services in
India, th e question of adequate rep resen tatio n of, th e M uslim s in
those Services should be tak e n in to due consideration. I t need
h ard ly be stated th a t a t p re se n t th e com m unity is w holly u n rep re­
sented in som e of th e m o st im p o rtan t Services a d d in o th e rs th e ir
rep resen tatio n is very fa r frcJiu w h at th e ir num erical stre n g th and
com m unal im portance en title th em to have, T he replies given
to th e questions I asked in th e (?ounciI of S tate (copy attached
for reference) clearly show how v ery discouraging the situ atio n isto th e M uslim com m unity. A t th e h ead q u arters of th e Govenam ent of India th ere was not, in M arch last, a single M uslim Officer
in any of the Im perial S ecretariat offices, while th e re w ere 20
non-M uslim In d ian s h o ldihg positions of tr u s t and responsibility.
T here are about 2,000 Officers in all tJ*e 9In d ian Railw ays and o f •
these not even 50 a re M uslim s. In th e M ilitary F inance D ep art­
m ent, if m y inform ation is correct, th ere is no t a single M uslim
Officer in th e whole of* In d ia. T he F in an ce and Accounts D ep art­
m en t h as about 130 In d ia n Officers of whom not even 10 are
M uslim s. O ut of 50 In d ian officers in th e Scientific Services
u n d er th e D ep artm en t of In d u strie s a n d L abour o nly 3 are
M uslim s. T hus on th e w hole th e nu m b er o f M uslim Officers, a s
will be seen from th e a ttach ed special notes on tli^ different
services, does n o t p erh ap s exceed 5 p e r cent of th e to tal n u m b er of
In d ian Officers, altho u g h th e com m unity is en titled to g e t about
o ne-third of th e posts. Such d isp arity in th e n u m b er of G overn­
m en t em ployees belonging to different com m unities in h ab itin g th e
MEMBER OF COUNCIL OF STATE
75-
country cannot but foster m uch d isco n ten t an d ultim ately lead t o
g re a t adm inistrative diflBculties. P erh ap s it is such feelings th a t
influenced som e m em bers of com m unities w ell-known for th e if
stead fast loyalty to G overnm ent to join m ovem ents hostile to it.
In such circum stances w ould it n o t be politic to tak e, V ith o u t
fu rth e r delay, such steps as would rem edy th is deplorable state
of th in g s ?
•
2.
P erh ap s the* m ost effective, m ethod of en su rin g adequjPte
representgtion of a com m im ity in an y particular* Service, is tofix a definite percentag e of officers to be recru ited from th a t
com m unity. T he Lee Com m ission realised th e necessity of ,such
a procedure and, therefo re, recom m ended th a t a definite percentage
should be fixed j o r th e rec ru itm en t of officers, E u ro p ean afld
Indian. W h at I would su g g est is th a t th e percentage fixed fo r
Indians* be subdivided in to M uslim and non-M uslim . The
announcem ent mrfde by S ir M alcolm H ailey in th e L egislative
Assem bly on th e 10th M arch, 1923, t h a t th ere should be no p rep o n - *
derance of any class o r com m unity in th e Services u n d er the
direct control of th e O o v em m eA of India, leaves no doubt as toth e acceptance by th e G overnm ent o f th e p rinciple of com m unal
rep resen tatio n in th e Services. U nless, how ever, a definite p er­
centage is fixed and oflBcers are recru ited k eep in g th is in view,
th e continuance of preponderance of certain com m unities in th e
Services can h ard ly be checked. R ecrflitm ent of officers from
different com m unities in^ proportion to th e percen tag e fixed w ill
create an atm osph ere o f tran q u illity by p u ttin g a sto p to p e tty
q u arrels an d jealousies, and com plaints reg a rd in g th e u su rp atio n
of rig h ts an d privileges of one com m unity ^y an o th er will cease,.
T hen th ere will be no lo n g er a n y g round fo r th e allegation th a t
* T he follow ing p ercen tag es have
In d ian s ;—
1, I.C.S.
50 p e r cent.
2. Police
50’
„
3. F orest
75 ..
„
4. Irrigation 60 „
„
been
recom m ended
5. Political
25
6. Custom s
50
7. T elegraphs 75
8. Railw ay
75
p er cent.
„
,,
„
,,
,,
,,
fo r
LIFE OF A. KARIM
th e claim s of an y p artic u la r com m unity have been u n ju stly
ignored and th a t th e re h as been such an overw helm ing prepon­
derance in th e Services o f an y p articu lar com m unity as to be said
th a t India is practically th e ir R aj. The M uslim s are a s keen
ab o u t the Indianization of the Services as a n y o th e r com m unity.
B ut if Indianization practically am o u n ts to H induization they
-cannot welcome it.
•
• 3. The fixation of percentage of officers in G overnm ent
service for pairticular com m unities is n o t a new tilin g . The
attach ed copies of circulars issued by th e G overnm ent of Bengal
w ill clearly show th a t actjon in th is line was tak e n by th a t
'G overnm ent so far back as 1897 in respect of th e im p o rtan t
D ep artm en t of E ducation. K o serious objection, so fa r as I
•am aw are, w as tak e n and th e efficiency of th e D ep a rtm en t has
n o t suffered on account of th e percen tag e of officers from th e tw o
im p o rtan t com m unities h av in g been fixed. If„ in a D ep artm en t
* in w hich academ ic atta in jn e u ts a re m ore in req u isitio n th a n
•elsewhere, efficiency has n o t been affected by fixation of percen­
tag e of officers o n com m unal g rounds, th ere can be no reasonable
risk of its deterioration in o th er d ep artm en ts, if sim ilar action
is tak en . I t m ay be no ted in th is connection th a t a n im p o rtan t
section of th e H in d u com m unity have agreed to th e adoption of
a fixed percentage of officers belonging to p a rtic u la r com m unities.
I u n d erstan d th e M eteorological D ep artm en t of th e G overn­
m en t of In d ia, som e years ago, • fixed th e percen tag e of
S ubordinate H indu a n d M uslim em ployees in th e offices u n d er it.
N o objection was raised to th is an d w ork is going on as sm oothly
a s ever. Does n o t aR th is clearly show th a t th e re is no reason
to th in k th a t th e sy stem of fixed percentage of officers from
•different com m unities w ill prove unw orkable ?
4.
I t is fa r from m y inten tio n , in m ak in g th e abovem en tio n ed suggestion, th a t th e efficiency of th e Services should
in an y w ay be affected. W hat is w anted is th a t propq^ly qualified
•candidates from different com m unities should be im partially
recru ited for th e Services, so th a t th ey m ay n o t be m onopolised
by an y p a rtic u la r com m unity. If com petitive exam inations are
held, th e b e st of th e H in d u candidates a n d th e b e st of the
MEMBER OF COUNCII. OF STATE
77
M uslim candidates m ay be sep arately selected in proportion toth e fixed percentage.
5. A sufficient num b er of M uslim cand id ates w ith th e
requisite qualifications m ig h t no t have been available in th e p ast,
hut a t p resen t th ere is no d ea rth of M uslim g rad u ates a n d u n d er­
g raduates, w ell-qualified for G overnm ent Service.
In fact
unem ploym ent am ong th em h as been causing such discontent as
it would be unwise^ to ignore. Besides, th e U niversity te st, * I
th in k , is n o t th e only criterio n o f efficiency as, I'b e lie v e , I con­
clusively proved in a le tte r w hich I addressed som e tim e ago to
th e P ress, on th e “ M uslim s a n d G overnm ent Seivdce.” T ^ere
are qualifications oth er th a n in tellectu al, such a s stro n g physique,
m en tal calibre, m oral stam ina, fam ily trad itio n s, social positioft,
ad m inistrative capacity, sense of honour an d in teg rity , a com bina­
tion of all of w hich m ak es a n ideal officer. I u n d e rsta n d th ere
are several M uslim s in subordinate capacities in G overnm ent
offices, w ho are fully qualified for h ig l^ r positions to w hich they
cannot rise on account of overcrow'ding by non-M uslims.
6. I t is difficult to find out % oui th e A dm inistration R eports
th e num ber of M uslim em ployees in different offices. In order to
m eet th is difficulty I proposed in one of th e questions I ask ed in
the C ouncil of S tate th a t M uslim and non-M uslim em ployees in
th e R ailw ay D ep artm en t should be separately show n in future
in th e R xplanatorj' M em orandum on th e R ailw ay B udget as well
as in A ppendix B of th e ^A dm inistration R ep o rt (Vol. V I), as is
done in th e case of R u ro pean s a n d A nglo-Indians. In rep ly I
was told th a t th e tabulatio n of th e inform ation ask ed fo r would
throw e x tra w ork on th e R ailw ay A dm inistA tion, w hich, in th e
circum stances, G overnm ent w ere n o t p rep ared to ask th em to
u ndertake. I believe th e ex tractio n of th e required inform ation
from th e lists of staff m ain tain ed in different offices w ill hardly
entail an v verv heavy e x tra w ork. An intelH eent clerk. T th in k ,
should be abje to do th e w ork in an h o u r o r so. I need scarcely
say th a t in th e absence of th is inform ation, effect can hard ly be
given to th e policy of p rev en tin g th e preponderance of a n y one
class or com m unity in th e G overnm ent Services in pursuance
of the policy referred to above. M oreover, I th in k such inform a-
LIFE OF A. KARIM
78
.tion should be published iu th e in terests of G overnm ent itself,
^o th a t people m ay have no suspicion in th e m a tte r an d th ere
m ay be n o occasion fo r allegations as reg ard s subordination of
hlnslim in terests to th e clam our of m ore pow erful com m unities
a n d as reg ard s hesitation on th e p a rt of G o vernm ent to publish
i t fo r fe a r of exposure. In o rd er to rem ove such an u n p leasan t
im pression, it is d esirable llfat M uslim and non-M uslim em ployees
in all th e D epartm ents u n d e r th e control *01 th e G overnraent
of India shouH be separatel)^ show n in th e A nnual A dm inistra­
tion R ep orts an d such o th er publications. I t would als(f be u.seful
if com parison were m ade jvith th e figures of th e previous year
so th a t it m ig h t be easily seen w h at progress h as ta k e n place
th e course of one year. I t w ould be well to advise th e Local
G overnm ents to follow th e sam e procedure in dase of th e D epart­
m en ts u n d er th e ir control.
I t would be a g re a t advantage if D r. R ushbrook W illiam s
could give in his book “ In d ia in 1923-24” , w hich he m u st be
p rep arin g now, statistics in th% follow ing form : —
TO TA L NCMBBU
OF E m p l o y e e s .
•
N ON -IN DIA N S.
E u ro ­
peans,
D ra w in g R s . 1.000 a n d over
D raw in g b etw e en R a. 250 •
a n d 500
...
.»
...
D raw in g b etw e en R s .5 0
and 100
D raw in g below R a. 50
M en ia ls
...
TOTAL
M u slim s
...
D ra w in g b e tw e e n R a. 500
...................
a n d 1,000
D raw in g b etw een E s . lOO
a n d 250
A nglo
In d ia n a.
IN D IA N S.
NonMualimH.
...
■
MEMBER OE COUNCIL OF STATE
79
I need scarcely say th a t periodical publication of statistics
showing- th e n u m b er of M uslim em ployees in th e different D ep art­
m en ts u n d er the G overnm ent will liave a reassu rin g effect on th e
com m unity.
7. I n o rd er to effectively safeguard th e in terests of the
M uslim com m unity in respect of G overnm ent Services, it is m ost
desirable th a t th e re should be on» tlie proposed P ublic Service
C om m ission a n a4equate rep resen tatio n of th e co m m u n ity ., In
view of th e ir grievances it woufd n o t be perhaps unreasonable
to su g g est th a t tw o of th e five m em bers of th e proposed Com­
m ission should be M uslim s, so tlia t th e y m ay be in a position to
protect the intercvsts of th e ir co-religionists. T he Secretarial: staff
of th e Public Service Comm ission should have an adequate n»m ber of M uslim s h oth in th e S uperior and ,Suhordinate grades.
Briefly, th e position is th a t th e num ber of M uslim s in. th e
G overnm ent Seriiices is very sm all, and th ere is such a prepon­
derance of o th er com m unities th a t it* may lead to adm inistrative*
difficulties. E arly steps should, therefore, be ta k en fo r th e
appo in tm en t of a n adequate nutn b er of M uslim s. Qualified candi­
dates are now available.
. P erh ap s th e m ost effective m ethod of en su rin g adequate
rep resen tatio n of th e M uslim com m unity is to fix a definite p er­
centage of oflicets to be re cru ited fro m tfiat com m unity, S tatistics
show ing th e n u m b er of officers belonging to different com m unities
sh o u ld be published peniodically, T here should be adequate
rep resen tatio n of th e M uslim com m unity on th e proposed Public
Service Com m ission fo r th e protection of th e ir interests.
•
S im la ,
T he 1st June, 1924.
A ffD U L
K a r im ,
M e m b e r o f th e C o u n c il o f S t a te .
So
LIFE OF A. KARIM
T h e follow ing is a copy o f a rep resen tatio n m ade h y
llje M uslim m em bers of th e tw o In d ia C ouncils reg a rd in g
M . A lxlul K a rim ’s above-m entioned "N ’o te ” : —
•
S im la, th e lOth June, 1924.
‘•To
T h e HONOaRABEK S i r . \ le : ^
n der
M u d d im a n , K i., c .s.i.,
c .i .e . .
M e m b e r in C h a r g e o f th e H o m e D e p a r tm e n t.
S ir ,
•
*
We, th e undersig n ed m em bers of th e Council of S tate and
th e r^egislative Assem bly bog to su bm it Jierewuth th e enclosed
N ote, draw n u p by th e H onourable M aulavi Abdul K arim , on
th ? paucity of M uslim s in th e G overnm ent Service. It w ill be
seen th a t in som e of the D ep artm en ts u n d er th e G o vernm ent o f
Ind ia th e re is not a single M uslim Officer a n d in o th ers th e ir
proportion is not even 5 per cent of th e to tal nu m b er of Officers.
*For instance, th e In d ian Railw ays have g o t about 2,009 Officers,
of whom n o t even 50 are M uslim s. We need h ard ly say th a t
th is is a state of thing,s th a t calls fflr im m ediate rem edial m easures.
As pointed o u t in th e note, unless a definite percentage is fixed
for th e recru itm en t of M uslim officers it is n o t possible to secure,
for a very long tim e to com e, adequate rep re se n ta tio n o f th e
com m unity in the Services. We have reason to believe th a t now
th ere will be no dearth o f M uslim candidates w ith th e req u isite
qualification.s. In these circumstance!* we beg to req u est th e
favour of your kind ly ta k in g early step s t o rem ove th e grievances
of th e M uslim com m unity in th e m a tte r of ap p o in tm en t to
G overnm ent Ser\dce. •
•
W e have th e h o nour to be,
Sir,
Y our m ost obedient servants,
(Sd.) U m ar H ayat Tiw ana.
(Sd.) M d. Y akub.
S, M. V. Oosmaii.
„ Abul K asem . *
,, Abdul K arim .
,, G. M urtaza.
„ Abdul Q aiyum.
,,Alim uz Zam an Cliaudhury.
And 7 o th er m em bers.
MEMBRK OF COUNCIL OF STATE
8
1
M aulavi A b d u l K a rim th e n led a d e p u ta tio n to th e
V iceroy, L o rd R eading, to w hom th e follow ing address
w as presen ted : —
“ M ay
it
p i ,kase
Y our
E xcki .i,e n c y ,
*
W e, th e nndersig n ed m em bers of th e L egislative A ssem bly
an d th e Council of S tate, m ost respectfully beg to lay before
Y our E xcellency tjie follow ing facts reg ard in g th e inadequacy
of rep resen tatio n of o u r corannJhity in th e Services in In d ia
for Y our E x cellency's k in d consideration.
2. As few M uslim s succeeded in en terin g G overnm ent service
in th e beginning, non-M uslim s g o t an o p p o rtu n ity to monopolise
m ost of th e posts in different D epartm ents. T his sta te o f things
a n d certain evemts in th e P unjab a n d elsew here and also th e
publication of- th e L ee Comm ission R ep o rt have b ro u g h t the
question in to prom inence. A gitation has been going on in the
public press and* m eetings are being held all over th e country^
em phasising th e necessity of Muslim® g e ttin g th e ir due share in
the G overnm ent Services. F acts and figures show ing th e position
of M uslim s in G overnm ent service were given in a pam p h let
com piled by th e H o n ’ble M aulvi Abdul K arim of Bengal, w hich
was su bm itted to G overnm ent in June last. In th e sum m ary
prin ted o n page 16 of th e p am p h let it was show n th a t in th e
12 im portant Services w hich actually carry on th e ad m inistration
of th e country, th ere are less th a n 3 p er c en t M uslim officers,
‘w hile they are e n title d , tb about 33 p er cent on th e basis of
th eir num erical stre n g th and com m unal im portance. Tlie condi­
tio n of M uslim s in th e subordinate services is in no w ay b etter
th a n th a t in th e h ig h er services.
3. M ussulm ans have been so long u n d er th e im pression
th a t th e ir rig h ts w ere being safeg u ard ed ; b u t th e y are grieved
to find th a t th ey are in a hopeless m inority in G overnm ent
Service, Un account of th e non-M uslim monopoly in aimos>t all
th e D epartm ents, M uslim s do n o t g et a n oppo rtu n ity of g ettin g
into th e services. T he actual position of th e M ussulm ans in th e
services, as show n in th e p am phlet referred to, is leading the
M uslim public to a belief th a t th e G overnm ent h as n o t tak en
necessary steps to safeguard th e in terests of th e com m unity so
6
82
LIFE OF A. KARIM
fa r as th e question of services is concerned. Some of th em th in k
th a t they cannot expect m uch from th e G overnm ent w hich,
j'ield in g to th e pressure of non-M uslim ag itation, is g iv in g more
an d m ore every day to o th e rs, quite reg ard less of M uslim
interests.
4. In th e debate in th e IvCgislative A ssem bly h eld on the
Sth. F ebruary, 1924, on th e g ra n t of full self-governm ent in
In ^ ia, S ir M alcolm H ailey laid g re a t s tre s s o n th e protection
o f th e in terests of th e m inorfty com m unities. I t is, therefore,
hoped th a t early step s would be ta k en to rem ove th e grievances
o f th ese com m unities.
5. If M uslim s are given a chance to e n ter G overnm ent
Sffrvice in sufficient num bers, we have no doubt th ey w ill be
able to hold their own w ith ofiScers of o th er com m unities in
different ran k s of th e Services, by satisfactory d ischarge of the
duties e n tru sted to th em . U nless M ussalm ags are appointed
• in sufEcient num bers to different Services, superior as well as
subordinate, th e ad m in istratio n of th e country n ill practically
pass into th e hands of one partionlar com m unity.
6. T here seem s to be no valid objection to fixing th e num ber
of appointm ents to be reserved for th e M ussalm ans. T he Uee
Com m ission R eport h a s fixed th e num ber of appointm ents for
E uropeans and Indians.* In d ian appointm ents can sim ilarly be
sub-divided into M u slin r an d non-M uslim . Such a sub-division
follows n atu rally from th e recognized •p rin cip le of sep arate comn
m unal representation. T o m ake th is p n n cip le m ore practicable,
we respectfully beg to suggest th a t it m ay be incorporated in the
revised rules u nder *he G ovpm m ent of In d ia Act, w hich will
be fram ed as a r e s u lt of th e deliberations of th e R eform s E n q u iry
Committee.
7. T he H o n ’ble S ir A lexander M uddim an, w ho is in en tire
sym pathy w ith M uslim aspirations, has suggested th a t th e nom ina­
tion system of recruitm ent be introduced fo r th e JU islim s and
o th er m inority com m unities. H e th in k s th a t th is is no t a very
satisfactory way of h elp in g th e backw ard com m unities, bu t he
can n o t th in k of any o th e r way o u t of th e difficulty. TTie object,
how ever, can be attain ed , in our hum ble opinion, if th e com-
MEMBER OF COUNCIL OF STATE
83
p etitiv e exam inations are so conducted as to enable th e M usalm ans
to com pete am ong them selves for th e posts reserv ed for them ,
ju s t as, we presum e, u n d er th e Lee Commission R eport,
E uropeans w ill com pete w ith E uro p ean s a n d Indiaijs witli
Indians. T hus th e best M uslim s a n d th e b est non-M uslim s will
g et th e posts reserved for them . Such a n arran g em en t is not
u nsupported by precedents. W e u n d erstan d th e U. P. G overn­
m en t has in tro d u cid a com petitive system of exam ination »on
th a t p rin c ip le ; and in th e P u n jab in c o m p e titiv e ‘exam ination for
th e post of E x tra A ssistan t C om m issioner, U niversity graduates
a n d district candidates com pete am ong them selves separately,^ such
sep arate com petition p re se n tin g no difficulty. Successful Mirslim
candidates in such com petitive exam inations, w hen p u t in c h a ise
of re.sponsible posts, are su re to show equal, if n o t b etter, efficiency
and adm inistrative capacity as th e ir non-M uslim countrym en.
8. Such an arran g e m e n t would rem ove th e charge w hich ^
is u n ju stly laid a t th e door of th e (^ v e rn m e n t, th a t th ey foster
Hindu-M usHm dissensions by k eep in g th e billets in th e ir gift
a n d th e n favouring one com m unity a t th e expense o f a n o th e r;
th is would also rem ove th e b itte r jealousies am ong th e various com­
m unities. W e u n d erstan d th a t th e G overnm ent has already fixed
th e num ber of re cru its fo r th e A rm y from different com m unities.
W e, therefore, fail to see w hy th e sam e p rinciple can n o t be applied
in Civil D epartm ents. T he extension oT th is principle to Civil
t)e p a rtm e n ts w ould, on ih h one hand, m eet com m unal require­
m en ts and, on th e o th er, rem ove all m isu n d erstan d in g on the
subject.
9. W ith reg ard to sub o rd in ate services^ w^e beg to subm it
th a t th e p rep o n d eratin g non-M uslim elem en t in all d ep artm en ts
succeeds in keep in g ou t even able and efficient M uslim s, who,
if th ey g et in a t all, are often p u t to g rea t trouble on account of
th e u n sym pathetic a tttitu d e of th e non-M uslim elem ent w orking
ag ain st theih. If th e nu m b er of M uslim po.sts is n.vej in every
d ep artm en t, the evil can be checked most .'mccessfully.
to. W e have v en tu red to go in to th e su b ject a t som e length,
feeling, as we do, th a t grave political issues are involved. We
th o u g h t it pro p er to b rin g th ese facts to Y our E xcellency’s k ind
M
LIFE OF A. K jVRIM
notice, as we are su re th a t Y our E xcellency will tak e a syjupatljetic view an d w ould be pleased to do w hat Y our E xcellency
reasonably can, to rem ove th e grievance of the com m unity we
have th§ honour to re p re se n t.”
D ated Sim la, th e 23rd S eptem ber, 1924.
S u b seq u en tly M . Ab<Jul K a rim h a d a p riv a te in te r­
view' w ith H is E x cellency. A m ong otli^r m atters h e re ­
presented th at* n o M uslim fi^>m B engal w as ever appointed
a m em ber of H is E x cellen cy ’s E x e c u tiv e C ouncil. *A s the.
la te .Miaii S ir M uham m ad Shafi w'as about to re tire , M.
A ljdul K arim stro n g ly u rg e d th e consideration of th e case
of S ir A b d u r R ahim . H is E xcellen cy said * that in case o f
such ap p o in tm en ts A ll-In d ia, and n o t P ro vincial, consi­
d eratio n s g u id ed th e a u th o rities. T heretu)on M . A bdul
*Karini stated th a t he w as u rg in g th e a p p o in tm en t of Sir
A b d u r R ah im n o t sim ply because he w as a B engal Muslim,,
h u t also because he was an .•^Il-India p erso nality, having,
served as a Ju d g e of th e M adras H ig h C ourt, and for some
tim e as its Clnef Ju stice, he w as also a m em ber of th e
R oyal Com m ission on Services in In d ia . L o rd R ead in g said
th a t w h at M . Abdul* K arim h a d represen ted w ould be
ta k e n in to consideration. H e afteijv ard s le a rn t th a t th e
app o in tm en t of S ir H a b ib u lla h h a d been previously decided
u pon.
,
S ir A lex an d er M uddim an, M em ber in C harge of th e
H om e D ep artm en t, w as, very m uch im pressed by M..
A bdul K a rim ’s represen tatio n . A t th e close of th e Sim la
Session w hen he w en t to ta k e leave o f him , he said, ' ‘I
shall n o t fo rg et th a t y o u do n o t W'ant H in d u isa tio n of
S ervices.” Som etim e a fte r S ir A lex an d er M uddim an cam e
to C alcutta and p u t u p w ith th e H o n ’ble S ir Stephenson.
O ne d a y M aulavi A b d u l K arim w ent to see him . H e told.
MEMBER OF COUNCII. OF STATE
85
him , " I rem em ber w h a t you to ld m e about In d ian isatio n of
Services. I w as d in in g la st n ig h t w ith th e C hief Justice
an d I spoke to him ab o u t th e ap p o in tm en t of M uslim s
in th e Ju d ic ia l Service. H e to ld m e th a t M uslim s had
n o t good law yers am ong th e m .” H e a rin g th is M . A bdul
K a rim said, “ he w as q u ite »ight ; we have n o t got
R ashbeharis ; b u t is it R ash b eh aris w ho are a p p o i n t
M u n sifs? M y in fo rm atio n is th a t i t is o n ly tho se H in d u
law yers, w ho fail to be successful a t th e B a r th a t accept
M unsifsh ip s ; as fo r th e M u slim ’ law yers, th e b est am ong
th e m have to accep t M unsifship if it can be secured,
because th e y Iiave n o t g o t, like th e ir H in d u b reth ren ,
such law y ers a t th e B ar as can help th em in th e ir p ra c tic e .”
M . A bdul K arfm ad d ed , “ I f you call fo r o ne hun d red
ju d g m e n ts passed b y H in d u M unsifs an d one h u n d re d
ju d g m e n ts passed b y M uslim M unsifs and find th a t on
ap p eal m ore of th e ju d g m e n ts passed b y th e la tte r were
u p se t th a n tho se passed by th e form er, th e n I have n o thing
to say, b u t if y o u find less o r even equal n u m ber of
M uslim M u n sifs’ ju d g m e n ts w ere reversed o n appeal, th e n
y o u can n o t say th e H in ^ u M unsifs are b e tte r qualified th a n
th e M uslim M u n sifs.’’ S ir A lex an d er M udd iraan seem ed
t o have been im pressed b y w h at M . A b d u l K a rim stated .
A w eek a fte r M . A b d u l K a rim h ad an ijiterview w ith L ord
L y tto n , w ho told him th e very sam e th in g ab out th e
ap p o in tm en t o f M u slim s as M unsifs (m ost p ro b ably H is
E x cellen cy , th e C hief Ju stice an d S ir A lex au d ci M uddim an
d in e d to g e th e r an d h a d a ta lk ab o u t th e a p p o in tm e n t of
M uslim s) and M . A b d u l K a rim gave him th e sam e reply.
T h e re su lt w as th a t since th a t tim e m ore M uslim law yers
hav e been ap p o in ted M unsifs. I believe d u rin g th e last
86
L I F E O F A . E A R IM
fifteen years m any m ore M uslim s have been appointed
M unsifs th an d u rin g th e prev io u s fifty years. T h is show s
th a t m uch depends u p o n th e m an n er in w h ich a rep re­
sen tatio n is m ade.
Inform al offer of Vice-Chancellorship.—W h e n M aulavi
A bdul K arim w as in the* Council of S tate, one d ay th e
late S ir B h u p en d ran ath B asu, w ho w as *t th a t tim e V iceC hancellor of* th e C alcu tta U n iv ersity , called u p o n him,,
p ro b ab ly a t th e instan ce o f L o rd L y tto n , an d enquired
of him , “ Can y o u suggeSt any nam e, p referab ly th a t of a
AJuslim, w ho m ay be appointed V ice-C hancellor of th e
C alcutta U n iv ersity on th e ex p iratio n of m y te rm ? ’*^
W h en one o r tw o n am es th a t M. A b d u l K arim m entioned
w ere n o t approved, S ir B h u p en d ran ath said, “ W h a t about
y o u ? iilay I know if yOu are w illing to accept th e V iceC han cello rsh ip .” R ep ly in g in th e n egative, M . A b d u l
K arim said th a t it w ould n o t be convenient fo r him to
stay a t C alcu tta as h is h e a lth an d th a t of h is fam ily required
his stay a t R an ch i d u rin g th e g re a te r p a rt of th e
year. B esides, th e re w as no p ay fo r th e V ice-C hancellor,
an d it w ould be difficult fo r him to m ain tain tw o d ec en t
establishm ents, one at R an ch i a n d . an o th er a t C alcutta.'
M oreover, he h a d to a tte n d m eetin g s of th e C ouncil of
S tate a t D elhi and Sim la. I f M . A bdul K arim h a d agreed,
he w ould have been th e first M uslim V ice-C hancellor of
th e C alcu tta U n iversity.
CHAPTER VII.
A M EM BER O F B E N G A L LEG ISL A T IV E C O UNCIL,
T h is volumes h a s alread y ru n sufficient lengthM aulavi A b d u l K a rim ’s work* in th e B engal L egislative
C ouncil, fo r ab o u t a decade, w ill req u ire a volum e of
its ow n. I propose, th erefo re, to ’p riiit M . A b d u l K a rjm 's
speeches in th e B engal C ouncil, dealing w ith vario u s
im p o rta n t subjects, in a sep arate volum e w ith th e excep­
tio n of tw o, w h ich are being p rin te d as specim ens. H is
im p o rtan t speeches w ere p ublished in n ew spapers w ith
lau d ato ry com m ents. O n m ore occasions th a n one h e was**
co n g ra tu la te d n o t o n ly b y h is non-official colleagues b u t
also by som e o f th e G o v ern m en t m em bers, such as, th e late
vSir P rov ash C h u n d e r M itter, S ir B. L . M itte r, M r. (now
Sir R obert) R eid, M r. G . P . H o g g , th e late N aw ab
B ahadur N aw ab A li C h a u d h u ry , a n d N aw ab B ahadur
S ir A bd u l K a rim G h u zn av i. T h o s e ‘w ho h eard M . A bdul
K arim speak in th e Coyrffcil m eetin g s w ill fu lly subscribe to
th e follow ing rem ark s of th e A m rit B azar P a trik a in its
issue of 2 4 th F e b ru a ry , 1 9 3 7 :— " O n th e M uslim benches
th e absence o f M aulavi A bdul K arim , p e rh a p s th e oldest
am ong th e M uslim m em bers, w ill be k een ly felt. H is
fine E n g lish , h is persuasive eloquence, an d h is sober
view s com bined to have a stead y in g influence ou th e
H ouse w hbn it w as sw ayed b y a sto rm o f passions an d
p rejudices. W h e n he spoke h is voice shook w ith ferv o u r
of his em otions and th o u g h so old, h is w ords could be
d istin c tly h eard from th e fa rth e st end of th e H o u se ." I t
88
LIFE OF A. KARIM
is th e m isfortune of B engal, p a rtic u la rly o f th e Bengal
M uslim s, th a t su ch active and useful m em bers were
sh u n te d o u t of th e C ouncil by th e u n d ream t-of treachery
of some of those w hom th e y h onestly believed to be th eir
w ell-w ishers an d fo r w hom th e y did all th e y could. All
th is w ill be fu lly described in th e second volum e, so th a t
tl\e y o u n g er g en eratio n m ay learn a lesstjn th a t m ay stand
th e m in goo(> stead in th e ir life.
O n acco u n t of th e renew ed opposition of th e sam e
person, w ho h ad opposed h is election to th e B engal L egis­
latu re o n previous occasions, it m ig h t have been difficult
for M . A b d u l K a rim to en te r th e B engal C ouncil h ad n o t
S ir A b d u r R ah im com e to h is help. H e su p p o rted him
w h ole-heartedly a n d w e n t so fa r as to go to M id u ap u r
Ift
a n d som e o th e r places fo canvass for him . I n such cir­
cum stan ces i t m ay seem s t r ^ g e th a t w hen an occasion
arose fo r p u ttin g h im in a responsible p osition, h e w as
superseded b y one w hom S ir A b d u r R ah im claim ed to
have “ raised from th e d u s t,” and w hose su b seq u en t fa ith ­
lessness he described as “ th e g re a te st su rp rise of m y
life .”
R esolution fo r an U pper C ham ber.
“ I rise to oppose th e Resolution. In these days w hen th ere
is an insistent dem and for dem ocratic in stitu tio n s, a proposal for
th e establishm ent of an U p p e r C h a m b e r is a retro g rad e move.
H aving been, for some tim e, a m em ber of such a cham ber, the
Council of S tate, I am n o t unaw are of its com position a n d w ork­
ing. W e have not got from any q u a rter th e slig h te st indication
a s to w hat th e proposed C ham ber woirld be like. W ould i t be
a replica of th e B ritish H ouse of L ords, w hich h as outgrow n its
utility, an d for th e abolition of which, in sp ite of its age-long
/
^
A .MEMBER OF BENGAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
89
trad itio n s, there is p ersiste n t a g ita tio n ? W ould i t be som ething
like the In d ian Council of S tate, which is dom inated by the
rep resen tativ es of th e title d a n d lan d ed aristocracy a n d capitalists,
a n d is th u s th e negation of dem ocracy ? T hough in ten d ed to be
a revising body an d to serve as a check on hasty legislation,
instances are n o t w an tin g of th e obstruction of useful m easures
th a t w ere not in th e p articu lar in terests of those who usually elect
a n d nom inate m eipbers of th is Cham ber. In a province ^ k e
B engal, th e establishm en t of a n d ip p e r Chambei;, I need hardly
say, would be m ost detrim en tal to th e in terests of the b ulk of its
people. W ith o u t know ing th e co n stitu tio n and th e real functions
o f th e Provincial U pper Cham ber, it would be som ething like
s ig n in g a blank cheque to agree to its bein g established. I gm
not quite c e rtairf th a t th e m over of th e resolution h as n o t con­
fused F ed eral G overnm ent in o th e r countries w ith its F ed e ra tin g
units. F ederal G overnm ents, as a ru le, have tw o C ham bers, b u t
c o n stitu tio n s corresponding to th a t of o u r Provincial Administrar*
tion, generaJly have only one Cham ber.
*
U nder th e R eform Schem e of A dm inistration, w hich is at
p resen t op eratin g , w hile a n U pper C ham ber was established a t
th e centre, it was n o t th o u g h t necessary to have such cham bers
in th e provinces. M ight I enquire w h at has h ap p en ed in th e m ean­
tim e to ju stify th e estab lish m en t of such C ham bers in th e Provinces u n d er th e new constitution ? The P u n jab and th e A ssam
L egislative Councils th rew , o u t proposals for Second C ham bers in
those Provinces, and Mfkdras, I u n d erstan d , has decided n o t to
have such a Cham ber. W h at is undesirable fo r th ese provinces
is undesirable for B engal also. I t is only ir^ th e U. P ., th e stro n g ­
h old of landed aristocracy, th a t th e proposal to r a Second C ham ber
h as been accepted.
B engal is pr''-''*^’’ient1y an ag ricu ltu ral province, w here the
in terests of th e tillers of th e soil really constitute th e in terests
o f th e couqtry. vShoulcl an y th in g be done th a t w ould jeopardise
those in terests ? H ig h e r franchise for th e U pper C ham ber
would, as a rule, preclude people of m oderate m eans, who form
th e m ajo rity of th e intellig en tsia, from finding a place in it, and
th e re su lt w ill be th a t measure.? beneficial to th e aristo cratic and
90
life
f
o f a . k a e im
capitalistic classes, b u t p rejudicial to th e masses, would alw ays
find ready support.
D eprived, as B engal has been, of the tncome from som e o f h e r
m ost lucfative sources, it would be difiBcult fo r h e r to b ear th e
b urden of m aintain in g tw o costly Cham bers.
As reg ard s th e constitutij>n of th e U pper C ham ber, in th e
ex istin g circum stances I cannot th in k o f a basis o th e r th a n
com m unal on w hich such a c j^ m b c r can be* constituted. The
P rim e M in ister’s assurance in th e statem en t on th e com m unal
aw'ard th a t th e “ com m unal balance” will n o t be distu rb ed in any
Provincial Second Chamber,* supports th is view. T he p resen t
Council of S tate has been co n stitu ted on com m unal basis. I f its
precedent is followed, any u lterio r motive that^ th ere m ig h t be
for g ettin g a Second C ham ber, w ould be fru stra te d a n d dis­
illusionm ent m ig h t come w hen it would be too late. All these
aspects of th e question, I need h ard ly say, reqftire m o st serious
consideration.
