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| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = Amir Ahmed Khan {{nq|امیر احمد خان}}
| birth_name = Amir Ahmed Khan {{nq|امیر احمد خان}}
| birth_date = {{birth date |df=yes|1914|11|05}}<ref name=pf/>
| birth_date = {{birth date |df=yes|1914|11|05}}
| birth_place = [[United Province]], [[British India]]
| birth_place = [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1973|10|14|1914|11|05}}<ref name=pf/>
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1973|10|14|1914|11|05}}
| death_place = [[London]], England
| death_place = [[London]], England
| resting_place = Near Tomb of Imam Raza [[Mashhad]], Iran
| resting_place = Near Tomb of Imam Raza [[Mashhad]], Iran
Line 20: Line 20:
}}
}}


'''Mohammad Amir Ahmed Khan''' {{Nastaliq|راجا صاحب محمود آباد}}, titled as the [[Raja]] of [[Mahmudabad, India|Mahmudabad]] (5 November 1914 – 14 October 1973) <ref name="pf"/> was a prominent [[politician]] and leader of the [[All India Muslim League]], during the [[Pakistan Movement]].<ref name="pf">{{cite web|title=Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad|url=http://www.humsafar.info/pio_raja_sahib_of_mahmudabad.php|work=Pioneers of Freedom website|access-date=5 May 2018}}</ref>
'''Mohammad Amir Ahmed Khan''' {{Nastaliq|راجا صاحب محمود آباد}}, titled as the [[Raja]] of [[Mahmudabad, India|Mahmudabad]] (5 November 1914 – 14 October 1973) was a prominent [[politician]] and leader of the [[All India Muslim League]], during the [[Pakistan Movement]].<ref name=sop>{{cite web|title=Raja of Mahmudabad|url=http://storyofpakistan.com/raja-of-mahmudabad|work=Story of Pakistan website|access-date=28 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020091347/http://storyofpakistan.com/raja-of-mahmudabad |url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>


He served as Managing Trustee from 1940–1944 of [[Madrasatul Waizeen]], a centre of [[Shia Islam]]ic education founded by his father located in [[Lucknow]].
He served as Managing Trustee from 1940–1944 of [[Madrasatul Waizeen]], a centre of [[Shia Islam]]ic education founded by his father located in [[Lucknow]].

== Titles and honours ==
*Khan Bahadur Khan
*Amirul Omara
*Saeedul Mulk Muzzafar Jung Ghanzanfaru-daula


== Literary and cultural aspects ==
== Literary and cultural aspects ==
He carried on the family tradition and was an accomplished [[Poet|poet]] in [[Urdu language|Urdu]] and [[Persian language|Persian]]. He composed a number of ruba'iyat, salaams, and marsiya as well as some ghazals and nazms under the takhalus (nom de plume) of 'Bahr' and 'Mahbub'. One of his previously unpublished marsiya, entitled Jawn Martyr of Karbala Lamented, has been recently published in London.
He carried on the family tradition and was an accomplished [[poet]] in [[Urdu language|Urdu]] and [[Persian language|Persian]]. He composed a number of ruba'iyat, salaams, and marsiya as well as some ghazals and nazms under the takhalus (nom de plume) of 'Bahr' and 'Mahbub'. One of his previously unpublished marsiya, entitled Jawn Martyr of Karbala Lamented, has been recently published in London.


