Bahadur Yar Jung

Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung (also Bahadur Yar Jang; 3 February 1905 – 25 June 1944) was an Indian politician and foremost Muslim leader in the princely state of Hyderabad in British India. He founded All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the branches of Khaksars in Hyderabad and was known as a powerful religious preacher. In 1938, he was elected the President of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, a position in which he served till his death.[1][2][3][4]

Bahadur Yar Jung
Born
Muhammad Bahadur Khan

(1905-02-03)3 February 1905
Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, British India
Died25 June 1944(1944-06-25) (aged 39)
Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, British India
Cause of deathSuspected poisoned; his 'hukka' (water pipe) was poisoned when he went to meet the opposition party.
Resting placeHyderabad, India
NationalityBritish India
Other namesQuaid-e-Millat, Bahadur Yar Jung
Alma materMadarsay Darul-Uloom, now called City College Hyderabad
Known forProminent figure of Pakistan Movement, who propounded the philosophy of Sharia Law and Muslim State.
Associated with:
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
Muslim League
Khaksar Tehrik
Political partyMajlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
Muslim League
Khaksar Tehrik
SpouseNoor Alam Khatoon
Parent(s)Khatoon (mother)
Nawab Naseeb Yar Jung (father)

Career
Jung aged 1

Bahadur Yar Jung wanted his own princely home state, Hyderabad, to be separate from the rest of India as an Islamic/Muslim state with Sharia Law. He was the founder and led an organisation called Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, for the propagation of Islam. A friend and aid to Mohammed Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he was one of the most admired leaders of the Pakistan Movement. In 1926, Bahadur Yar Jung was elected president of the Society of Mahdavis. In 1927, he led an organisation called Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, of which he was the founder member. In 1930, he was elected secretary of the Union of Jagirdars which had been established in 1892 but was moribund. A great Muslim zealot, he advocated peaceful but separate and independent co-existence among people of different religions after the independence of British India. So he vigorously supported All India Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement. He was closely associated with both Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He was an author and a practising Muslim.[2][5][3][4]

An undated portrait of Bahadur Yar Jung

Oratory

Matched by very few, his oratory skills served as a catalyst to the independence struggle of British India.[5] On 26 December 1943, he delivered an important speech in the All India Muslim League Conference. In the first half of his speech he laid stress on the struggle for Pakistan. In the second half he talked about the creation of Pakistan. At the end he said,

"Muslims! Decisions made under pressure do not last for long. To-day we are not in need of a tree that blooms like a flower or in need of fruit that tastes sweet to our mouths. Instead, we are in the need of fine manure that dissolves in the soil and strengthens the roots. That will unite with the water and soil to produce beautiful flowers. That will destroy itself but will leave its scent and taste in the flowers. We are at present not in need of beautiful scenery that looks good to the eyes, but what we need are foundation stones that will bury themselves in the soil to make the building standing on them strong."[6]

Syed al Maududi and the Nawab

Syed Abul A'la al-Maududi's first encounter with Bahadur Yar Jang was at the Hyderabad Educational Conference in 1929. Maududi said about him:

"When I listened to his speech on this occasion, I was not even aware of his name. Before too long in the course of his speech, I realized that I am facing a man different from the ordinary speakers. His organized thoughts, coherent statements, choice of appropriate words and their well-timed use peppered with good literary taste combined to impress me immediately. Upon asking around in the audience I was told that this was Navab Bahadur Khan, a jagirdar (landholder). On hearing his class background, I was even more impressed. Knowing the feudal class of Hyderabad, I did not expect such a great speaker with pure thoughts and wide knowledge to emerge from that class".[7]

Despite this Maududi disassociated himself from the Nawab's Majlis e Ittehad as he found "no benefit in their method of work" and was also critical of him saying that:

"There definitely are some good qualities in Bahadur Yar Jang, but his mind is not clear yet. He [sometimes] raises the voice of the caliphate of God, [sometimes] he is with the Khaksars and the Muslim League. Sometimes he is involved in Haydarabadi non-Haydarabadi disputes".[8]

Bahadur Yar Jang wrote a letter in 1938, expressing his appreciation for Mawdudi's activities and regretted that Mawdudi did not bid him farewell before the latter's departure to Punjab.[7]

Personal life

He was the son of Nawab Naseeb Yar Jung,[9] a prominent resident of Hyderabad. His wife's name was Talmain Khatoon. He had two brothers by name Nawab Mohammed Mandoor Khan Sadozai and Nawab Mohammed Doulath Khan Sadozai. Nawab Mohammed Mandoor Khan’s three sons (Nawab Mohammed Naseeb Khan, Nawab Mohammed Bahadur Khan & Nawab Mohammed Adil Khan). His Grandson Nawab Mohammad Moazam Khan s/o Nawab Mohammed Naseeb khan is an Bahadurpura constituency MLA since 2004-today from AIMIM party which was founded by Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung.

Commemorations

See also

References
  1. Benichou, Autocracy to Integration 2000, Chapter 4.
  2. Bahadur Yar Jung and Hindu-Muslim relations TwoCircles.net website, Published 30 May 2009, Retrieved 9 March 2022
  3. Tribute paid to Bahadur Yar Jung Dawn (newspaper), Published 28 June 2011, Retrieved 9 March 2022
  4. Nawab Bahadur Yar Jang profile on Story of Pakistan website Published 1 January 2007, Retrieved 9 March 2022
  5. Glowing tributes paid to Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung Karachi Observer newspaper, Published 28 June 2014, Retrieved 9 March 2022
  6. "Bahadar Yar Jang - profile". brain.net.pk website. 17 September 2001. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  7. KHALIDI, OMAR (2002). "Maulānā Mawdūdī and Hyderabad". Islamic Studies. 41 (1): 53–54.
  8. KHALIDI, OMAR (2002). "Maulānā Mawdūdī and Hyderabad". Islamic Studies. 41 (1): 53.
  9. احمد (Ahmad), نزیر الدین (Nazeeruddin) (1986). سوانح بہادر یار جنگ (Sawaneh Bahadur Yar Jung). حیدرآباد، انڈیا (Hyderabad, India): بہادر یار جنگ اکیڈ می (Bahadur Yar Jung Academy). p. 15.
  10. Bahadur Yar Jung Library in Bahadurabad, Karachi, Pakistan Dawn (newspaper), Published 21 June 2011, Retrieved 9 March 2022
  11. Bahadur Yar Jung commemorative postage stamp issued in 1990 by Pakistan Post Office Retrieved 9 March 2022

Bibliography
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