•
T here is not m uch to be ch(^en betw een th e aristo crats of
one com m unity an d those of a n o th er. As a class th ey a re sure to
com bine for th e furth eran ce o f th e ir own p articu lar in te re sts w hich,
as a rule, cannot be identical w ith th e in terests of th e m asses.
W hile larg e powers afe going to be reserved fo r th e G overnor
and th e C entral G overnm ent will have som e revisory ju risd ictio n ,
I th in k th ere cannot be any justification for a P rovincial Upper_
C ham ber in B engal.”
•
TTie ^Bengal W hipping Bill.
“ I t is extrem ely *to be re g re tte d th a t in a m a tte r in w hich
there o u g h t to have been perfect u nanim ity, irrespective of creed
an d com m unity, th ere should have u n fo rtu n ate ly arisen m ost u n ­
called for difference. I am no t w illing to add to th e acrimoniouscontroversy th a t seem s to me to be far from creditgble to th e
House.
No tru e religion, to ray m ind, can m inim ise th e crim inality
of th e offence th a t is proposed to be tack led w ith. As for Islam ic
injunctions reg ard in g sexual im m orality, I am afraid th e so-called
•
- N
A MEMBER OF BENGAL I.EGIvSLATIVE COUNCIL
91
civilised m odern m an w ith m odern notions of social ju risp ru d en ce
will sim ply sh u d d er a t th e severity. I refrain from d etailin g th e
drastic punishm ents prescribed by th e H oly Q uran for such crimfes
lest I should be looked upon as a b arbarian am ong so m any
“ civilised” an d ultra-m o d ern gentlem en. H ad it n o t beed for the
lam entable laxity in m orals to lerated, a n d in som e cases—even
caused, by so-called p re se n t day civilisation, n o occasion would
have arisen for th e controversy th a t is em b itterin g our feelings
in th is H ouse.
•
,
T akifig th in g s as th e y are, it is m ost desirable, nay essen­
tially necessary, th a t effective step s ^hould be ta k en to p u t down
such heinous crim es. I t is m ost u n fo rtu n ate how ever, th a t art
elem ent of w hat is called com m unalism should have c re p t in to
th e discussion of* such a n im p o rtan t m atter. I cannot p ersuade
m yself to believe th a t th e sponsor of th e proposed m easure, who
is a g re a t a d m irfr of th e P ro p h et of Islam , ever th o u g h t th a t
th ere was any likelihood of its bein g abused in th e m an n er of*
which som e in d ic a tio n has been given. \V liat can be m ore re p re ­
hensible th a n th a t such a m eaaure should be used by d esig n in g
people for a vindictive purpose ? E xag g eratio n s a re m ade and
undue an d uncalled fo r prom inence is giv en in th e press and
platform by o n e com m unity to th e crim es com m itted by th e
ruiSnns in th e o th er. N eed I rem ind those concerned th a t th e
m ore such ugly th in g s a re publicly ^Jiscussed th e m ore the
atm osphere is vitiated, ^ a d th ere been no b ittern ess and
exaggeration it m ig h t nflt have been alto g eth er a disservice to
th e cause of m orality. B ut th e sp irit th a t pro m p ts p resen t pro­
paganda in a certain section of th e press # n d platform s cannot
but be severely condem ned.
•
I t is not a t all u n n a tu ra l th a t presence of young widows should
tem p t m orally w eak people to go astray . H u m an n a tu re is every­
where* bnm an n atu re. I t is u n fortunate th a t in th is co untry m ost
people in oqe com m unity a n d som e in th e o th er are opposed to
widow m arriage. As long as th e p re se n t sta te of th in g s continues
it will be v'ery difficult to w ipe o u t th e evil.
As to th e savagery of severe p u n ish m en t in th e case o f an
ex trem ely heinous crim e, w h at may look savage to one m ay be
■92
^
r j F E OF A. KARIM
reg ard ed as a religious necessity by another. W h at about the
sav ag ery of th e crim e itself a n d th e w orst savagery of th e bestia­
lities an d even m u rd ers th a t often accom pany it ?
May* I ask in all seriousness should p etty objection weigh
w ith us w hen com bined efforts are essential to th e m eetin g of a
situ atio n th a t is so very discreditable, nay disgraceful to all con­
cern ed ? Should we n o t sin k our differences an d com bine and
•
#
co-operate in p p rg in g th e coiMitry of a crim e th a t is so very
heinous both to God an d m an an d th e victim s as weU as the
offenders of w hich come from b oth th e com m unities a s statistics
undeniably prove ?
• T here can be no question as to th e urgency of devising m eans
to check such evils. B ut as th ese have prevailecl so long a little
delay m ig h t not m a tte r m uch. If th e proposal for circulation
is m erely a plea for shelv in g or indefinitely postponing, it can*not be supported. In view,# however, of th e k een n ess fo r circula­
tio n show n by a n u m b er of m em bers, I would appeal to S ir
B rojendra to agree to th e Bill betn g ta k e n up a t th e e n d of the
B udget Session. I need hard ly say th a t it is m ost d esirab le th a t
su ch a m easure should be dispassionately d eliberated upo n in* a
calm atm osphere. If after thoro u g h discussion it is fo u n d th a t
th e proposed p u n ish m en t would really prove m ore d e te rre n t th a n
w hat h as already been provided by th e existing Law, th e n it may
be adopted w ithout h esitation.
* ,
Calcutta R i o t .—W h e n th e H in d u -M u slira rio t broke
o u t in A p ril, 1 9 2 ^" M aulavi A b d u l K arim took th e lead
in d evising m ean s fo r th e safety of th e M uslim s. A s far
a s I h av e been ab le to ascertain n o one ex erted h im self so
m u ch as h e did for th e relief o f h is afflicted co-religionists.
S ir A b d u r R aliim , M r. (now N aw ab B a h ad u r S ir) A bdul
K arim G aznavi, M aulvi N u ru l H u q C h a u d h u ry a n d some
o th e r lead in g M uslim s o f C alcu tta co-operated w ith him
a t th is c ritical tim e. M . A bdul K a rim w ro te a lo n g no te
,
A MEMBER OF BENGAi, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
95.
(it will be p u b lish ed iu V olum e I I ) , describing all th a t had
h appen ed and su g g estin g various m eans b y w hich th e
calam ity m ig h t be m inim ised. F ro m th e follow ing copy of
a le tte r he w rote to th e G o v e rn o r’s P riv ate S ecretary, in d i­
catio n m ay be h ad o f th e p a rt he p lay ed d u rin g th e crisis.
H e w as sen t for by th e G overn o r, w'ho discussed w ith him
th e situ atio n .
•
,
*
i3 /i> W ellesley Sciuare, C alcutta.
T h e 2 9 th A p ril, 1 9 2 6 . *
•
D
ear
M
r
. W
i
C,k
in s o n
,
I am sending- h erew ith a copy of a note I drew upand of a le tte r I w rote to th e H o n ’ble N aw ab Bahadui;*
\ a w a b AU C h o u d h u ry re g a rd in g th e re g re tta b le ’ rio t
w hich h as m ade life an d p ro p erty in C alcu tta m ost unsafe.
T hese give som e idea of th e indescribable tro ubles we
have been p assin g th ro u g h an d indicates certain m easures,
adoption o f w h ich m ig h t lead to resto ratio n o f peace and
o rder. I sh all be m u ch obliged if you h in d ly place these
before H is E x cellen cy Jhe G overnor.
I am w ritin g an ex h au stiv e note on th e rio t d u rin g th e
E aster-W eek an d th a t is goin g on a t p resen t. W ith in tw o
days of th e b reak in g -o u t o f th e first rf^t a M uslim R elief
Com m ittee, w h ich is located a t m y place, w'as form ed at
my instance. I am th e V ice-P resident and T reasu rer of
th e said C om m ittee. I h av e th u s been iu corsta-nt to u c h
w ith what* h as been o ccu rrin g everyday. I shall send you
a copy o f th e n o te w hen ready.
Y o u rs sincerely,
( S d .)
A
bdul
K
a r im
.
«94
LIFE OF A. KARIM
D . O . N o. 9 3 0 .
G o v ern m en t H ouse, C alcutta.
3 rd M ay, 1 9 2 6 .
Dear M
a u ia ' i
S aheb,
I w rite to acknow ledge y o u r le tte r o f A p ril 2 9 th.
I have placed th e enclosures before H isi E xcellency.
•
•
(Sd.)
Y o u rs sincerely^
H . R . WiEKINSON.
• H ind u-M u slini R io t in Pabna.— R eceiving new s from
P abna th a t H in d u s a n d M uslim s w ere b itte rly fig h tin g w ith
•one a n o th e r, M aulavi A bdul K a rtm w en t th ere, accom ­
p an ied b v N aw ab M u sh arraf H o saiu an d succeeded in
••
b rin g in g a b o u t a n atn ic ib le settlem en t betw een th e tw o
com m unities. F o rtu n a te ly he fo u n d tw o of h is old friends
in charge of th e D istrict. T h e la te M r. E ra d a tu lla h w as
th e D istric t Ju d g e of P ab n a and K h a n B ah ad ur N a siru d d in
w as th e th e D istrict M agistrate. B oth o f th e m h elp ed him
in resto rin g peace a t F abna.
T a n z im M o v e m e n t.— S hortly a fte r th e rio t a t C alcutta,
M r. K itclilew ', th e S ecretary of * Ijie A ll-India Tanzim A ssociation, cam e to C alcu tta and stayed w ith M aulavi
A b d u l K arim . W h en he w en t o u t on to u r, M . A bdul
K a rim accom panied h im to C h ittag o n g , D acca, M ym ensingh, D arjeelin g , B ogra, S erajg an j, R a n g p u r, D in a jp u r
an d some o th e r places. G re a t w as th e en th u siasm dis­
p la y e d b y th e M uslim s of th ese places. L arg ely a tten d ed
m eetin g s, in som e of w h ich th e au dience exceeded th irty ,
fo rty an d even fifty th o u sa n d , w ere addressed by
M r. K itc h le w and M . A b d u l K arim .
\
CHAPTER VIII.
P R E SID E N T O F A SSO C IA T IO N S A N D M EETINGS.
S h o rtly a fte r h is retirem en t from service M aul^vi
A b d u l K arim w as elected P re ^ d e n t o f th e B engal M uham ­
m ad an •Ivdiicational C onference of w hich th e late N aw ab
B ah ad u r X aw ab A li C h au d h u ri .w as S ecretary. B oth of
th em co n tin u ed in th e ir offices fo r som e years d u rin g
w h ich a n n u al conferences w ere held a t B urdw an an d o ther
places. W^hen th e la te M aulavi W ahed H ossain succeeded
th e la te N aw ab B ah ad u r, M aulvi A b d u l K a rim w as reelected P re sid e n t a n d contin u ed jn th is office as long as**
th e C onference d id any w ork.
F o r ab o u t a decade M .*A bduI K arim w as th e P resi­
d e n t of th e B engal M uslim L eag u e w h en ila u la v i
M u jib u r R ah m an w’as its .Secretary. W h e n S ir A bdur
R ah im succeeded him as President, of th e L eague, M .
A bd u l K a rim becam e its V ice-Prosident.
H e w as re■elected p resid en t w’h e n .S i r A b d u r R ahim resigned an d
c o n tin u e d in th is office u n til 1 9 3 7 , w h en D r. R . A hm ad
w as th e S ecretary o f th e L eague. A t th e a n n u al m eeting
a ru p tu re w as caused b y som e d e sig n isg people and M .
A bd u l K a rim le ft th e L eague.
W h en th e M u slim G rad u ates form ed th e “ B engal
M uslim G ra d u a te s A ssociation” , th e y p ersuaded M . A bdul
K arim to be its P re sid e n t, in w h ich office he con tin u ed as
lo n g as th e A ssociation existed.
A b o u t five years ago M. A b d u l K arim w as elected
P resid en t of th e Islam ic M ission Society, fou nded by th e
96
LIFE OF A. ZA RIM
late ^ la u la v i A bdul A ziz, fa th e r of M r. A m in A hm ad,
M .B .E . H e is still th e P re sid e n t of th is S ociety, w hich
has been doing usefu l Islam ic w ork.
President of M eeting s.—T h e first E d u catio n al C on­
ference over w hich M. A b d u l K arim w as in v ited to preside,
was held a t M alda in Fel>ruary, 1 9 1 6 . T h e n e x t E d u ca­
tio n al C onference over w l» ch h e presfded w as h eld at
B urdw an in A pril, 1 9 1 6 .
I t w as in fact tlje m ost
im p o rta n t session o f th e B engal P ro v in cial M uham m adan
E d u c a tio n a l C onference. I t w as v ery larg ely atte n d ed b y
(Telegatcs from different d istric ts of B engal. T h e D irector
of P u b lic In stru c tio n , B engal, th e M ah arajad h iraj of
B urdw an, h is venerable fath er, R aja B u nbchari K ap u r,
i*the la te M r. R oy, D istrict Ju d g e, an d som e o th er
d istin g u ish e d gentlem en graced th e m eeting by th e ir
presence. T h e p resid en tial fipeech of M . A b d u l K arim
w as m uch ap p reciated b y th e audience. A m ong the
v ario u s su b jects h e d ealt w ith in h is speech w as th e d e a rth
o f ed u catio n al expert^ in th e com m unity.
“ If we had in o u r c o m m u t i i t y ” he ob.served “ educationists
possessing th e extensw e know ledge, w ide experience, a n d
en th u siastic earn estn ess of a S ir (jujrudas B annerji o r a S ir
A shutosh M ukherji, th e condition of M uham m adan education, I
have reason to believe, would have been very different from w h at
it is. W ithout m aking a thorough study, to presum e to have
such a know ledge of th e com plicated questions connected w ith
M uham m adan education as to be com petent to advise th e com­
m unity a n d th e G overnm ent on tlie su b ject is, to p u t i t m ildly,
to trifle w ith th e m ost vital in terests of th e com m u n ity.............
I t is no w onder therefore, th a t th e cause of M uhanm iadan educa­
tion h a s suffered grievously a t th e h an d s of preten tio u s people.
As a concrete illu stratio n of th e deplorable w aste of tim e, energy
a n d m oney involved in such a process, I would re fe r to w hat is
called th e revised schem e of M adrasah education. T his subject
/
PRUSIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
97
h ad a ttracted th e atte n tio n of G overnm ent from tim e to tim e.
.\ t last w hen a fter lo n g stndy an d a careful consideration of all
th e H rcum stances, a schem e was draw n up in 1906, th e G overn­
m ent appointed a large com m ittee fo r its discussion. F o r w ant
of a sufficient know ledge of th e subject m any of those who h ad totak e p a rt in th e deliberations of tlie com m ittee were n o t in a
position to m ake very useful suggesfions. Y et th ere was no lack
of an im ated an d even acrim onious discussion w hich led to si¥:h
modifications of th e proposed schem e as to have femounted to its
virtu al rejection, an d a different schem e, know n as th e E arle
Schem e, was adopted an d p u t into operation. T his schem e p racti­
cally proved a failure and the o riginal schem e h ad to be adopted,
a fte r a decade, in tlie case of ju n io r M adrasahs.”
•
A s reg ard s com bination of religions
educatio n , M . 4-t>dul K a rim s a id : —
an d
secular
‘T have always held th a t utries.s a n d u n til there is*'
a com bination of secular an d religious in stru ctio n in in stitu ­
tions intended for th e educaflon of M uham m adan boys, th e
com plicated problem of M uham m adan education can n o t be pro­
p erly solved. H ie P ro p h et of A rabia inspired his followers w ith a
religious fervour unexam pled in th e an n als of religions. The
peasants q u ittin g th e ir ploughs an d saying th e ir prayers in the
paddy-fields, th e labourers p ro stra tin g them selves in the streets
w hen th e tim e of prayer. Comes, are sig h ts comm on in M uham ­
m adan countries, but n o t to be m et w ith elsew here. T o a Blusalm an education m eans first religious education, secondly moral
education and lastly professional Plducatiou.*, I t was from a con­
sideration of these facts th a t th e education Comm ission, a fte r
m atu re deliberation, cam e to the conclusion th a t in th e case of
M uham m adan boys th e ‘teac h in g of th e m osque m u st precede th e
lessons of th e school’. The b est course, therefore, is so to arrange
m atters as tb give both these lessons in th e sam e sem inary and,
as far as practicable, a t th e sam e tim e. The M a k t a b s ^ ^ d
Patshala.s in M u lu m m aJa a localiiies should be rc -o rg a u is ^ y
prin cip le.”
^8
LIFE OF A. KARIM
T h e M ah arajad h iraj of B u rd w an took p articu lar
in te re s t in th e C onference, and th e p resid en t and th e
S ecretary w ere g ra te fu l to him fo r th is. Since th e n the
M ah arajad h iraj h a s been very frien d ly to M . A bdul
iCarim .
T h e n e x t im p o rta n t E d u catio n al C onference over
w hich M. A b d u l K arim presided w as ^ h e A n n u a l Con­
feren ce of th e S y lh et MusTim S tu d e n ts’ A ssociation held
at S y lh e t in O ctober, 1 9 1 9 . A s he w ent to S y lh et a fter
:a long tim e he m et w ith a splendid recep tion, as will
^ p e a r from th e follow ing le tte r w hich a S y lh e t corres­
p o n d e n t w rote to th e “ M u ssalm an” :— •
“ T he President-elect of tlie S ylhet M uslim S tu d e n ts’ Associa­
tio n Conference, M aulavi Abdul K arim a rriv e d , a t S y lh et on the
••I6tli October. L ong before th e tra in was tim ed to reach th e
statio n people began to flock from all p arts of Sylhe1» w ith o u t d is­
tin c tio n of caste and c reed ; th e jich a n d th e poor, tlie h ig h and
th e low vied w ith one a n o th er in m an ifestin g th e ir en th u siasm in
th e m atter of reception of one of th e ir m ost reputed countrym en
lo n g absent from th e ir m idst.
W hen th e popular curiosity was
h eig h ten ed by th e fain* w histle of th e ru-shing tra in b oth the
sta tio n and th e n o rth e r^ b an k of th e river S urm a h a d become a
se a of hum an faces. W hen th e tra in h a lte d th e P re sid e n t w ith
h is eldest son, M aulavi A bdur R ahim , lU .A ,, alig h ted am id st th e
resounding shouts of M a rh a b a . Som e bombs w ere fired in his
honour. H e was th e n tak en to th e G h at a n d crossed th e river
in a nicely-decoratefl J u r in d a boat. T he procession th en com­
m enced from th e C handni G hat. I t consisted of a n u m b er of
horsem en, cyclists an d footm en w ith flags in hand, T he pro­
cession was followed a n d lined on b oth sides by a larg e num ber
of spectators. All h o nour to th e R eception C om m ittee and to the
volunteers w ho could organise so splen d id a receiftion, unpre­
cedented in the an n als of th is ancient towm.
O n Saturday, th e 18th October, th e conference sat u n d er a
large Sham iana erected in fro n t of th e Town H all. T he g a th e r­
PRESID EN T OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
99
in g was unprecedentedly large. T he elite of the tow n an d Muffasil,
b o th H in d u s an d M asalm acs, w ere p resen t. T h e iate M aalvi
Syad Abdul M ajid, a lia s C aptan M ian, afterw ards E ducation
M inister of A ssam , took a very active p a rt in arra n g in g M.
A bdul K arim ’s reception.
Iti a long p resid en tial spdech M . A b d u l K arim dealt
w ith th e different questions connected w ith M uham m adan
E ducatio n . W h ile speaking on T ech n ical E d u catio n , he
o b s e rv e d : —
"U p to tliis tim e th e education of o u r boys h as been alm ost
exclusively literary w ith a view to enable th em to earn th eir
b read, and consequently satisfactory resu lt a t exam inations, and
not acquisition of know ledge, has been aim ed at. T h u s the
educational in stitu tio n s m ay be said to have m anufactured only
quill-drivers and ofiice-hunters and^ n o t artisan s o r inechanidS’,
e x p erts in in d u s try o r comm erce. T he resu lt has been deplorable
congestion in positions and jyofessions in w hich literary attain ­
m ents are th e requisite qualification, w hile o th e r w alks of life
have been left alm ost un tro d d en by o u r young m en. In these
circum stances S ir P. C. Roy, th e apostle of in d u strial education,
w as n o t alto g eth er unjustified in feeling inclined to have th e Law
Colleges razed to th e g round and to ,c h a n g e th e lines “ L ikha
pora k o re je g a ri ghora chore sh e " (He w ho w rites an d read s
rides carriage an d horse) into L ik h a pora kore je upabash kore
sh e” (He w ho w rites an d read s has to fast). Many of yon do
not know , as I do, to w h at pitiable stra its m any of o u r young m en
a re reduced w hen th ey pass o u t of th e College, som e of them
a fte r o b taining even th e degree of B achelor of A rts. I t is h ig h ’
tim e to devise m eans to m eet th is alarm in g situation. I th in k
th e re should be careful elim ination a t eveiy stage of instruction.
I t is m ost undesirable th a t every boy o f average intelligence
should be m discrim inately p ushed up to the h ig h er stages. Some
boys should n o t proceed beyond the p rim ary stage, som e beyond
th e m iddle school stage, and oth ers beyond th e h ig h school stage.
O nly boys of m ore th a n average in telligence an d m eans should
e n te r th e U niversity, and those of exceptional capacity should pro-
lOO
l if e
of
a.
KARIM
«
ceed to th e P ost-gradaate stage. Boys th u s elim inated a t different
stages of instruction should go to technicalj in d u strial, com m ercial’
and o th er schools according to th eir taste a n d capacity, to be
train ed as* artisan s, m echanics a n d business m en. E xceptionally
sm art boys of th e poorer classes m ay be encouraged by stip en d s
to proceed to th e h ig h e r stage. I th in k it is a m istake to
encourage poor boys of average intelligence to aspire a fte r a
. purefy literary education. P arenjp should be very careful in theselection of a career for th e ir sons. T hey m u st n o t com pel th e m
to adopt professions fo r whicli th ey m ig h t no t have any inclina­
tion or. aptitude. .As regards* tra d e a n d comm erce, M usainians
need hardly be rem inded th a t th e y should reg ard it as a su fu u x t
to follow such pursu its. T he P ro p h et of Islam (upon w hom be
peace) not only advocated it, b u t was him self engaged in it. It.
w as w ith the object of fu rth e rin g th e cause of tra d e th a t usury
was so very strictly prohibited. I believe fo r Ahe M usalm ans
th ere is a special B a r k a t in trad e in as m uch as it was th e p u rs u it
for w hich th e P ro p h et had a p articu lar predilection. •
M atilavi A bdul K a rim concluded h is speech w ith thefollow ing advice to th e s tu d e n ts : —
“ G entlem en, before concluding m y speech I should like to’
address a few w ords to jn y young friends, th e M uham madanstu d en ts of S ylhet who, a t no very d ista n t date, w ill tak e our
place in society and w ill guide th e destinies of th e com m unity.
I would rem ind you th a t you a re now p assin g th ro u g h th a t portion
of your life which is b est w o rth living and th a t your career in
a fter life will depend very m uch on how yon m ake use of th e
opportunities w hich tlie days p assin g by now ofter you. T he
sam e qualities and characteristics th a t give you distinction am ong
your com rades to-day, w ill b rin g you to th e fro n t am ong your
fellow m en w hen you grow older, l l i e first th in g th a t you would
do w ell to rem em ber is th a t n o th in g w ortli doing can be done
an d no th in g w orth h aving can be go t w ithout pain and effort.
Som etim es you will m eet w ith difficulties and even disasters, b u t
alw ays bear in m ind, in pro sp erity as w ell as in adversity, th a t
w hatever happens in o u r life comes about in accordance w ith th e
D ivine W ill to w hich we should alw ays subm it w itliout a m u rm u r.
PRESIDENT OK ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
lO I
Islam enjoins, in fa c t Islam m eans, com plete sn rren d er to th e W ill
•of God.
“ Good w hen H e gives, sopreraely good
N o r less w hen H e d e n ie s ;
Afflictions from H is sovereign h an d
A re blessings in d isg u ise.”
•
Do not be disheartened by •failures. Som etim es a failure
serves as a stepijiug-stone to fu tu re success. If some of those
who m ade th e ir m ark in th e fieTd of co m raercc.an d in d u stry and
in th a f of a tt and science h ad n o t m et w ith failures, they would
not have risen to th e position to w hich th ey rose. O ur g reatest
glory is n o t in never falling b u t in risin g every tim e we f ^ l . . . .
Som etim es you m ay find one whom you consider to be >j,our
inferior in p a rt? achieving b e lte r success th an you do. R em em ber
•the tace is not alw ays to th e sw ift nor th e battle to th e strong.
Success dependg not so m uch on th e possession of good p arts as
■on th e ir proper u tilisation. T he object of education is to
you righte«)us m en, in tellig en t citizens a n d w ell-behaved m em bers
.o f society, R em em ber th e gijpatest distin ctio n betw een ourselves
.and our neighbours, th e brutes, is a good ch aracter, w hich should
be th e m ost distinctive feature of stu d e n t life. In fact no twolegged creature is e n title d to be called a m an unless he b ears an
unsullied an d unim peachable ch aracter. All of you cannot be
-em inent scholars o r high officials, b u t all of you can be good m en.
T ry to be g reat if yon^ can, b u t rem em ber g reatness connotes
goodness. No one can* be called g re at unless he is good.
The object of hu m an life, my young frien d s, is n o t like th a t
t.of th e low er anim als to e at, d rin k a n d bt^ed , bu t to w orship the
^Creator an d to serve h is creatures. U n s^ fish service of fellowibeings is th e special prerogative of m an. To sacrifice o n e’s
•interests a t th e a lta r of comm on w eal is th e h ig h est ideal
tlia t can be se t before us. M an is n o t b o m , like th e beast, for
:hiniself, but he is a p a rt of an o rganisation in w hich he h as a
serv ice to ren d er and a function to discharge. H is own good
consists in serv in g th e w hole of w hich he is a p a rt, and so social
service is the m eans of individual salvation. W liatever we learn
a n d w hatever we earn should be u tilised m ore for oth ers th a n
^02
LIFE OF A. KARIM
for self. O ur objective should be to relieve d istress, to allev iate
suffering, in a word, to ren d er happier, as fa r as in us lies, th e
lob of th e needy an d th e friendless.
“ L ife is m erely fo rth a n d bubble,
•
Two th in g s liye in stone,
K indess in a n o th e r’s trouble.
Courage in q p r ow n.”
J'A ccording to Islam by serving h u m an ity we serve God.
‘T here is no w orship b etter th a n th e service of G od’s c re a tu re s.’’
Islam does not enjoin, as som e people seem to th in k , re tire m e n t
from th e w orld w ith a view tq lead a solitary life fo r w orshipping
God. ^ n the contrary it requires th e M usalm ans to live in society
an^ devote th e ir life to social service. . . . Unless you s e t high;
ideals before j’ou and try to a c t u p to them , you "cannot be much
useful to society, \Vlien a n y ideal ap p ears to you too h ig h
rem em ber th a t th e first condition of its being attain ab le is th a t
y«u should believe it to be ^worthy of a ttain m en t. A good en d
can be attain ed only by good m eans. In fact th e chiftf criterio n
of a n act being good is th a t it ca*i be attain ed by good m eans.
I t is m ost desirable th a t a stro n g o rganisation of stu d en ts wereform ed for th e creation of a e s p ir it d e c o r p s an d a sense of
solidarity, for th e inculcation of rig h t ideas a n d ideals, for th e
protection of those who a re a p t to be led a stra y an d for th e form a­
tion of a stro n g public ojiinion am ong th e stu d en t com m unity
w hich would expose ra th e r th a n screen those whose c h a ra cte r
th ere m ig h t be reason to suspect................. In w hatever sphere your
lot is cast, w ith w hatever d u ty you are en tru ste d , n ev er beactuated by a m ercenary spirit. R em em ber w hole-hearted devo­
tion to duty is th e suvest way to success in life. Always try to
k e e p down your expenses; n ev er a d d unneces-sarily to -your require­
m ents. Our forefathers sought happiness by .self-denial, n o t byself-indulgence, by cu rta ilin g tlie w ants of anim al life, n o t by
increasing them , by su p p ressin g d esires n o t by g ratify in g th em .
In conclusion I would e x h o rt you to be tru e to your faith,
tru e to y our com m unity and tru e to y o u r country. R egard it as
a m ost fortunate circum stance a n d a proud privilege th a t you a re
b o m M usalm ans. Do n o t m erely ta lk of your relig io n , he n o t
PRRSIDKNT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MRETINGS
lO J
satisfied w ith loving it, a lv 'a y s t r y to liv e it. M ost practical a.
religion as Islam is, it is easier for th e M usalm ans to live it th a n
for th e followers of o th er religions to live th e irs. W liile firm in
your faith realise th a t your n eig h b ou r’s faith is as d ear to him
as yonr own is to you, an d rem em ber th a t theological h a tre d is a t
th e root of m uch m ischief in th is world. Be on th e m ost cordial
term s w ith your non-M uslim b re th rtn . By your w ords, by your
deeds, by y our m ap n ers a n d by your appearance always shpw
th a t you are proud to be recognifed as a M usalm an. The com­
m unity dhnnot feel proud of yon, nay it m ay have to feel asham ed
o f you, if you try to hide your Isla m ij iden tity by borrow ed dress,,
by uu-lslam ic habits, by o utlandish m anners.
G entlem en, I am very m uch obliged to you for giv in g n>e
such a p a tie n t h fe rin g . I h ad occasion to address larg er g ath e r­
ings, som e of th e A ll-India m eetings, b u t I assure you I never
h ad a m ore appreciative au dience” .
D uring M . A b d u l K a rim ’s «tay a t S y lh e t th e poef*
R a b in d ra n a th T a g o re , on h is w ay from S hillong to C alcutta
th ro u g h S y lh et, w as g iv en a h e a rty an d enthusiasticreception. H e h a lte d a t S y lh et fo r a few d ay s a n d was.
presen ted w ith a n address in a largely -atten d ed m eeting,,
o v er w hich M . A b d u l K arim presided. Since th e n th e
poet has been very frien d ly to him .
T h e last Educatirvffil C onference presided over b y MA bdul K arim w as th e A ll-B engal G overnm ent School
T ea c h e rs’ C onference, h eld a t H o w rah J n D ecem ber, 1 9 2 4 .
T h e presid en tial speech w as h ig h ly ^^p reciated b y th e
audience, m o stly com posed of school m asters, w h o cam e
from different d istric ts in B engal.
A n n u al Session o f M uslim League, 24-Parganas.
T he n rs t political m eetin g over w hich M aulavi A bdul
K arim presided w as th e a n n u al m eetin g of th e 2 4 -P a rg a n a s
D istrict M uslim L eag u e, h eld a t M ag rah at, in M ay 1 9 1 5 .
J04
LII’E OF A. KARIM
I n h is presidential speech M . A b d u l K arim first referred
tp th e d eath of th e la te N aw ab S ir S alim nllah an d th e late
M r. G okhale as follo w s: —
“ A s 'th e late N awab S ir S alim ullah was one of th e founders
•of th e M uslim League, of w hich yours is a branch, it is but
n atu ral th a t h is prem ature d eath should be m ourned by us on
th e first occasion we have m et a fte r th e u n fo rtu n ate occurrence.
Wfiile m any a N aw ab goes ijjown to th e ^ a v e ‘unw ept, unhououred a n d u n su n g ’, N aw ab S aliin u lla’s d eath has^ caused
w idespread grief in th e com m unity. T he cause is n o t fa r to seek.
Unlil^e m ost oth er Nawabs,* he h eartily identified him self w ith
all th a t concerned h is co-religionists and did all th a t h e could to
fiJrther th e ir interests. T here was scarcely a m ovem ent affecting
the in terests of the M ussulm ans in w hich he did n o t tak e a pro­
m inent p a rt. Possessed of h igh intelligence, ex trao rd in ary re ­
sourcefulness and uncom m on pow ers of conciliation a n d compro**nise, he exercised a w onderful influence over th e M usalm ans of
Rengal. The death of such a m an a t such a tim e, w hen th e com ­
m unity is passing th ro u g h a crisis* and follow ing closely upo n the
•demise of tw o of th e m aster m inds of M oslem India—Shibli and
H ali—who by th eir inim itable w ritin g s and speeches infused • a
new sp irit into th e ir co-religionists, cannot b u t be reg ard ed as
an irrep arable loss to tfie com m unity. I cannot th in k of any
•other person w ho can tak e th e unique position th e la te Nawab
•occupied, com m anding as he did th e h ig h e st esteem a n d deepestaffection of his co-religionists and enjoying a t tlie sam e tim e th e
u n stin ted tru s t an d confidence of G overnm ent. M ay I hope th a t
•our young m en in g tn e ra l and those of th e class to w hich the
late N aw ab belonged in p articu lar, would follow in h is footsteps
an d tr y to carry on th e good w ork he began. I t is very m uch
to be reg retted th a t practically n o th in g has y e t been done to p er­
petuate th e m em ory of such a m an .”
T hough not connected w ith any p articu lar ^Juham m adan
organisation a reference to th e prem atu re death of th e g re ate st
statesm an an d politician of m odem In d ia m ay n o t be out of place
a t th is m eeting. P erh ap s no o th e r In d ian of o u r tim e was so
w idely know n an d so hig h ly esteem ed for h is irreproachable
PRESIDENT OK A SSO aA lTO N S AND MEETINGS
I 05
-character, sw eet m an n ers, sym pathetic h ea rt, ph ilan th ro p ic sp irit
a n d unrivalled patriotism as w ell as for h is tow ering genius,
sound ju d g m en t an d g re a t self-sacrifice as th e late lam ented
Mr. G okhale. F ro m personal experience I am in a position to
say th a t to know h im was to love a n d respect him . *A g re at
patriot, in th e tru e st sense of th e term , h e dedicated h is whole
life an d consecrated a ll h is e n e rg ie s.to th e service of h is country,
The m ost distinctive characteristic of his d istinguished career was
th e w hole-hearted devotion a n d U nsurpassed thoroughness with
w hich he did w hatever he undertook to do. In fact he did not
know how to do a th in g half-heartedly or haphazardly. H is keen
sense of duty, his g re a t zeal, ex trao rd in a ry earn estn ess anfl u n ­
bounded enthusiasm for h is w ork called fo rth th e ad m iratio n of
friends and foe.s « lik e . T he invaluable .services ren d ered by him
in various spheres w hich cannot be over-estim ated, w ill be g ra te ­
fully rem em bered by his countrym en a n d ineffaceably w ritte n in
th e h isto ry o f m odern India. A good a n d g re at life such a j ,
G okhale’s tgaches a n object lesson ?hat is w orth stu dy in g and
■furnishes a n exam ple th a t is w orthy of im itation, th o u g h difficult
of em ulation. One d istin g u ish in g feature of G okhale’s public
career, w hich deserves .special m ention h ere, was th e spontaneous
sym pathy he h ad w ith tlie w an ts a n d asp iratio n s of com m unities
o th er th a n his own an d th e read y supp,ort he exten d ed to those
of th e ir m em bers w ho were in need of it. H e did h is b est to
prom ote frien d ly feelings betw een H in d u s and M usalm ans upon
whose com bination a n d (.(^operation, he rig h tly th o u g h t, depends
th e advancem ent of th e country. If h is exam ple in th is a n d other
resp ects w ere followed by h is countrym en, G okhale would n o t
.have lived in vain.
",
M . A b d u l K a rim concluded h is p resid en tial speech
:as fo llo w s : —
“ T he fifth a n d six th objects w hich your L eague h a s in view
a re to “ create a feeling of u n itv and am ity am ongst tlie M usalm ans
a n d to rnam tam frien dly relations w ith non-M oslem s.’’ I t pains
o n e to th in k th a t a feelin g o f u n ity an d am ity am ong th e followers
o f an essentially dem ocratic faith has yet to be created. But
Io 6
rjF E OF A. KARIM
this, u n fortunately, is a reg rettab le fact w hich has to be faced.........
As for unity, th e annual, w eekly, daily and alm ost hourly m e e tid g s of M usaltnans in m osques an d elsew here are a ll in ten d ed toserve this purpose. T hese would be m eaningless exhibitions if
they could not produce th e desired effect. T he rep o rts published
in th e M n h a m m a d i an d o th er papers of th e tre a tm e n t of theB a d ia s and o th er low class M usalm ans, w ho are n o t p erm itted'
even to join th e ir co-religionists of h ig h er so c ijl sta tu s in prayers,
clearly show hojv Islam is lositig its hold on th e M usalm ans o f
Bengal. As reg ard s th e relation of M usalm ans w ith tlftir nonM uslim neighbours, th e Q uranic inju n ctio n leaves no room fo r
doubf. P erh ap s no o th e r religion is as liberal as Islam as regards
tl^e relation of its follow ers w ith those of o th er religions. . . .