== Inheritance and legacy ==
== Inheritance and legacy ==
He inherited the Estate of Mahamudabad <ref>[http://www.wmf.org/project/kothi-qila-mahmudabad Kothi, Qila Mahmudabad on World Monuments Watch website] Retrieved 6 May 2018</ref> in 1931 upon death of his father [[Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan|Maharaja Sir Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan]].<ref name="pf"/> After his demise, his Estate was taken over by the [[Government of India]] under 'Enemy Properties Act'. His wife Rani Kaniz Abid and his only son and heir Raja Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan remained an Indian citizen and fought a case for recovery of their ancestral Estate for reclaiming their heritage worth millions of [[Indian Rupees|rupees]] and the case is, at present, in high profile legal dispute in India. He won the case after 37 herculean years winning through district court, High Court of Bombay, and the [[Supreme Court of India]] which gave a landmark judgement in 2005 ordering "vacant possession" to his properties. Yet to date, the order is far from implementation as the Indian Government continues to bring emergency ordinances in order to block the Supreme Court order; so the case is back in the courts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Enemy Property Bill: A Raja's Lost Legacy|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/enemy-property-bill-a-raja-s-lost-legacy-47223|access-date=6 May 2018|newspaper=NDTV|date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
He inherited the Estate of Mahamudabad <ref>[https://www.wmf.org/project/kothi-qila-mahmudabad Kothi, Qila Mahmudabad on World Monuments Watch website] Retrieved 28 August 2023</ref> in 1931 upon death of his father [[Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan|Maharaja Sir Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan]].<ref name=sop/> After his demise, his estate - including the [[Metropole Hotel (Nainital)|Metropole Hotel]] in Nainital - was taken over by the [[Government of India]] under 'Enemy Properties Act'. His wife, Rani Kaniz Abid, and his only son and heir Raja Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan remained an Indian citizen and fought a case for recovery of their ancestral estate for reclaiming their heritage worth millions of [[Indian Rupees|rupees]] and the case is, at present, in high profile legal dispute in India. He won the case after 37 herculean years winning through district court, High Court of Bombay, and the [[Supreme Court of India]] which gave a landmark judgement in 2005 ordering "vacant possession" to his properties. Yet to date, the order is far from implementation as the Indian Government continues to bring emergency ordinances in order to block the Supreme Court order; so the case is back in the courts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Enemy Property Bill: A Raja's Lost Legacy|url=https://www.ndtv.com/article/india/enemy-property-bill-a-raja-s-lost-legacy-47223|access-date=28 August 2023|newspaper=NDTV website|date=26 August 2010}}</ref>


== Pakistan Movement ==
== Pakistan Movement ==
He was one of the youngest members of Working Committee of [[All India Muslim League]] in 1937. In the same year 1937, he founded [[All India Muslim Students Federation]], which later mobilized into a strong vocal support for [[Pakistan Movement]].<ref name="pf"/><ref name=findpk>[http://www.findpk.com/cybercity/pof/raja_sahib_of_mahmudabad.html Profile and commemorative postage stamp info of Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad on findpk.com website] Retrieved 6 May 2018</ref> However, he was against the [[partition of India]]. When the Muslim League passed the [[Lahore Resolution|resolution at Lahore]], he supported the creation of Pakistan.
He was one of the youngest members of Working Committee of [[All India Muslim League]] in 1937. In the same year 1937, he founded [[All India Muslim Students Federation]], which later mobilized into a strong vocal support for [[Pakistan Movement]].<ref name=findpk>[https://www.findpk.com/cybercity/pof/raja_sahib_of_mahmudabad.html Profile and commemorative postage stamp info of Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad on findpk.com website] Retrieved 28 August 2023</ref> However, he was initially against the [[partition of India]]. When the Muslim League passed the [[Lahore Resolution|resolution at Lahore]] in 1940, he started supporting the creation of Pakistan.<ref name=sop/>


Later on, he changed his mind under the influence of [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], who was a long time family friend and eventually supported the idea of a separate Muslim state. Maharaja Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan had created a trust with [[Motilal Nehru]], Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Deputy Habibullah and Chaudhary Bam Bahadur Shah amongst others to administer the estate as his son was still a minor. Motilal Nehru died before the Maharaja and after the latter's death in 1931, Mohammad Ali Jinnah became the dominant personality on the board.<ref name=paned>{{cite web |url=https://www.questia.com/read/105038993/remembering-partition-violence-nationalism-and |title=Remembering Partition: Violence, Nationalism, and History in India |first=Gyanendra |last=Pandey |year=2001 |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132916/https://www.questia.com/read/105038993/remembering-partition-violence-nationalism-and |url-status=dead }}</ref> He said that "...the idea of a separate Muslim state in India stirred the imagination of the Muslims as nothing else had done before."<ref name="paned" />
He changed his mind under the influence of [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], who was a long time family friend and Raja Sahib eventually supported the idea of a separate Muslim state. Maharaja Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan had created a trust with [[Motilal Nehru]], Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Deputy Habibullah and Chaudhary Bam Bahadur Shah amongst others to administer the estate as his son was still a minor. Motilal Nehru died before the Maharaja and after the latter's death in 1931, Mohammad Ali Jinnah became the dominant personality on the board.<ref name=paned>{{cite web |url=https://www.questia.com/read/105038993/remembering-partition-violence-nationalism-and |title=Remembering Partition: Violence, Nationalism, and History in India |first=Gyanendra |last=Pandey |year=2001 |access-date=28 August 2023|archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132916/https://www.questia.com/read/105038993/remembering-partition-violence-nationalism-and |url-status=dead }}</ref> He said that "...the idea of a separate Muslim state in India stirred the imagination of the Muslims as nothing else had done before."<ref name="paned" />

