Syed Nasrul Ahsan :
Khawaja Salimullah, Nawab of Dhaka, Muslim nationalst, the architect of the All India Muslim League, was born at the Ahsan Manzil on 7th June 1871. He was the son of Nawab Khwaja Ahsanullah and grandon of Nawab Khwaja Abdul Ghani. He was a patron of education and learnt Urdu, Arabic. Persian and English at home.
He joined government service as a Deputy Magistrate in 1893, but left the job in 1895. Then he started business. After his father’s death in 1901, Salimullah, as the eldest surviving son, became the head of Dhaka Nawab estate and inherited the hereditary title “Nawab” His is still a household name in Bangladesh.
Nawab Salimullah got involved in polities in 1903-04 by way of giving opinion on the government’s plan for the partition of Bengal. His contribution to Muslim politics in India was noteworthy. It was he who moved the firs Reslution at the inaugural session of the All India Muslim League held in Dhaka on 30 December 1906.
Nawab Salimullah was a gust philanthropist. He was used to contribute generously to the socio-economi Development activities. He donated one lakh twelve thousand rupees in 1902 that had been promised by his father for the establishment of Dhaka Engineering School (now Banglaesh University of Engineering and Technology, (BUET). He patronised projects in the agricultural and industrial sectors; and also for the construction of mosques, madrasas, hospital, and student dormitories as well as other works of social upliftment. He arrange exhibitions to promote development of Dhaka handicrafts. His efforts gave the industry a new life. He was a member of the Committee formed by the East Bengal Government in 1909 in order to promote develompent of handicrafts.
On october 16, 1905 it is purely only for administrative reason the vast Bangal presidency was bifurcated and set up a new province of East Bangal and Assam. 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 schools and colleges increased by 35%. Unfortunately out of jealousy the HIindu elite people who collected taxes from the downtrodden poor people of East Bengal residing in Calcutta led life in lavish luxury. They started a movement against this decision of the new province. This movement ultimately turned into terrosim. At length British government was bound to bow down to the terrorists. The decision was annulled on 12 December 1911. The people of East Bengal especially Muslims became frustrated. Nawab Salimullah became disillusioned.
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 annulment agonies of the Muslims of East Bengal were ventilated and he suggested setting up a university and High Court in Dhaka. 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 made commitment to set up a University and High Court in Dhaka. It is definitely out of perssure, request, counseling, and exchange of letters that the British govenment yielded to the demand and the dream of the Nawab came true and Dhaka unversity was established in 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 Dhaka University and the High Court in Dhaka. The greatest achievement of the Nawab was the foundation of All India Muslim League. It was on the first phase of the execution of new province 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 exuberance and ecstasy the delegates gathered from all parts of India. Nawab Salimullah was the chirman of the reception committee. Justice Sharifuddin of Calutta High Court presided over the conference. The political session was held on 30 December, 1906. Nawab Viqar-ul-Muk 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 Moshin-ul-Mulk and Nawab Viqar-ul-Mulk were elected joint secretaries respectively. He defrayed all the expenses (not less than six lac taka) 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 subcontinent 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.
Nawab Salimullah was a member of East Bengal and Assam Legislative Assembly (1906-12) and of the Imperial Council and also of the United Bengal Legislative Assembly (1913-15). The British government conferred on him the titles of CSI (1902), Nawab Bahadur (1903), KCSI (1909), and GCSI (1911). Personally he was honest, courageous and pious. He established a night sehool at Dhaka, developed the panchayest system in the city, and popualarised the observance of Miladunnabi and Fateha-i-Doaz Dahom. He incurred heavy debts due to unlimited expenditure for public welfare works and politics.
After the annulment of the partition of Bengal, Salimullah was struck with a deep sense of disappointment and fell seriously ill. He died on 16 January 1915 at his house at Chaurangi, Calcutta. His body was brought to Dhaka with state honour and was buried in the family graveyard at Begam Bazar, Old Dhaka. He brealthed his last leaving the Mulims of Bagal weeping forever.
His death was full of mystery. His deadbody was brought by vater way instead of train. The dead body was not shown to the public. Even his kith and kins were not allowed to see the dear face of thier nawab for a glimpse. After burial the graveyard was under olice custody for at least six months so that nobody can dig out the grave.
Nawab Salimullah bahaur as one of the prime founder members of the Muslim League lighted a candle that burnt undimmed till the dream of Muslim renaissance found its fullest and most concreate expression in the birth of Pakistan.
(The writer is the president of Nawab Salimullah Memorial Committee).