T he political in terests of th e H in d u s and M uslints of India are soidentical th a t hearty co-operation is essential fo r th e good of b o th
th e com m unities. I am g lad th is is being g radually recognised'
,]jy th e leading m em bers of both th e com m unities.”
T h e n e x t im p o rta n t political m eetin g over which'
M atilavi A b d u l K arim presided w as th e a n n u al session o f
th e B engal P resid en cy M uslim L eague held a t Jessore in'
M arch, 1 9 2 0 . A q u o tatio n from his p resid en tial speech h a s
been given in th e C h ap ter on K h ilafat. H e spoke a t somele n g th on th e proposed “ R eform Schem e” . T h e following,
is a sum m ary o f w h a t he said : — • ^
T h e R e fo r m S c h e m e .—T he m ost im p o rtan t political questiom
a t p resen t before th e public is th a t of refo rm in th e adm inistratioiv
of th e country. . . . . • * T he proposed reform s fall fa r sh o rt of our• requirem ents and still m ore so of our aspirations, and, therefore,,
th e dem and for a larg er m easure of n ationalisation an d dem ocratisation in th e adm in istratio n is necessary. The proposed schem e
does not go far enough, b u t as th e first in.stalm ent o f responsiblegovernm ent, I th in k , it deserves an h onest trial. *I w ish theC entral G overnm ent had a m uch stro n g e r rep resen tativ e e le m e n t
in it th an it is to have fo r th e p resen t. B ut I believe th a t w ith anelected m ajority in th e L egislative A ssem bly and th e Council o f
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
107'
S tate and w ith th re e In d ian s a s E xecutive Councillors re g re tta b le '
ev en ts like th e shooting a t Jallianw ala Bagh a n d th e passing of
repressive m easures like th e R ow lat Act will soon be th in g s of
th e past. T he p rivilege of veto a n d th e pow er of d ism issing the
m inisters an d ta k in g over th e tra n sferre d subjects into his own
h an d s are no doubt deadly w eapons in th e G overnor’s arm oury.
But I th in k he would be a bold nran indeed w ho would dare
ru n th e risk of w ielding th em freq u en tly in h is new surrounding^:
T ak in g these circum stances in to <ft>nsideration I e m of o p in io n '
th a t though th e reform s do no t g o to th e desired len g th , and
th o u g h constitutional ag itatio n fo r fu rth e r concessions should
continue, th e im portance of th e concessions already m ade should ’
*
not be b e little d .............
•
I t augurs w ell for th e success of th e schem e th a t th e AngloIn d ian com m unity, th o u g h v ehem ently opposed to it in its in itial ’
stage, have a t last accepted it as a settled fact a n d are p re p a re d ,
to ex ten d th ^ h an d of fellow ship and co-operation to th e people
of th e country..................I f th e tension of feeling on account of
th e race prejudice and dom ineering a ttitu d e of th e A nglo-Indian
com m unity ceases to exist, if th ey sym pathise w ith tlie aspirations
of th e people an d show th e ir readiness to accept th em as equal
p a rtn ers in th e ad m u iistratio n of th e co u n try , th e prevailing
* atm osphere of m istru st an d m isapprehension will soon clear u p •
an d th e re w ill be m utu al tru s t a n d confidence w ithout which
no efficient adm inistration* is possible.
As regards political m atters th e M usalm ans of In d ia should
be In d ian s first an d M usalm ans afterw ards.
J ’hey should heartily
co-operate w ith th e o th er com m unities in o rd e r to o btain political
pow ers and privileges. T he unw isdom of those who are against
concerted action even in m atters of com m on in terest, can n o t be
condem ned in too stro n g a language.
Besides the interestscomm on to all com m unities, th ere are m atters which concern the
different com m nnities individually. A fter th e comm on in terests
are secured, each com m unity should vigorously ex ert itself to
safeguard its special com m unal in terests. U nity betw een two
com m unities does not m ean th e effacem ent of th e individuality
Io 8
L IF E O F A. K A R IM
• or th e distinctive ch aracteristics of one o r th e o th er com m unity.
To com bine for securing comm on in terests and a t th e sam e tim e
to e x e rt for safeguarding o n e’s ow n in terests is th e rule of hum an
society. E v en in a fam ily brotliers fall o u t in try in g to severally
secure individual in terests while th ey n atu rally com bine an d co­
operate in gainin g jointly’ identical in terests from othei's.............
It is essentially necessary th a t th e M usalm ans of Bengal
should take all possible stejis to establish* th e ir com m unal im ­
portance and t*o secure th eir com m unal rig h ts com m ensurate w ith •
it. T his cannot be attain ed unless th e re is a n adequate and
• effective representatio n of ih e com m unity on all th e deliberative
an d adm inistrative bodies................. If th e conditions in In d ia had
iDcen th e sam e as those in E n g lan d , if th e people in th is country
had been divided m erely in to political p arties like tlie L iberals
and th e U nionists, b u t undivided in race, religion o r language,
if a com m unity here h a d stood for m ere political riv alries an d no t
’ for m ore substan tial intesests, th e question of coniniunal elec­
torates would not have ari.sen a t all. T h a t separate R epresentation
of com m unities, form ing the popfilation of th e sam e country under
th e sam e governm ent, is th eoretically an evil can n o t be denied.
B ut in a country w here th ere is so m uch diversity of race, reli­
gion, language, m an n ers a n d custom s, it is practically a necessary
and an unavoidable evil. U ntil the different com m unities are
highly advanced in education and en lig h ten jn en t an d u n til th e re *
is a sufficient developm ent of a spiri* of comm on civic responsi­
bility, com m unal rep resen tatio n is p erh ap s tlje safest an 'an g em en t
by which adequate and effective enfranchisem ent of im p o rtan t
com m unities, in terested in th e w elfare of th e country, can be
secured. A comm on electorate a t th is stage of political develop­
m ent m ight lead to th e practical d isfranchisem ent of som e weak
•commimites. I t would be superfluous to cite instances of th e
rep eated failures, th ro u g h sh ee r num erical inferiority, to get, in
spite of vigorous efforW, s o m e of th e b est qualified ^M uham madan
candidates elected a t the U niversity, M unicipal, D istrict B oard and,
. o th e r elections. T he M ussalm ans bein g entirely a t th e m ercy of
th eir educationally, politically a n d num erically morp_ pe,werful
neighbours, n aturally got sw am ped a t th e p o lling Ix jo th s . . . . . •
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
lOQ
But m ere aum erical stren g th w ill n o t a v a il; unless the rig h t
m en who can hold th eir ow n w ith th e rep resen tatives of o th er
com m unities, are re tu rn ed to th e Councils, th e in terests of t h e '
com m unity cannot but suffer. W e w ant rep resen tativ es who m ay,
by th e ir ability, en erg j', m oral courage a n d social position, tak e an
active an d in tellig en t p a rt in th e deliberations of th e bodies to
w hich th ey m ay be elected. W e d o n o t w an t m en who seek
election m erely for th ^ sake of self-interest o r self-aggrandisem ent^
and who, for w ant of adequate eduftition or a sufficient sense of
d u ty and tesponsibility, prove m ere figure-heads unable to m ake
th e ir presence felt by givin g articu late expression to th e opinions
a n d ideas of those whom th ey m ay pose to rep resen t. . , , *At
th is critical tim e th e com m unity requires m en of u n flin ch in g ,
m oral courage and tra n s p a re n t honesty. . . . H ith erto power and
patronage have been in th e han d s of a p a rty th a t h ad no personal
in te re st in m atters^ affecting the different com m unities and they
were generally speaking im p artial in th e ir dealings and decisions
u nless they ejj'ed for lack of required k n ow ledge or for w ant of
co rrect inform ation or w hen th e ^interests of the E uropean com­
m u n ity clashed w ith those of th e In d ian s. B ut w hen th e Indians
them selves w ill have to decide m a tte rs n atu rally every p a rty will
tr y to g et the lion’s share, an d th e w eaker p arty will have to
suffer. Som etim e ago a gentlem an, a fte r
v isit to th e W riters’
^Buildings a t C alcutta, is said to have rem arked th a t it seem ed
to h im as if it were a H in d u Z aiuindar’s cutchery w ith some
E u ro pean m anagers, w ho h.'Rl a few M uham m adan orderlies, and he
sh uddered to th in k of w h at will h ap p en w hen th e present
m an agers would leave. I do n o t th in k th e re is reason to blam e
any one except th e M ussulm ans them selves fo r <his sta te of things.
I t h a s all w orked out according to th e prev ailin g law’ of hum an
society. I cannot say if th e M ussalm ans liad th e sam e advan­
tages of w ealth, education and influence, th ey would not have
acted in a sim ilar m anner. W hat I am try in g to im press upon
}'Ou is ihut if yoir fail in futu re, as you have done in th e past,
to a ssert your rig h ts properly, your position will be, w hen the
adm inistrative changes will come in to operation, m uch w orse th an
w hat is now. In the changed circum stances you sim ply cannot
-•n o
LIFE OF A. KARIM
stan d still; eith er you m u st press forw ard o r slide backw ards.
I would e n tre a t you, w ith all th e earn estn ess I can com m and,
‘to realise th e im perative necessity of selecting fo r th is m ost
responsible w ork only such able, earn est a n d self-sacrificing men
as would rise above all personal a n d p arty feelings a n d would
work w hole-heartedly for th e good of th e com m unity and th e
country.
•
• The m ost irresponsible *tnanner in v^iich th in g s in th is
. connection have been done in tlie p ast, indicates ij political
lethargy a n d indifference o n th e p a rt of th e com m unity which
canpot but be u tte rly suicidal to its interests. Those w ho even
in en gaging a common m enial serv an t would m ake a hun d red
*bnd one enquiries as to h is character, honesty ^and capacity to do
the w ork th a t would be e n tru sted to him , would not, w hen
approached for th e ir votes, care to p u t even one question re g a rd ­
ing th e fitness of th e person th ey were bein g called upon to
* select for a w ork, w hich
th e m ost responsible from a com­
m unal po in t of view. T here was absolutely n o poli<^- o r principle
.according to w hich selection was*made. In these circum stances it
would not be a m a tte r of su rp rise if som e o f our b est m en fight
sh y of council elections. If you a re anxious to a v ert th e political
extinction of th e M ussalm ans of Bengal, you m ust b e stir yourselves
an d m ake th e best possible arran g em en ts fo r g e ttin g th e best
m en available to act as your represen tativ es. If you w ant to ‘
benefit by tlie elective system you sh o u ld see th a t those who
seek th e votes of th e electors m ake th e ir appeal to th em on
public grounds an d th a t they, in th e ir tu rn , give th e ir votes in
th e in terest of publfc good. You require a band of earn est and
en thusiastic young m en to go about all over th e P residency not
to canvass for individual candidates but to educate th e electorate,
to rouse th eir political consciousness, to aw aken th e ir sense of
political responsibility. T his is no easy task. S teady, earn est
and organised effort is necessary. R ealising th e ste rn reality of
the doctrine of th e survival of th e fittest a n d rem em bering th a t
it is entirely in your han d s to m ak e o r m ar th e p rospects o f your
.com m unity, you w ill, I hope, a t once se t about th is m ost im p o rtan t
;and u rg e n t w ork."
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
III
T h e follow ing is a sum m ary of w h at M aulavi A bdul
K a rim said reg ard in g th e C alcu tta U n iv e rsity : —
The proposals m ade by th e S ad ler Comm ission fo r placing
th e C alcutta U niversity o n a n efficient footing a n d for th e establish­
m e n t of a T eaching a n d R esidential U niversity a t Dacca, are of
a wide an d far-reaching cliaracter. . 'Che C om m ission’s diagnosis
of th e situation cannot be questioned, b u t th e rem edies propoged
to be prescribed are of doubtful Efficacy. I sh all n o t be a t all
su rp rised if th ey k ill ra th e r th a n cure. T heoretically th e Com­
m ission’s tecotnm endations a re no doubt v ery valuable, b u t I am
aiot certain th a t practically th ey will lead to an y th in g very useful,
a s they have been m ade w ith o u t due reg ard to the conditions q£
th e province a u d j.b e circum stances of its people. H ig h and lofty
ideals of education m ay be all very w ell fo r rich countries, b u t
th ey will n ot do for countries w here m an y of th e p a re n ts have to
s tin t them selves * even of th e necessaries of life in o rd er ta«
educate th e ir children. T he heavy financial burden w hich the
proposed changes w ill involve will place U niversity education
beyond the reach of m an y of th e m iddle class people. In th e
p resen t state of educational developm ent it is undesirable to sacri­
fice, to any g re a t ex ten t, surface fo r d ep th , and to spend available
funds m ore on consolidation th a n on expansion. Some education
certa in ly can no t be w orse th an no education. By checking the
w ide difiusion of education th e n orm al course of th e intellectual,
•social a n d political evolution o f th e people will be crippled and
cu rtailed . Few private colleges are likely to survive long if th e
In term ed iate classes are cut aw ay an d th e h ig h stan d ard s recom ­
m en d ed by tlie Comm ission are insisted upon. Besides, it will
be difficult for th e G overnm ent to provide a n additional annual
o u tlay of sixty-five lak h s w hen so much m oney will have to be
found for th e w orking of th e R eform Schem e. In th ese circum ­
stances it would be w ell to tre a t som e o f th e recom m euJaiions fo r
se ttin g u p lofty stan d ard s of perfection as a n ideal to be gradually
a tta in e d by instalm ents according as m eans are available.
A s for th e Dacca U niversity, w hich was originally intended
to serve as a sop to th e M ussalm ans of E a stern B engal for the
112
LIFE OF A. KARIM
extinction of th e Province in w hich they g reatly p rep o n d e rate d
an d consequently enjoyed special facilities for education, thosewho are w ell-acquainted w ith tlie poverty of th e people cannot
be alto g eth er deluded by th e attractiv e ideals of a resid en tial
university. T he nu m b er of M uham m adan stu d en ts who are in'
a position to av ail them selves of th e costly education provided in
a residential university, is d o t likely to be very large f o r the
p resent. T he cryin g need of th e country b e ^ g extensive educa­
tion, the ideal ‘arran g em en t would have been th e estab lish m en t
of a teach in g an d federal U niversity like th a t of Calcfltta, and'
b e st suited for th e diffusion, of know ledge over a wide a rea w ith
a large population. I th in k it would be superfluous to go intodetails of th e schem e a t th is stage. I h ad occasion to ex p ress m y
views in m y evidence before th e Comm ission. * One th in g abont
w hich I w rote ra th e r stro n g ly in m y m em orandum was th e need
o f rep resen tatio n o f th e com m unity on th e G overning bodies of
• t h e U niversities. I pointed^ o u t how th e in terests of th e M ussalm ans in th e C alcutta U niversity had grievously suffered fo r w ant
of adequate an d effective re p r^ e n ta tio n , th e re bein g o nly 7
M ussulm ans o u t of 110 Fellow s, not one of th em being a m em ber
of th e S yndicate. Since th e introduction o f th e elective system
in th e C alcutta U niversity n o t a single M uham m adan h a s everbeen re tu n ie d , altlio u g h 'c o ra p e te n t candidates w ere in th e field.
As a re su lt of th e dom in atin g influence of one p articu lar com­
m unity th e re was n o t a single M uhaim nadan o u t of 70 Lecturersin th e L aw College, n o t a single M uhaifttnadan {2 in Per.sian and
A rabic excepted) o u t of a larg e n u m b er of U niversity L ecturers,,
no t a single M uham piadan out of a larg e n u m b er of clerk s in;
th e offices of th e U niversity and only 9 M uham m adans out of 851
exam iners (the exam iners in A rabic, P ersian an d U rdu excepted)
ap p o in ted for th e different U niversity exam inations h eld during
th e previous year. I urged th a t th is deplorable sta te of things
called for early rem edy. Besides, I pointed o u t th a t no sch em e
of reconstruction, as in th e case of th e C alcutta U niversity, or
of construction, as in th e case of th e Dacca U niversity, could
be beneficial to all classes o f people fo r w hom th e U n iv e rs ity
was in ten d ed unless th eir special w ants and requirem ents, th e ir
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCI.\TIONS AND MEETINGvS
p eculiar defects and disabilities, th e ir conflicting ideals
in terests were ta k e n in to due co n sid eratio n .”
113
and
T h e th ird im p o rta n t political m eeting over w hicli
M aulavi A b d u l K arim p resided w as th e fifth sessioh of th e
S urm a V alley C onference h eld a t S y lh e t in Septem ber,
1920.
I t w as v ery larg ely a tten d ed b y delegates from
different p a rts o f S y lh e t and some S y lh e t g en tlem en rc ‘»idin g in C alcutta, su c h as th e late M r. Bepifi C hu nder P al
an d Dr. S u n d a ri M o h an Das. I t w as visited b y th e th e n
C hief C om m issioner o f A ssam , fhe la te S ir B eatson •Bell,
an d th e D ep u ty C om m issioner of S y lh et, M r. Daw soq.
M . A bdul K atim b eg an h is p resid en tial speech by a
reference to th e d e a th of th e late M r. T ilak . H e said : —
‘‘Before passfcg o n to th e subjects proposed to be discussed^
a t th is conference I should mciitidli the irrep arab le loss th e
country has su.stained by th e death of L okm anya T ilak, one of
th e th ree selfles.s, self-denying %nd self-sacrificing In d ian p atrio ts
of th e tim e. T he brilliance a n d v ersatility of his intellect, th e
pu rity and sim plicity of h is p riv ate life, h is irreproachable
character, inexhaustible energy, indom itable courage, and, above
all, his fearless independence an d g enuine love of country, called
fo rth th e adm iration of frien d and foe alike. A g re a t p atrio t as
h e was, he dedicated his*»Iife, and consecrated his energies and
abilities to the service of th e m otherland. P erh ap s no o th e r m an
of our tim e suffered so m uch a n d so u n g ru d g in g ly fo r h is country
a s did th e late M r. T ilak . In fact h is w»s a life of sufferings
an d sacrifices. F o r about a q u arte r of a century, since 1897, h e ,
was persecuted w ith a relen tlessn ess w hich raised him to a
m artyr, b u t he did not fo r a m om ent sw erve a n inch from w hat
he considered to be th e p a th of d uty a n d rectitu d e. H e was
reg ard ed as^ th e guide, frien d and philosopher ot all classes of
people, u iij he enjoyed, fo r over a q u a rte r of a cen tu ry , an
am ount of popularity whicli p erh ap s it h as no t been th e lo t of
any o th er In d ian of his tim e to enjoy. H is life-long services in
th e national cause, ren d ered in a sp irit o f exem plary self-sacrifice
ri4
LIFE OK A. KARIM
a u d a t m uch personal suffering, will be, I need scarcely say,
g ratefu lly rem em bered by h is countrym en. A life such as T ilak ’s
is a n in sp irin g object-lesson w hich is w ell w orth stu d y in g , and
it furnishes an exam ple th a t is w orthy of im itation, though
difficult of em ulation. I hope an d tru s t o u r young m en would
follow in the footsteps of th is g re a t m an, an d th e re w ould arise
scores of T ilaks to serve thtf c o u n try .”
• M. A b d u l
u n ity :—
K arim
th e n
spoke
ui
H indu-M iislim
“ T he first item in any program m e of econom ic a n d political
recouiitruction of In d ia ,” he said, “ m u st be based on u n ity am ong
th e im p o rtan t com m unities in h ab itin g tlits country. O m it i t and
ybu do away w ith all hopes of In d ia ’s fu tu re. T he tr u th of the
ad ag e ‘u nited we sta n d a n d divided we fa ll’ h as now here been so
w ell illu strated as in th is u n fortunate country, l-rom tim e
im m em orial, as a reference to histo ry will shew , disunion and
*3iscord have been th e caus® of m ost of its m isfortunes. If India
• could have presented a u n ited fro n t to its invader^, its history
would have been alto g eth er differelft from w h at it is. The political
revival of any. p artic u la r com m unity in In d ia , a p a rt from th a t
of others, is a n idle dream . The recognition of th e political
status of th e people unless dem anded by tliem in a body is an
u tte r im possibility. I t is a m a tte r of m uch satisfaction to me
th a t th is is not a conference of any p artic u la r section of the
p eo p le; i t is a conference co n sistin g * ^ ! th e rep resen tativ es of
both th e im portant com m unities in th e d istrict. T he fact th a t
social cordiality an d solidarity have n ev er been m uch disturbed
in th is di.strict and rfhe exchange of social am en ities betw een
, H in d u s and M usalm ans has all along been of com m on occurrence
is a m a tte r for m uch congratulation, indicating as i t does th e good
sense of th e people.
To m y m ind it would be im possible to achieve th e economic
an d political salvation of In d ia unless and u n til all th e im portant
c o m m u n i t i e s closely com bine and h e a rtily co-operate fo r the
com m on good of th e m otherland. I t is indeed a hap p y sign of
th e tim es th a t H ind u s and M ussalm ans have realised th e im pera­
tive necessity of peace and goodwill am ong them selves, an d their
I’R iiSID EN 'r OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
II
5
lead ers a re ex e rtin g th e ir b e st to b rin g ab o u t th e wished-for
un ity . The reg rettab le incidents in the P u n jab , a n d th e troubles
in connection w ith th e K hilafat, have b ro u g h t th e tw o com m atiities m uch closer th a n th ey had ever been before. W ho ever
th o u g h t th a t H in d u s would show such genuine enthusiasm in
w elcom ing M ussalm an leaders, and ^M ussalm ans would show the
sam e feelings in th e reception of H indu leaders as we have
lately w itnessed ? 'Phis, I need scarcely say, m ark s a new epoch in
th e public life of th e people and augurs a b rig h t fu tu re fo r the
country. T here is already an A ll-India m ovem ent fo r w orking
up a solid reunion of H ind u s a n d itfiissalraans upon a common
political platform . T h e u n ity of th e tw o g re a t com m unities is
indeed the g reatest asset to th e political fu tu re of India. I t shoulJi
be adopted by alf as th e first article of political creed, and n o t
a s a m ere m a tte r of political expediency. T et us alw ays bear in
m ind th a t it is only by m u tu al tru s t a n d m utual co-operation
betw een th e H indus an d M ussalm an* th a t the destiny of India
ca n be achiet-ed, an d le t th e re be a re a l unity of h e a rts as w ell
a s of heads, a u nity bred of m utual love and tru st, and free from
a ll traces of suspicion a n d d istru st.
• M aulavi A b d u l K arim devoted a con<5iderable portion
o f his speech to th e q uestion of “ ? 'ra n sfe r o f S y lhet to
B engal” w h ich w as a t th a t tim e b e in g k een ly discussed.
^Vhcn th e la te M r. M «<itagu cam e to C alcutta, M aulavi
A bdul K a rim w aited u p o n him a t th e G overnm ent H ouse
w ith a d ep u tatio n from S y lh e t, consisting of th e late M r.
K am iiii K u m a r C handa, th e late M r. V \adhabinode Das,
th e la te M r. H a re n d ra C h an d ra S in h a, th e la te M r. N agend ra n a th C h a u d h u ry an d o thers. T h e A ssam deputation,
led by th e late M r. G han ash am B an ia, waa. also th e re at
th e tim e and opposed S y lh c t’s tra n sfe t. T h e follow ing is
a sum m ary of w h a t M aulavi A b d u l K arim said on th is
s u b je c t: —
“ One of th e provincial questions w hich has been exercising
±lie m inds of m ost of the people of S ylhet is th e re-union of th e ir
Il6
LIFK OF A. KARIM
d istric t w ith B engal. My views re g a rd in g th is question are
perhaps too w ell-known to need detailed discussion. I th in k I
am too old and too n ear th e grave to be sw ayed by an y m otive
o th er tl» n th e good of my co untry in discussing th is or any
oth er m atter. If I had n o t been th oroughly convinced th a t it
would be th e b e st in terests of th e people of m y d is tric t to be
under the sam e adm inistratioV as th e ir k ith a n d k in in B engal,
certainly I would n o t have tak^ n so p ro m in e a t a p a rt, as I took,
in th e d eputation th a t w aited upon th e R ig h t H onourable th e
Secretary of S ta te a n d H is E xcellency th e V iceroy w ith a view'
to ui;ge th e desirability of S y lh et’s re-union w ith Bengal. From
tim e iraniem orial S y lh et was politically, as it has alw ays beengeographically, a p a rt and parcel of Bengal. D u rin g th e
M uham m adan rule it was included in th e Subah of B engal and
shared th e fiscal system of T o d a n n a l.............
*•
V arious are th e wa 3’s in w hich th e people of S ylhet have
suffered on account o f th e ir separation from th e advanced P residencv of Bengal. In fact th e ^ b ject w ith w hich S y lh et was
tra n sfe rre d to Assam involved a g re a t inju stice to th e people of
th is d istrict, who were called upon to co n trib u te a disproportionate
sh are of th e expen d itu re of a poor Province. T h a t th e people
of S y lh et did not acquiesce in such a n ad m in istrativ e a rran g e ­
m en t is evident from th e fact th a t th ey stro n g ly protested
ag ain st it in a m em orial d ated th e 10th A ugust, 1874. H ad public
opinion been as stro n g th en as it is n*w, w hen m an y a settled
fact has to be u n settled in deference to it, th e grievances of th e
people of S ylhet would have been redressed w ith o u t much delay.
T h irty years in a b ack w ard Province stu n ted th e public life
of S ylhet an d checked th e grow th of progressive political Ideasan d ideals. I t was w ith a sigh of relief th a t th e people of Sylhet
again found them selves in th e free atmo.sphere of a liberallyadm inistered Province w hen, in 1905, th e Province of E a ste rn
B engal an d Assam was form ed. B ut fate was a g a iu st th e m ; in
less th a n a decade th ey were again placed u n d er the^ Assam
ad m inistration, and were th u s deprived of som e of th e rig h ts
and privileges they enjoyed in Bengal. O n th e dissolution o f
th e Province of E astern B engal a n d A ssam , th e people of S y lh et
I’RESIDENT o n ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
II7
su b m itted a m em orial to H is E xcellency th e Viceroy, pointing
o u t th a t in accordance w ith th e policy of u n itin g th e B engali­
sp eak in g districts in to one consolidated u n it, form ulated by th e
G overnm ent of India D espatch, S y lh et should have beeii^ retained
in Bengal, to w hich it belongs geographically, ethnologically and
linguistically. I t was fu rth e r pointed o u t th a t S y lh et has the
sam e judicial an d revenue system s « s Bengal, th a t its recognised
■court language is Bengali, w hich is spoken by m ore th a n 9 0 jjc r
•cent of its in h ab itan ts, th a t th e*B eugali-speaking population of
Sylhet h nearly as larg e as th a t of th e neighbouring districts
o f T ippera an d M ym ensingh, th a t th e social relations of both
respectable H indus an d M usalm aus of S y lh et are w ith th eir
neighbours in th e d istric ts of Bengal, a n d n o t w ith th e peopje
of A ssam , th a t tltere is th e closest intellectual, m oral a n d sp iritu al
k in sh ip betw een S ylhet a n d th e re s t of B engal, a n d th a t the
•affinities of a com m on religion, language and lite ra tu re and
com m on intellectual asp iratio n s form a n indissoluble bond
union betw een th e people of S y lh et an d th e ir countrym en in
B engal. . . . T he M usalm ans jiav e a p articu lar reason to desire
th is re-union. T hey a re in a m inority in A ssam w hereas they
w ill be in a m ajo rity in Bengal. T his will be a very g rea t
adv an tag e to them as in fu tu re th e m ajo rity will have in th e ir
h a n d s th e control of affairs in th e countty.
D u rin g th e last tw o decades th in g s have entirely c h a n g e d ;
•education h as m ade rapid* strides in Assam and th e people have
aw aken ed to a sense of tlieir com m unal im portance a n d privileges.
A cry h as already been raised th a t Assam is for th e A ssam ese,
a n d th e people of S ylh et a re being graduaily elbowed o u t of the
A ssam Services. In A ssam th ey are disowned as outsiders a n d ,
w hen th ey go to B engal th ey are disowned as A ssam ese. W here
th en are they to g o ? T h ere is no prospect of th e S u n n a Valley
e v e r being a self-contained u n it of adm inistration w ith even,'th in g necessary for th e protection a u J progress of th e people.
In Lljcae circum stances is it a t all unreasonable on th e p a rt of
th e people of S ylhet to ag ita te for g ettin g such a deplorable
s ta te of th in g s rem edied ? Should S y lh et continue to m in ister to
th e w ants of Assam w hile h e r in h ab itan ts are to be depriv'ed
Il8
LIFE OF A. KARIM
of th e valued rig h ts a n d privileges th e ir neighhours in B engal
are to enjoy u nder th e R eform Schem e ? All th ese facts have
to be ta k e n in to serious consideration in deciding th e fate of
S y lh et.”
M aulavi A bdul K arim th e n a tten d ed tw o an n u al
sessions of th e A ll-India M uslim L eag u e h eld a t L ucknow ,
one u n d e r th e p residency of th e late S ir Syed A li Im am
and th e o th e r, u n d er th e p rtsid en cy of tTie late N aw ab S ir
Z ulfiquar A li. H e took an active p a rt in th e pro ceed in g s
of b o th of th ese conferences.
•
W h en th e tw e n tie th an n u al session o f th e A ll-In d ia
J iu slim L eag u e was held at C alcu tta in P eceiu b er, 1 9 2 8 ,
M aulavi A b d u l K arim was elected C hairm an of th e recep­
tion com m ittee. H e delivered a long speech w hich was
•ap p reciated b y th e Pre.“^ d e n t of th e conference, th e late
K aja S ah eb of M ahm udabad, by M r. Jin n a h , M io opened
th e proceedings and by th e Iftrge audience, consisting of
delegates from all p a rts of In d ia. T h e w hole speech w as
p u b lish ed in a sup p lem en t b y th e A m rita B azar Patrik'a.
T h e follow ing is a siunm ary of th e im p o rta n t p o rtio n s of
th e speech ; —
‘‘I need hardly say th a t th e M usalm aus of B engal are g ratefu l
to M uslim India for honouring th e ir province by selectin g it a s
th e venue of th e p resen t epoch-m aking session o f the p rem ier
political organisation *of th e com m unity in India. S tan d in g a t
th e p artin g of ways* we m u st a t th is session m ake deliberate,
courageous and far-reaching decisions reg ard in g th e fu tu re con­
stitu tio n and governance of India, a n d of M uslim statu s a n d
share in th e sam e. I t was in th e fitness of th in g s also th a t on
such a critical occasion which will, in all probability, prove a
lan d m ark in th e histo ry of m odern India, all th e m ost im portant
a n d representative political and o th er associations of different
shades of opinions an d persuasions .should have m et to g eth er
in th is historic city, w hich m ay be reg ard ed as th e fountain-head
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND aiEETINGS
II
9
of adm inistrativ’e evolution, as it has larg ely been th e b irth ­
place of political free-th in k in g an d of n ational asp iratio n s and
strivings in India.
Upon th e resu lts of your deliberations, g en tlem en ,^d ep en d s
th e fu tu re of M uslim In d ia an d to a larg e e x te n t th e destiny
o f M other In dia itself. I t is extrem ely to be reg retted , therefore,
th a t som e forces are a t w ork to *divide th e political stren g th
of tlie M usalm ans
In d ia a t a tim e w hen th e vital in terests
both of th e com m unity a n d the country require tlia t th ere should
be solid*unanim ity. I need hard ly say th a t if a fte r due delibera­
tions by all parties concerned, th e , legitim ate dem ands of th e
com m unity are not united ly , clearly an d definitely p u t forw ard,
th e M uslim cause will be g reatly jeopardised. I am afraid peop^p
have been fightiflg over a shadow before g ettin g th e substance.
U ntil th e required political rig h ts a re actually .secured, the
question of th e if division cannot arise. F ran ch ise, electorate,
representation, n ay even services and o th er k in d red question%«
a re to be considered only in reference to responsible self-govern­
m ent. T hey have no value
significance of th e ir own until
th is is attain ed . T he prim ary an d jo in t aim o f all p arties for
th e p resen t should, therefo re, be th e a ttain m en t of th e govern­
m en t of th e people b y th e people and fo r th e people. Whe3i
th is is secured, I do n o t th in k th ere would be insurm ountable
difficulties reg ard in g th e ad ju stm e n t of th e claim s of different
.communities. F ailu re to ^om e to a m u tu al u n d erstan d in g would
only prove o u r incapacfty to rule. O ne o u tstan d in g fact th a t
should never be lo st sig h t of is th a t unless a u n ited dem and by
a ll p arties is vigorously p ushed forw ard, it would be futile to
talk of self-governm ent. All our rig h te o u s an d justifiable zeal
to protect m inority
or
special in terests should on no account *
b lind us to th is one vital a n d essential fa c t a n d facto r in In d ia ’s
fight for freedom .
■Rpf-rc f)a»t,ing on to th e subjects th a t m ay have to be
discussed a t th is session of th e L eague, I m u st refer to the
irreparable loss w hich ^ th e com m unity a n d th e country have
sustained by the death of M r. Syed A m eer All, one of th e m ost
illustrious sons of m odern India. H e m ig h t be called the fath er
120
L IF E O F A. K A R IM
o f M uslim political organiRation in Bengal, .\f te r h is retu rn
from E n gland early in th e eighties of th e last cen tu ry , he
founded th e
first M uslim political association in th is province,
w hich fo f a long tim e did m uch useful w ork in fu rth e rin g the
cause of th e com m unity. A fter h is retire m en t to E n g lan d he
w as in tim ately connected w ith th e London b ranch of th e M uslim
Iveogue,
•
#M odern B engal h as n o t produced anothe» M uslim o f Ameer
A li’s calibre an d character. E ndow ed w ith exceptional qualities
of h ead an d heart, he soon m ade h is m ark in h is ow n sphere
of a c tiv ity ; an d by d in t of ability and industry' he rose to some
of th e h ig h est offices to w hich, u n d er th e p resen t circum stances,
a , native of India could aspire. H e did all th a t he could for
th e u plift of his countrym en. A lthough away* from In d ia for
m any years, th ere w’as h ard ly any question of public im portance
affecting th e interests of th e laud of h is b irth J n w hich he did
o o t tak e a keen an d activ^ interest.
•
T he invaluable services th a t A m eer Ali rendered to th e
c au se of Islam an d th e M uslim s %re p erh ap s too w ell-know n to
need recapitulation. By h is m asterly w orks, such as th e H istory
of th e Saracens and th e S p irit of Islam , w hich g ain ed him
u n d y in g fam e an d w ould outlive th e ravages of tim e, he im pressed
upon th e w orld th e great* beauties of Islam a n d th e unparalleled
progressive religious fervour w ith w hich th e P ro p h et of A rabia
in sp ired his followers. Besides, he suocessfully refu ted th e u n ­
founded charges b rought ag ain st Islam by its unscrupulous
calum niators. H e took a very p ro m in en t p a rt in th e R ed
C rescent Societies th « i w ere founded fo r th e relief of sufferers
a t th e tim e of th e ifalkan an d o th er wars.
T he in.Rpiring lesson w hich such a life teaches should n o t be
lost. T he younger generation would do well to carry on the
noble w ork which he began—th e w ork of d isin terested service
to Islam and its followers.
•
I t is indeed In d ia ’s m isfortune th a t a t th is critical jun ctu re
in h e r history, w hen h e r political horizon is so m uch overcast
w ith om inous clouds, h e r g re a t sons are p assin g aw ay one after
a n o th e r. We have to m ourn also th e loss of a prince am ong
P R E S ID E N T O F ASSOCIATIONS AND M E E TIN G S
121
m en, know-n as th e ‘‘Lion of th e P u n ja b ,” whose whole life
was one of u n in terru p te d stru g g le fo r freedom and of fearless,
if overzealous, fight fo r m oral a n d sp iritu al reform s. T he tragic
circum stances connected w ith h is sudden a n d p rem ature d eath
have cast a deep gloom a ll over th e country a n d have rou.sed
g reat indignation am ong th e people. T h ere is hard ly any one
in th e P unjab, or p erh ap s even i n ‘th e whole of In d ia, who can
fill L ala L ajp at R aijs place. P erh ap s no o th er m an of our tiyie,
w ith th e exception of IvOkamanya*Tilak, suffered «so m uch an d so
u ngrudiflgly for th e sake of th e m o therland, as did th is u n daunted
p atrio t. H is inexhaustib le en erg y , indom itable courage, fearless
independence an d unfailin g s p irit of service and self-sacrifice
call forth th e adm iratio n of frien d s a n d foes alike. The lifglong services w hich he ren d ered to th e n atio n al cause a t much
personal sacrifice, w ill ever be g ratefu lly rem em bered ihrongho u t th e land. The d e ath of such a m an a t such a tim e is
n o th in g sh o rt of a calam ity fo r th e country. I t is hoped tlny^
h is noble %xample w ould be im itated an d em ulated by h is
countrym en.