Jinnah appointed him the President of [[All India Muslim Students Federation]] which later played a critical role for winning the referendum in [[North-West Frontier Province]] and some other general elections in [[British India]].<ref name=sop/> He also financially supported the leading promoter of [[All India Muslim League]]'s ideology, the [[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] newspaper.<ref name=sop/>

"The vision of Raja Sahib about Pakistan was an Islamic welfare state to be established on the philosophy and teachings of Islam. But he was disheartened when he found that a few corrupt political leaders, landlords and bureaucrats put Pakistan on a wrong track in order to seek their personal interests".<ref name=sop/>


== Migration ==
== Migration ==
In 1945, before the [[Independence of India]], he migrated to Iraq.<ref name="uci">[http://www.uppercrustindia.com/posts/52/The-Riyasat-Of-Raja-Mehmoodabad.html The Riyasat of Raja of Mehmoodabad] by Farzana Behram Contractor. Retrieved 6 May 2018</ref> He subsequently moved to Pakistan in 1957.<ref name="uci"/> He later settled down in [[London]].<ref name="pf"/>
In 1945, before the [[Independence of India]], he migrated to Iraq.<ref name="uci">[http://www.uppercrustindia.com/posts/52/The-Riyasat-Of-Raja-Mehmoodabad.html The Riyasat of Raja of Mehmoodabad] by Farzana Behram Contractor. Retrieved 6 May 2018</ref> He subsequently moved to Pakistan in 1957.<ref name="uci"/> Later yet, he settled down in [[London]]. Before moving to London, he donated all the future income from his inherited lands to the state of Pakistan.<ref name=sop/>


== Life in London ==
== Life in London ==
He was the first Director of the [[Islamic Cultural Centre]] in [[London]], and devoted rest of his life in supervising the building of the ''Regent Park Mosque''.<ref name="pf"/><ref name=findpk/> He was the moving force behind the World of Islam Festival [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/197603/the.world.of.islam-its.festival.htm] held in 1976 in the [[United Kingdom]]. [[Ali Allawi]] reminisces about the events of 1976.<ref>Ali Allawi, former Iraqi Minister, fondly remembers the instrumental role of Raja of Mahmudabad in the organisation of the Festival in [http://pulsemedia.org/2010/12/22/the-crisis-of-islamic-civilization/ The Crisis of Islamic Civilization] Retrieved 6 May 2018</ref>
He was the first Director of the [[Islamic Cultural Centre]] in [[London]],<ref name=sop/> and devoted rest of his life in supervising the building of the ''Regent Park Mosque''.<ref name=findpk/> He was the moving force behind the World of Islam Festival [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/197603/the.world.of.islam-its.festival.htm] held in 1976 in the [[United Kingdom]]. [[Ali Allawi]] reminisces about the events of 1976.<ref>Ali Allawi, former Iraqi Minister, fondly remembers the instrumental role of Raja of Mahmudabad in the organisation of the Festival in [http://pulsemedia.org/2010/12/22/the-crisis-of-islamic-civilization/ The Crisis of Islamic Civilization] Retrieved 28 August 2023</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
He died in London on 14 October 1973 but was buried in [[Mashhad]] in [[Iran]].<ref name="pf"/><ref name=findpk/> He is survived by his two daughters, Bari Rajkumari Ammatul Hussein Imam and Choti Rajkumari Rabab Mehdi, and was succeeded by his son [[Raja]] [[Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan]] who has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh.{{cn|date=August 2018}}
He died in London on 14 October 1973 but was buried in [[Mashhad]] in [[Iran]] near the tomb of [[Imam Reza shrine]].<ref name=sop/><ref name=findpk/> He is survived by his two daughters, Bari Rajkumari Ammatul Hussein Imam and Choti Rajkumari Rabab Mehdi, and was succeeded by his son [[Raja]] Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan who has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh.<ref name="TOI">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=6 October 2023|title=The 'raja' who died trying to prove he wasn't an 'enemy'|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/the-raja-who-died-trying-to-prove-he-wasnt-an-enemy/articleshow/104216262.cms|newspaper=Times of India| access-date= 7 October 2023}}</ref>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
The Mehmoodabad area of [[Karachi]] is named after him. Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad used to practice strict self-denial and self-discipline for religious reasons in his personal life. That is why his house in [[Karbala]], Iraq and all his wealth was gifted to the [[Government of Pakistan]].<ref name=findpk/>
The Mehmoodabad area of [[Karachi]] is named after him. Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad used to practice strict self-denial and self-discipline for religious reasons in his personal life. That is why his house in [[Karbala]], Iraq and all his wealth was gifted to the [[Government of Pakistan]].<ref name=sop/><ref name=findpk/>


