Great Indian Personalities
Mohammad Ali Jauhar
Mohammad Ali Jauhar (1878-1931) was an Indian Muslim leader, activist, scholar, journalist and poet, and was among the leading figures of the Khilafat Movement.
He was one of the founding members of All India Muslim League and its former president.
Mohammad Ali Jauhar is remembered as a fiery leader of many of India's Muslims. He is celebrated as a hero by the Muslims of Pakistan, who claim he inspired the Pakistan movement. But in India, he is remembered for his leadership during Khilafat Movement and the Non-Cooperation Movement (1919–1922) and his leadership in Muslim education.
The famous Muhammad Ali Road in south Mumbai, is named after him. He along with Gandhi traveled to Britain for attending round table conference sometimes in the 1930s. There he delivered his famous speech which included his wish not to get buried in 'slave India'. During the same tour he fell ill and died in London. Respecting his wish, his followers brought his dead body to Palestine, which was then a British Mandated territory (not in Turkish control), and buried him at Baitul Muqaddas. Many Indian Muslims with interest in history were wondering if his tomb is still intact. One Hyderabadi scholar Omar Khakidi who was working with MIT, Boston, found Ali's grave, which was still in good shape.
India (1978) & Pakistan (1978,1991) released stamps in his honour .
- Kenneth Sequeira : email : kenneth.sequeira@hotmail.com
P.O Box 27181
Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