^
I should n o t close th is o bituary notice w ithout refe rrin g to
th e passing aw ay, since we m et last, of a n o th er illustrious son
•of In d ia, who excelled all o th ers in h is p articu lar sphere of
activity. L ord S inha w as pre-em inentfy a self-m ade m an. By
sh e e r d in t of his ex trao rd in ary abilities and w hole-hearted devo•tion to duty he rose to * su ch h ig h offices as In d ian s could not
asp ire to u n d er th e B ritish ru le. A sober politician as he was,
he believed th a t th e political salvation of th e country could
be achieved by evolution ra th e r th a n l«y revolution and he
deprecated th e im petuous actio n of im p a tie n t idealists. T h e^
country could ill spare him a t a tim e w hen its old constitution
is in th e m elting-pot a n d counsel of rep resen tativ es of various
shades of opinion h as to be requisitioned in form ing a new one.
A s p i r a t i o n s o f I n d i a ’s I n t e l li g e n t s i a .—The dem an d for political
rig h ts by th e in tellig en tsia of In d ia is n eith er u n n a tu ra l nor
unreasonable. In a n age w hen self-rule an d self-determ ination
have been th e o rd er of th e day an d w hen even a sem i-civilised
people like th e I ’hillipinos, h av in g h ard ly any history a n d tradi-
122
JvIFE OF A. K A R IM
tion w orth th e uam e, have been clam ouring fo r self-governm ent,
it is but n atu ral th a t th e descendants of tw o highly civilised
races whose religion, philosophy, lite ra tu re a n d ju risp ru d en ce
ex to rted th e u n stin te d adm iratio n of th e w orld, should be anxious
for effective participation in th e ad m in istratio n of th e ir own
country. Besides, the aw akening o f political consciousness in
In d ia is an inevitable conse<}uence of W estern education. T his
wag not unanticipated by those w ho h ad a Ii^tnl in its introduc­
tion. Macaulay,* who was one of th e g re a test advocates of
E n g lish education in India, w rote in th e year 1833, “ I t ’m ay be
th a t th e public m ind in In d ia m ay ex p an d under our system till
it has outgrow n th a t system , th a t by good gov ern m en t we may
educate our subjects in to a capacity for b etter governm ent, th a t
by having been instru cted in E u ro p ean know ledge, th e y m ay in
som e fu tu re age dem an d E uropean in stitu tio n s. W h eth e r such
a day w ill ever come I know not. B ut n ev er y il l I a tte m p t to
^ ’e rt or re ta rd it. W henever it comes it w ill be th e p roudest
day in E nglish history. To have found a g re a t pcof>Ie su n k in
th e low est depths of slavery and ^superstition, to have so ruled
th em as to have m ade th em desirous and capable of all th e
privileges of citizens, would indeed be a title to glory all o u r
ow n.” O n another occasion, in a m om ent of inspiration,
M acaulay is reported to h av e said, “ W e shall n ev er consent to
stupefy an d paralyse a g re at people whom God h as com m itted
to our charge, for th e w retched purjKJse of ren d erin g them
m ore am enable to o u r con tro l.”
•
These are noble a n d statesm anlike sen tim ents w orthy of
th e B ritish nam e and ch ara cte r. Does it n o t indicate b an k ru p tcy
of B ritish statesm auslfip th a t tlrere should be vigorous opposition
by th e present w iser descendants of those far-sighted statesm en
w hen Indians, in stru cted in E u ro p ean know ledge, a re dem anding
E uropean in stitu tio n s, a n d full rig h ts of B ritish citizen sh ip and
self-governm ent ? I t is hoped th a t th e unscrupulous efforts for
“ av ertin g o r re ta rd in g ” th e reasonable dem and fo r responsible
self-governm ent would prove u tte rly futile.
E nglish education was in tended to create and preserve
loyalty an d security for B ritain. T liat th is object was attain e d is
I
'V.
P R E S ID E N T O F A S S O C U T IO N S AND M E E TIN G S
125-
borne out by th e G overnm ent of India. In a D espatch dated so
late as 8th. June, 1880 it w as stated “ To th e m inds of a t least
th e educated am ong th e people of In d ia—an d th e ir nu m b er is
rapidly increasing—an y idea of th e suberversion of B ritish power
is a b h o rre n t.” I believe th e loyalty an d security procured th ro u g h
K nglish education w ould have been retain ed b u t fo r th e sh o rt­
sigh ted policy of th e narrow -m inded B ritish statesm en of th e
p resent day like L o rd B irkenhead. P erh ap s it is n o t y et too late
to undo th e m ischief com m itted b? th e p u rsu it of»such a blun der­
ing policy. T hat th e efforts to stem th e n a tu ral tide of pro g ress
due to th e spread of w estern education would be futile was pro­
phetically foreshadow ed by several far-sighted B ritish statesm en.
John B right w rote, “ T here a re th ousands o f persons in Indm
com petent to tak e any position in w hich th e G overnm ent may
choose to advance th e m
you would have begun to unite theG overnm ent w ith th e governed ; an d unless you do th a t, noG overnm ent will be safe, an d any h u rrican e m ay ov ertu rn it or^
throw it itijo confusion.” S ir Joh?i M alcolm , a G overnor of
Bombay, w rote, “ If th ese plan s of sp read in g instru ctio n are n o t
associated w ith th e creatio n of d uties th a t will em ploy th e m inds
w hich we enlighten , we sh all only p rep are elem ents th a t will
h asten th e destructio n of our E m p ire. T he m oral evil to us does
not th u s stan d alone. I t carries w ith j t its nem esis—th e ^eedsof th e destruction of th e E m p ire .” L ord H a rtin g to n , afterw ards
D uke of D evonshire, w rote. “ I t is n o t wise to educate th e people
of In d ia, to introduce am ong th e m your civilisation a n d progress
an d your literature, an d a t th e sam e tim e to te ll th em th ey
should never have a n y chance of ta k in g a n y p a rt o r sh are in
th e ad m in istratio n of th e affairs o f th e ir country, except by th e ir
g ettin g rid in th e first instan ce of th e ir E uropean ru le rs.” Sir*
W illiam H u n te r, a B engal C ivilian an d a Vice-Chancellor of th e
C alcutta U niversity, w rote, “ I do n o t believe th a t a people
n u m bering one-sixth of th e in h a b itan ts of th e globe, and whose
aspirations have been nouri.shed from th e ir earliest youth on th e
stro n g food of E n g lish lib erty , can be perm an en tly denied a
voice in th e govern m en t of th e ir co u n try
F o rty years h ere­
a fte r we should have a n In d ian Irela n d m ultiplied fifty-fold on
124
L IF E O F A. K A R IM
our liaucl,”
L o td C rom er, once a m em ber of t\ie V iceroy’s
Council, w rote, “ I t is only w hat o u g h t to Iw ex pected by every
th o u g h tfu l m an th a t a fter fifty y ears of free press a n d th irty
years of ex p an d in g education, w ith E uropean ideas flowing into
the country on every side, a n d old indigenous custom s, habits
and prejudices break in g down, changes should be ta k in g place
in th e th o u g h ts, d esires and th e aim s of the in tellig en t and
educated m en of th e country w hich no wise iyid cautious G overn­
m en t can afford, to disregard, t n d to w hich th ey m u st gradually
ad ap t th e ir system of ad m in istratio n if th e y do n o t w ish to see
it sh attere d by forces w hich th ey have them selves called into
b e in ^ but w hich th ey have failed to guide a n d c o n tro l.”
, T here would have been no g round for com p lain t if th ere
prevailed now the B ritish in stin ct a n d principfe w hich induced
the politicians of those days to give expression to th e views
quoted above. I t is a m isfortune both fo r In d ia a n d E n g lan d th a t
•tfie B ritish public in th e ir policy tow ards In d ia should be guided
not by th e broad-m inded and far-sig h ted statesnfen, I have
quoted, m ost of whom had as in tim ate a know ledge of In d ia as
any living B ritisher, b u t by S ydenham s, O’D w yers a n d re­
actionaries of th eir type. Is it too m uch to hope th.at th e B ritish
people w ill realise th e ir responsibility a n d av ert, before it is
too late, th e dire consequences, so o utspokenly forecasted, by
ad o p tin g a generous policy in th e ir tre atm e n t of In d ia ? W ill
they raise th e people of In d ia to th e poijition of th e Self-G overning
Colonies, m ak ing th e E m p ire a g re a t Fecfhratiou of equal p artn ers,
or will they drive them , in u tte r d esp air of B ritish good sense
an d good faith, to s e t them selves to w ork to find m eans, active
o r passive, open or secret, to “ g e t rid o f th e ir E uropean ru le rs” ,
• as indicated by Lord H a rtin g to n ? T he fu tu re of In d ia and
p erhaps also of th e B ritish E m p ire depends on th e answ ers to
these queries.
E c o n o m ic D is tr e s s o f th e M a s s e s . —“ If change in th e system
of governm ent is necessary fo r th e satisfaction of th e legitim ate
aspirations of th e intelligentsia, it is still m ore necessary for the
relief of th e economic distress which th e m asses have been
suffering from . The E a st In d ia Com pany w hich was form ed for
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
125
th e purposes of trad e alone, quietly and hon estly carried on
th eir business d u rin g th e M usalm an rule in In d ia. But -when
on th e disruption of th e M ughal K nipire, th e E n g lish m erchants
acquired territo ria l possessions, g reed becam e th e ir o n e , passion.
All th a t they were anxious fo r was m onopoly of trad e and
exercise of political power. U nlike th e ir predecessors, who
settled in th e country a n d stro v e * to b e tte r its condition, the
E a st India Compan;^ decided to ru le In d ia from E n g lan d an d . to
exploit its resources for th e b en e^ t o f th e ir own ‘country. W liile
th e M tisalm ans got dom iciled in India, th ey sp en t in th is country
tlie reveitue th ey raised here a n d utilised th e services of caj>able
H indus, som e of w hom were appointed to th e h ig h est adm in istra­
tive posts, both civil and m ilitary, b u t th e E n g lish poHtico-oonv
niercial ad v en tu r^ .s preferred to rem ain foreigners, to sp en d th e ir
incom e in th e ir own land and to ad m in ister th e co untry by th e ir
own m en. T h u s w as In d ia fleeced in o rd er to enrich E ngland.
C ontem porary E n g lish literatu re, as w ell as th e D espatches and*
O rders of tfec C ourt of D irectors tSem selves, b ear am ple and
unim peachable testim o n y to tj^e iniquities and exploitations of
early B ritish ru le in India. I t was not, therefore, a fact th a t
th e B ritish Indian E m p ire was founded for co nferring th e bless­
in g s of civilisation on th e people of India by benevolent autocrats
who claim ed to be th e tru ste e s of th e masses.
I n pursuance of th e ir policy of exploitation some of the
officers did not scruple to^§xtort m oney from th e people by m eans
fa ir o r foul. T here was Thus a good deal of oppression a t tim es.
T he B ritish P arliam en t, how ever, condem ned th e m isdeeds of
th e unscrupulous officers and took step s to ^ h e c k th em w henever
these w-ere brought to th e ir notice. B ut w*lien, a fte r th e Sepoy
M utiny, In d ia passed from th e Com pany to th e Crown, th e old
com m ercial sp irit an d economic exploitation policy continued,
even though th e perso n al violence an d inju stice and flagrant
expropriations of th e E a st In d ia C om pany’s Nabobs were largely
stopped. T he resu lt w as th e g rad u al im poverishm ent of the
people, in spite of th e developm ent of som e of th e n atu ral
resources of th e country . M illions of th e In d ia n m asses, whose
ancesto rs h ad plenty to eat, are now unable to provide them selves
126
L IF E O F A. K A R IM
w ith tw o m eals a day. T his is th e re sn lt of foreign ru le. T ruly
did M acaulay say, ‘‘Of all form s of ty ra n n y the w orst is th a t of a
n ation over a natio n , th e heav iest of all yokes is th e yoke of
th e straflg er.”
A fter carefully exam in in g an elaborate record of a n in e y ears'
(1807 to 1816) survey a n d enquiry into th e conditions of the
people of som e districts, M r. M ontgom ery M artin observed, “ It
is "nipossible to, avoid m arkinjf tw o facts as* peculiarly strik in g
—first, th e richness of th e c o u n try ; and second, th e poverty of its
in h ab itan ts.” M r. F red erick John S hore w rote in 1837, “ The
halcybn days of Ind ia a re o v er; she has been drained o f a large
pj’oportion of th e w ealth she once possesssed, a n d h e r energies
have been cram ped by a sordid system of m isn ile to w hich the
in terests of m illions have been sacrificed for th e benefit of th e
few . . . T he grin d in g exto rtio n of th e B ritish ^G overnm ent has
^ ^ e c te d th e im poverishm ent of th e country and people to an
e x te n t unparalleled. T he B ritish G overnm ent h a s dbeen practi•cally one of th e m ost exto rtio n ate a n d oppressive th a t ever
existed in In d ia .”
M r. Seville M arriot, a Com m issioner of R evenue in 1836 a n d
afterw ards a M em ber o f th e Bombay G overnor’s Council, w rites
in a le tte r to S ir R . G r a n t : “ You w ill readily conceive th a t
my opinions are th e re su lt ra th e r of practical experience th an
deduction draw n from scientific views*»^. . If i t is a startlin g but too notorious fact th a t th o u g h loaded w ith a v astly g reater
absolute am ount of tax ation a n d h arassed by various severe acts
of tjT an n y an d oppraesion, y et th e co untry was in a sta te of
^prosperity u n d er th e native ru le w hen com pared w ith th a t into
which it h as fallen u n d er th e avowedly m ild sway of B ritish
ad m in istratio n .” J lr . Ily n d m a n attrib u te s “ th e hideous im ­
poverishm ent to the drain w hich has now risen to ;£30,000,000
an nually from India to E n g la n d ” , a n d he quotes M r, T horburn,
a high In d ian official, who said, “ The system had reduced
70,000,000 hum an beings, fo r whom we are responsible, to such
a condition of hopeless p en u ry th a t no reform could do th em
any good.”
P R E S ID E N T O F A SSO CIA TIO N S AND M E E TIN G S
127
S ir G eorge W ingate, th e a u th o r of th e Bombay L an d Survey
System , explained th e n a tu re of th e d rain as follows : “ T axes
sp e n t in th e co u n try from w hich th ey are raised are totally
different in th e ir effect from tax es raised in one country and
sp en t in another. I n th e form er case, tax es collected from th e
population are ag ain re tu rn e d to th e in d u strio u s classes. But th e
case is w holly different w hen th e "taxes are n o t sp en t in th e
country from w hich they are raised. T hey constitute loss ^pd
ex tin ctio n of th e w hole am ount w iA d raw n from th e tax ed country.
Such is th e n atu re of th e trib u te we have so long ex tracted from
In d ia .” L ord Mayo said, “ I have only one object in all I do.
I believe we have n o t done o u r d uty to th e people o f th e la n d .
M illions liave been sp e n t on th e conquering race w hich m ig h j
have been sp e n t «in en rich in g a n d elevating th e children of the
soil.” IfOrd Curzon tru ly diagnosed th e evil w hen he said in h is
ch aracteristic style, “ T h ere was no spectacle w hich found less
favour in m y eyes th a n th a t of a clu ster of E uropeans se ttlin g #
■down upon |i N ative S tate a n d sucking from it th e m oisture
w hich o u ght to give susten an ce to its own p eo p le.” T his, in
brief, is th e econom ic h isto ry of B ritish ru le in In d ia, as vouched
for by B ritish chroniclers, an cien t a n d m odern.
C om m ents on th e above q uotations would be quite super­
fluous. T he im poverishm ent of th e people has led to th e spread
■of distress an d d isconten t all over th e country. U nless a n d until
both th e econom ic an d p jjitic a l causes of th is reg rettab le state
o f th in g s are rem oved, tffere can be no peace a n d prosperity in
th e land. T he bulk of th e people all over India have a ll along
lived in villages. T here was a tim e whcr^ each village was a
self-contained little state, a republic in m infeture. T he villagers
them selves m anaged alm o st all th e ir affairs a n d them selves pro­
duced alm ost all th e y required. T hey h ad enough of lig h t and
air in th e onen cnnntry :m 'l a sufficient quuuiity oX tood and
■clothing for th e ir use. They n o t only produced raw m aterials,
b u t also tu rn e d them, into articles fo r everyday use. T h u s th ey
not only grew th e ir own paddy an d vegetables b u t also th e ir
OTvn cotton, w hich w as converted into y a m by m eans of the
^ h a r k a , and th e n into cloth by th e w eavers. T hey sto red what
128
U F K O F A . K A R IM
th e y produced for th e use of th e village and did n o t e x p o rt it to
o th er countries. T h e re su lt was th a t th ey w ere alm o st unaftected
by a n j' abnorm al state of th in g s p revailing elsew here—b|y a w a r
in E urope or a strik e in M anchester. .Alas! those good old
days ar*e g o n e ; th e villages have m uch declined a n d a larg e
num ber of villagers have m igrated to th e tow ns, w here th ey find
em ploym ent. T hus m odern an dn strialism h a s created hordes of
hom eless a n d landless labourers an d b ro u g h t about th e physical,
m oral an d m aterial degeneration of th e people. Besides, th e
stan d ard of living is continually risin g , m ak in g th e lu\.uries of
one g eneration the necessaries of tlie n ext. The w an ts of the
people have th u s im m ensely increased w hile th e m eans to m eet
jliem have not increased in th e sam e proportion. C onsequently
th e condition of th e people is g rad u ally g e ttin g w orse, a n d th is
is leading to th e increase of crim e a n d d isco n ten t in th e country.
In n o o th er country are th e people so g reatly d ep en d en t on
•A g ricu ltu re as ir. ours, aijd yet in no o th e r co untry are the
people so m uch lacking in ag ricu ltu ral education as*in th is. The
tillers of lajid, who form an overw helm ing m ajo rity of th e people,
still follow th e antediluvian metho<ls of cultivation and are unable
to m ake th e soil yield as m uch as it is really capable of yielding.
The re su lt h as been th a t m illions have n o t got enough to eat
all th e y ear round, a n d
tim es of d ro ug h t a n d fam ine thousands
die of starv atio n and disease. I t is said th a t th e cultiv ato rs now
g et h ig h e r prices for th e ir products. '.B n t th is gives th em little
advantage as they have to m eet th e h ig h er w ages of field
labourers an d th e d earer rates of th e necessaries of life. The
pressure m ig h t no t Ijave been so heavy if th ey h ad sto red th e ir
savings, like th e ir Sncestors, in k in d in stead of in cash. The
railw ay and oth er facilities fo r conveyance le<ad to th e offer of
attra c tiv e prices fo r th e ir products a n d th ey can n o t resist the
tem ptation of selling them . B ut fa r from g ain in g an y advantage
th ey ultim ately lose by such a bargain. H av in g read y cash instead
of a store of grain, th e y spend it upon festivities a n d superfluities,
a stran g e taste for w hich has been dissem inated am ong th em by
various agencies of w estern civilisation. The tem p tatio n lies in
th e attractiv en ess and cheapness of th e articles, l l i e consequence
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND JIEETINGS
129
is th a t w hen fam ine stares them in th e face th ey have no m oney
an d little food to fall back upon.
The influx of foreign im ports has b ro u g h t about th e deca­
dence of our indigenous in d u stries and h as seriously affected th e
artisan s.
Im ported cotton and woollen fabrics have thus
practically killed our old indigenous cotton and woollen m anu­
factures. The in d u strial concerns estab lish ed in th e countjj-,
m ostly by foreigner *, have given *relief only to «n insignificant
fraction «f th e people. If th e w ages have been raised th e prices
of food grains and o tlier necessaries of life have increased in a
m uch h ig lier proportion. C onsequently th e labourers in spit*e of
increased incom e have a m uch sm aller m argin of profit and^
saving th a n they l*ad before. W hile th e people are th u s becom ing
poorer, th e ir artificial necessaries are grow ing w ith th e im portation
of foreign articles into tlie country, w ithout any corresponding
inflow of w ealth by expo rtatio n of In d ia ’s once fam ous m uslins,**
silks, s h a w ls ,a n d cutlery , all of which in dustries have been
deliberately neglected o r p u t dojvn.
In d u strial expansion w ith foreign capital and under foreign
m anagem ent cannot benefit th e people to any appreciable ex ten t.
N ational poverty can be rem oved only by th e increase of national
w ealth. W ealth increases in a country w hen its people derive
•profit from th e ir own busin ess concerns a n d n o t by th e w ages of
labourers. The profits of W?a, Jute an d o th er profitable concerns
in th e country which have been financed by foreign capital, go to
foreign lands an d do no t a d d to th e econom ic staying-pow er of
th e people. T hus th e economic potentialities* of th e co untry are
being drained by foreigners, who are ever on the look-out fo r
exploiting th e raw m aterials a n d c h eap labour in In d ia. I t is
h igh tim e th a t th e gravity of th e situ atio n should be realised
and steps should be taken to av e rt the denudation of th e country
of its w ealth .. U nless th e indigenous in d u stries are resuscitated
an d the developm ent of th e in d u strial resources of th e country is
u ndertaken by th e people into th e ir own han d s and In d ia is
m ade in dustrially self-contained as far as possible, th e re can be
no hope of its economic salvation.
9
,
1 .3 0
L IF E OF
A.
K .\ R I M
V arious are th e ways in wJiicli th e people have suffered hy
th e break-up of th e village organisation a n d th e abandonrnent
of tJie sim ple m ethods of doing th in g s. In the good old days
th e vilhiges were independent centres of self-governm ent. The
people who h ad a sense of self-reliance a n d self-respect, th em ­
selves m anaged th eir own affairs rela tin g to ad m in istratio n of
justice an d arran g em en ts fof education, sanitation, public w orks
fete., in a way w ell-suited to th e ir requireniejits. The ad m in istra­
tive functions were vested in a council of elders, usually five
in num ber, and, therefore, called a P anchayet. T h e rd was no
forn^al election w ith th e CQncomitant evils of th e electioneering
Cam paigns of m odern tim es. M en w ith force of c h a racter were
•looked upon as leaders a n d th ey trie d th e crim inal cases, arb itrated
in civil suits and m anaged m unicipal m atterS, The P an ch ay et
tried cases in a sim ple a n d a sum m ary way. W hile in a lawcourt one can hard ly avoid tellin g som e so rt (jf a lie, in a P an "•ch ay et lying was alm ost iyipossible as th e tr u th wa.s sure to be
out sooner or later. I t was m uch easier for th e* P anchayet to
g e t a t the tr u th an d decide a ja s e in a w ay th a t m ig h t have
com m anded public approval th a n it is for a M agistrate or a
Ju d g e sittin g in a form al law -court. T hus, w hile th e Panchayet
ten d ed to dim inish crim e, th e ord in ary law -court of the p resen t
day tends to increase it*. One of th e causes of d isco n ten t am ong
th e people, specially am ong th e m asses, is th e h ard sh ip caused by»
th e cost and delay in g e ttin g justice J^ d by th e o peration of some
of th e civil and crim inal laws. The* old sum m ary m ethod of
ad m in isterin g justice w ithout unnecessary delay an d w ith o u t
realisation of fees b^' law -courts and by legal advisers was m uch
m ore popular. T h # law -courts of th e p resen t tim e have come
to be regarded as so m eth in g like shop-s w here ju stice is sold
through th eir brokers, th e law y ers; a n d w here, as a ru le, only he
can be successful who is in a position to spend sufficient m o n e y
in paying law yers a n d b rib in g witnesse.s.
R e f o r m S c h e m e s .—T he desirability of associating th e people
w ith th e adm inistration of th e co untry m ust have been realised
long ago. B ut th e half-hearted m easures gru d g in g ly adopted for
th e purpose fell fa r sh o rt of th e requirem ents a n d aspirations of
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
131
th e people, specially so as each in sta lm e n t was given a fte r it was
long overdne. H ard ly an y th in g w orth m en tio n in g was done till
L ord M orley, as Secretary of S tate fo r India, enlarged the L egis­
lative Councils on a n elective basis. T his did n o t satisfy th e
politically-m inded people who began ag ita tin g fo r m ore su b stan ­
tia l rig h ts. W hen th e g re a t E uropean w ar was rag in g , it was
th o u g h t advisable to conciliate these, people. So th e th e n S ecre­
tary of S tate for In d ia, th e late M r. M ontague, form ulated^ a
schem e of ad m in istratio n w hich h la been in opeaation for about
eig h t ye^Ts. One section of th e people w elcom ed it as an
appreciable im provem ent on th e ex istin g sta te of th in g s, while
an o th e r section deprecated it as inadequate a n d uu.salisfaClory
and, therefore, unacceptable. 'Hie la tte r th o u g h t th a t th e R eform s
were hedged in \^ith su ch restrictio n s and reservations as to be
practically futile. The system of dyarchy, tho u g h n o t alto g eth er
unw orkable, ha.s practically proved to be so on account of in­
sufficient fu n d s provided fo r th e tran sferred d ep artm en ts a n t^ ,
th e dom ineering attitu d e o f G ovem nfent M em bers on one side
a n d th e sub.-crviency of nom inated M inisters an d M em bers on
th e o th er. Besides, th e whole* ad m in istratio n has become too
top-heavy to ru n sm oothly. In th ese circum stances it is bu t
n atu ral th a t th ere should be agitatio n for radical change in the
system of governm ent.
,
•
S i m o n C o m m is s io n .—. . . . It should be u nm istakably realised
th a t th e B ritish policy ii** In d ia is definitely com m itted to th e
progressive realisatio n of resp o n sib le governm ent, an d th e periodi­
cal Comm issions are m erely to determ ine th e e x te n t a n d n atu re
of each fu rth e r in stalm en t of such reform s and of In d ia ’s advance
tow ards Sw araj w hich, as declared by H is im p e rial M ajesty and ,
reiterated by his M inisters, is th e ultim ate goal of India. In fact
to d isreg ard th e dem and fo r P rovincial .Autonomy an d responsible
C entral G overnm ent, as th e n e x t in stalm en t of reform s, would be
a political blunder, i i is» too late in th e day to doubt In d ia ’s fit­
ness for dem ocratic in stitu tio n s w hen T urkey and Persia have
already attain ed them w ith o u t W estern tutelag e for a century and
a half. E ven th e m oderate labour leader, th e ex-P rem ier
M r. R am say M acdonald, recently declared th a t in a few m o n th s.
13 2
LIFE OF A. KARIM
not years, he expects India to join th e brotherliood of
free
nations of th e Com m onwealth on term s of eq uality as a selfgoverning nation, enjoying full D ominion status. C onsidering th e
psychological ju n ctu re of th is first revisory enquiry a n d th e basic
n atu re of th e rep o rt called for, a s well as the epoch-m aking
events outside In d ia an d th e B ritish E m p ire w hich m u st inevitably
react on our political ideals .a n d adm in istrativ e o rganisations, it
is essential th a t th e In d ian view -point should be effectively rep re­
sented. I t would be a calamity* if sentence w^re to be pronounced
on In d ia ’s political d estiny w ith o u t a p roper prcsentatiqm of h e r
case.
A n atu ral corollary of progressive realisation of re.sponsible
g overnm ent is, on th e one hand, In d ia ’s independence a n d selfreliance in m atters fiscal, financial a n d ad m in istrativ e and, on
th e o th er, an adequate provision for self-contained developm ent
of each of th e Provincial u n its w hich a re to be fed erated into
• *he fu tu re self-governing D om inion of In d ia. T he realisatio n of
even a sem blance of autonom y would be u n th in k ab le unless th e
financial resources of th e Provinces are p u t on firm a n d perm an en t
foundations, and any tam p erin g w ith th e sam e by th e C entral
G overnm ent m ade im possible by definite sta tu to ry provisions.
T he financial independence of B engal as well as of other
Provinces should be ad eq u ately secured by th e re-ad ju st­
m ent of th a t u n settlin g M eston S ettlem en t u n d er w hich B engal,
m o r e t h a n a n y o t h e r p r o v in c e , h as g r o a n e d f o r y e a r s , a n d w hich
h as been officially ad m itted to have 4iad m ost dam ag in g and
destructive resu lts in handicapping th e developm ent of th e n ationb uilding d epartm en ts^
^
'Hie Indianisatioif of th e Services is an unchallenged rig h t of
In d ia an d folloiv.5 a.s an ine^’itable corollary from it.s goal of
responsible Self-governm ent. I t cannot be denied th a t th e p resen t
rate of Indiaui.satiou is not consisten t w ith th e declared aim of
progressive realisation of responsible g o v ern m en t; an d it m u st
be accelerated. Closely connected w ith th e question *of In d ian isatio n is th e problem of bahincing th e rig h ts a n d in terests of
m inorities and even of disorganised and backw ard m ajorities.
A like in th e political a n d economic schem es an d th e In d ia n isatio a
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
I 33
policy we m u st in sist upon a harm onious blen d in g of th e claim s
a n d legitim ate rig h ts of different sections of th e In d ian population,
so th a t th e public m ig h t have a n abiding faith a n d tlie fullest
confidence in th e new ad m in istratio n to be evolved.
•
H ad B ritain in h e r tre a tm e n t of In d ia done th e rig h t th in g
a t th e rig h t tim e a n d w ith good grace, th e situ atio n would have
b een very different from w hat it is. If fu rth e r trouble is to be
avoided a n h o n est atfem p t should f i t m ade to fin d a satisfactory,
g enerous .a n d lastin g solution of th e political a n d constitutional
problem s w hich have been causing m uch d isco n ten t an d even
disaffection in th e country. O n the ’o th er h an d , th e issues? for
discussion should not be confused by wild ta lk of independence.
I do not th in k lli*it th ere b reathes a m an in In d ia w ith soul so*
d ead as n o t to desire com plete independence of h is M otlierland.
But to dem and it a t once, in th e p resen t circum stances, m ig h t
be regarded as m ere bluff. Independence, how ever, should be our^^
ultim ate goal, for th e a tta in m e n t of ♦ h ic h a ll legitim ate m eans
should be system atically adopted.
N e h r u R e p o r t .—U nder th e im pression th a t political In d ia
would no t be able to draw up^ a w orkable co n stitu tio n fo r th e
future ad m in istratio n of th e country, L ord B irkenhead threw
o u t a h au g h ty challenge. P an d it Moti L ai N eh ru a n d h is co.a d ju to rs deserve o u r b e st th a n k s fo r prom ptly a n d effectively
respondin g to th a t challen^je, an d th ey a re to be congratulated
o n th e success w ith w hich th ey accom plished th e p atrio tic and
onerous task u n d ertak en by th em . As an ex cellen t basis for
final deliberation and a n effective p resen tatio n of In d ia ’s m inim um
jo in t dem and, th e value of th e re p o rt cannot be over-estim ated.
I w ish, how ever, th e co n stitu tio n w ere draw n u p on oriental
a n d indigenous lines an d no t o n th e lines of occidental foreign
countries. P erh ap s it w ould have been well if th e constitution
bad been w orked u p from th e bottom upw ards, from th e village
Panchayet, a ^ in th e well-thr-'ught-out p lan of th e late lam ented
De.shabandhu Das, 1 need h ard ly say th a t I am n o t inclined to
approve of th e policy on th e p a rt of som e people, to m sh the
proposed constitution in to universal acceptance by tre a tin g it as
alm ost sacrosanct an d refu sin g to listen even to sober a n d h elpful
13 4
LIFR OF A. KARIM
criticism s. N or do I fo r a m om ent agree w ith its detracto rs who
would sum m arily reject it because it has n o t glorified th e ir
own p et panaceas of constitutional independence or special an d
sep arate representatio n . I have already stated my lack of faith
in m ere resolutions and even co nstitutions unless th ey are backed
by real and abiding u n ity of h earts, singleness of purpose and
active and harm onious effor'i a t n ational reconstruction.
T he controversy betw een fcominion statu s and Independence
is m erely academ ic a n d fu tile, because now here h as a race or
nation secured independence by m ere p a p er constitutions. P oliti­
cal Independence has come only th ro u g h m ilitary violence o r
through an irresistib le economic, social and c u ltu ral advance
and a tru e and perm an en t political consciouscess. T h e form er
m ay be a t once dism issed as im practicable u n d er p re se n t condi­
tions, and repulsive u n d er a n y conditions considering o u r n ational
, g e n iu s and traditio n al a n tip a th y to violence as long as it can be
honourably avoided. T he la tte r , to m y m ind, is J:he only w ay
to a tta in our freedom. F o r economic an d cu ltu ral autonom y
D om inion status gives us, as it has given to all o th e r D om inions
u nder th e B ritish Com m onw ealth, all th e scope we need
for th e present. I t would be unw ise to fritte r aw ay our lim ited
national energy for th e ^ e r e nam e and chim era of independence..
O ur g reatest asset to-day is u n ity of purpose a n d action an d it ^
would be a national treach ery to jeopardise th a t essen tial facto r
in our fight for progre.ss by no t accepting th e honottrable an'd
u n restricted possibilities of D om inion S ta tu s, w hich is a t p resen t
th e h ig h est comm on factor of th e political dem ands and id eals
of different groups, Jlchools a n d com m unities.
*
I u n derstand, gentlem en, you a re going to discuss th e R eport
a t th is m eeting. I t would n o t be p roper for m e to an ticip ate
your verdict. I should like, how ever, to le t you know w h at I
personally feel about certain m a tte rs d ealt w ith in th e R eport.
Perhaps th e m ost controversial questio n discussed in th e R eport
is th a t of represen tatio n . As I pointed o u t in my speech in th e
last July session of th e B engal L egislative Council w hat the
M usalm ans w ant is adequate a n d effective rep resen tatio n . From
th eir p ast experience th ey have reason to th in k th a t unless seats
PRKSIDKNT OF ASSOCIATIONS .AND MEETINGS
1.^5
are reserved an d special electorate is provided, an adequate num ber
of M usalm ans, able and w illing to safeguard th e in terests of
th e com m unity, cannot be re tu rn ed to th e Councils under the
p resen t circum stances. U nlike o th e r countries w here religion
alone divides th e people, in In d ia it is n o t m erely religion b u t
trad itio n s, cultu re, m an n ers, custom s and in som e cases even
language and lite ra tu re th a t divide* th e different races and com­
m unities in h a b itin g , it. Besides, ^restricted suffrage has redi\ped
th e num ber of M usalm an voters m uch below \th a t they m ig h t
have claim ed on account of th e ir proportion in th e population
and th e ir com m unal im portance. H ence th e reasonable fe a r of
the M usalm ans th a t th e y would be sw am ped in a comm on jo in t
electorate. As a safeguard ag ain st the election of undesirable
persons, I once proposed the insertion of a proviso in th e E lectoral
R ules to th e effect th a t unless a Mu.salman can d id ate secures a
certain considerable percen tag e of th e recorded M uslim votes his
election shall be n u ll and void. T ^is would have averted ila»
election of a person b earin g M uslim nam e m erely or m ainly by
non-M uslim votes. T he situ atjp n , how ever, has radically changed
w ith th e adoption of ad u lt suffrage a s a condition precedent to
th e acceptance of th e N eh ru Schem e. A dult suffrage autom ati­
cally ensures electoral fair-play to all com m unities and m akes
it possible for each of th em to fi.ght for a n d a tta in all the rep re­
sentation it is e n titled to by its own assertiveness in politics.
. A dult suffrage is also th ^ g rea te st guarantee ag ain st th e oppres­
sion an d exploitation of* the m asses, w hich lies a t th e very root
of o u r national disorganisation a n d econom ic im becility. The
M uslim s of Bengal, I th in k , would be ill-advised and short-sighted
if th ey do n o t approve of th e actual an d educational potentialities
of’ a d u lt suffrage as a solution of th e ir special difficulties in*
jo in in g th e comm on n atio n al striv in g s for responsible selfgovernm ent, and as th e ultim ate political weapon by which they
can secure Jiheir own em ancipation by exercising effective electoral
and i<'g!clat'vc pow ci, from dll those educational, economic or
adm initsrative disabilities w hich th e ir oivn past neglect and th e
natural dom inance of th e m ore progressive com m unity had so
long doom ed th em to th e position of a backw ard and w eakling
136
I.IFE OF A. KARIM
com m unity. E lection to Local bodies in E astern B engal districts
unmi.stakably shows how th e M iisalnians m ay profit by th e change
if they only learn how to assert them selves. I t should, however,
be distinctly understood th a t if ad u lt suffrage is no t provided tlie
M usalm ans of Bengal would dem and rep resen tatio n in proportion
to th e ir population. T he M usalm ans on th e ir p a n should realise
th a t it is n o t possible to stand alw ays on artificial props. These
are_sure to b reak down sooner o r later. So th e sooner th ev can
dispense w ith artificial props and m anfully stand for th e ir leg iti­
m ate rig h ts the b e tte r for the com m unity.