In 1990, [[Pakistan Post|Pakistan Postal Services]] issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honor in its 'Pioneers of Freedom' series.<ref name=findpk/>
In 1990, [[Pakistan Post|Pakistan Postal Services]] issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honor in its 'Pioneers of Freedom' series.<ref name=findpk/>


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
*Syed Ishtiaq Husain. [https://books.google.com/books?id=dHdCAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s Glimpses of Freedom Movement: The Life and the Times of Raja Saheb of Mahmudabad]. Mehboob Academy, Karachi (1990)
*Syed Ishtiaq Husain. [https://books.google.com/books?id=dHdCAAAAYAAJ Glimpses of Freedom Movement: The Life and the Times of Raja Saheb of Mahmudabad]. Mehboob Academy, Karachi (1990)
*Khwaja Razi Haider. Raja Sahib Mahmoodabad: Hayat-o-Khidmaat. Quaid-i-Azam Academy, Karachi
*Khwaja Razi Haider. Raja Sahib Mahmoodabad: Hayat-o-Khidmaat. Quaid-i-Azam Academy, Karachi


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{{Pakistan Movement}}
{{Pakistan Movement}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1973 deaths]]
[[Category:1973 deaths]]
[[Category:All India Muslim League members]]
[[Category:All-India Muslim League politicians]]
[[Category:Indian royalty]]
[[Category:Indian royalty]]
[[Category:Iraqi people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Iraqi people of Indian descent]]
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[[Category:People from Sitapur district]]
[[Category:People from Sitapur district]]
[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in Iraq]]
[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in Iraq]]
[[Category:Poets in British India]]
[[Category:Poets from British India]]
[[Category:Burials in Mashhad]]
[[Category:Burials in Mashhad]]
[[Category:Burials at Imam Reza Shrine]]
[[Category:Burials at Imam Reza Shrine]]

Latest revision as of 17:20, 4 July 2024

Raja Sahib Mahmudabad
راجا صاحب محمود آباد
Born
Amir Ahmed Khan امیر احمد خان

(1914-11-05)5 November 1914
United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India
Died14 October 1973(1973-10-14) (aged 58)
London, England
Resting placeNear Tomb of Imam Raza Mashhad, Iran
Citizenship
Alma materLa Martiniere Lucknow
Occupations
  • Politician
  • writer
  • scholar
SpouseRani Kaniz Abid
FatherMaharaja Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan

Mohammad Amir Ahmed Khan راجا صاحب محمود آباد, titled as the Raja of Mahmudabad (5 November 1914 – 14 October 1973) was a prominent politician and leader of the All India Muslim League, during the Pakistan Movement.[1]

He served as Managing Trustee from 1940–1944 of Madrasatul Waizeen, a centre of Shia Islamic education founded by his father located in Lucknow.

Literary and cultural aspects

[edit]

He carried on the family tradition and was an accomplished poet in Urdu and Persian. He composed a number of ruba'iyat, salaams, and marsiya as well as some ghazals and nazms under the takhalus (nom de plume) of 'Bahr' and 'Mahbub'. One of his previously unpublished marsiya, entitled Jawn Martyr of Karbala Lamented, has been recently published in London.

