M.I. Rahman :
Great men are not born all the time. All great men are the products of history. History does not produce great men time and again rather rarely. George Washingtons are not born time to time. Abraham Linkon, Martin Luther King, Imam Gazzali (RA) Jalaluddin Rumi (RA). Allama Iqbal, Quaid-e-Azam MA Jinnah, Mohatma Ghandhi are the epoch makers and the products of history. A man like Nawab Salimullah is also rarely born. Our forefathers are fortunate enough that they have seen an illustrious son like Nawab Salimullah direct. Present generation are now the beneficiary of his sacrifices and contributions.
In the emergence of Bangladesh and development of Dhaka he rendered yeomen’s service and contributions that culminated to present Bangladesh and Dhaka city, one of the megacity of the present world. The forefathers of Nawab Salimullah came to Dhaka from Kashmir in the thirties of the 18th century for business purpose like other Arab traders. In the process of business they started staying here continuously. Gradually they settlled in Dhaka once for all. They became the permanent residents of Dhaka.
The reason behind their permanence here is that they were doing well in business wherever they got involved that means Dhaka favoured their luck and they decided to reside permanently. The pioneer of the family was Khwaja Alimullah who has been able to make fortune through hard work and perseverence. Through business he reached the peak of development and affluence. He has by now become a business magnet rather a tycoon. Notwithstanding that Khwaja Alimullah was a Sunni Muslim he patronised and financed maintenance of Hussaini Dalan the Imambara of the Shia community. He defrayed all the expenses of the observance of Holy Muharram.
Khwaja Abdul Gani, the worthy son of Khwaja Alimullah made the foundation of the family on a strong edifice. He started financing all the social functions of the Sunni Muslims of Dhaka. From his time Sunni Muslims formed an affluent and influential society. Khwaja Abdul Gani virtually earned the leadership of the Sunni community.
After the end of the process of development of the Mughal Administrations this alien family took the charge of development of Dhaka city, patronised the cultural, social and structural development of Dhaka city. Modern city of Dhaka is virtually the contribution of the Khwaja family.
During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of 20th century, modernisation, cultural development, beautification, establishment of gardens, parks, springs and the decoration of the Dhaka city, the Nawab family accomplished the remarkable works. The Nawab family was involved with the administration of the city, side by side they discovered a new system of local administration called ‘panchayet system’ that still remains as the mark of tradition of old city. Small judicial cases [criminal civil whatever may be] were disposed by the panchayet.
In the criminal cases accrued out of 1857 Great Revolt the British government took lenient view on many cases of the accused on the request of the Nawab family. Moreover they avoided bloodshed among the shia-sunni clashes by mediation, negotiation persuation etc. Other than the development of panchayet system they established waterworks system for pure water, lighting system, Mitford Medical College Hospital, school, college, madrasha etc.
Beyond the socio-economic development they contributed to national political regeneration and development too. The contributions of Nawab A. Gani (1813-96), Nawab Ahsanullah (1846-1901) and Nawab Salimullah (1871-1915) are tremendous and unforgettable. Among the ancient relics Ahsan Manzil stands as a glaring evidence of the architectural skill as well as enrichment.
In 1875 Abdul Gani was awarded the tittle “Nawab” by the British government. Two years later that is in 1877 the “Nawab” tittle was made fixed for the eldest male member of the family.
After the establishment of Dhaka Municipality in 1864 Nawab Abdul Gani and his son Ahsanullah got involved with the activity of the municipality and worked for the development and expansion of Dhaka city.
Nawab Salimullah was born on 7th June 1871 in Ahsan Manzil. His father was Khwaja Ahsanullah mother was Begum Wahidunnesa. In 1893 he joined as deputy magistrate under British government although he relinquished with the job two years later and started business in Calcutta. In 1901 after the sad demise of his father he returned to Dhaka took the charge of Ahsan Monzil as Nawab.
Nawab Salimullah stood as the glaring star in changing the South Asian sub-continent. He was the pioneer in regeneration of the Muslims of the sub-continent. He paid taka one lakh out of estimated one lakh thirty thousand for the establishment of Ahsanullah High School that later on turned into Ahsanullah Engineering College ultimately turned into East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology now Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
He established Ahsanullah engineers hostel for the engineering students. By his initiative and hardwork inspite of stiff opposition by Hindu elite class the establishment of Dhaka University was possible, specially it is only on his pressure Lord Hardinge had to agree to set up the Dhaka University.
In 1905 October 16 is purely only for administrative reason the vast Bengal presidency was bifurcated and set up a new province of East Bengal and Assam to the benefit of the poor people of East Bengal. It is in the interest of the staggering poor people of East Bengal Nawab Salimullah came out to welcome the decision of setting up a new province. Dhaka after long time became the capital of the new province and took a new look.
After this decision number of students in school & college increased by 35%. Unfortunately this was not accepted and tolerated by the Hindu elite people who collecting taxes from the downtrodden poor people of East Bengal residing in Calcutta led life with lavish luxury. They started a movement against this decision of the new province.
This movement ultimately turned into terrorism. At length British government had to bow down to the terrorist. The decision was annulled on 12 December 1911. The people of East Bengal specially Muslims of Bengal became frustrated. Nawab Salimullah has become angry.
The frustrated Nawab convened a meeting of the then Muslim leaders of East Bengal and wrote two letters on 17th and 20th December 1911. Post annullment agonies of Muslims of East Bengal were ventilated and he suggested to set up a university in Dhaka. The manuscript of the two letters are still preserved in the library of Cambridge University.
On the basis of two letters and after long discussion consultation commissioning British government set up the Dhaka University. It is out of pressure definitely on pressure, request and counseling and exchange of letters British government yielded to the demand and the dream of the Nawab came true in July 1921.
As a token of respect and gratitude the first residential Hall of Dhaka University was named after the Nawab as Salimullah Muslim Hall. He donated land for the university and high Court in Dhaka.
The greatest achievement of Nawab Sahib was the foundation of All India Muslim League. It was on the first phase of the execution of new provience? he convened an All India Muslim Educational conference on 27th December 1906.
Not less than 8000 representatives attended the conference from all over the sub-continent. It is with high exuberence and ecstasy the delegates gathered from an parts of India. Nawab Salimullah was the chairman of the reception committee. Justice Sharifuddin of Calcutta High Court presided over the conference. The political session was held on 30th December 1906. Nawab Vikarul Mulk presided over the political session. On the proposition of Nawab Salimullah and supported by Hakim Afzal Khan, H.H. the Aga Khan was elected president. Nawab Salimullah was elected vice president while Nawab Mohsinul Mulk and Nawab Vikarul Mulk were elected joint secretaries respectively. All the expenses (not less than six lac taka) were defrayed by him from his nawab family fund.
Although Nawab Salimullah was the host and sponsor of the conference he did not take the leadership of the newly formed Muslim League. It means he had no ambition or greed for leadership. His purpose was to unite the Muslims of the sub-continent and change their lot. This Muslim League after working year after year has been able to unite the Muslims of the sub-continent and with 41 years gave birth to a separate Muslim homeland Pakistan. Later on eastern wing got independence from western wing named Bangladesh.
His dream was fulfilled but he could not see the reality. He died a mysterious death on January 16, 1915 at the age 44 only. It is presumed that he was shot dead or poisoned by the British Govt. His dead body was brought by ship not by train on police guard and was not shown to any body even to his nearest relations. His grave was on guard by police for six months. But to utter surprise the cause of death was never investigated by any government. He breathed his last keeping the Muslims of Bengal weeping forever. May Allah bless him.
(The writer is a freedom fighter and advisor to Nawab Salimullah Memorial Committee.)