*
A part from representation, th e com m unity attach m uch im p o rt­
ance to th e proper ad m in istratio n of Islam ic Law. N o t very long
a^o, even d u rin g the B ritish adm in istratio n , special officers,
such as M uftis and N azis, used to ad m in ister Islam ic Law reg ard ­
in g m arriage, divorce, waqf and k in d red subjects. I t is th e desire
of th e M usalm ans th a t sim ilar arran g em en ts for th e adm inistrati*in of th e ir personal a n d pro p erty law should be m ade under
any new constitution.
•
One th in g to w hich I should "lik e to draw your p articu lar
atten tio n is th a t any a tte m p t a t fusion of th e various com m unities
eith er social, cu ltu ral o r even political is, I am afraid , doomed
to failure. I t is th eir federation, a n d n o t fusion, th a t should be
aim ed at. In all m atters of common and identical in terests
concerted action m u st be tak en . T o do otherw ise would be
com m itting political suicide. A fter t h e '^ t e r e s t s comm on to all '
are secured, an d only th en , each com m unity should ex ert itself
to safeguard its special in terests. U nity betw een tw o com m unities
does not m ean th e e ff^ e m e n t of th e individuality o r distinctive
fh a racteristics of th e one o r th e o th e r community'. To combine
an d co-operate to secure comm on in terests and at th e sam e tim e
to exert for safeguarding one’s own p articu lar in terests is tlie
rule of hum an society. P rogress of a p articu lar com m unity is
the progress, though indirect, of th e n ation w hich <:onsists of
various com m unities. If th e different com m unities are all indi\ddually advanced, co-ordination can n o t be a m a tte r of m uch
difficulty. . . . O ur aim is to a tta in dem ocracy w hich signifies
rule by classes an d m asses an d subm ission to th e will of the
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
137
m ajority. If even a fter advancing a ll th e arg u m en ts we m ig h t
have to advance, we find th e m ajo rity ag ain st us, o u r d uty is to
accept th e decision of th e m ajo rity in a sportsm an lik e m an n et.
T o do otherw ise would be d em o n stratin g our incapacity, fo r th e
■democratic form of governm ent. In conclusion, I would again
e x h o rt you n o t to fritte r away your energies in p etty squabbles
•over rig h ts an d privileges of doulttful utility , bu t to organise
yourself, and, clo sin g u p your ran k s and, sin k in g m inor differences,
unitedly dem and your legitim ate rig h ts. If you slicceed in doing
th is I ahi sure your goal will be in sig h t before long. A llahu
A kbar 1
•
M aulavi A b d u l K a rim w as selected to preside over
th e function th g t w as a rra n g e d to m eet th e M uslim dele?
g a te s from B engal to th e R o u n d T ab le C onference. T h e
follow ing is a sum m ary o f h is speech on th a t occasion : —
“ I deem it a pleasure a n d a p ri^ le g e to be associated witH*
th is ev en in g ’s function. I th in k th e B engal P residency A njum an
h av e done well in arra n g in g t<* m eet th e M uslim delegates from
B engal to tlie Round T able Conference. I t is very desirable th a t
th e y should have som e indication of our dem ands reg ard in g the
fu tu re constitution.
I have know n Moiilvi I'azlul H u q from his very boyhood
an d have h a d th e pleasure of w atching h is career w ith deep
in te re st all these years ^•during w hich he made h is m ark in
tlie iwHtical aren a of th e country. H is close association w ith
different m atters concerning th e M uslim com m unity en titles him
to speak w ith som e au th o rity on behalf
h is co-religionists,
whom he has been called upon to re p resen t on th is histo ric ,
occasion. H is versatile g enius and undoubted d eb atin g pow er
em in en tly qualify him fo r eflectively p u ttin g th e case of th e
M uslim s before th e R ound T able Conference.
M uch asi we appreciate th e choice of M oulvi F azlul H uq,
I can hardly conceal th e d isappointm ent th e B engal M uslim s feel
in not finding in th e list of d elegates th e nam e of S ir A bdur
R ahim . As one Province, B engal accounts fo r th e la rg e st M uslim
population in India, an<l as such th e Bengal M uslim s rig h tly
LIFE OF A. KARIM
138
expected a more generous tre a tm e n t in th e m atter of re p resen ta­
tion to such an im p o rtan t conference. S ir A bdur R ah im , as you
are aw are, occupies a unique position in B engal and he is a
politiciaij of all-India repute w ith varied experience. Ilis saga­
city and g rasp of the constitutional issues ihvolved m ig h t have
m ade him of invaluable service to th e Round T able Conference.
O ur hopes are, how ever, cen tred in M oulvi F azlul H u q a n d h is
coUeague, M r. Abdul H alim G huznavi, who^e forceful advocacy
of M uslim cauSe w ould, we tru st, secure th e red ress of our
grievances and safeguard our in terests in th e fu tu re con­
stitutional arrangem ent.
•
R e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n L o c a l L e g is l a t u r e .—As reg ard s dem ands, I
*hink you w ill agree w ith me w hen I say th a t th e first an d
forem ost dem and of th e M uslim s of B engal is th a t th e ir rep resen ­
tation in th e local legislature should be in accordance w ith th e ir
num erical stren g th in th e Province. The M uslim s of B engal
*^ould never g e t them selves*reconciled to th e inequitable a rran g e­
m ent proposed in th e L ucknow pact and unfortuncftely accepted
by th e fram ers of th e c u rre n t Reform Schem e, w hich relegated
th e M uslim m ajority in th e Province to the intolerable position
of m inority. I t is a p ity th a t S ir John Sim on an d h is colleagues
could not gauge th e in ten sity of M uslim feelin g in th e m a tte r to
propose ad ju stm en t of tfiis u nfair sta te of th in g s. If rep resen ta­
tion to th e local council in proportion to th e ir population in th e
Province is denied to th e M uslim s o f.B e n g a l a grave inju stice
will be done to them , and it w ill alw ays rem ain a ra n k lin g sore
in th e ir heart.
E le c t o r a t e .—The ^ c x t m a tte r of p aram o u n t im portance to th e
M uslim s is th e question of electorate. Seasonal v isit o f a flying
character can hard ly be expected to lead one deep down into
th e causes w hich n ecessitated th e seem ingly incongruous dem and
for a separate electorate by a com m unity w hich happens to have
a num erical superiority. I wish th e m em bers o t th e Simon
Com m ission were p resen t on th e occasion of election in B engal
to realise th e unbounded influence exercised on th e M uslim voters
by th e landed aristocracy a n d by those who are responsible fo r
financing of occupations in w hich th e M uslim s of Bengal are
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
I 39
generally engaged. U ntil th e Muslinifs are educationally pushed
forw ard and lifted from th e ir p resen t position of economic
degradation, so th a t th ey m ay freely exercise th e ir suffrage, th ere
can be n o escape from th e ex istin g system of electorate. Its
change a t th is stage would inevitably p erp etrate in effect th e
rule of th e m inority over th e m ajgrity.
S a fe g u a r d .—.Another v ita l dem and of th e M uslim s in comm on
w ith o th er m inorities is th e incorporation of th e necessary safe- '
guards*for th e protection of M uslim in te re st in the S ta tu te itself
instead of leaving th e m to th e whims and caprices of individuals
o r bodies. T he delegates would do w ell to in sist upon th is in
th e conference.
,
R e p r e s e n ta tio n
i n C e n tr a l L e g i s l a tu r e .—T he atte n tio n of
M uslim India is a t p resen t riv'eted on th e question of M uslim
representation in th e proposed F ed eral Assembly. A part from
num erical stre n g th th e ir political im portance and history sh o u ft
be tak en *into account in deciding th e proportion of th e ir
representation. A th ird of t i e seats is th e ir m inim um dem and
an d n o alteration in th is proportion would be to lerated by the
Community. I th in k we sh all be only correctly rep re se n tin g
M uslim opinion in forew arning th e ^M uslim delegates to the
R ound T able C onference n o t to be p arty to any com prom ise in
th is m atter.
M e th o d o f E l e c t i o i f .—Coming to th e m ethod of election pro­
posed for th e F ed eral Assem bly, wc m ake no h esitatio n in
ch aracterisin g th e ind irect m ethod suggested in th e R ep o rt of
th e Sim on Comm ission as su rp risin g ly netrograde. H ard ly any
convincing justification h a s been p u t forw ard for in v itin g us tb
go backw ard. T he assum ed proportion of seats likely to be held
bv th e M uslim s u n d er th e proposed system , as show n in th e
R eport, is based on superficial evidence of people unacquainted
w ith thA S-e.'iUty of th e In d ian situation. The proposed system
of indirect election would hard ly give th e M uslim s adequate
repre-sentation in th e F ed eral Assem bly. The com m unity cannot,
therefore, countenance th e idea of c h an g in g from th e d irect to
th e indirect m ethod of election fo r th e Assembly.
140
L IFE OF A. KARIM
C e n tr a l G o v e r n m e n t .—W hile the country is cryin g hoarse
for D om inion Status a n d im patience is d riv in g people to the
ideal of com plete independence, th e Sim o^ Comm ission propose
a constitution for tlie C entral L egislature w hich h ard ly m akes
a n y a tte m p t to m eet popular aspirations, W e welcome th e idea
of a federal constitution, bu t can n o t lose sig h t of th e fact th a t
th e pow ers proposed to be vested in th e F ed eral A ssem bly are
not •calculated to brin g th e ad in « iistratio n o f Jndia u n d e r g re a te r
p o p u lar control. In certain respects th e proposed constitution
m arks a distinctly retro g rad e step. T he ve.sting of effective
control of affairs in the hands of peo p les' rep resen tativ es is the,
m o st universal and in sisten t dem and of In d ia, an d n o section of
tlje In d ian public can be expected to g et reconciled to a n y form of
constitution w hich falls sh o rt in th is respect. T he F ederal
Assem bly in th e form su g g ested would be, I am afraid, n o th in g
more th a n a glorified d eb atin g society. W e do recognize the
ifrt^essity of safeguards for* th e tran sitio n al period, b u t th a t
should not be m ade a plea fo r non-transfei'ence Id! effective
pow er to - th e represen tativ es of th « people.
P u b lic S e r v i c e .—N oth in g is m ore calculated to solidify In d ian
opinion 113 support of th e fu tu re con.stitution th a n to give it d
shape th a t would dispel a ll suspicion of u sh erin g in class rule,
liv e ry th in g possible should be done to reassure a ll classes of
In d ian people th a t th e ir legitim ate claim s fo r sh arin g in the
ad m in istratio n of the country would nof'J^e denied. T h is would
create th e necessary enthusia.sm w hich alone would en su re succe.s.sful w orking of th e constitution. E very class an d com m unity
should be invited to rita lis e th e ad m in istrativ e m achinery of
In d ia b y th e ir special contribution. The d an g e r of prepon­
d erance of an y class or com m unity in th e services of th e country
should, therefore, be scrupulously avoided. I t is d esirable th a t
som e statu to ry provision should be m ade so as to en su re to the
•comm unitj’ its legitim ate share in th e ad m in istratio n .
P r o v in c ia l G o v e r n m e n t .—As regards Provinces, th e D iarchical
constitution, hedged in b y nuinerou.s restrictio n s an d reservations,
has proved unsatisfactory and unsuitable fo r th e g row th of a
sense of responsibility, No one expected b e tte r re su lt from such
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND JIEETJNGS
141
a hybrid system of governm ent. In d ian opinion is unanim ous
th a t so far as the Provinces are concerned, com plete responsi­
bility should be vested in the people and provincial ad niin istration should be carried on w ith little interference from auv
■quarter. The Sim on CommisBion’s proposal fo r the ‘inclusion
of official M inister in th e cabinet is so diam etrically opposed to
all principles of dem ocratic g o v en v n en t th a t it rig h tly deserved
th e scathing condem nation th e proposal has provoked in different
quarters. A cceptance of thi.s Suggestion of th e Commission
w ould .only m ean perp etu atio n of th e
sam e m uch-abused
diarchical form of- governm ent u n d er th e camouflage of a
different nam e. Too m uch reserve jJower given to th e Pro-fincial
rulers would prove an o th er im pedim ent to th e g row th of dem o­
cracy an d a rig ^ t sense of responsibility. N o t th a t we do n o t
realise th e necessity of reserve pow er, b u t extensive pow er of
th is kind, concentrated in th e han d s of the G overnor, would
fru strate the very o bject of developing dem ocratic governm ent. ^
It is n o t for m e to rem in d tfle d elegates of th e .solemn
responsibility th a t re s ts on them . T hey have been called upon
to rep resen t India on a m oiifcntous occasion, unprecedented in
th e history of B ritish connection, an d involving issues on which
the future of India so largely depends. We hope a n d tru s t
In d ia ’s rep resen tativ es would rise to th e h eig h t of th e occasion
a n d approach im p o rta n t problem s in a liberal sp irit an d w ith
b readth of view to be in a position to p resen t a u n ited fro n t
‘in th e conference. I fu]^}' share th e reg ret expressed in various
q u arters on th e u n fo rtu n ate decision of the congres.s p arty n o t
to participate in th e deliberations of th e R ound T able Con­
ference. T his decision, I need h ard ly say,*Jias added enorm ously
to th e burden of responsibility of th e delegates atte n d in g th e .
Conference. I am sure th ey w ould spare no pains in effectively
p resen tin g th e case of In d ia in th a t au g u st body so as to secure
th e larg est m easure of acceptance of o u r dem ands. In th e discharee of .th eir onerous dutiva the d elegates will have th e
supp ort of our prayers, blessings a n d benedictions.
in
On Ja n u a ry 2 4 th , 1 9 2 9 , a crow ded m eeting w as held
th e A lb ert H a ll to ex p ress sy m p ath y for K in g
142
LIFE OF A. KARIM
A m an u lllah in h is troubles. M aulavi A b d u l K arim w as
elected p resid en t of th e m eeting a n d he o pened th e pro­
ceedings w ith th e follow ing sp e e c h : —
Gentlfcmen, I th a n k you fo r th e honour you have done me
by askin g m e to preside o%'er th is m eeting. T he o b ject th a t
h as brought us to g eth er h ere th is evening, as you a re aware,
is to express our sym pathy w ith th e ex-K in g A m anullah for
th e 'lo s s of th e ^hrone, an d to *ondem u th e fiction of those who
have caused his fall. I need hard ly say th a t it is w.ith the
utm ost concern and anxiety th a t we have been w atch in g th e
reg rettab le h appenin g s in A fghanistan, w here reactio n ary forces
have got th e upper h an d fo r th e p resen t a n d p u t an end, let
ift hope only tem porarily, to peace and order ^ n th a t country.
As you know K in g A m anullah, w ithin th e sh o rt period of his
reig n , m ade his m ark in th e political w orld and proved him self
an ideal ruler.
In fact by h is wise ad m in istratio n and
enlightened reform s he ha"^ captured th e im agination n o t only
of h is co-religionists, b u t of all rig h t-th in k in g people all o ver the
world. H is industrial, educatiomS a n d political reform s have
converted th e m edieval kingdom of Afghani.stan into a m odern
progressive state. H e m ig h t have been a little over-zealous m
th e social reform s and m ig h t have proceeded too fast, b u t th ere
can be no question about th e p urity of h is m otive. T h e reform s
w hich he in itiated were in tended fo r th e am elioration n o t only
of his subjects but of h u m an ity a t laffte and they m ig h t h a v e'
done g re a t credit even to th e most enlig h ten ed and progressive
sovereign in any country and in any age. L et us hope th a t
th e seeds w hich he l?as sown, th o u g h on ill-prepared soil, will
•g erm in ate before long and will u ltim ately produce such fru its
as will leaven up political Asia and invigorate h u m an society.
T he fall of such a k in g cannot b u t be regarded a s a g reat
calam ity not only fo r A fghanistan b u t fo r th e w hole of Asia.
T lte rebels an d reactionaries, who have b ro u g h t abotit h is over­
throw , cannot be condem ned in too stro n g a language. W e hope
an d tr u s t th e y will be soon p u t dow n and A m anullah w ill be
restored to pow er a n d will be in a position to ta k e a prom inent
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
143
p a rt ill th e federation of th e races and nations of Asia. Being
o u r next-door neighbours, th e A fghans are en titled to our m oral
an d m aterial support. I t is m ost desirable th a t all possible
practical steps .should be ta k en to h elp them in th eir trouble.
The situation in A fghanistan is already very com plicated.
I t is to be hoped it will n o t be fu rth e r com plicated eith er by
Bolshevic intrigue o r B ritish infervention, A suspicion has,
how ever, arisen in # th e la tte r r e p e a t on account of w hat o u r
^old friend, S ir M ichael O’D wyer, w ho never m isses an oppor­
tu n ity to give expression to h is frien d ly feelings, has said. H e
should have know n th a t it is now tix i late to accuse A niayullah
o f usurpation. Is it not preposterous to say th a t one who
ascended his fa th e r’s th ro n e, w ith th e consent of all h is peopl®,
w as a usurper, altho u g h he m ig h t have om itted to procure the
c o n sen t of th e g re a t G overnor of th e P u n jab ? I need hardly
say th a t it would he a dangerous political blunder, perhaps
involving disastrous consequences, Jo in terfere in any w ay ire
th e internal •affair.s of A fghanistan. I t is hoped due notice would
be tak en of th e tim ely w arn in g sounded from som e quarters.
I am exceedingly glad, gentlem en , th a t th is m eeting has
been atten d ed ?jy such a larg e nu m b er o f o u r non-M uslim
b reth ren . I t is but n atu ra l th a t th ey ^h o u ld sym pathise in the
troubles of a sovereign w ho has been very generous in his tre a t­
m en t of his non-Mu.slim subjects, and so fran k ly sym pathetic to
In d ia ’s political aspirattoiis. In fact th e non-M uslim subjects
of all im p o rtan t M uslim S tates, such as H yderabad and Bhopal
to nam e only tw o in India, have all along enjoyed th e sam e
rig h ts an d privileges as th e ir M uslim fell(»\v subjects enjoy. In
a p ap er w hich I have to read in th e P arliam en t of religions to*
be shortly held at C alcutta, I am going to illu strate how in
th e eyes of Islam ic Law th e M uslim and non-M uslim subjects
of M uslim S tates a re equal. If generous sentim ents, u n daunted
patriotism , reform ative zeal and passionate striv in g to m odernise
an d advance an Islam ic Asiatic countrj- go fo r an y th in g, the
nam e of .Amanullah w ill live long in hum an m em ory even as
A fghanistan has now been placed by him on th e w orld's inter-
144
OF
national
fall will
KARIM
m aps. If, God forbid, he should n o t
y e t deserve th e ep itap h th a t ; —
,
rise again, h is
“ I t is b e tte r to have striv en a n d lost,
T han never to have aspired a t a ll.”
A ch ary y a P rafu lla C handra Roy m oved th e follow ing
resolution w ith a pow erful sp e e c h : —
.T h is m eeting expresses
i t | deep and p ro fo u n d sym pathy
w ith Ilis M ajesty K in g A nianullah in H is M aje.sty’s present
troubles an d earnestly hopes th a t u n d er G od’s providence and
aided by th e loyalty and deyotion of h is M ajesty’s fa ith fu l sub­
jects, H is M ajesty will prevail o ver th e m achinations of his{yicmies an d will long be spared to lead A fghanistan in th e
p a th of glory and progress.
*
T his m eeting expresses its deep abhorrence
of those
in trig u ers, dom estic and foreign, w hoever th ey m ay be, w ho
fiJlve fom ented the presen t* troubles in A fghanistan to fu rth e r
th e ir selfish purposes and to p u l obstacles in the p a llf of progress
an d p ro sp erity of th e country.
#
T his m eeting is clearly an d em phatically of opinion th a t
th e B ritish G overnm ent should obseiwe stric t an d absolute
n e u tra lity in th e m a tte r j f th e presen t A fghan trou b les, th a t it
should n o t e ith er overtly or covertly take a single ste p such as
m ay be construed as an encouragem ent to the rebels, an d above
all th a t no p a rt of In d ia ’s monej- shouVl be div erted so as to
h elp th e rebels in any way to h am per the activities of Plis
M ajesty th e K ing A nianullah.
T h e resolittion ^vas seconded by M r. J . L . B annerjee
*and su p p o rte d b y th e la te M r. B epin C h andra Pal,
Mr.^ S u b ash C handra Bose, th e la te M r. Shyam S u n d er
C h a k ra v a rty and others.
M au lav i A bdul K arim was elected P re sid e n t of th e
A n n u a l Session o f th e B engal P resid en cy M uslim L eague,
h e ld in N ovem ber, 1 9 3 3 . H is p resid en tial speech, w hich
w as h is la st im p ortan t political speech, w as h ig h ly appre-
PRESIDENT OP ASvSOClATlONS AND MEETINGS
145
ciated by some of the em inent personages of Bengal whose
opinions will be found at the end. of th e speech.
“ G eiitienieii, ns you are aw are we liave m et after two y ears;
there was no an n u al sessio n of th e Provincial L eague la st year.
It is extrem ely to he re g retted th a t a t th is critical ju n ctu re In
th e history of m odern India, when th e need fo r u n ity and
solidarity cannot be over-stressed, th ere sliould be so much
bickering am ong so«ie o f th e p»om inent m em bers of th is u n ­
fortunate communit^■. W hile o th er com m unities have been
actively o rganising them selves and vigorously m obilising all th eir
forces for th e fig h t ahead, M uslim * energy and resources* are
being frittered away in unseem ly w raiiglings for leadership, by
settin g up organisations of doubtful utility. N eed I say th is is*
tan tam o u n t to com m itting political suicide ? . . . ,
W h i te P a p er. C o n s t i t u ti o n .—Of all th e questions th a t a t
p resen t require serious consideration of th e country, th e con­
stitution forecasted in th e W hite P a p e r is th e m ost im portant.
N otw ithstandiftg som e im provem ent on th e p resen t constitution
in certain respects, th e proposed constitution has such funda­
m ental defects th a t it w ould n o t be alto g eth er incorrect to
characterise it as a reactionary m easure. As unm istakably
indicated by the tre n c h a n t criticism a n d severe condem nation
pouring in from alm ost all quarter.-? in* th e co untry and from
•alm ost ail .sections of politically-m inded In d ian s, it falls fa r short
of th e aspirations of the,*people. I t is n o t a com plim ent to
B ritisli statesm an sh ip th a t six long y e ars’ incessant an d careful
delib eratio n h as n o t succeeded in producing a constitution accept­
able to th e people concerned. I t would n o t ite fa r from tru th to
say th a t th e W hite P a p e r is a triumph* for the die-hard
reactionaries of th e C hurchillian type, who are anxious to retai^
political dom inance over the people of In d ia and cannot th in k
of relinquishing th eir so-called sacred t r u s t ................
T he schem e adum brated in th e W hite P ap er seems to have
Its birth in suspicion an d d istru st ra th e r th a n to be based on
confidence and goodw ill; otherw ise so m any restrictions and
reservations would n o t have been th o u g h t necessary.
It
envisages a governm ent w hich is n eith e r akin to Dominion
10
146
LIFE OF A. KARIM
S tatu s nor to any k in d of real self-governm ent. Iti fact the
W hite P aper contains n o com m itm ent th a t D om inion S tatus
could ever be secured or th a t Defence and F in an ce would ever
be hancjed over to th e In d ian s. U nless th e outlined schem e
undergoes radical alteratio n a t th e han d s of th e Jo in t Parlia­
m entary C om m ittee in th e direction of the rem oval of the various
checks on th e freedom of Hie legislature and g u aran teein g of
an. appreciable m easure of genuine responsibility, th e political
discontent in Ifldia cannot be allayed to any g re a t extent,
I t seem s to have been so arra n g e d th a t responsibility- in the
C entral G overnm ent, w ithout w hich P rovincial Autonom y would
be an anom aly and a mi.snomer, m ig h t n o t come into operation
*i,vithin any m easurable distance of tim e. I am not quite certain
w hy th e federation of the S tates is to be reg ard ed as .so very
essential. I am afraid it may serve as a balla.st ag ain st Indian
nationalism an d th e hesitation of th e S tates to join th e federa*^ion m ay be an excuse fo^ p u ttin g off indefinitely th e introduc­
tion of responsibility a t the C entre. T h ere seem.s t<* be no reason
why the units of B ritish Indian provinces an d P residencies could
not have been federated to g eth er fo r the purpose of ad m in is­
tration in B ritish India. T he States, if they’ liked, m ig h t have
come in la te r on. The proposed federation m ig h t n o t have the
w illing acquiescence o f 't h e In d ian M uslim s. F or, th e inclusion
of th e S tates in th e federation would prove ra th e r d e trim e n ta l,
to th e iuteresls of the com m unity,.^the proportion of whose
represen tation in the C entral A dm ifiistralion would be con­
siderably reduced thereby.
As indicated by* the num erous restrictions, reservations and
so-called “ safeguards” , In d ia u n d er th e proposed co n stitu tio n is
n o t likely to g et a .substantial m easure of g en u in e self-govern­
m ent. T h at the alien g rip will be fu rth e r tig h te n e d ra th e r th an
relaxed in certain essential m atters, m ay he renli.sed by a
reference to the extensive powers and prerogatives proposed to
be vested in th e irresponsible E xecutive H eads o f th e Provincial
an d F ederal G overnm ents. T he constitution w ill be practically
a t th e m ercy of an E xecutive H ead, who can b rin g about, by his
wide an d loosely-defined o v erriding pow ers, a deadlock at any
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
147
tim e, if he be so inclined, h is ultim ate responsibility being n o t
to tlje people of India b u t to th e B ritish P arliam en t th rou g h the
Secretary of S tate. The L egislature w ill be absolutely powerless
to m ake its own will operative ag a in st h is w ishes. I tliiifk th ere
is n o parallel to th is anom alous sta te of th in g s in th e history
of self-governing institu tio n s.
T he irresponsible E xecutive
H ead will not only hold absolute sw ay over th e adm inistration
o f th e "re se n 'e d ss b je c ts” , inckiding D efence, an d F oreign
-■^ffairs, but he w ill have pow er to en a c t laws on h is own sole
au th o rity and over th e head of th e L egislatu re, which he cannot
d o even u nder th e p resen t constitution! T here can be no analogy
betw een th e pow ers to be exercised by th e E xecutive H eads in
In d ia an d th e povjers exercised by th e P resid en t of tKe U nited
S tates of A m erica an d o th e r self-governing countries, w here the
P resident is a n ation al leader an d th o u g h n o t form ally
responsible to the L egislatu re, has alw ays to act on the authority#
derived from th e people by whom h e is elected.
N o one can deny th a t som e j^eserve pow ers for th e E xecutive
H ead are necessary, p articu larly d u rin g th e transitional period.
B ut th ese m u st n o t be so very wide and u n restricted as to enable
him to paralyse th e w orking of th e constitution w henever it suits
his jnirpose. Besides, n o th in g h as been ’ said as to w hen such
e x te n siv e pow ers will be cu rtailed o r w ithdraw n.
. T he sm ooth w o rk in g ,« o f th e proposed constitution will
en tirely depend upon th e capacity, sym pathy, tac t and resource­
fulness of th e E xecutive H eads. I have no doubt they w ill be
selected w ith due care and discrim ination. # It would be, how­
ever, loo m uch to expect th a t all o r m ost of th em w ould possess
th e sym pathy, liberal view s an d breadth of vision of a R ipon
o r an Irw in. T here is h ard ly an y th in g in th e proposed constitu­
tion th a t m ay restrain a G overnor of th e Sydenham or O ’D wyerian
type from assum ing, w henever it may please him to do so, the
role of an absolute d ictato r an d to play th e jxirt of an aggressive
H ilte r or M ussolini. L e t us hope th a t, as a rule, such con­
sid erate and far-seeing G overnors would be appointed as would
refrain from creating occasions fo r th e exercise of th e ir
148
LIFE OF A. KARIM
ex traordinary overriding powers, w hich m ig h t cause a break-down
of th e constitution.
I th in k th ere is tim e y et to g et tlie W hite P ap er constitution
re v ise d , and modified in th e desired d irection by vigorous
agitation. I should n o t om it to state th a t I deprecate m ovem ents
for th e boycott of the council and w o rk in g of a constitution
w hen it is actually placed ftti th e S tatu te Book. F o r a subject
n ation it is futile to say we would n o t accept it, we w ould n o t
w ork it. I could have understood such a position h ad th ere
been unanim ity and solidarity in th e country. In the* existing
circum stances, while one Y^'il! n o t accept a n d w ork a constitu­
tion an d an o th er will, it is well to w ork th e established constitu,ti o n fo r w hat it is w orth. I have sad experience of liow th e
vital in terests of th e country have grievously suffered by the
boycott of th e councils by a class of people w ho m ig h t have
form ed a very stro n g opposition and m ig h t have averted th e
• »enactm ent of ordinances and otiier strin g e n t m easures th a t have
h it th e people very h ard .
,
C o n i n u n a l A ti’aT d .—Up to n^w I have scrupulously avoided
saying publicly an y th in g reg ard in g w h at h as come to be know n
as th e P rem ier’s "C om m unal A w ard” , w hich has unfortu n ately
evoked m uch acrim onious controversy both in th e press a n d on
th e platform , lest I shbuld add to th e reg rettab le b itte rn e ss of
feeling already prevailing, particularly am ong th e aggressive*
m em bers of both the com m unities, J^ow th a t, as P re sid e n t pf
th e L eague. I have to speak and reference to th is controversial
m a tte r is unavoidable, I hope to be excused for g iv in g free and
fran k expression to jn y views in spite of th e risk I m ay ru n of
being pilloried by a* section of th e public. I th in k it is tim e to
speak out boldly. A t th e o u tset I should n o t om it to say th a t
I am not one of those who th in k th a t any section of th e Indian
people can really benefit by th e discom fiture of any o th e r section.
M y ho n est belief is th a t n e ith e r th e political n o r th e economic
salvation of India can be achieved unless a n d until* its tw o great
com m unities, th e tiin d u s and th e M uslim s, who are d estined to
sw im o r sink togetlier, closely combine and h e a rtily co-operate
for th e common good of the m otherland. T he fu ll recognition
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
I49
of th e political status of the people, unless dem anded by them
in a I)ody, is, 1 th in k , an u tte r im possibility. T he first item in.
an y program m e of economic and political reconstruction of India,
m ust, therefore, be th e unity am ong th e com m unities in habiting
it. F ailure to create inter-com m nnal harm ony and goodwill
m eans the perpetuation of h e r bondage by stu ltify in g all schem es
of reform and progress. N o th in g is m ore essential fo r th e
political and econonTic regeneratfcn of th e coim try th a n the
solidarity, of its people.
•Accustomed, as I have been, to, a n atm osphere in wjiich
inter-com m nnal u nity a n d cordiality w ere hardly ever disturbed,
and social am enities betw een th e H in d u s and M uslim s were o f ,
comm on occurrence, it pains m e m uch to see th a t a t th is critical
stage of th e history of th e country, som e sh ort-sighted m em bers
of both th e com m unities have been ado p tin g th e suicidal policy
of in ju rin g one another. I t seem s th a t,a fit of insanity h a s seized**
them and, in* th e ir m adness, th ey are flying a t each o th e r’s
th r o a t; th u s affording an o p p o rtu n ity o f fu rth e r tig h ten in g the
chains of Ix>ndage w ith w hich th ey a re k u it to g eth er. Slaves
fig h tin g am ong them.selves for im aginary w rongs o r doubtful
rig h ts m ust be a m ost unedifying spectacle fo r the w orld’s free
onlookers to w itness. W h at is m ost strjfnge in connection w ith
•th is u nfortunate affair is th a t th is is bein g done in the nam e of
religion, w hich is intende^d to be th e g re a test hum an isin g and
h arm onising force in thS w orld. Prom otion of goodwill and
fellow -feeling am ong G od’s creatu res is th e m essage both of th e
V edas and th e Q uran. Y et som e m em bers ^of both th e comm u­
nities, fo rg ettin g th e in ju n ctio n s of th e ir i^spective scriptures,
have been q u arrellin g fran tic ally over triflin g m atters in which *
no cardinal principle of e ith e r religion is really involved. H ave
not th e H indus an d M uslim s, whose economic and o th e r interests
arc identical, p earefu llv lived to g eth er fo r centuries in the
com m on land* of th e ir b irth ? D id n o t th e H indus observe th eir
religious rites w ith m usic and th e M uslim s b y sacrificing cows ?
D id any body ever h e a r u n til recen tly of terrib le occurrences
such as those th a t have m ade K u lk ati a n d B eld a n g a ,, which are
no new colonies an d m u st have been in h ab ited for centuries by
150
LIFE OF A. KARIM
H in d u s and M uslim s,
so v e n ' notorious ?Am I to u n derstan d
th a t th e present-day H in d u s and M uslim s are m ore religious,
m ore orthodox, th an th e ir ancestors w ere, th a t th e form er can­
not tolerate sacrifice of cows only once a year fo r a religious
purpose, while, as forcibly pointed o u t by D r. R ab in d ran a th
T agore, thousands of cows are slau g h tered everyday for
supplying food to th e Britisfi soldiers and C hristian and M uslim
in h ab itan ts, an d th e la tte r a r^ so ver\' distu rb ed m erely by th e
m usic of H indu processionists and n o t by th e scream s of m otor
horns, tram sounds and piano and gram ophone m usic in th e ir
neighbouring houses, th a t they can n o t say th e ir prayers
properly ? M y im pression is th a t it is the w ork of d esigning
.p e o p le who m iss no oppo rtu n ity to create im ag in ary grievances
fo r th e ir own ends. Some trifling political rig h ts th a t were
conferred a t first by th e M into-M orley schem e of reform and
then by th e M ontague-C helm sford schem e and now proposed to
'
a little augm ented by khe W hite P a p e r constitu tio n , seem to
have proved a veritable apple of discord. N eed
say th a t if
th is lam entable com m unal tensifwi continues, it would be futile
to talk of political or economic regeneration of th e co untry ?
W ould it be too m uch to expect th a t th e th o u g h tfu l a n d fa r­
sighted m em bers of b oth th e com m unities, realisin g th e ex trem e
g rav ity of th e situation, would b estir them selves b etim es to ^
av ert w hat may prove disastro u s to the tru e in terests of th e ir
country and com m unity? I refu.se to tbelieve th a t a real recon­
ciliation cannot be effected. I would appeal to them , w ith all
th e earnestness I can com m and, to im m ediately set about clearing
tlie atm osphere of .*all suspicion and d istru st. I t has to be
realised th a t providence has cast our lot in one common m other­
land and we have to live tog eth er and die to g e th e r in th is g re a t
lam l of o u r birth. I t is im possible for one com m unity to
am iihilate th e other. In fact th e unity of th e two com m unities
is th e g reatest asset to th e political and econom ical w ell-being
of In d ia. I t should, therefore, be adopted as th e first article of
political creed, and not as a m ere m atter of political expediency.
L et us not forget fo r a m om ent th a t it is only by m u tu al tn is t
and m utu al co-operation betw een the H in d u s and th e M uslim s
VRESIDliNT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
I 51
tliat the d estiny of India can be achieved, a n d let there be a
real u nity of h e a rt as well as of head, a u n ity bred of m utual
love and tru st and free from all traces of suspicion and d istru st.
I disagree w ith those who hold th a t in B engal,, fo r the
p resen t, th e only course is to ru n th e ad m inistration on com­
m unal lines, and there can be n o altern ativ e to a com m unal
governm ent. In th e ex istin g circum stances, such a governm ent,
I am a lr a id , will break down s^'oner o r later, and a fter much
, suffering’, w hen good sense will prevail, a non-com m iinal governnient will have to be established. By th is I do n o t m ean to
indicate th a t either com m unity has n o t th e capacit\- to carry on
the adm inistration efficiently. H indus have ruled over M uslim s
and M uslim s have ruled over H indus w ithout any ex traordinary
p erturbation. Even now th e Prim e M inister of th e larg est
M uslim S tate in India, R a ja K islian P arsh ad , is a H in d u , an d
S ir MirTia Tsinail is th e D ew an of th e larg e st H indu S tate. They
are quite efficiently ad m in isterin g t^ieir respective States.
now an o th c ^ em in en t M uslim , S ir M uham m ad H abibullah, has
been appointed D ew an of tljp im p o rta n t state of T ravancore.
F rom w hat I know of him I have no
doubt th a t
he will justify
his appointm ent. B ut circum stanced as B engal is a t pre.sent,
only a governm ent in w hich different conim unities will have
their legitim ate share, is likely to be
Successful.