Inheritance and legacy

[edit]

He inherited the Estate of Mahamudabad [2] in 1931 upon death of his father Maharaja Sir Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan.[1] After his demise, his estate - including the Metropole Hotel in Nainital - was taken over by the Government of India under 'Enemy Properties Act'. His wife, Rani Kaniz Abid, and his only son and heir Raja Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan remained an Indian citizen and fought a case for recovery of their ancestral estate for reclaiming their heritage worth millions of rupees and the case is, at present, in high profile legal dispute in India. He won the case after 37 herculean years winning through district court, High Court of Bombay, and the Supreme Court of India which gave a landmark judgement in 2005 ordering "vacant possession" to his properties. Yet to date, the order is far from implementation as the Indian Government continues to bring emergency ordinances in order to block the Supreme Court order; so the case is back in the courts.[3]

Pakistan Movement

[edit]

He was one of the youngest members of Working Committee of All India Muslim League in 1937. In the same year 1937, he founded All India Muslim Students Federation, which later mobilized into a strong vocal support for Pakistan Movement.[4] However, he was initially against the partition of India. When the Muslim League passed the resolution at Lahore in 1940, he started supporting the creation of Pakistan.[1]

He changed his mind under the influence of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was a long time family friend and Raja Sahib eventually supported the idea of a separate Muslim state. Maharaja Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan had created a trust with Motilal Nehru, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Deputy Habibullah and Chaudhary Bam Bahadur Shah amongst others to administer the estate as his son was still a minor. Motilal Nehru died before the Maharaja and after the latter's death in 1931, Mohammad Ali Jinnah became the dominant personality on the board.[5] He said that "...the idea of a separate Muslim state in India stirred the imagination of the Muslims as nothing else had done before."[5]

Jinnah appointed him the President of All India Muslim Students Federation which later played a critical role for winning the referendum in North-West Frontier Province and some other general elections in British India.[1] He also financially supported the leading promoter of All India Muslim League's ideology, the Dawn newspaper.[1]

"The vision of Raja Sahib about Pakistan was an Islamic welfare state to be established on the philosophy and teachings of Islam. But he was disheartened when he found that a few corrupt political leaders, landlords and bureaucrats put Pakistan on a wrong track in order to seek their personal interests".[1]

Migration

[edit]

In 1945, before the Independence of India, he migrated to Iraq.[6] He subsequently moved to Pakistan in 1957.[6] Later yet, he settled down in London. Before moving to London, he donated all the future income from his inherited lands to the state of Pakistan.[1]

Life in London

[edit]

He was the first Director of the Islamic Cultural Centre in London,[1] and devoted rest of his life in supervising the building of the Regent Park Mosque.[4] He was the moving force behind the World of Islam Festival [1] held in 1976 in the United Kingdom. Ali Allawi reminisces about the events of 1976.[7]

Death

[edit]

He died in London on 14 October 1973 but was buried in Mashhad in Iran near the tomb of Imam Reza shrine.[1][4] He is survived by his two daughters, Bari Rajkumari Ammatul Hussein Imam and Choti Rajkumari Rabab Mehdi, and was succeeded by his son Raja Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan who has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh.[8]

Legacy

[edit]

The Mehmoodabad area of Karachi is named after him. Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad used to practice strict self-denial and self-discipline for religious reasons in his personal life. That is why his house in Karbala, Iraq and all his wealth was gifted to the Government of Pakistan.[1][4]

In 1990, Pakistan Postal Services issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honor in its 'Pioneers of Freedom' series.[4]

Further reading

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Raja of Mahmudabad". Story of Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  2. ^ Kothi, Qila Mahmudabad on World Monuments Watch website Retrieved 28 August 2023
  3. ^ "Enemy Property Bill: A Raja's Lost Legacy". NDTV website. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e Profile and commemorative postage stamp info of Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad on findpk.com website Retrieved 28 August 2023
  5. ^ a b Pandey, Gyanendra (2001). "Remembering Partition: Violence, Nationalism, and History in India". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b The Riyasat of Raja of Mehmoodabad by Farzana Behram Contractor. Retrieved 6 May 2018
  7. ^ Ali Allawi, former Iraqi Minister, fondly remembers the instrumental role of Raja of Mahmudabad in the organisation of the Festival in The Crisis of Islamic Civilization Retrieved 28 August 2023
  8. ^ "The 'raja' who died trying to prove he wasn't an 'enemy'". Times of India. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
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