L et u s f o r a w hile exam ine th e credentials of those who have
been posing them selves « s leaders of th e ir com niunities, deriving
their authority from bodies like th e H indu M nhasablia on one
side an d th e M uslim Conference on th e o ther, and m ak in g th e
w orld believe th a t they are sincerely fighting fo r th eir vital
interests. I t m ay be p ertin en tly asked in th is connection w ho,
form th e g re a t com m unities in B engal—th e microscopic classes
or the overw helm ingly larg e m asses? T he answ er to th is
query, I have n o doubt, will be, " th e m asses” . If th is answ er
is correct, tJien th e inevitable conclusion is th a t it is, ihc IiiU-icats
of the mas.ses, an d not those of th e classes, th a t constitute th e
in terests of th e country* and th e com m unities. The n e x t question
to be considered is w h eth er th e in terests of th e classes and
the m asses are one and th e sam e. F o r an answ er to th is
152
LIFE OF A. KARIM
question I would refer you to th e proceediiiRS of th e Bengal
L egislative Council on th e occasion of th e discussion of the
Bengal Tenancy Bill, w hich will show w hat a strenuous fight
th e v ep r^ e n ta tiv e s and hirelin g s of th e landed aristrocacy put
up for th e protection of th e ir so-called rig h ts ag ain st th e rig h ts
of th e agricuU uiists. If th e in terests of th e classes an d the
m asses are not indentical, w hat justification can th ere be for the
representatives of th e landed ty;istocTacy a n i th e capitalists to
claim to be tlie protectors of th e in terests of th e a g ricu ltu rists, ^
who by their num erical stre n g th co n stitu te w h at m ay he called
the Indian nation. H ave , they m ade any a tte m p t, w orth
m entioning, for th e relief of th e p easan t sufferers ? D id they
s jir a finger w'hen poor peasants who had assem bled at
H asnabad to v entilate th e ir grievances an d to* org an ise th e m ­
selves for advancing th e ir cause, were fired upon, and on o th er
sim ilar occasions?
* * W ho are responsible for •th e unseem ly com m unal squabbles ?
C ertainly n o t th e uneducated illiterate m asses. My o^'icial duties
carried m e to m any of the v illa g e^ in Bengal, B ihar and Orissa,
w here I found H ind u s and M uslim s, w hose econom ic and o th er
in terests are, in m ost cases, identical, liv in g m ost peacefully
o n th e best of term s, n ev er qu arrellin g fo r any doubtful rig h t
o r im aginary grievance. It m atters little to them if one com­
m unity gets a seat m ore or a seat less in th e council or a post
m ore or a post less in service. My b eliefjis th a t it is people who '
call them selves educated th a t have s e t th e com m unal squabble
agoing, in m any instances fo r th e ir own ends. T here is n o th in g
stran g e in th is ; of the*m any evils th a t a purely secular godless
occidental education has introduced into th e country, selfishness
is decidedly one.
Now let us calm ly an d dispassionately exam ine th e “ Com­
m u n al A w ard” an d see w h at ground th e re is for th e unseem ly
row over it. H as it really given any undue advnnt»ge to one
com nnm ity a t the cost of th e o th e r? If dem ocracy is our ju st
dem and, if ad u lt franchise is really w anted, th en on w h at o th er
basis can th e seats in th e legislature l>e d istrib u ted th a n o n th e
basis of population ? If th is assum ption is correct, th en i t is
p r e s id e n t: o f a s s o c ia tio n s a n d m e e tin g s
153
num erical stren g th o f a com m unity, and not education, w ealth
o r influence, o r even service o r sacrifice, th a t counts. T h a t this
lias been well realised by our H indu b reth ren is evident from
th e ir an x iety to sw ell th e ir n um bers by the po ssib le means.
T h ere was all along a g en eral im pression th a t a H in d u can only
be bom and n o t m ade. C onversion of non-H indus and re­
conversion of converted H in d u s to H induism , was alto g eth er
unknow n in India. *Iii fact th e ju rv iv al of H induism alm ost in
^its p ristin e condition, despite th e m any vicissitudes th ro u g h
w hich if h ad to pass fo r centuries on account of th e o nslaughts
o f B uddhism , Jainism , Islam and Chj-istianity, is rig h tly ascribed
to its extrem e conservatism and non-proselytising character.
The Suddhi an d k in d re d m ovem ents, recently started , seem t^
have altered the situ atio n . I t rem ains, how ever, to be seen
w hether th e high ca.ste orthodox H indus, so proud of th e ir
pedigree and orthodoxy, really accept th e converted a n d recon%'erted people as th e ir own, o r tre a j th em as outcastes. From*
a Mu,slim point of view th ere is n o th in g in it to be sorry for.
S uddhi m ovem ent is n o th in g l^ut an approach toward.s Islam . If
it spreads extensively, it m ay ultim ately lead to th e real
Islam isation of th e w hole of India, if n o t in nam e.
I t was on the assum ption th a t in a dem ocratic form of
th e leg islatu re h ai’e t o b e divided on the
basis of population th a t th e P re m ier gave th e assurance th a t in
n o province would th e rf&jority be reduced to m inority or even
to equality. H as he .acted in accordance w ith th is assurance ?
Ha.s he not by his “ C om m unal A ward” reduced th e M uslim
m ajo rity in B engal in to a sta tu to ry minori*y ? If so, is not this
a real grievance for th e redress of w hich tlie M uslim s would be ^
q u ite justified in a g ita tin g ? Providence has placed certain com­
m unities in certain provinces in an advantageous position. I t
w ould be futile to ag ita te to change it. T he sooner th e clam our
ceases th e l^eiier will it be fo r th e couutry.
g o v e r n m e n t s e a ts i n
If th e row over th e “ C om m unal A ward” h ad been on
account of th e abnorm ally large proportion of seats assigned to
th e F.uropeans, who have g o t 25 while barely entitled, on a
population basis, to a couple of seats, I would have been con-
154
LIFE OF A. KARIM
vinced of its justification. T he a tta c k on th e M uslim s, who are
ill no way responsible fo r th e aw ard an d w ho have them selves
a serious grievance in the m a tte r, is w holly unjustified. I have
rea.soii to believe if the H indus and M uslim s had com bined in a
vigorous agitation ag ain st th e allocation of an enorm ously larg er
nunilier of seats to the E uropeans th an th e y a re en titled to, they
could, have got back some of them . In allocating seats to the
E uropeans th e Prem ier h as n o t been n n ju s^ iiarlicularly to the
H indu oom m unfty of Bengal. If arithm etically w orked out, it
will be seen th a t he has tak en as m any M uslim seats as* he has
taken H indu seats according to th e ^e.spective population of
th e tw o com m unities. The H indu delegates from B engal to th e
R ound Table Conference are p erhaps m ore to blam e, if my
inform ation is correct, fo r the Com m unal .Awatd th a n anybody
else. If they had n o t objected to th e allocation of 51 p er cent,
seats of the whole house to th e M uslim s, th ey being e n titled to'
on population basis, in ad jo in t electorate, th e P re m ie r’s Inter­
ference m ight not have been necessarv. I have# g o t in my
possession a le tter signed by th e tw o M uslim d elegates from
Bengal a.sking our consent to the above m entioned arran g em en t.
The “ Com m unal A w ard’’, as it stan d s a t p rese n t, w ill never
be accepted by th e Bengal M uslim s, as it saps th e v erv founda­
tion of dem ocratic principles and p u t them in a sta tu to ry m ino­
rity . I should not om it to sound a note of w arn in g to th e selfa])pointcd an d O ovenim cnt-m ade lea d e r^ of th e communit.v, andto others concerned, th a t young M uslim Bengal, now wide aw ake
to th e ir tru e interests, are no t likely to allow th e b a rte rin g away
of th eir fn rth rig h t w ithout a challenge. If to-day th e ATuslims
of Bengal were wcfl-<frganised to give unequivocal e.vpression to
'th e ir cherished ideas, who could have dare <1 sell tlielr rig h ts for
a m ess of pottage?
In the controversy th a t is rag in g round th e com m unal aw ard
freqtient reference has been made to th e L ucknow Pact by some
notable H indu leaders, who have trie d to m ak e cap ital o u t of
its term s, oI)livious of th e fact th a t th ese were replaced
b.v the term s of the “ Ilindu-lMusIim P a c t’’ of 1923, details of
w hich have been given in ch ap te r V I of this Ixjok. T h e Lucknow
PRESIDENT OF ASvSOCIATIOXS AND MEETINGS
155
Pact, w hich was m ean t fo r th e w hole of In d ia and did n o t
tak e into account th e peculiar local circum stances of Bengal,
did not envisage a dem ocratic form of governm ent, b u t was
concerned w ith a schem e of some sm all reform s in tlw existing
b u r e a u c r a tic a d m i n i s t r a i io n .
Besides, th e I<^nrknow conference
was dom inated by influential M uslims of u p p er In d ia who, for
the sake of g ettin g the w eightage of a few additional seats for
th eir co-religioniRt? in the legi^latnres of th e ir Provinces, did
• not he^iitate to give th e ir consent to th e reduction of th e M uslim
m ajority in Bengal to a definite m inority, and th e M uslim dele­
gates from B engal were too few and too w eak to g et tht«iv pro­
test heard. T his inequitable a rran g em en t was reg ard ed by the
pplitically-consciDus M uslim s of B engal as a grave inju stice dofic
to th e ir com m unity, and th ey could never g e t them selves recon­
ciled to it ; it rem ained a ra n k lin g sore in th e ir h ea rt. In a
decade's tim e the circum stances in th e cou n try g reatly chatig^d,
the P act \^as found to have outgrow n its utility , and it was
th o u g h t th a t th e ch an g ed circum stances required a new program iiit' in iiifci iliviii. .•'\cii)tuiugi\ I eiileieil iiiiu a iIi>.russion
of th e situation w ith th e late lam ented M r. C. R- Das. The term
th a t e%’oked much controversy was th e one th a t related to electo­
rate. F earin g th a t th ere m ig h t be a Jw eak-dow n, M aulana Abnl
K alam , \ 7,ad, who was p resent, proposed jo in t electorate for tw o
term s, and in case of its failure, reversion to separate electorate.
But on th e insistence !o f the M uslim s present, the order was
reversed, and it was agreed, th o u g h not stated in th e Pact, th a t
th ere could be joint electorate a fte r t^vo ternts, H ad ^Ir. Das
been alive and had th ere been no em h ittcrl^en t of feelings betw een
th e tw o com m unities over triflin g m atters, th e question of eleiitorate would have been, by th is tim e, settled , I th in k , to th e
sati.sfaction of all concerned. The B engal Provincial M uslim
L eague expressed th e ir definite opinion, tim es out of num ber,
regarding ^.iie system ot electorate, but tlicv tlid not leceive any
active co-operation in th is m atter from .any section of the H indus,
nationalists or liberals. T he recen t hap p en in g s in the C alcutta
C orporation an d elsew here seem to have stiffened th e attitu d e
of the M uslim s, an d som e of those who w ere very much in
156
U P E OF A. K A RD I
fav o u r of jo in t electorate seem to have changed th e ir iniud.
If
tim e had perm itted, I could have show n th a t th is is n o t such a
vital th in g to eith er com m unity as to be th e cause of incalculable
in ju ry t o ,t h e interests of th e country by friction betw een the
tw o com m unities. W ould th a t good sense had prevailed even
now an d som e form ula on th e lines
of the late lam ented M aulana
•
M uham m ed A li’s form ula o r M aulana A zad’s su ggestion referred
to, were evolved ^and sincerely necepted by b®th p arties.
T rem endous was th e agitation th a t w as se t u p agaiiTst the
Pact by a section of th e H in d u com m unity, headed by som e of
th e ir m ost influential leaders. B ut the tow ering personality of
th a t g re a t p atrio t whose keen vision could tran scen d the lim ited
boundaries set up to th e political horizon by hia» narrow -m inded
an d sho rt-sig h ted co-religionists, triim iphed, a n d bore down all
opposition. M r. Das, tru ly called D eshbandhu, th e tru e friend
of th e country, who stood by th e P act as long as he lived, got
it passed by th e B engal Provincial C ongress C om m ittee, th e sig­
n atu re of whose th e th e n S ecretary, M r. Subhas C handra Bose,
it bears. The records of th a t C onim ittee will corroborate the
tr u th of w hat I have stated . The P act still stan d s ; I am not
aw are of th e cancellation of th e proceedings of th e m eeting of
th e B engal Provincial C ongjess C om m ittee a t w hich it was passed.
Subsequently w hen th e Pact was vehem ently opposed in the
A ll-India C ongress C om m ittee b y th e late P a n d it S h yam suudar
C h ak rav arty and others, D eshbandhu firm ly stuck to h is guns
a n d so unyieldingly pleaded fo r Provincial A utonom y th a t he
h a d to be allowed to m anage tl\e affairs of h is P rovince in
accordance w ith th e ,'Becision of th e Provincial Com m ittee.
I«ater on in th e Sirajgaiij Provincial C onference, a n d n o t only
in th e provincial Conference bu t in th e Provincial H indu
M ahasava Conference as well, th e P a ct was passed by an overw 'helm ing m ajority, despite vehem ent opposition by som e of th e
m ost prom inent m em bers of th e H indu com m unity. 'l*iie charge
ag ain st th e G overnm ent of show ing undue favour to th e M uslim s
by g iv in g them a larg er nu m b er of seats th a n th ey were
en titled to, has, therefore, absolutely no foundation. If seats
w ere allocated according to th e term s of th e H iudu-M uslira P act,
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETING.S
157
th e M uslim s would have g o t a larg er num ber. W ould th a t som e
H indu leader w ith D esh b an d h u 's long vision, large h eart,
indom itable will an d courage of conviction had arisen and
b ro u g h t peace to his u n fortunate m otherland. N o doubt it
augurs well for th e fu tu re th a t ju s t a t th is p.sychologic^l m om ent
th e w orthy son of a w orthy fath er has very em phatically spoken
out. P a n d it Jaw aharlal N eh ru h^s view ed th e situation in its
tru e perspective. H e has n o t h esitated to ch aracterise Bhai
P ram an an d a’s M alfesabha as
sm all reactionary gro u p pro• fessinpi to speak on behalf of th e H in d u s of In d ia whom it was
ver^- far from re p re se n tin g .” N oth in g d u rin g recen t m onths has
pained him so m uch as th e activifies of the M ahasabha ‘group,
w hich has, “ proclaim ed its policy to be one of elim ination of
M uslim s an d C hristians from India a n d the estab lish m en t o f* a
H in d u R a j.”
“ T he state m e n t has m ade it clea r” , says
M r. N ehru, “ w hat th e p reten sio n s of th e M ahasabha about
Indian nationalism am ounted to u nd er cover of seem ing
nation alism .” “ T he M ahasabha no t only hid th e ra n k est and
narrow est com m unalism ” , he goes on, “ bu t also desired to
preserve th e vested intere.sts *of a gro u p of big H indu landlords
and princes. T he policy of th e M ahasabha, as declared by its
responsible leaders, was a denial of everj’ vestige of nationalism
and a suppression of every m anly in stin ct in H i n d u s ................
.Anything m ore degrad in g , reactionary, anti-national, anti-pro­
gressive and harm ful th an the p resen t policy of th e H indu
M ahasabha it is diflicu^t’ to im agine. T he leaders of th e M aha­
sabha m ust realise th a t th e inevitable consequence of th is policy
is for th e re s t of India, H indu or non-H indu, to face them
squarely an d oppose th e m .”
•
W hat can be m ore condem natory th a n th is ? I t is indeed
a happy sig n of th e tim es th a t th e staunch u p holder of H indu
orthodoxy, th e g re a t P an d it Madaii M ohan M alaviya, who
presided over th e m eeting a t w hich P an d it Jaw ah arlal m ade th e
above-quot?d observations, endorsed th e views of th e young
P andit, if not his w ords, and dissociated him self from the
resolutions passed by th e M ahasabha. I m ay say in passing th a t
th a t it has given m e a g rea t shock to see th e Congress organs
158
LIFE OF A. KARIM
ill Bengal, both K nglish and v ernacular, ta k in g active p a rt iu
th e acrim onious controversy over the “ Com m unal A w ard.”
■ T here is n o th in g u n n atu ral in w hat is being done by some
short-sighted m em bers of both the com m unities. I t would be
igno ring hum an natu re to expect th a t em olum ents long enjoyed
would be readily relinquished or th a t rig h ts regarded as legiti­
m ately due would no t be uuyieldingly dem anded. If th e position
of the tw o com m unities were ^'eversed, p eiliaps th e situation
w ould not have been very different. F o r reasons too w ell-known
•
to need n arratio n , o u r H in d u b reth ren have long enjoyed an
enorm ously large share in tlie provincial adm in istratio n . Once
a gentlem an referred to, as I said in a n o th er public speech, after
«# v isit to th e W rite rs’ Buildings is sai<l to have rem arked th a t
it looked to him som ething like a H indu Z am m dar’s C utchery
w ith a few E uropean m anagers and som e M uslim orderlies.
The offices of th e C alcutta U niversity a n d th e C alcutta CorporaiPlfti are .said to presen t a siijhlar spectacle, m inus th e E uropean
m anagers. W ould it n o t be too m uch to expect that all these
would be philanthropically p a rte d * w ith ? On th e o th er hand,
those who have a t last realised th e grav e m istake com m itted by
th e ir predecessors and are g radually becom ing conscious of theirlegitim ately due rights, are n o t likely to lake the situation w ith
philosophic equanim ity. So if a fight a fte r all becomes inevit­
able, fight i t by all m eans, but, for G od’s sake, fight it in a
sportsm anlike spirit, w ithout w antonly ‘{ inbittering feelings by
em pty th re a ts an d vain dang lin g of sw ords; fight ju s t as two
brothers fight in assertin g th e ir rig h ts over th eir legitim ate
sh ares in th e paternal^*property, b u t u n h esitatin g ly unite w hen
occasion arises, say w hen th e jo in t pro p erty is encroached upon
by a th ird party.
My speech has already run a g re a t length, and I am afraid
have trespassed too m uch upon your patience. 1 shall have
therefore, to refrain from discussing in detail som e o th e r im­
p o rta n t subjects I intended to discuss. Of th e questions th a t are
a t iireseiit exercising th e public m ind, th e d astardly crim inality
th a t has b rought disgrace upon the province a n d th e depressing
1
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
159
unem ploym ent th a t has d ispirited our youths, require special
coiisideration.
T e r r o r i s m .—The youths of a country, I need h ard ly say,
are its g reatest asset. H istory bears incoiitestible testim ony to
th e fact th a t it w as th e im pulsive youths who brouglit about
mo.st of th e revolutions in h u m an affairs in all ages and in all
clim es. Woe betide th e co u n try , the youthful capacity and
activity of w hich are m isdirected and m isused. To im bue th e
youths w ith p a tr io ts feelings ^ u l to in spire them w ith lofty
•id eals ► th e h ig h est duty th a t a lover of h is co untry can set
before him . Tliose who instil crim inal ideas into young m inds
are th e grcnte.st enem ies of th e country and hum anity.
•
On th e occasion of th e last R usso-Japanese w ar, all th e seven
sons of a Japanese widow fell in b attle. W lien h er neighbours
w ent to con<lole w ith h er, they found h e r in tears. On th e ir
offering h e r consolation, she expressed g reat annoyance, an d , to
th e ir surprise, told them th a t .she was g rieving n o t because syi;
h ad lost all^ of h e r seven sons, bu\ because she h ad not any
o th e r to sacrifice for h e r country. W ho can check th e progress
of a nation, whose sons and slaughters are anim ated by such a
s p irit? .I t is th is sp irit of service a n d sacrifice th a t has m ade
Jap an , half a century ago a m ere geographical expression, one
of th e g reatest world-powers of th e dgy, If such a sp irit con­
tin u es, who know s th a t one day h e r am bition n o t only to
dom inate Asia but to encroach upon E urope, lik e th e H u n s of
old, would not be fulfd^ed ?
T he splendid services th a t som e of our young m en and
w om en have rendered in connection w ith flood, fam ine and pesti­
lence, have given unm istakable indication of th eir h aving
im bibed a laudable sp irit of self-sacrifice. Those in stru m en tal in*
c re a tin g it deserve our g rateful th an k s. On th e o th e r hand, no
w'ords cati be .strong enough for th e condem nation of th e m is­
crean ts, who d iv ert it to miscbi'ev^n.; ^haiiucis leading to
disaslei. I* is high tim e th a t all available forces in th e country
w ere m obilised for p u ttin g down terrorism and p u rg in g th e land
of th e m iscreants, preach in g justification o f th e m eans by th e
end, and inculcating tlie cu lt of th e bomb and the revolver,
l6 o
L IF E OF A. K A R IM
I t is a m a tte r of g re a t gratification th a t M uslim youths have
not succum bed to mischievous m achinations and have k e p t th e ir
hands clean of blood th a t has stained o th e r hands. In tliis
connection I should n o t om it to say th a t I stro n g ly deprecate
th e wholesale condem nation, indulged in in certain q u arters, of
a g reat com m unity, whose S hastras, trad itio n s, tra in in g
and
tem p eram en t m ilitate againgt such crim inal acts, fo r the
m isdeeds of a few m isguided w retches. If scores of th e m are
guilty of bloody, deeds, h u n d red s unhesitatiifgly risk th e ir lives
in h u n tin g th e crim inals o u t and g e ttin g them punisheii.
•
U n e m p l o y m e n t .—The unem ploym ent problem , w ith its con­
com itant disorder and distress, has assum ed a m agnitude
unparalleled in th e h-story of m odern Bengal. Since th e con­
solidation of B ritish ad m in istration in th e Prtivince, life and
property have never been so insecure as a t p resent. D u rin g the
six m onths ending in June last, th ere were no less th a n 1,053
Sf^^es of dacoity and 440 cases of m urder in Bengal, an d d u rin g
the sam e period in th e previous year 1,253 dacoi^Jes and 510
m urders w ere com m itted. W hat can be m ore horrible to th in k
of th a n th is ? B arring a few cases of w hat m ay be called
political dacoities, all oth ers were due to unem ploym ent and
econom ic distress prevailing in th e country. W hat is m ost to be
reg retted is th e participation of educated people in these atro­
cious crim es. T his deplorable sta te of th in g s is due, to a large
e x te n t, to the futility of th e education im parted in our educa­
tional in stitutions. Those who, like me, had opportu n ities of
closely stu d y in g th e subject in its various aspects, m ust have
been convinced th a t the system th a t was originally introduced
m ainly w ith a view tc^*train clerks a n d o th er subordinate officers
i o r th e assistance of B ritish adm in istrato rs, has long outgrow n
its utility. A large nu m b er of those educated u n d er th a t system ,
are not only unemploj-ed b u t also unem ployable. Yom ig m en
who, in th eir childhood, w ere ta u g h t th a t “ those w ho read and
w rite, ride horses and c arriag es” , find, to Iheir utter*disappointm eut, th a t th e education th ey have received leads instead to
th e p ath of penury and starvation. H aving h ard ly any useful
w ork to do and unable to m ain tain them selves by h onest means.
PRESIDENT O F ASSOCIATIONS .\ND MEETINGS
l
6
l
educated young men betake them selves to m ischievous ways.
As long as th e educated could be absorbed into th e services for
which they w ere intended , no one ever heard of dacoities and
o th er heinous crim es hav in g been com m itted by B h a d ra lo g s.
'I f over-production of grad u ates and under-graduates could be
stopped and new avenues of em ploym ent could be created, th e
“ educated B h a d r a lo g s , w ith tlie exception of th e few victim s of
political exploitation, ,w onld, I hage reason to believe, cease to
com m it snch excesses a s have b ro u g h t indescribable disgrace and
d isaster to th e people of Bengal.
F or a long tim e I have been p ersisten tly u rg in g the revision
of th e course of studies prescribed for our educational in stitu ­
tions, so as to m ^ke those passing o u t of th em fit to earn an
h onest living. U nless an d u n til this is done and activities of
the youths are diverted to useful channels, th e unem ploym ent
problem will continue to baffle solution, an d th ere will be no
peace in th e country. W hat is really ‘w anted is not ready-m ade
autom atons wlio will fit into th e fixed grooves of services under
G overnm ent or com m ercio-induttrial concerns, b u t en terp risin g
and adventurous youths, sp iritu ally stro n g , who may carve out
new destinies an d create fresh openings fo r them selves and
o th ers in independent w alks of life.
I t is a m atter of g re a t reg ret th a t h undreds of our young men
*are g o ing from door to door for em ploym ent, w hile m any of our
n atu ral resources a re lyipV^ untapped. M ost of th e in dustrial
concerns in th e country are in th e hands of foreigners. Our
H indu b reth ren are g radu ally realising th e necessity of moving
ill th is direction, an d resu scitatin g some of tiie dying indigenous
in dustries, but th e M uslim s are still slum bering. T h eir suicidal
indifference to th e industrial regeneration of th e country w ill, I
need hardlv say, im m ensely add to th eir im poverishm ent. I
w ould appeal to o u r young m en, in the nam e of all th a t is
sacred, to em ulate th e glorious exam ple of th e Saracens of old
in th e field of trade, comm erce, indiistrv and onVnrp
S y s t e m o j E d u c a t io n .—The p resen t system of prim ary edu­
cation w hich has been in operation fo r over h a lf a century, has
proved a failure. I t has n o t proved suitable to th e requirem ents
II
i
62
l if e
of
a,
KARIM
of those for whom it was intended. I t has n o t m ade th e agricul­
tu rists b etter agricu ltu rists n o r th e artisan s m ore proficient
artisans. On tJie contrary, it has proved d etrim en tal to the
interest* of th e m asses in as m uch as it has created in th em a
distaste for m anual labour a n d for th e ir h ere d itary callings and
mode of living. They do no t care to im prove ag ricu ltu re or
handicrafts, anxious as th ey are to follow occupations of an
unproductive nature, in im itaiion of B h a ir a lo g . T h ey h ate to
earn th eir livelihood by m anual labour and know nothing- else bj'
w hich they can earn an h o n est living. T hus they are n o t only
unem ployed but also unen>ployable, and they h elp to accelerate
ra th e r th a n retard th e decadence of indigenous a rts and
p industries, an d thereby aggravate th e economic distress prevailing
in th e country. Does n o t all th is u nm istakably indicate the
necessity of thorough reform ? I t has to be borne in m ind th a t
the little education the m asses receive in th e b eginning of life
' g re a tly influences th em fo r good or fo r evil th ro u g h o u t th eir
later career.
In fact th e ir aim s, th e ir aspfi-ations, th e ir
m entality and th e ir outlook of Ij^e, are all m oulded a n d guided
by w hat is instilled into th e ir m inds at th e m ost im pressionable
stage of life.
I w ish I could give a b e tte r account of secondary education.
T he m ain purpose of its introduction was so well served th a t
it m ay n o t be fa r from tru th to say th a t it converted th e '
in telligentsia of In d ia ijito a race o f'tiu ill-d riv ers. Our schools
and colleges, while quite successful in tu rn in g ou t efficient tools
for the adm inistrative m achinery, failed to produce m en of
lig h t, of culture, of*character, of business capacity and of bold
initiative in different d epartm ents of hum an activity’. If th ere
still appears a T agore o r a Bose, it is no t on account of the
system , b u t in spite of it. Once a h ig h E uropean educationist
truly rem arked th a t th e difference betw een schools in In d ia and
schools in E ngland was as g re a t as th e difference betw een chalk
and cheese. I t is h ig h tim e th a t a system of n ational educa­
tion, suited to th e taste a n d tem peram ent, needs and aspirations
of th e people, w ere devised w ithout fu rth e r delay. O n the one
hand technical and vocational education, correlated to the
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
163
I
tiveiiuea of einploj’m etit open to th e people, should be given,
and on th e o th er, h ig h cultu ral education should be im parted
to fliose w ho can afford it, so as to produce such citizens of
lig h t and lead in g as m ay be fit fo r progressive self-governm ent.
T he fu tu re educational policy m u st aim a t a large scale pro­
duction not of graduates and uad er-g rad u ates bu t of agricul­
tu rists, industrialists and ru ra l w orkers.
If young m en,
n u rtu re d on history? philosophy %nd political thTOries, are unable
' to find* honourable chann els for th e em ploym ent of th e ir talent,
know ledge an d energy, it is n o th in g u n n atu ral th a t th ey should
g o astray in sh eer desperation, starv atio n starin g th em 111 the
face.
H ardly any effective m easure has been adopted to reform
th e educational system in the desired direction. W henever
th ere was any agitation for an y th in g p articu lar, conferences and
com m ittees w ere appointed, an d th ese perhaps served m ore as
eyew ash tliA i an y th in g else. A dozen a n d one volum es of th e
m ost valuable rep o rt of t h i S adler Comm ission, w hich was
specially appointed fo r th e reform of th e C alcutta university,
an d by acting upon th e recom m endations of w hich m ost of th e
o th e r universities in In d ia were appreciably benefited, have
h ard ly done an y th in g fo r Bengal, except adorning the archives
of th e S ecretariat. T he R eport of th e U niversity R e-organisa­
tion C om m ittee has so / n r produced little practical effect on the
affairs of th e U niversity. The C om m ittee over w hich Lord
L ytton presided (I was one of its m em bers from Assam) did
no th in g w orth m entioning. T he P rim ary J^ducation Act is likely
to be regarded m erely as a docum ent *of historical interest^
N o th in g is know n as reg ard s th e findings of th e D eprovincialisation Com m ittee. N oth in g has been h e ard fo r about
a year of th e Advisory C om m ittee for M uham m adan E d u ­
cation, wliich sat for about two years. A fter all th is, w hat
pivjixv-L
there be of th e success of the la te st “ endeavour
to find ways and m eans to rem edy the ex istin g deficiencies in
th e present system of university and secondary education in
th e P rovince?” As th e m atter has been discussed th readbare,
th e required reform m ig h t have been effected w ithout fu rth er
164
LIFE OF A. KARIM
enquiry by a com m ittee of "educational e x p erts” . My im pres­
sion is th a t those wedded to stereotyped w ork and w anting in
in sig h t an d initiative m ay n o t be com petent to c arry o u t th e
required te fo rm . M en w ith broad outlook, wide experience and
adequate im agination, such as D r. R ab in d ran ath T agore, S ir P,
C. R oy, S ir Ross M asud, are .req u ired fo r th e purpose. L et us
hope th a t the new constitution would u sh e r in a n era of
educational progress, w hen th * portfolio »f education would
come in to th e hands of such M inisters as w ould be able to^ devise
a S3'stem of education w ell-suited to the req u irem en ts of th e
count!*’.
•
I n B e n g a l w h o liv e s i f p e a s a n ts d ie ?—Bengal, as I have
alreadj' said, is pre-em inently a n agricultural P sovince; over 80
per cent, of its population are tillers of th e soil, and con­
sequently producers of th e co u n try ’s w ealth. A n y thing happen­
ing to this m ainstay of the country vitclly affects its whole
population. P erhap s it ncecfe no m ention th a t th e poverty of
B engal’s peasantry has passed into a proverb. In te rn a l and
external exploitation seem s to h a^e been its chief cause. At
present, w hen th e price of all ag ricu ltu ral produce has gone
down to a stag g erin g point, th e y a re passing th ro u g h art
economic crisis w hich b e ^ a r s all description. N eed I say th a t
it behoves all concerned—th e rulers, th e landlords, th e capita­
lists, th e m oney-lenders, th e professionals—to come to th e ir
im m ediate relief. I t is difhcult to f o r ^ a s t w hat is going to
happ en if th e ir distress is n o t forth w ith alleviated. H ere is a
chance for those who call them selves th e people’s lead ers, th e
peasan ts’ well-wishers,^*to prove th e ir claim by deeds an d n o t
by words.
. . . . Co-operative banks, established on a larg e scale, w ith
ag ricu ltu rists as shareholders, u n d er G overnm ent supervision,
m ig h t greatly benefit th e peasan ts and labourers. T he price of
ju te hav in g fallen so low as n o t to cover even th e cost of pro­
duction, th e ju te grow ers are now in g re a t d istress. Such a
situation would not have arisen if th e price of ju te h ad been
controlled an d o th er effective m easures tak en in tim e, as
suggested by th e Ju te G row ers’ Association, of w hich I am the
PRESIDHNT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
P resident. G overnm ent’s
lunch to be deplored.
indifference
in
th is
m atter
165
is
very
The nppaliinK illiteracy , prevailing in th e country, is a
sta n d in g discredit to its ad m inistration, In a ll civilised countries
m ost of the people are literate. In Jap an th e percentage of
literates is 97, in th e U nited S tates of Am erica 96, in E n g lan d
93, in G erm any 91, in R u ssia 76, am ong m ales and 63 am ong
fem ales. W h at do you th in k is th e percentage of literates in
th is benighted country ? H ardly«5 p er cent, in Jndia as a whole
• a n d 10, per cent, in Bengal. T he insignificant am ount sp en t on
education by th e In d ian G overnm ent could n o t have produced
an y o th er result.
T he expenditift'e for education per* head
am ounts to R s. 16 in A m erica, R s. 9 in E ngland, R s. 8 in Japan,
but in In d ia il^ is th e m agnificent sum of an n as two. How
could it be h ig h er w hen th e M ilitary B udget exceeds sixty
crores ?
In all countries prim ary education has a g re a te r im portance
th an h ig h e r education. In India, \fh ere the u p p er and m idJle
classes are num erically insignificant, its im portance is far g reater
th a n elsew here. T he c o m p ilativ e backw ardness of In d ia in
alm ost every sphere of hum an activity, may be traced to h er
illiteracy. I t is because th e m asses are illiterate th a t they are
sw ayed by superstition and prejudice, know little of sanitation
an d hygiene and a re carried off by tbousauds every y ear by
cholera, m alaria an d o th er preventible diseases, have to depend
upon th e freaks of n a tu re fo r the success o r failure of th eir
crops, fall victim s to th e mischievous m achinations of political
self-seekers and religious fanatics, who exploit them w henever
it suits th e ir purpose. U nless a n d u n til illite ra c y is wiped out
from th e land, th ere can be little progress, social, economic or^
political. I t is education, an d n o th in g b u t education, th a t can
rem ove social evils, sanitary troubles an d economic distress from
th e country, and can aw aken political consciousness and create
solidarity iy th e people. Self-governm ent w ithout literacj- would
be n o th in g but a farce, and m ig h t possibly be a tragedy.
I t is to be ex trem ely reg retted th a t th e P rim ary E ducation
Act, w hich was passed w ith so much ado th re e years ago.
l6 6
LIFE OF A. KARIM
has not y et been given effect to, and it is no t know n w hen it
will come into operation. If on account of econom ic depression,
levy of an educational cess was undesirable, th e G overnm ent
m ight have tem porarily, if n o t perm anently, introduced the longoverdue free com pulsory education into th e province by m eeting
th e necessary expenditure o u t of its provincial revenues, m ak in g
retrenchm ent, if necessary, in o th er less im p o rtan t directions.
T he responsibility of a civilised g overnm ent in m ak in g th e
people literate cannot be over-stressed. T o reg ard expenditure
for th is p u rp o sl as one of th e first charges upon a co untry’s^
revenues, would be certainly an a c t of wisdom . In th is ’connec­
tio n I should not om it to m ention th a t th e indigenous and
inexpen.sive education in vogue before, was m ore suited to the
social and economic conditions o f th e people. Its rep lacem ent
f>y an exotic system , w hich prefers book ediftalion to n atu re
study, insists on read in g m ore th an on th in k in g , fosters an
artificial taste for unnecessary th in g s a n d costs m uch m ore than
^ o r people can afford to bear, has m ade education ra th e r u n ­
popular w ith the masses. I need h ard ly say thali a thorough
over-hauling of th e system in o rd er to m ake it n atu ral, sim ple,
inexpensive, m odem , b u t tru e to In d ia ’s g enius a n d suited to
th e requirem ents of th e m asses is u rg en tly necessary. Such a
system of primaiy- education m ust be m ade univ ersal, free and
compul.sory, sim ultaneously w ith th e in auguration of responsible
self-governm ent, if not before.
*•
O PIN IO N S ON T H E ABOVE S P E E C H ,
^
*
•
8 /1 , Har.si S treet,
C alcutt, 6 th D ecem ber, 1933.
D kar D r . A h -m e d ,
I am very than k fu l to you fo r kindly sending m e a copy
of th e P residential speech of M aulvi Abdul K arim Saheb. I
read a p a rt of the speech in th e papers and w as lo nging for a
copy of th e entire speech. I have now read th e w hole of it and
I am tem pted to say th a t it is an epoch-m aking speech fit to be
PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETINGS
167
preserved in letters of gold in every H indu and every Moslem
household. W ith tlianks again,
Y ours sincerely,
M . N . M u k h e r ;^ee ,
(Judge, Calcutta H ig h -Court).
,
^
*
D ear M r . A b d u i , K a r im ,
^
College of vScience,
C alcutta, 10-2-34.
.
,
I have been reading, m ark in g a n d d igesting your adm irable
address an d am (juoting a t length from it in my 2 n d volum e of*
“ My Life and E xperie n ces” . I look upon yon as th e n esto r
of th e cultured Moslem com m unity. E v ery line of y o u r address
breeds lofty patriotism and is singularly free from th e tin t of
com niunalism . To quote j'o u r own* w ords : You are not
G overnm ent-m ade leader—but th a t is your h ig h est claim to
g ratitu d e of us all. M ay you "live long and continue to preach
the gospel of U nited B engal in w hich th e H indu and th e M oslem
should have absolute equality of status.
Y oubs s in c e r e ly ,
P . C. R oy ,
(Sir p . C. R oy , K t ., C .I.E .).
2, ^ h a n d ra C hatterjee S treet, C alcutta,
6 th
Dedfember, 1933. ,
i
M y D ear M c e v i S a h e b ,
I am indeed g reatly gratified for h aving been favoured witli
a copy of i'onr excellen t and rousing speech. I read a sketch
of it in th e “ S tatesm an ” before and adm ired th e sam e, b u t the
full speech is really a glorious study. I w ish it w ere translated
for th e use of our larg ely m isguided countrym en, who greatly
l6 8
I J F E O F A. K A R IM
need such plaiu-speaking in no uncertain language. P ag es 7 to
10 and pages 18 to 2 0 have made a p articularly deep im pression
on m y m ind—how boldly a n d effectively a genuine lead er and an
esteem ed son of B engal has spoken o u t his m ind. You have by
your speech fully m aintained the traditions of your life, culture
and experience for w hich you are so much respected by both the
com m unities. May
God sp a rf you a long tim e yet to serve our
d ear m otherland w ith your courage and foresight.
W ith kin d est regards and best thanks#
I am yours very sincerely,
,
SuR EN D R A N a t h
M a i.u k
(c .t.e .) ,
(Late M em ber of th e Council of the
Secretary of S tate for India).
23rd D ecem ber, 1933.
^^
C alcutta,
♦
M y D ear M r . K a r im ,
•
T hanks for your k ind letter. I n o t only
speech but read it w ith in terest and appreciate.
yours lead me to hope th a t some day there may
th e p resen t u n fo rtu n a te 's itu a tio n for which my
as much to blam e as yours. Best regards,
received your
Speeches like
be an end of
com m unity is
Y outs sincerely,
N . N . S ir c a r ,
*"
(Advocate p e n e ra l, Bengal. A t present
Law M em ber, V iceregal Council).
CHAPTER IX.
SO M E LETTER S.
W hen ev er th e re 'was piiblic discussion regarding
a n y th in g im p o rta n t M aulavi A bdul K arim took a conspi­
cu o u s p a rt in i t . '^ I t will reqtiire a larg e vdlum e to publish
all thfe le tte rs he w rote o n various su b jects to new spapers
and individuals.
A s a few pages can be sp a re d , only
som e select le tte rs are being p rin te d fo r th e present. T hese
w ill give some; idea as to w h at k in d of le tte rs w ere w rittrti
b y M . .^bdul K arim . I n D ecem ber, 1 9 1 6 , he w as requested
b y th e late M r. G ou rlay , th e n P riv ate S ecretary to th e
G overn o r of B engal, to w rite a sjiort h isto ry of th e M uslhti
ru le in B engal for th e use of L o rd Chelm sford w hen he
w’ould com e to B engal, and he w ro te th e req u ired history,
w hich w as p resen ted to L ord C helm sford. H e th e n w rote
Some long le tte rs to th e la te M r. E . S. M ontague on
con stitu tio n al reform s. Som e of «these w ere sent direct
a n d som e th ro u g h th e G o v ern m tn t of B engal. H e was
inform ed th a t th ese iro u ld be tak en in to considration by
th e V iceroy an d th e S ecretary of S tate.
W h e n th e M ontague-C helm sford Schem e w as u n d er
consideration th e follow ing le tte r of M^iulavi A b d ul K arim
w as p u b lish ed in th e S tatesm an : —
•
S ir ,—I n a letter th a t I have addressed in iiiy capacity as a
V ice-President of th e Benjjal P residency M uslim L eague to the
Secretarv of th e L eague, to be placed before th e m eeting to be
held to-inowow to consider th e R eform Scheme I have w ritten
as follows :—
“ As for acceptance o r rejectio n of th e schem e, the question,
to my m ind, does n o t arise a t all. We have to deal w ith a report
170
IJF E OF A. KARIM
in w hich certain proposals have been m ade no t for acceptance
or rejection but for criticism a n d discussion. T he fram ers of th e
Schem e w ere not authorised to offer any Schem e for acceptance
or rejection by th e people of India. They were in stru cted to
survey th e situation, to collect inform ation, to w eigh opinions
and to form ulate proposals. T his they have done, an d criticism
an d discussion liave been invjted. W hen th e Schem e will be
em bodied in an Act and th e question of its being p u t into opera*
tion will arise, ^ then w ill be# th e tim e *for acceptance o r
^
rejectio n .............
Tlie Schem e has to be carefully perused and th oroughly diges­
ted. The difficulty of g e ttin g ‘a thorougli g rasp of such an in im it­
ably w ritten docum ent, w hich traverses a wide area and covers a
Mng period, m ust not be lost sig h t of, F rom w^uit I have been
able to g ath er by going th ro u g h it once I have no h esitatio n in
saying th a t th e Schem e deserves m ost serious consideration.
Cajled upon to deal w ith one of th e most com plicated problem s
th a t any statesm an had ever
face in any country, the fram ers of
th e schem e, to my m ind, have acquitted them selves w ith excep­
tionable ability and praisew orthy e*-ne.stness. How difficult it is
to draw up a cautious and a t the sam e tim e a liberal schem e can
be realised only by th o se who had th e m isfortune of bein g placed
in such an unenviable position. I th in k th e Schem e, on th e
whole, has been conceived in a sp irit of genuine sym pathy w ith
In d ia 's political aspirations, an d an h onest attem p t has been
m ade to grapple w ith th e p resen t political situation in India by
reconciling diversities of views a n d in terests. T he Schem e is a
decided imi>rovement on th e ex istin g sta te of th in g s a n d it m ark s
a definite advance in ^ftie system of ad m in istratio n , calculated to
Jead by stages if properly w orked out, to th e realisation of the
ideal of responsible g overnm ent in India. In m y hum ble opinion
it deserves a calm a n d considerate handling.
T hat th e Schem e falls sh o rt of the aspiratio n s of th e people
and is not adequate to m eet tlie presen t situ atio n in •In d ia th ere
can be no denying. T h a t it requires su b stan tial m odifications
an d expansions in som e im p o rtan t respects can n o t be gainsaid.
T hat som e of th e restrictio n s and lim itations im posed as safe-
SOME BETTERS
I7I
guardss through excessive caution, require to be rem oved o r re­
laxed m ust be adm itted. B ut all th is can n o t be achieved by
obstructive agitation o r d estructive criticism . The Schem e will
have to be modified thro u g h calm and careful discussion a n d con­
siderate an d constructive criticism . S tro n g a n d eanieSt public
opinion cannot fail to produce th e desired effect. I w ould, there­
fore, strongly u rg e th e concentration of a ll atten tio n an d energies
for g e ttin g the required m odifications an d I would propose th e
appointm ent of a stfo n g com m ittee of th e IvCagpe for th is pur,pose. It is hoped th e com m ittees w hich will have to d ete r­
m ine th e pow ers to be tran sfe rred from th e G overnm ent of In d ia
to th e Provicial G overnm ents and from th e Provincial E xecutives
to th e In d ian M inister.s and will have to settle th e electorates and
th e proportion of elected m em bers, will be form ed w ithout furthei*
d elay .”—Y ours, etc.,
R a n c h i , A u g , 3.
ABDtji. K a r im .
# •
W hile .th e R o u n d T ab le C onference w as sittin g
M aulavi A b d u l K arim w r^te th e follow ing le tter to th e
late S ir Syed A li Im am , one o f th e d elegates from B ihar : —
C alcutta, the 23rd S eptem ber, 1931.
%
•
D e a r S i r A l l Im am ,
I hope to be excused* fo r th e liberty I am ta k in g of in tru d in g
upon you w hen you m u st be very busy w ith the work of the
R ound Table Conference. H ^d n o t th e M uslim s of B engal been
vitally in terested in w h at I am w riting, I w ^ l d n o t have troubled
you. Y ou m ust have noticed th a t th e M uslim delegation from
B engal is n o t only m o st inadequate b u t also verj’ w eak. C ue
of th e delegates is com m itted to sep arate electorate, upon which
perhaps his political ex isten ce depends, am i tlie o th er practically
has n o o p iusju of his own a n d m ay be gained over by any party.
In these circum stances m ay I hope th a t you will kin d ly do all
th a t m ay be possible for safeguarding th e in terests of your co­
religionists in B engal ?
172
U H E OF A. KARIM
I am enclosing h erein copies of th re e letters w hich I w rote
reg ard in g th e requirem ents of th e M uslim s of Bengal. I shall
be m uch obliged if you kin d ly spare a little tim e to go through
them . T he circum stances of B engal bein g different from those of
o th er psovinces, th e case of the Bengal M uslim s requires special
consideration. T he Lucknow pact, as you are aw are, did great
in ju stice to th e M uslim s of Bengal. T hey will have to suffer
grievously if th e j' are again relegated to th e position of m inority
in spile of th e ir m ajo rity in t h j province. W ill you kin d ly ex ert
your influence to p rev en t a recurrence of such in ju stice ? I t is^
n o t unlikely th a t the M uslim delegates from B engal w ill ‘agree to
sacri^ce our m ajority in th e legislature for the sake o f separate
electorate.
*
T he n e x t im portant th in g is to g et th e iwimber of M uslim
voters raised to th e ir proportion in th e p o pulation by low ering
the franchise qualification. A dult franchise, if given to fem ales
,^ilso, w ill, how ever, prove injurious to th e M uslim cause, as
few* Mu.slim fem ales wifi a tten d the p o lling booths.
If
universal ad u lt franchise is sanctioned, special facilities for
recording fem ale votes, such as recording by proxy o r at home,
should be arranged , otherw ise few M uslim fem ale votes will be
recorded. 1 hope you w ill kin d ly bear th is in m ind w hen the
franchise question will J;>e discussed.
T he electorate question in Bengal requires serious considera- ,
tion. In o th er provinces separate electorate m ig h t not be so
injurious to th e M uslim cause as in Beifgal, w hich contains alK>ut
o ne-third of th e to ta l M uslim population of In d ia a n d double of
th a t of th e Punjab. About 90 pejj cent of th e Bengal M uslim s
being cultivators, the<r in terests in fact constitute th e in terests of
’ th e com m unity. T he liberation of th e cu ltiv atin g class (both
H indu an d M uslim) from th e economic bondage of th e landlords
cannot be achieved unless and u n til th e H indu an d M uslim
m asses, who have been divided into w atertig h t com partm ents
by separate electorate, are able to join th e ir forces tn a common
electorate. T hus from th e point of view of th e m asses, who form
80 per cen t of B engal’s population, th e case fo r jo in t electorate
is overw helm ing. I t is to be reg retted th a t th e M uslim landlords
SOME LETTERS
1 73
of Bengal have been try in g
th eir u tm ost to p erpetuate th e system
of separate electorate. By exploiting th e cultivators, w ho form
an overw helm ing m ajority of th e electors, th ey g e t them selves
elected to th e Council. All th e In d ian m em bers of tlie Bengal
cabinet, tw o E xecutive Councillors a n d th ree M inisters, come
. from th e landow ning class, whose in terests, as a ru le, are opposed
to th e in terests of th e c u ltiv atin g class, E v en m ost of th e
S w arajist m em bers, M io are lancflords or th e ir A gents, do not
fiesitate to sacrifice th e in terests of th e cultivators. P arty division
in th e Councils, unless based on class in terest, w ill be m ost d etri­
m ental to the in terests of th e masses, a n d will th u s be a negation
of dem ocracy. A ny division on th e basis o f religion, being the
creation of in terested persons, will retard th e progress of th e *
country as well as of th e com m unity.
S eparate electorate h as had its tria l fo r a long tim e. H as
it really benefited th e M uslim com m ijnity? H as i t enabled th # *
M uslim s to oaganise them selves ? H ave th ey re tu rn ed th e rig h t
type of representatives to th e Councils ? I am afraid the answ ers
of these queries will have to be given in th e negative. On the
contrary, dependence on artificial props has engendered a false
sense of security and has th u s retard ed th e grow th of selfreliance and political organisation. Besides, sep arate electorate,
,iii th e w ords of th e Sim on R ep o rt, has proved “ an obstacle in th e
W83 ' of th e grow th of a s^ose of com m on citizen sh ip .” T he only
people i t has benefited are th e o p portunists a n d job-hunters,
who have exploited th e B engal m asses fo r th e ir selfish ends. As
long as thi.s system of electorate will continue th ere can be no
chance for H indu an d M uslim m asses td b e tte r th e ir con­
dition. In these circum stances it is m ost desirable th a t every '
possible effort should be m ade to g e t jo in t electorate introduced
in Bengal, if not perm an en tly , a t least for two term s, so th a t
it may be seen how it w orks. Sej)arute electorate, th o n e h tried
for a long tim e, h as n o t produced the desired resu lt. L et jo in t
electorate have a tria l fo r som e tim.;.
As for reservation of seats, I w rote a t som e len g th about it in
th e letter, a typed copy of w hich is enclosed. F o r reasons stated
therein it is desirable, in th e in terests of both th e H indus and
174
r4 F E O F A. K A R IM
th e M uslim s of Bengal, th a t seats should be reserved fo r both the
com m unities u n til th ere is a change in the circum stances th a t
m ake such reservation necessary. In conclusion, I w ould request
you to do all th a t is possible fo r raising th e num ber of th e M uslim
electorate by low ering th e franchise qualification, an d for the
reservation of scats on a pcfpulation basis for som e tim e.
M aulavi A b d u l K arim *wrote th e /o llo w in g le tte r on
interco m m u n al a m i t y :—
,
•
“ I t is w ith suprem e pleasure th a t I have perused your article
entitJed “ The B akr-Id” , ceuched in laudable tone and term s,
published in to-day’s issue of the “ .Ainrita Bazar P a trik a ’’. W hat
• a happy day it would have been for India if w ritings such as this
were th e rule and n o t an exception, I sincerely w ish all the
H indu an d th e M uslim journals will im itate th e praisew orthy
sp irit w hich underlies th e article u n d er reference.
* * N othing can be a g reater trav esty of tru th th a n to say th a t
Islam is an in to leran t religion propagated by fotce “ w ith the
Q uran in one h an d and th e sw oi^ in th e o th e r’’. Islam , w hich
enjoins com plete su rren d er to G od’s will, is a religion of peace.
Its m essage to hum anity is th e unity of God and th e e q u ality .o f
m an. Its m ost distinctive feature is u n iv ersality ; now here in
its scripture, th e Q urail, has it been said th a t God is R abbul
M uslinieen, Lord of the M uslim s; everyw here H e h a s been des-*
cribed as Rabbul Alam in, Lord of th e . created w orlds.
«
H istory bears incontestable testim ony to the fact th a t Islam
was spread by preaching a n d persuasion, its sim plicity, its sub­
lim ity, an d its pragticability h a fitig m ade th e m ost effective
appeal to all classes of people, who had occasion to come in
contact w ith it, M ahatm a G andhi very tru ly observed on cue
occasion, “ I t was n o t th e sw ord th a t won a place for Islam in the
schem e of life.’’ ’ T he M uslim s m ig h t have w iped Ju d aism and
C h ristian ity out of Arabia, Syria, S pain and m any o th e r countries,
if they h a d recourse to forcible conversion. H aS Islam been
propagated in Ind ia by th e sw ord, th ere would have been few
non-M uslim s left in th e land, p articu larly in th e neighbaurhood
of th e seats of M uslim G overnm ent. B ut wliere do M uslim s p re ­
p onderate in India ? N ot in D elhi, or in A gra, or in Lucknow,
SOMB BEITERS
175
w here an overw helm ing m ajority of th e population still continues
to be non-M uslim s in spite of seven huntlred years of M uslim
rule, but in Sylhet, in C hittagong, in N oakhali, fa r away from
th e capital cities, w here saints an d sages, like Shah Jatal, spread
Islam by th e use of th e tongue, n o t by the use of th e sw ord, '
by preaching, persuasion a n d personal exam ple, n o t by force,
com pulsion or coercion.
A ccustom ed, as ^ have been,*lo an atm osphere, in which in te r- *
* com m unal u n ity an d cordiality were h a rd lj' ever disturbed and
social am enities betw een the H in d u s and th e M uslim s were of
c o n stan t occurrence, it p ain s m e m uch to see th a t, a t th is critical
stage, of th e history of the country, w hen peace and good-will are
so very essen tiij, som e short-sighted m em bers of b oth th e com ­
m unities, influenced by th e m achinations of d esigning in trig u ers
a n d unscrupulous fanatics, have adopted th e suicidal policy of fan ­
n in g the flame of com m unal jealousy and enm ity, th u s affordijig
a n opportuuiri' for th e fu rth e r tig h te n in g of th e chains of bondage,
w ith w hich they are k n it together. Slaves fighting am ongst th e m ­
selves for im aginary w rongs l i r doubtful rig h ts m ust be a most
tniedifying spectacle fo r th e w o rld 's free on-lookers to w itness.
W h at is m ost stran g e is th a t all th is is generally done in the
nam e of religion, w hich, to my m ind, ys th e g reatest hum anising
a n d harm o n isin g force in th e world. Prom otion of toleration
* an d fellow -feeling am ong G od’s creatures is the m essage both
of the Q uran an d th e V ed as. Y et som e m em bers of both the
com m unities, fo rg ettin g th e in ju n ctio n s of th e ir respective scrip ­
tu res, frantically qu arrel over triflin g m atters, in w hich no car­
dinal prihciple of any religion is really if^volved. W hat can be
m ore reg rettab le th a n th is ? I need h ard ly say th a t if the present*
intcrcom m uuial tension continues, it would be futile to ta lk of
political or economic advancem ent o r of n ational an d social re­
generation.
I hope •and tr u s t good sense will prevail a t la,st, a n d fa r­
sig h ted m em bers of b o th th e com m unities, realising th e extrem e
grav ity of th e situatio n , will ex e rt them selves to b rin g about
a lastin g reconciliation. I would appeal, w ith all the earnestness
1 can com m and, to all th o u g h tfu l m em bers of both th e commu-
I?6
U F E O F A. K A R IM
nities to b estir them selves betim es to clear th e atm osphere of
all suspicion an d d istru st. I t h a s to be realised th a t Providence
h as cast o u r lo t in one com m on m otherland, an d we have to live
an d die side by side in this g re at land of our b irth .
W h e n M aulavi A b d u l K arim w as in v ited to, give
evidence before th e H a rto g C om m ittee he m ade th e follow­
in g sta te m e n t in th e form of a m em orandum and issued
it to th e press :*—
*
*
The responsibility of a civilised g overnm ent in m akiftg th e
people^ literate cannot be over-stated. E x p e n d itu re fo r th is p u r­
pose should on
no account be stinted. In fact it o u g h t to be
regarded as one of th e first charges upon its revenues. I t is
satisfactory to note th a t th e B engal G oveniiiienf seem s to have
a t last aw akened to its responsibility in th e m atter o£ prim ary
education in the Province. I t has been ad m itted tlia t “ the
p resen t system is inadequate, th e teac h in g is inefficient a n d th e
distribution of schools unsystem atic, th e teachers a r j under-paid
an d a larg e num ber of pupils w ho a tten d p rim ary schools leave
th e schools before h aving received th e m ost elem entary in stru c­
tion and consequently lapse into illiteracy .” I t has also been
ad m itted th a t B engal’s contribution fo r p rim ary education has
been hopelessly sm all and it com pares very unfavourably w ith
th a t of o th er Provinces. W hile Bengal contributes fo r p rim ary
education only h6 p e r cent, of h e r to ta l Provincial revenues,
Bombay contributes 6 p er cent., B ihar aiAl O rissa contributes 5'1
per cent., and th e P u n jab contributes 3-6 p e r cent., fo r th e sam e
purpose. Besides, u nlike o th er provjnces, education is top-heavy
in th is province, a disproportionately large am ount bein g sp en t
*on Secondary an d U niversity education a t th e cost of P rim ary
education. It is hoped th a t all th is would be ta k en into m ost
serious consideration and universal p rim ary education would be
introduced in B engal w ithout fu rth e r delay.
T he system of p rim ary education th a t has been in operation
for over h alf a century, has no t proved suitable for the
requirem ents of those for whom it is p rim arily in ten d ed . I t has
n o t im proved e ith er th e know ledge o r th e condition of th e rural
p o p u latio n ; it has n o t m ade th e cultivators b e tte r cnltivatora,
SOME LETTERS
177
n o r th e artisan s m ore efficient a rtisan s. On th e contrary, it has
proved detrim en tal
to th e ir in terests inasm uch as
it has
created in them a d istaste i o i niannal labour and fo r th e ir
h ered itary callings and mode of living. T hey do n o t care to
im prove agricu ltu re or h andicrafts, anxious as th ey are*lo follow
occupations of an unproductive n a tu re in im itation of th e m iddle
class people. T hey
hate to earjii th e ir livelihood by
m anual
labour and know n o th in g else by which th ey can m ake an
honest living. T ht^' are th u s % ot only unem ployed b u t also
* unem ployable and they accelerate ra th e r th an re ta rd th e deca­
dence of indigenous arts a n d in dustries and help to aggravate
th e economic crisis prev ailin g in the* country. T his is th e feason
wh>' in som e places people, fa r from su p p o rtin g th e local school,
desire its abolition.
*
It is essentially necessary th a t pupils of ru ral schools should
develop a genuine atta c h m e n t to th e ir sim ple mode of living
an d fam ily craft, an d it should be seen th a t n o thing in th « ij
school-iife, »otIiiiig in th e ir text-boobs creates in th e ir m ind a
lo n g in g for a luxirrious mode of liv in g or a dislike fo r th e
hum ble calling of th e ir forefathers.
V arious th in g s have to be ta k e n into careful consideration
in th is connection. W h at is essentially required by th e In d ian
m asses is a thorough g ro u n d in g in th i th ree R 's. Illiteracy in
th is country is nob alw ays synonym ous w ith ignorance. The
m asses, though illiterat** gen erally possess th e requisite know ­
ledge of affairs p e rtain in g to th e ir sphere of life and th ey are
p erhaps m orally an d sp iritu ally more advanced th a n th e m asses
in o th er countries.
•
^
T he educative value of a good schoot b uilding and decent
fu n iitu re can h ard ly he over-estim ated. B ut loo m uch stress*
should not be laid on th ese as necessary funds for th eir provision
are w anting. T he people will benefit m ore by th e spread of
literacy acquired u n d e r th e tree d u rin g the d ry ?c.7«!on .ind
w ithin h u ts in th e rain s th a n by a sm aller num ber of boys
reading in im posing buildings. If th e rig h t in struction is
im parted it would n o t m a tte r m uch w h eth er pupils sq u at under
a peepul tree or sit in a m arble hall. U ntil o th er and more
12
.
178
LIFE OF A. KARIM
essen tial requirem ents are supplied a n d sufRcieiit funds for con­
stru ctio n of school buildings are available, m osques, th ak u rg h a rs and out-Iiouses m ig h t be utilised for th e accom m odation of
M aktabs and P atshalas. T h e erection of a school house should not
alw ays be m ade a condition precedent to th e o pening of a
prim ary school.
T he D epartm en t -svill m a k t out a case fo r a large inspecting
staff w ho will e a t up a big slice of th e E d ucation F und. My
in ten tio n in dilating on th is aspect is to tfmphasise th e point
th a t p rim ary education can be m ade free at a sm aller cdst if it
is carried on, m ore or less, on prim itive lines w ithout unnecessary
inter%*ention of ex p erts of G overnm ent, w ho very often are more
em b arrassin g than helpful. P rim ary education even now at
^ a c e s is im parted to th e boys u n d er a banyan *ree by a teacher
who lives on th e m eagre doles of paddy a n d o th e r crops from
th e villagers. B ut now we m ust have expensive school buildings
o n typed plans a n d th e teach ers m u st be train ed gu ru s. D id the
g re a t V idyasagar go througfli a g u ru -train in g co u rsf ? The less
w estern or foreign innovations are m ade in p rim ary education in
In d ia th e sm oother will be its p rd ^ re ss.”
T he m ost im jw rtan t facto r in any schem e of education is
th e teacher. U nw illing and inefficient teachers have retard ed
th e progress of ed u catio n ,in th is country. N oth in g should, th ere­
fore, be le ft undone to im prove th e ir capacity and to b e tte r th eir
prospects. E very ste p should be take;;n to tra in th e required
n u m b er of teachers as soon as p o s^b le. U ntil a sufficient
nu m b er of trained teachers is available, services of G urus and
M ianjis w ith th e requisite a c a d ^ i c attain m en ts sh o u ld be
utilised. E.stablishm c»t of schools, w here necessary, should not
•aw ait th e supply of train ed teachers. T h e quality of th e in stru c­
tio n im parted by u n trained teachers m ig h t n o t be quite up to
th e m ark, b u t some education would be b e tte r th a n no educa­
tio n. I t was u ntrain ed teachers, judiciously selected, who so
long spread education in th e country.
•
C o s t o f P r im a r y E d u c a tio n .—In all civilised countries educa­
tion of th e people is considered as one of th e m ost ijnportaiit
duties of G ovem m ent and expenditure for this purpose is never
SOME LETTERS
179
stin ted . U nfortnnately in In d ia th e G overnm ent has been
lam entably late in realising its responsibility in th is respect. It
is a m atter of reg ret th a t even now G overnm ent is n o t inclined
to contribnte liberally for th e education of the people. In th e
B engal P rim ary E ducatio n Bill, now before the Comicil, no
indication has been given as to w h at portion of th e necessary
cost G overnm ent is prep ared to bear. On th e other hand, it
h as been proposed to heavily ta x th e people, who are proverbially
•
*
^oor.
Tliis’ has n aturally called fo rth vigorous p ro test from different
•quarters. T here is an un an im ity of opinion th a t th e G overn­
m ent should contribute a fair share, say a t least half, of the
co st of p rim ary education in th e Province an d an express
provision to this* effect should be in serted in th e Bill. U nless
the statu to ry obligation on th e S tate to contribute a definite
sh are of th e cost is expressly recognised, th ere is likely to be
a good deal of ag itatio n ’ reg ard in g th e proposed cess. Another*
po in t reg ard in g w hich a n alm ost unanim ous opinion has been
ex p ressed by those who were^ consulted in th e m atter, is th a t
in d irect tax atio n should be p referred to d irect taxation. I th in k
dti is m ost desirable th a t all avenues of ind irect taxation should
be thoroughly explored. V arious suggestions have been made
as regards tax in g tea, sugar, cig ar and cigarettes, piece goods
a n d such o th er th in g s as are considered m ore or less as luxuries
an d n o t necessaries. I^ j.s believed th a t people would n o t object
ev en to th e raisin g of th e salt tax . In 1922-23, 151 lakh
m aunds of sa lt were consum ed in B engal and a revenue of
184 lakhs w as raised. R aisi«g of th e excise d uty for m eeting
th e cost of Prim arj- education has also be#n suggested. I th in k
th e Railw ay B oard m ig h t be induced to agree to th e addition*
of one pice per rupee on all railw ay tick ets issued a t H owrah,
Sealdah an d o th er railw ay statio n s in Bengal. T his m ay yield
a subsiuutiul am ount which m ay be ear-m arked for prim ary
education. "Much stress has been laid on m oving th e G overn­
m ent of India to g ive back to B engal th e ex p o rt duty on ju te
w hich is grow n only in B engal by th e peasan ts for whose educa­
tion m oney is required. Im position of a surcharge on ju te w ith
l 8o
U F E OF A. KARIM
th e sanction of th e G overnm ent of In d ia has also been suggested.
If m ore th an th ree crores of rupees can be h ad from th e duty
on ju te, prim ary education can be m ade free a n d com pulsory in
B engal w ithout fu rth e r delay.
E x c l u s i o n o f U r b a n A r e a s .—Exclusion of urban areas from
tlie scope of the Bill is n o t desirable. The question of prim ary
education should be considered as a whole fo r th e en tire province.
T here m ight be differences in ,t h e curriculu|n fo r different areas
and denom inations, b u t th ere should be one uniform law fo^
th e w hole province. T he B engal P rim ary E d u catio n Act of 1919
seem s to have l>ecome inoperative for w ant of funds. Beside^,
few of th e m unicipalities have show n any en th u siasm for pri,m ary education. As m any of th e m unicipalities are m erely
overgrow n villages w ith a large ru stic population, inju stice
would be done to people liv in g in these areas if th ey are no t
b ro u g h t w ithin th e range of th e Bill.
• • T he proposed D istrict School Board has been th e subject o f
m uch adverse criticism by th e public. I t is said
have been
too m uch officialised w ith o u t sufficient reason a n d vested w ith
m ore pow ers than w h at is possessed by sim ilar bodies in o th e r
countries. E or th e success of a new schem e, like th e one u n d er
consideration, sufficient popular su p p o rt is essential. I t is desir­
able, therefore, th a t t h i responsibility of in tro d u cin g free and
com pulsory p rim ary education should be placed upon such bodies
as m ig h t com m and public confidence* T he form ation of th e
Board, as proposed, sm acks too m uch of official tu telag e, w hich
is resented now-a-days. As a rule th e rep resen tativ es of those
who arc vitally intejjpsted a n d of* those who have to pay the
cess will not be on *it. N or will th e educational ex p erts, w ith
th e exception of th e D istrict In sp ecto r of Schools, non-official
educationists and teachers of p rim ary schools have an y th in g to
do w ith it. Besides, th e proposed B oard would be ra th e r u n ­
w ieldy and a large am ount m ig h t have to be sp en t in paying
trav ellin g allowances. I t is a m a tte r for consideration if a
C entral B oard for th e whole Province should be co n stitu ted on
a popular basis w ith representatives of various in terests and
vested w ith general powers of supervision a n d of lay in g down
SOME I.ETTERS
l8 l
priuciples for th e co-ordination of prim ary education th ro u g h ­
o u t th e province.
T he E ducation C om m ittees of th e D istrict
Boards, w hich are p erm itted to co-opt educational ex p erts and
w hich have been controlling, fo r some tim e, no t only p rim a ry
b ut also a portion of secondary education in th e districts, m ig h t
th e n , u n d er th e guidance of th e C entral Board, do th e w ork th a t
•is proposed to be done by th e D istrict School Boards.
T he question o f , Insp ecto rate , requires careful consideration,
should be seen if som eth in g can be done to curtail th e quantity
a n d im prove th e quality of inspection. Can th e w ork be p ar­
tially e n tru sted to a n hon o rary aigency ? As in some q th er
D ep artm en ts should som e honorary inspectors be given a trial
in th e E ducation D ep artm e n t? In th e inspection of p rim a ry ,
schools assistan ce* o f educated m em bers of D istrict a n d Union
Boards and of teachers of h ig h er schools m ig h t be requisitioned
a n d in th e case of M iddle and even of H ig h E n g lish Schools
private educationists an d distinguishe<^ teach ers m ig h t be invited? •
to help th e Iftspectors and D istric t Inspectors of Schools. T his
m ay reduce th e expenditu re ^ ith o u t affecting efficiency. Any
sav in g th u s effected m ig h t be profitably utilised in increasing
th e pay of th e poorly-paid teachers.
W hen th e re w as a controversy^ reg ard in g w h a t S ir
A bdul K arim G h u zn av i and th e la te M r. M ahm ud
Suhraw^ardy stated before th e H a rto g C om m ittee in
Decem ber, 1 9 2 8 , M aulavi A b d u l K arim w ro te th e follow ing
le tte r to th e n e w sp a p e rs: —
“ The statem en t published
th e H o n ’ble^Mr. M. Suhraw ardy,
reg ard in g th e m edium of in stru ctio n for M uslim boys in Bengal, ,
is so full of m is-statem ents of facts th a t, in th e in te re st of the
com m unity, it should no t g o unchallenged. I should state a t
th e o utset th a t it is not a fact th a t th e “ consensus of M uslim
opinion in B engal is, th a t U rdu should be th e m edium of in stru c­
tio n ” . M r. S uhraw ardy, I am afraid, h ad little opportunity to
know M uslim public opinion and it is therefore no wonder, th a t
he should betray lam entable ignorance of th e real requirem ents
o f th e com m unity. I th in k “ The M ussalm an” is quite rig h t in
i
82
U I'E
of a.
KARIM
saying th a t “ if Mr. Suhraw ardy tak es a plebiscite o n th is ques­
tion an d seeks re-election on th is issue, he will a t once realise
how he m isrepresen ts M uslim opinion of W est B engal in thiscounectitiu.
I t is ridiculous to question S ir Abdul K erim G huznavi’s
au th o rity in a m a tte r like thi*i. Being in intim ate touch w ith h is
co-religionists all over E astern and N o rth ern Bengal, if n o t in th e
whole Province^ he is perhaps# in a b etter •position th a n oth ers
to express a n au thoritative opinion reg ard in g th is im p o rtan t
m a tte r concerning th e vital in terests of th e com m unity. A lthough
I do* n o t see eye to eye wfth him in certain political m atters, I
am in e n tire agreem ent w ith him , in w hat h e stated reg ard in g
*the m edium of in stru ctio n fo r M uslim childrgn in B engal and
also w ith his views reg a rd in g th e education of B engal M uslim s,
expressed before th e Ila rto g Comm ittee.
••
I t is an. adm itted fact, th a t th e m other to ngue of 95 per c en t
of B engal M ussalm ans (I sfiall no t be su rp rised if ^he percentage
is found to be as higli as 99) is Bengali. Botli tlie classes and
th e m asses use th e B engali language n o t only in th e ir conversa­
tion, b u t also in th e ir correspondence, records, accounts, docu­
m en ts etc. Besides th e city of C alcutta, w here M ussalm ans from
different p arts of In d ia ^ n d M uslim countries outside In d ia have
congregated togeth er, it is only in a few tow ns, such as M urshidabad an d Dacca, w here p erh ap s th e m ajo rity of M ussalm ans
speak a k in d of U rdu. I am n o t certhin th a t th ere are even a
score of M ussalm ans, born an d bred in Bengal, who can speak
idiom atic U rdu. E ven som e of thpse who are very loud in th e ir
advocacy of U rdu, cw inot open th e ir lips w ithout b re ak in g sim ple
rules of U rdu gram m ar. N ot th a t B engal M ussalm ans have n o t
th e capacity to m aster th e U rdu language, b u t they do n o t care
to learn it as it is h ard ly of a n y use in th e ir evcry'day affairs.
E ven th e M ussalm ans of S h arifab ad in W est B engal, which is
know n a s a .stronghold o f M uslim idio.syncracy in B engal, u se
B engali in th e ir conversation and correspondence. T here are
thousands of M ussalm ans in B engal, w ho do n o t u n d erstan d a
w ord of literary U rdu. Such being th e case, th e question to be
considered is w hether Bengali, w hich is th e m o th er to ngue of th e
SOM e L ET fER S
183
M ussalm ans of B engal, o r U rdu, which is practically a foreign
language to them , should be the inedfurii of instruction fo r th e ir
children, I am far from u n der-estim ating th e value of U rdu as
th e
jr a n c a of India. T he Jlu ssalm aiis of those Provinces,
w here it is not th eir m o th er tongue, should learn it for com m uni­
cation an d interchange of th o u g h ts w ith th e ir co-religionists all
over India. B ut it can o n no accohnt be adopted as th e m edium
of instruction for th eir child ren in preference to th e ir m o th er
tongue. I t is not w orth while refu tin g th e vidvv held by some
people,* who regard them selves aristocratic, th a t B engali is no t
th e language of respectable Jlu ssa lm a n society. I t is n o thing bu t
preposterous to say th a t a language, in w hich th e ir niothel’s an d
sisters converse, is not th e language of respectable people.
T he cultural*grow th of M ussalm ans of B engal, h as been much
retard ed , for not u sin g th e m other tongue in th e education of
th eir children. I need hard ly say th a t it is m ost unsound and
un.scienliiic to im p a rt instru ctio n t o ,a child through th e niediuwi
of a language o th e r th a n his m o th er tongue. A. c h ild ’s early
education should invariably bg given th ro u g h th e language w hich
he learns w ith h is m o th er’s m ilk. I t is impo.ssible to convey to
a child a thorough know ledge of a su b je ct and to impres.s it upon
h is m ind through a language, in w hich he is n o t fairly grounded.
P erh ap s th e re is no oth er civilised co hntry in the world, w here
children g et th eir education th ro u g h th e m edium of a language
th a t is not th e ir m othes*tongue. If a n y com m unity has a reason­
able predilection fo r any p articu lar language, as som e of th e
M ussalm ans of B engal have for U rdu, th ey should first m ake it
tlie language of th e hom e before m a k in g it th e language of th e
school.
•
T he M ussalm ans of B engal have suffered a g re a t deal, fc?r
n eglecting th e vernacular of th e Province. M any of th e M ussulm an
Z em indars of E a ste rn B engal a n d p erh ap s also of o th er p a rts of
th e Province, have grievousiv ouffcred at th e han d s of th e ir Anilas
for not le*arning Bengali, in w hich th e ir records a n d accounts
are kept. T he B engal M ussalm ans have not been able to co n tri­
bute, as others have done, an y th in g w orth m entioning to science,
literatu re an d o th er a rts. They have not g o t am o n g st th em g re a t
154
LIFE OF A. KARIM
th in k e rs or g re a t w riters o r g rea t w orkers. T hey cannot p u t
forw ard even one from am ong th em equal to a H a li or a Shibli
o r a n Iqbal» not to speak of a Syed A hm ed o r a S alar Ju n g . T hey
have iiot^ produced a B idyasagar, a P. C. Roy, a n A shutosh
M ukherjee, n o t to m ention o u tstan d in g personalities lik e R am
M ohan Roy, R abindra K a th T agore or J. C. Bose. Does n o t this
unm istakably indicate deplorjfble in tellectual poverty ? Is this
d u e to th e inferiority of th e M ussalm ans of Bengal, in intellectual
■ capacity and aptitud e fo r th e acquisition of Icnowledge, to th e ir
co-religionists in o th e r p a rts of India, or to th e ir neighhoifrs, the
H in d u s of B engal ? I am n o t prepared to give to th is query an
an sw er in th e affirmative. Given equal facilities for stu d y and
train in g , th e M ussalm ans of Bengal, I th in k , are well able to hold
th e ir ow n w ith th e M ussalm ans of o th e r placrfs an d w’ith th e
H in d u s of th is Province. How th e n is th eir intellectu al deteriora­
tio n to be accounted for ? T his is a question th a t should engage
tb« m ost serious consideration of everyone in terested in th e wel­
fare of th e com m unity. I t is th e cultu ral ad v an cem eat of a com­
m unity upon w hich depend, to a ^ re a t e x ten t, th eir m oral pro­
gress an d m aterial prosperity.
T h e “ M ussalm an ” coi;im ented on th e above le tte r a^
fo llo w s : —
We are g la d to note tlfat Moulvi A bdul K arim w ho grew grey
in th e educational service of th e province an d who, as a n inspect­
in g officer, b ein g in intim ate touch w ith ’all sorts o f schools has
h ad a correct idea of th e educational needs a n d req u irem en ts of
th e M ussalm ans, has in a statem en t to th e press given a cru sh in g
rep ly to th e ip s e d i x i t
Mr. S u h ra ^ a rd y an d oth ers of h is ilk.
W e need n o t re p e a t the* arg u m en ts th a t th e M oulvi Saheb h a s p u t
^ r w a r d in favour of Bengalee being th e m edium of instruction.
H e h as said alm ost all th a t one has go t to say in favour of a
boy’s or a g irl’s m other tongue bein g th e m edium of his or h er
in stru c tio n ................
The statem en t th a t Moulvi Abdul K arim has issued has
been very opportune as it reflects the opinion of th e w hole of
M uslim B engal w ith th e exception, of course, of a microscopic
m inority who, we are afraid, do n o t or would n o t u n d erstan d the
SOME EBTTERS
185
in terests of th e ir own com m unity, in connexion w ith a m atter of
such vital im p o rtance.”
M aulavi A b d u l K arim issued to th e P ress th e follow ing
sta te m e n t re g a rd in g th e “ B ande M ataram ” song
I t is w ith m uch re g re t th a t I have read th e le tte rs published
to-day by M essrs. B. C. C hatterjee a n d R am ani M ohan C hatterjee
reg a rd in g th e recitation of Bande M ataram song a t th e ensuing
session of th e I n d i ^ N ational <Jongress. As for th e p resen t I
•have been keep in g aloof from B engal politics, I need feel no
h esitation in speaking out w h at I feel reg a rd in g the unfortunate
controversy about th is m atter.
.
,
I t was a coincidence th a t some tim e ago a fte r a careful perusal
of th e Bade M ataram song ju s t w hen I was going to w rite ta
th e P ress th a t th e re could be no objection to th e singing of the
first tw o stanzas of th e song, my atten tio n was draw n to the
decision of th e Congress.
I t is ex trem ely to be re g re tte d th a t n e ith e r th e B engal Mu^-*
lim s n o r th e B e n g a l H in d u s have tak en th is decision in th e sp irit
in w hich it o u g h t to have bee<i tak en . T his ten d s to show th a t
a s a w hole n eith er com m unity, w hatever th e y may outw ardly say,
is- really w illing to com e to a n am icable s e t tl e m e n t r e g a r d in g
political problem s concern in g Bengal.
I t is m ost reg re tta b le th a t while on th e one h an d th e B engal
' M uslim s object to th e sin g in g of even th e first tw o stanzas, tlie
B engal H in d u s in sist upph sin g in g all th e stanzas. If th e first
tw o stanzas do n o t contain an y th in g objectionable w h at does it
m a tte r u n d er w hat circum stances th e song was com posed and
by w hom it was com posed? *How m any people know w hen and
by whom th e song w as com posed ? I t is its tone an d term s th a t ^
m a tte r a n d have to be tak en in to consideration.
As for th e subsequent stanzas, I can n o t persuade m yself to
believe th a t th e Bensral H in d u s do not know how very objection­
a b le all idolatrous ideas a re to th e orthodox M uslim s of Bengal
an d how very unw illing th e y m u st be to to lerate w ritin g s in w hich
H in d u gods and goddesses such as D urga an d S arasw ati, find
a place. T h e C ongress, w hich is fo r all com m unities, m u st have
ta k e n in to careful consideration a ll these aspects of th e question
18 6
l i f e o f a . KARIM
in com ing to a decision. I do n o t th in k th ere could ha%’e been
a b etter solution. I hope th e decision of th e C ongress will be
adhered to an d in o rd er to conciliate M uslim feelings Iq b a l’s.
“ H industan H am ara” will lie also sung on all occasions on w hich
H indus an d M uslim s combine.
I n Aiiffiist, IQ3 5 , an “ O pen L e tte r” tvas w ritten by
!M. A b d u l K arim to th e D uce M ussolini of Ita ly on th e
A byssinian crftis and it w as*published i!i th e new spapers.
T h e E m p ero r of A byssinia w rote to M . A bdul 'K a rim
thant-'ing him fo r w ritin g th e le tte r. T h e le tte r is given
l)elow.
•
“ .A note of pro test from a n unknow n person of a far-off
country m ay cause su rp rise an d even resen tm e n t to one aim in g
a t w orld-dictatorship. As, how ever, triflin g incidents have b ro u g h t
about undream t-of events, I have n o t th o u g h t it im proper to
^ftdress you, although you •may be iuclinetl to re g a rd it as an
audacity on my p a rt to do so.
*
Some of y our recen t utteranfe.s reg a rd in g Ita ly ’s relations
wnth A byssinia have g reatly shocked th e w hole civilised w orld.
People have indeed characterised th em as outrageous, arb itra ry ,
inhum an, im m oral an d irreligious. You seem to be follow ing th e
policy of th e proverbial Hon in its relation w ith th e lam b. Irritate d
a t th e R thiopian K in g ’s declaration th a t “ his cou n try would not
ligh tly tolerate foreign aggression, but? would defend itself to
th e u tm o st” , you have been reported to have en tered a strong
protest. But pray, on w hat canon of m orality or statecraft is
your action based ? ^•vlight I enquire w hat you yourself would
, have done u nder sim ilar circum stances ? Is it n o t th e boundcn duty
of every m an to defend h is m oth erlan d from foreign o n slau g h ts ?
Is not th e k in g of a country responsible to God an d m a n for th e
protection of his subjects ? -Would it n o t be sheer cowardice and
e.xtreme dereliction of d uty to su rren d er one’s S tate a n d its people
to an am bitious fo reig n er? Does n o t your p ro test ag a in st such a
n atu ral, honourable declaration ten d to show th a t the statesm en
o f K urope are losing all sense of rig h t and ju stice, and are
falling back upon th e savage principle of “ M ight is rig h t” ? T he
SOME LETTERS
187
w orld will w atch w ith keen in te re st w h at notice tlie L eague o f
N ations tak es of such an outrageous “ p ro te st.”
You seem to be rely in g too m uch upon y o u r large arm y and
your ab u n d an t a rm a m e n ts ; and you are flushed w ith th e idea of
an easy victory. N eed I rem ind you th a t N apoleon acted and
behaved exactly in th e sam e way w hen he w as out fo r w orld
conquest. W hat actu ally happenecl need n o t be repeated. Is a
sim ilar cataclysm iyipossible in ^he presen t days of unanticip ated
• floods, d evastating earth q u ak es an d violent pestilence ? If God
wills it, all your arm ies and arm am en ts m ay v anish in a m inute.
W ould you n o t do well to rem em ber a ll thi.s ?
You look down upo n th e .\h y ssin ian s as “ savages” and
“ b arb arian s” , agcordiiig to th e ideas prev alen t in E urope.
our country, on th e contrary, those are reg ard ed as savages and
barbarians who do n o t scruple to k ill innocent people an d plu n d er
th e ir pro p erty in o rd e r to satisfy th e ir g reed u n d er th e plea of
"colonisation ” . T o us sucli unscrupulous a n d greedy people IPe
no b e tte r tfian those looters and dacoits w hose crim es are con­
dem ned th ro u g h o u t th e civiliBed world.
You have ask ed if th e L eague of N ations is to be the
tribunal before w hich “N egroes and sa>’ages an d backw ard races
can arraig n th e g re a t n atio n s w h ich have revolutionised and
transform ed h u m an ity .” You seem to b etray h ere u tte r ig n o r­
ance or deliberate disreg ard of ancient historv’. .^^byssinians
knew th e a r t of goverfim ent a n d ru led over a pow erful em pire,
w hich a t one tim e ex ten d ed even to far-off India, w hen E urope
w as still shrouded in ignorance, superstitio n an d barbarism . If
th e M oors in S pain h ad n o t ta u g h t science and civilisation to
th e E uropeans, God alone know s w hat place th e y would have
occupied to-day am ong th e com ity of th e natioms of th e civilised
w orld. I have referred to th is point in some detail in my
articles on •T&laui's C ontributions to Science and C ivilisation” ,
published recently in .some of th e t?nglish m agazines and new s­
papers in India, a copy of w hich is enclosed in case you care to
peruse it. Besides, d isin terested people m ay feel inclined to
dem ur to th e characterisatio n of those people as “ g rea t n atio n s”
over whom religion h as so little influence, who are guided m ore
l88
LIPE OF A. KARIM
by th e fe a r of m an th a n by th e fear of God, a n d whose ou t­
sta n d in g achievem ents in th e field of Science have been in the
don\ain of arm s an d am m unition, explosives and poisons—^in sh o rt,
o f d eath an d devastation ra th e r th a n of peace a n d construction.
If only th eir religion had sufficient hold on th em a n d influenced
th e ir actions, th e follow ers of C h rist (who e n jo in s th e tu rn in g
of th e oth er cheek if one chedk has been sm itten) would n ev er
have been so very eager fo r th e invention o f d eath-dealing in stru ­
m en ts an d they w ould n o t have T^een alw ays arm ed to th e teeth
for m ilitary expeditions.
*
You have been rep o rted to have said in a speech, “ If
E urop e is n o t still -worthy to fulfil h e r colonising m ission to
th e world, th en th e h o u r of h e r decadence is irrevocably
.sounded. “ N eed I tell you th a t th e old days are *now irrevocably
gone w hen on account of th e chaotic circum stances p revailing
in som e of th e countries of Asia and A frica, th ere m ig h t have
bgiiti som e justification fo r E u ro p e’s colonising policy; and
tinres have now entirely changed. I t is creditable to the
B ritish people who have been m uch m ore successful in th e ir
•colonisation policy th a n any o th er n ation th a t th ey have been
wise enough to realize th e sp irit of th e tim es a n d to have cried
a h a lt to th e policy of ex ten d in g th e ir colonies a n d have
recently even been trj'in g i to tra in th e people of th e ir ex istin g
colonies in th e a rts of self-governm ent. T h eir efforts also to
b rin g about a settlem en t of th e Ita1/>.Abyssinian crisis are
being well appreciated th ro u g h o u t th e ciVilised world.
E urope, I th in k , has already fulfilled h e r colonising mission.
I f she pursues it still f u r th e r , as dftsired by you, th e n indeed,
I am afraid, th e “ hofir o f h er decadence will be irrevocably
so unded,” Y our hope of “ th e Italian n ation occupying a g reat
place in th e w orld” a fter “ m ak in g a g re a t effort” seem s
•doomed to rem ain unfulfilled.
G od’s w ays are inscrutable. I t does n o t seem .to be H is
will th a t w orld dom inating pow er should rem ain in one country
or in one natio n fo r an indefinite p eriod. T h e rise a n d fall
•of all th e g re a t Empire.s have a lesson fo r th e ir successors.
If they fail to profit thereby, th e ir own doom is inevitable.
SOME LETTERS
189*
R eferrin g to Ja p a n in a P resid en tial Speech w hich I had
occasion to deliver in N ovem ber 1934, I rem arked, "W ho can
check th e progress of a n ation whose sons and d au g h ters are
anim ated by such a sp irit ? I t is this sp irit of setfvice and
sacrifice th a t has m ade Jap an , h a lf a c en tu ry ago a mere
geographical expression, one of th e g reatest w orld pow ers of
th e day. If such a sp irit continues, w ho know s th a t one day
h e r am bition not only to doniii^ale Asia, b u t to encroach upon
^ B urope, like th e H u n s of old, would n o t be fu lfilled ?” L ittle
did I Tihink th a t in m y own lifetim e an occasion would ever
arise for Japan to m eddle in E u rp p e’s affairs. The syiupathy
th a t A byssinia’s helpless condition and your own conduct seem
to have evoked in th e h e a rt of Jap an m ig h t sooner or latei'
—pos.sibly soonel- th a n later—offer an opportu n ity fo r Ja p a n ’s
interference. You will be solely responsible for such an
eventuality.
The M uslim s all over th e w o rld ,fe e l specially for Abyssinfa*
as th is wa.s« th e coun try w hich afforded sh elter to th e early
M uslim converts w hom the^ persecution of th e ir idolatrous
kinsm en drove to h e r hospitable shores. Besides, a large
nutnber of A byssinian in h ab itan ts a re M uslim s. Any m is­
guided action on your p a rt m ig h t conceivably cause such a
conflagration in sym pathetic Mu.sUm ^countries as to precipi, tate a w orld w ar, w ith reju v en ated T urkey and possibly also
P ersia and A fg h a n is ta n ,e tc ., ranged on th e side of Abyssinia.
Also th ere m ig h t be such a reaction am ong the coloured races
of the w orld a t your h igh-handed action ag ain st an unoffending
o rien tal n ation as w ould • m ake all fu tu r e "co lonisation”
adm inistration ex trem ely difficult, if n o t ifhpossible. As an old
m an of 72 I w ould be very so rry a t such dire e v e n tu a litie s;
and th a t is my m ain reason fo r w ritin g to you so outspokenly
on th is subject.
i hope you will excuse th e liberty I have tak en in address­
ing you at such le n g th on a delicate m atter.
CHAPTER X.
AN AUTHOR.
M aulavi A b d u l K arim f\as th e rep u tatio n of being a
h isto ria n and an a u th o r of books on Islam . W h en in*
service he -wrote on h isto rical and educational subjects
and since h is retirem en t he h as w ritten some useful books
Tin religious subjects.
W h ile h e w as a teacher of histo ry in th e C alcutta
ISIadrasah, H u n te r 's H isto ry of In d ia -was th e text-book on
“In d ia n h isto ry for th e. E n tra n c e E x a m in a tio n of th e
C alcu tta U n iv ersity . A s it w as too difficult fo r ordinary
stu d e n ts to learn , M aulavi A bdul K arim w as requested
by h is p u p ils to w rite its epitom e and he p u b lished a wellw ritte n epitom e. T h e candidates fo r th e U n iv ersity
ex am in atio n w ere mufch benefited b y i t as testified to by
th e d istin g u ish ed lin g u ist, th e late M r. H a rin a th De.
,
‘H isto ry o f In d ia fo r Beginnci-s.—A s th e re was n o
good h isto ry o f In d ia in E n g lish fo r th e m iddle classes of
h ig h E n g lish schqpls, M aulai^ A b d u l K arim w rote h is
, “ H isto ry of India* fo r B egin n ers” . I t w as approved by
th e E d u c a tio n D ep artm en t an d w as adopted as a te x t­
book b y m a n y h ig h E n g lish schools in B engal and B ihar.
I ts p o p u larity m ay be g au g ed from th e fact th a t tw entyfou r ed itio n s o f it h ad to be p ublished from 1 8 9 2 to 1 9 3 0 .
Its sty le w as so m uch lik ed b y th e stu d e n ts th a t som e of
them w ere h e a rd to recite passages from it th ir ty an d even
fo rty years a fte r th e y left school.
AN AUTHOR
IQT
H isto ry of In d ia in U rd u .— wa s b ro u g h t to M aulavi
A bdul K a rim ’s notice th a t th e re w as n o suitab le history
■of In d ia in U rd u fo r schools. W h en h is U rd u history
w as p u b lish ed it m e t w ith u n ex p e c te d p u b lic approval.
I t w as review ed v ery fav o u rab ly by all th e well-kiiow'n
. U rd u new spapers in In d ia —t*he “ A fzalul A k h b a r” of
D elhi, th e “ A zadj’, th e “ Kawia^Tiah” and th e “ A njunian•I-H in d ” of Ivucknow, th e “ Z am an a” and th e “ K aistha
C onference G a z e tte ” of C aw npur, th e “ A g ra A k h b a r”
a n d th e ” A k h b ar-i-Islam ” of A gra, th e “ K ohinoor” of
L ahore, th e " S h a u k a tu l Isla m ” an d th e “ M ulk a n d
M illat” o f Ify d ra b a d an d th e U rd u new spapers of
R aw alp in d i, L u d h ia n a , Ja la n d h a r, G o rak h p u r a n d other
places. Besides, th e renow ned U rd u scholars of th e tim^*
s u c h as th e late poet A lta f H ossain H a li of P an ip at,
Sliam sul-ulam a S h ib li N om ani of A lig arh , Sham sulu lain a M . Z aka U llah o f D elhi, Sham sul-ulam a S yad
Im d ad Im am o f P a tn a , K h a n B ah ad u r M uham m ad Shad
o f P a tn a , spoke h ig h ly of th e bo(^k. I t w as p rescribed
"'•fo r M iddle E x a m in a tio n in som e of th e provinces and in
th e N izam ’s D om inions, an d seventeen editions w ere
published from
1896
to
1936.
M aulvi A bdul K a rim , p ublished a school history of
In d ia in B engali a n d H in d i also. H is “ B harat Barsher^
Itih a s h ” in B en g ali w as adopted as a tex t-b o o k by a large
n u m b er of schools in B engal and it h ad 2 7 editions up to
1930,
T h e H in d i edition w as a text-book in B ihar
schools fo r som e y e a rs an d th e re w ere tw o editions of
th e book. M. A b d u l K arim w rote in collaboration w ith
his frien d , th e la te K ai S aheb Ish a n C hu n d er G hosh, a
■“ School H isto ry of In d ia ” . I t w as selected as one of th e
19 2
LIFE OF A. KARIM
historical tex t-b o o k s fo r th e M atricu latio n E x a m in atio n
b y fo u r of th e In d ia n U niversities, including' tliat of
C alcu tta.
“ B J ia r a tb a r s h e M u s s a l n i a n R a j a t t e r I t i b r i t y a ” .—T h is
book w as w ell-received by th e public. M ost of th e
B engali newspaper.^ of l:l]e tim e— th e “ B h a ra ti” , th e .
“ H ita is h i” , Jhe “ Educati<jn G azette” , th e “ B ardw an ,
S a n jib a n i” , th e “ H ita b a d i” , th e “ M ih ir S h u d h a k a r” , th ^
‘‘R a n g p u r D ik P ra k a s h ” — p ublished v ery good review s.
T he “ Indian M irror” iTemarked, “ Mr. Abdul K arim is by
b irth and attain m en ts em inently fit fo r com piling a h isto ry of
*India (so fa r a s th e M ahom edan period is coi\perned) w hich he
has u n d ertak en . Tlie introductory portion trea tin g of th e life
an d doings of th e P ro p h et and h is im m ediate successors w ill be
,(p u n d invalnable by B engali stu d en ts
”
“ F ro m w h at I have seen of th e book, I find t h ^ it is w ritten
in a style th a t is elegant a n d easy, and in a sp irit th a t will m ake
it acceptable to all classes of readers. The book is n o doubt a
valuable contribution to B engali lite ra tu re .”
G O O RO O
*
D .\s
B a n n e r jk k ,
(Judge of th e C alcutta H ig h C ourt) . , .
*
“ As th e first book of its k in d w hich^is n o t a m ere tran slatio n
of E n g lish text-books and w hich is w ritten fo r a m ore advanced
class of readers th a n school boys, th e book w ill be a valuable
addition to our B engali literatu re* I t will supply a re a l w ant.
I t is hbped th a t it iS b u t th e b e g in n in g of a g re a t effort, w hich,
* a p a rt from all literary considerations is sure to have far-reaching
m oral a n d social effects.”
R a m e n d r a S u n d a r T r iv k d i ,
(Prem chand R oyclm ud Scholar).
“ H i n t s o n E n g l i s h P r o n u n c i a t i o n " . — R equested by
several school m asters, w ho k n ew th a t M . A bdul Z a rjm
had m ade a special stu d y of th e su b ject, he published his
AN
AUTHOR
193
" H in ts ” , I t was review ed in com plim entary term s by
th e " In d ia n M irro r” , th e “ B engali” , th e "D aily P o st” ,
th e "W e e k ly C hronicle” and several o th e r new spapers.
T h e “ S tatesm an ” in its review p o in ted out cerlain in ­
accuracies and M . A bdul K arim referred th e m a tte r to
th e K ditor of C h am b er’s Twe’n tie th C entury dictionary
aiid h e received th e foUowiitii reply—
•
“ We are glad th a t you are able to recom m end our dictionary
for use in schools un d er your care, and a re confident its m erits
a re such th a t you will n ev er reg ret ‘th a t course.
•
W ith reg ard to th e word “ p a lm ist” the usual pronunciation
a t one tim e was pal-niist and th a t is the pronunciation still in
vogue am ong m any educated people, and is given by Dr. M urray
as the p r e f e t a b l i one in h is m onum ental RngUsh D ictionary. As,
however, Dr. M urray recognises pa-m ist as an altern ativ e p r^ ^
nunciation, and, m oreover, th a t form* of th e w ord is also heard
on the lips oT educated people, we are follow ing D r. M urray’s
exam ple and giving th e altern*tive pronunciation as a n addition
to th e one already given, W itli respect to th e w ords “ a tte m p t”
and “ co n tem p t,” we are ag ain supported by D r. M urray, who
gives th e pronunciation of the one as a^t-temt, and of the other
“ ko n -len ip t.”
*“ H in ts on Class M anagem ent and M ethod of T ea ch ­
in g '' . — T h is book
dedicated to the school m asters
“ on w hose efficiency an d d ev o tio n ” w rote M . A bdul
K arim “ m ainly depen d s th e m oral a ^d intellectvial pro­
gress of the c o u n try .” I t V a s looked ?hrough by 5 lr. H . ,
S harp, M r. R . B. R am sbotham and R ai S aheb Isan
C hander G hosh, w ho m ade valuable su g g estio n s for its
iijJiauvcmciiL. T h e second edition was th o ro u g h ly revised
and m uch enlarged. I t w as used as a book of r e f e c ^ ^ ^
in difTercnt places in In d ia. S ir A lfred C roft w r o ^ .^ ^ m
E ngland " I approve o f y o u r ‘H in ts ’ and tliin li^ ^ ie m
likely to prove of g re a t u se both to teach ers and
13
194
LIFE OF A. KARIM
officers beginning the work of inspection.
They show
careful observation and sound th o u g h t on th e m atters of
y o u r daily w o rk .”
R eference has already been m ade to M . A bdul K a rim ’s
“ M uham m adan E d ucation in B en g al.” H is “ P rim ary
•
E d u catio n in B engal” an d L e tte rs on H indu-M uslim
P a c t” w ere considered verj» useful b y those for whom
th e y w ere intended.
.
•
' ' I s l a m ’s C o n t r i b u li o ) } to S c i e n c e a n d C i v i l i s a t i o n .” —
T h is was th e first book o f its k in d . P o et R abindi-anath
T ag o re w as pleased to fav o u r M . A bdul K arim w ith th e
"follow ing “ F o rew o rd ” : —
“ One of th e m ost p otent sources of H indu-M oslem conflict in
is th a t we know so little of each o ther. W e live sid e by
side and y e t v e r y often o u r w orlds are en tirely different. Sucli
m ental aloofness lias done im m ense m ischief in th e p ast and
forebodes an evil fu tu re. I t is only th ro u g h a sym pathetic u n d er­
stan d in g of each other^s cu ltu re and social custom s and conven­
tions th a t we can create an atm osphere of peace an d goodwill.
W ith th is end in view I» sta rte d a few years ago a d ep artm en t
of Islam ic C ulture in V isva B liarati w ith th e generous f in a n c ia l^
support of H is E x alted H ig h n ess th e hJizam. I am glad t o ’say •
th e experim ent has been successful. B uf w ork of th is so rt m ust
be elaborated a hun d red fold.
Individual educationists an d
scholars m u st also take it up and as such I heartily welcome the
series of articles f r « n my d istinguished countrym an, Maulvi
'A b d u l K arim , on Islam ’s contribution to Science and Civilisation.
T he w riter has clothed h is erudition in as sim ple a garb as
possible and the book should have g re a t popular appeal. I t is
w itli pleasure th a t I comm end th e book to m y co u n trym en .”
T he following are some of the opinions on the
brochure ; —
“ A rticles from your pen have a w orth of th e ir ow n a n d I
confess th ey have alw ays a peculiar fascination for me. The
i
AN AUTHOR
195
tw o sister com m unities w hich are d estined to live side by side
in India and can never th in k of severing from each o th er how­
ever m uch th eir differences m ay be, do in fact know very little
of each other. A m utual u n d erstan d in g is really all th a t is
necessary to cem ent them to g eth er, and for th a t end th is booklet
of yours will be of priceless valu e.”
( S i r ) • MANMATH.^NATn MUKERJKB,
(Judge, C alcutta H ig h Court.)
r
•
*
*
" I liav e read it w ith g re a t in terest. As th e m odern educated
m an know s so little of th e p ast services ren d ered by Islam , your
brochure should prove to he of considerable u tility .”
(S i r )
s
. M . S u l a im a n ,
(Chief Justice, Allahabad H ig h C ourt.)*
“ M any th a n k s for your in terestin g booklet “ Islam ’s C ontri­
bution to Science an d C ivilisation.”* I t is a thought-provoking
publication and will, I am sure, prove useful not o nly to M uslim s,
but also to non-M uslim s.
*
I g reatly appreciate your Islam ic sentim ents a n d th e solid
w ork you have been doing. I have been g reatly im pressed by
your open le tte r to S igno r M ussolini wkjch is a faith fu l and tru e
expression of th e nobility of your h eart.
I hope an d p ray y*M will live long to do th e constructive
w ork you have tak en in h a n d a n d to be one of th e very few
M uslim s, who feel for th e ir com m unity and co u n try .”
^N
awab
v
S i r ) * A b d u i,
Q aium ^
(M inister of E ducation. F ro n tie r Province.),
T h is b ro ch u re h a s been tra n sla te d in to M alayalam
an d
lias been given for its tran slation in to
Burm ese.
Prophet of Isla m and H is T e a ch in g s.—T h is is a short
life of th e holy P ro p h e t of Islam . H is w ork as a religious
9
«
IQ 6
U F R o f a . KARIM
reform er, as a social re fo n n er and as an educational
reform er has been described. B esides, how Islam w as
prop ag ated peacefully, w ith o u t th e use of force, and w hat
undrean jt-o f progress it has alread y m ade, sp reading over
th e w hole co n tin en t of A frica an d a larg e p a rt of Asia,
an d a inoveinent being ou foot to Islam izc K urope and
A m erica, h a s been described in som e detail. M oreover,
one ch ap ter h as been devdted to nou-M usliin opinion??^
ab o u t Islam and its P ro p h et— th e opinions of G ibbon,
Carlvle, G oethe, Isaac .T a y lo r, B ernard Shaw , G u ru
N an ak , R aja R am m ohan, M ahatm a G andhi and others.
T h e appreciative review s p ublished by a I v g e n u m b er of
'm ag azin es and new spapers, such as tlie L ig h t, the
M ussalm an, th e A m rit B azar P a trik a , th e A dvance, th e
•liiibune, th e H in d u , th e ^ H in d u sta n Review , th e K ash m ir
T im es, th e F ederated In d ia , th e Islam ic (Culture, the
Bom bay C hronicle, th e U niteA In d ia and In d ia n States,
th e Y oung B uilder, th e Com et of N igeria, show tiia t th e
book h as m et w ith public approval. Besides th e opinions
quoted below' a n u m b er o f o th er em inent personages such
as th e M ah arajad h iraj of Bardw^an, Sir M anm atha N ^th
M nkherjee, M aharaja S ir M a n m ath a‘^ 'a th Roy C h au d h u ry ,
R ai B ah ad u r P . C. D u tt, S ir A bdul Q adir have expressed
appreciative opinions.
5, O utram S treet,
10th F eb ru arj', 1936.
" I was on my sick-bed when your kiiul presen t "P ro p h e t of
Isla m " came. It was refresh in g as th e breeze of heaven and
I read the book througli w ithout a stop. I could no t wish for
a better tonic. I congratulate you on your beautiful p resentation
of Islam —sim ple, sincere and devout. I t was a joy to me to
\
AN AUTHOR
1 97
refresh m y m ind w ith th e sto ry of th e P ro p h et’s life and his
teachings. My wife is now re a d in g lth e hook.”
(S i r ) B. I v . M it t e r (K.C.S.I),
(E x-haw M em ber of th e Viceroy’s E xecutive Council
an d Advocate-General of F ederal Court).
^
*
Lahore, 27th M arch, 1936,
, / t IS refresh in g in th e midal* of th e sectarian w rangles with
^ h i c h th e Mnslim.s ^ r e generally occupied, to come across a
noble attem pt, such as th e one m ade by M aulavi Abdul K arim
Sahib, in w riting a beautiful booklet en titled “P ro p h et of Jsla m
and his T eacliings” . I t pre.sents to the coninion reader a b ird ’s
eye view of th e life of th e H oly P ro ph et an d th e various reform s
brought about by liim . Books of th is type are th e g reatest need
of th e day, as by clea rin g m isunderstandings about Islam they
do a u-seful service to the cau.se of hum anity.
•«
,
IMauluna) M u h a m m a d .Al i ,
(Renowned tran slato r of the Q uran).
•
M any th an k s for your “ P ro p h et of Islam a n d H is T eachings."
T his is a very opportune publication.
The teachings of the P ro p h et are^ often m isconstrued and
»- m isapplied. A correct in terp re tatio n of them will go a good
, w ay tow ards rem oval of m isunderstandings and com niunalistn.
I com m end your liOle book both to th e M oslems a n d th e
H indus.
May your noble efforts bear fruit.
•
* (Sir) P . C. R oy ,
3-6-36.
H yderabad, Deccan, 6th M arch, 1936.
Please a<Tept ".'.y h earty th an k s for sending m e your book
“ The P rophet of Islam a n d H is T each in g s.” Y our clear and
straightforw ard presen tatio n of th e es.sentials of Islam , freed
from th e non-essentials w hich really provoke unnecessary and
harm ful controversy, is adm irably suited to give M uslim s a
•
iq
8
i ,if e o f a . k
correct idea of Islam and o f its
a sym pathetic understanding^ of
Such publications are bound to
India. Y our book should be in
in th e country irrespective of th e
\ r im
universal n atu re w hile crealingr
our faith am ong non-M uslim s,
advance th e cause of u n ity in
the han d s of every young m an
com m unity to which he belongs,
Ahm a d H
*
ussaks ',
(Nawab A m in ju m J.*
This is an excellent epitom e of the life of th e P ro p h et a if!^
an erudite exposition of th e sp irit of Islam w ithin a sm all com­
pass. P e rm it m e to congratulate you w arm ly on th e achievem ent.
I h o ^ th e book will have a very wide circulation, especially
am ong non-M uslim s in In d ia whose profound ignorance of the
^ life of th e P rophet and th e tru e sp irit of Islam , is largely respon­
sible for com m unal troubles. I t would be an ex cellen t th in g
if th e book could be prescribed as a text-book in all h ig h E nglish
#«hools in India. I hope it w ill be tran.slated into a ll th e im p o rt­
a n t vernaculars in India before long.
•
h ,vn, (C .I.E., O .B .E., I.C.S.),
(R etired Divisional Comm issioner,
C entral Province).
G ha za n fer A l i ^
" Is la m , a Universal R elig io n of Peace and Progress"' „
is M aulavi A bdul K a rim ’s latest w ork on Islam .
T he,
follow ing quotatio n from it w ill indicate th e n a tu re of its
c o n te n ts : —
“ Belief in tli£ existence of a S uprem e Being w ith su p ern atu ral
pow ers « n d perform auce of duties
love and obedience to H im
•is w hat is geuerallj’ understood by R eligion. Of all th e h an d i­
w orks of God m an is the m asterpiece. H e is an am algam of
divinity and brutality. By developing tlie divine elem ent in his
nature m an can elevate him self to th e loftiest plane of m orality
an d sp iritu ality ; and by allow ing u n restricted scope to th e deve­
lopm ent of th e germ s of evil hi him he m ay lead him.self to
the low est depth of degradation. T hus while by developing his
unlim ited m oral and sp iritu al p o tentialities m an m ay excel the
V
,\N AUTHOR
199
jingels an d approach th e borders of C iv in ity , by giving free rein
to h is carnal passions h e m ay drr% h im self down to a much
low er level th an th a t of b m te s.”
t
The
b ro ch u re h as been tran slated in to Ur^du and
and perm ission h a s been g iv e n fo r its translation
ir^^^^hin ese and M alayalam . O n requisition from C hina,
■Jap/iK B iinna, E n g la n d an d A m erica copies have been
to those placgs. O rderS are b ein g received for its
supply* from various p a rts of In d ia . E x cellen t review s
are com ing from different persons of w hich only
few
are given below.
'Hiis Jittle w ork of yoars has ta u g h t me m any th ing s
which I never knew before. How m uch do people m isunderstand
th in g s out of ignorance an d w hat lam entable consequences follow.
May you have m any m ore years of health and happiness to
expound th e Jirue principles of Lslaiti and fu rth e r th e cause o f
peace and p ro g ress.”
(S ir)
M a n m a th a
N a ih
M tiK K R jiv E ,
(Acting Law M em ber, V iceregal Council).
. Allow m e also to te n d er you iny h earty congratulations
on th e w ay you have chosen fo r th e utilisation of your energies
and resources a t th is advanced stage of life. I t falls to th e lot
of few to devote them selves to noble objects. May God g ran t
you long life an d vigour a n d health to carry on this w ork.”
M o h a m m a d t'AQUB K h a n ,
(E ditor of th e L i g j h ) .
“ T he present pam phlet su stain s the h ig h level of thought
and com position th a t characterises all your w ritin es. Besides,
thcac Nxiiiiug.s 01 yours are p resen ted to th e public in a very
opportune m om ent, w hen th e need fo r Hindu-Mu.slim u n ity is
felt by all well-wishers of the country. T his intercom m unal
unity an d harm ony can be best atta in e d by m utual appreciation
of culture and a b e lte r u n d erstan d in g of th e lives and teachings
^
20 0
9
U F E OK A. KARIM
of oiir Propliets and S crip tn rfs. To this end your clear th in k in g
of the high ideals and noble fichievem ents of Islam , as presented
in these w ritings, w ill m ake a very valuable co n trib u tio n .”
r
S. C. ROY,
(Principal, C otton College, G auhati).
“ Islam , a L'aiversal ReligioB«of peace am i progress, will
n il cTNW
m any a inisuuderstandiiig about Islam an d co ntribute • in no
sm all m easure tow ards peace and harm ony. I shall preserve it
as a valuable possession.” •
(vSiR)
,
A bdul
H
a l im
G h u z n a v i.
(M ember, le g isla tiv e A ssem bly, Central).
have read your ‘Islam.»-A I'n iv ersal religion ^ f peace and
p ro g ress’ w ith very g rea t in terest indeed. You have brought out
th e various aspects of Islam in afi adm irable m a n n e r.”
(S i r )
s
. M . S ulam an,
(Judge, F ederal Court of India).
••
H
1