SOCIO-POLITICAL THOUGHT OF SIR MOHAMMAD AZIZUL HUQUE The thesis paper is submitted for M. Phil degree under Islamic History & Culture Department of Dhaka University MST. SAFIA SULTANA M. Phil Researcher Registration No.:31; Session: 2009-10 GUIDE DR. MD. ATAUR RAHMAN MIAZI Professor Islamic History & Culture Department, Dhaka University Department of Islamic History and Culture Dhaka University, Dhaka-1000 June, 2014 Dhaka University Institutional Repository ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Lot of thanks to Almighty Allah because for His endless grace I have been able to complete the M. Phil thesis. I am indebted and ever grateful to my respectable guide Professor Dr. Md. Ataur Rahman Miazi, Islamic History and Culture Department, Dhaka University for his generous support, scholarly guidance, constructive criticism and sympathetic help throughout the preparation and completion of this study. I would like to express my deepest regards to the teachers of my department for helping me during the conduct of the study. I would like to share special thanks to my honourable teacher Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim. I am grateful to Prof. Husniara Huq, daughter of Sir M. Azizul Huque for her cooperation providing valuable information. I am grateful to Prof. Bhuiya Iqbal, Prof. Sirajul Islam, Prof. Abul Ahsan Chowdury and other teachers for their valuable information. Last of all I would like to share thanks to my husband Md. Robiul Islam and my son Ridwan Abdullah Rafi who assisted me composing, drafting and formatting the thesis. DHAKA MST. SAFIA SULTANA Dhaka University Institutional Repository iii TABLE OF CONTENT CHAPTER–I: INTRODUCTION 02 1.1: Introduction 03 CHAPTER-II: SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL BACKGROUND OF CONTEMPORARY BRITISH INDIA 07 2.1: Socio-economic and political background of British India 08 CHAPTER-III: EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION OF SIR MOHAMMAD AZIZUL HUQUE 36 3.1. Birth and early life of Mohammad Azizul Huque 37 3.2. Education life of Mohammad Azizul Huque 39 CHAPTER IV: PROFESSIONAL LIFE 41 4.0. Professional Life: at a glance 42 4.1. Lawyer in Krishnagar 1915-1925 43 4.2. Government Pleader, Public Prosecutor, Vice–Chairman of Nadia District Board, member of the Bengal Legislative Council (1926-1934) 46 4.3. Education Minister of Bengal (1934-1937) 50 4.3.1: Primary Education 54 4.3.2: Secondary Education 58 4.3.3: Higher Education 66 4.3.4: Professional Education (Vocational Education) 72 4.3.5: Madrassah Education 74 4.3.6: Female Education 79 4.4. Speaker of the Bengal Legislative Assembly (1937-1942) 83 4.5. Vice Chancellor of the Calcutta University (1938-1942) 92 4.6. High Commissioner for India in London (1942-1943) 98 4.7. Member of Viceroy’s Executive Council-Delhi (1943-1946) 101 4.8. Enrolment in Calcutta High Court and Death (1946-1947) 108 CAPTER-V: A BRIEF DISCUSSION ON PUBLICATIONS OF M. AZIZUL HUQUE 110 5.0. List of his Books/Booklets /Articles 111 5.1. History and Problems of Moslem Education in Bengal (1917) 112 Dhaka University Institutional Repository iv 5.2. The Man Behind the Plough (1939) 114 5.3: The Sword of the Crescent Moon (1984) 124 5.4. Education and Retrenchment (1924) 126 5.5. A Plea for Separate Electorate in Bengal (1931) 158 5.6. Publications in Journal 191 5.6.1: Primary Education in Bengal 191 5.6.2: Three Seats 199 5.6.3: An Article on Cultural contribution of Islam to Indian History 206 CHAPTER–VI: POLITICAL THOUGHT AND SOCIAL WORKS AND ITS EFFECT 207 6.0: An overview on Socio Political thoughts and its effect 208 6.1: Muslim Education: His Thoughts and Contribution 209 6.2: Farmer’s Community: His Observations and Contribution 218 6.3: His Contribution on Economic development 246 6.4: His Contribution on Social Development 252 6.5: Cultural Development and his Contribution 254 6.6: Political Thoughts and Contribution 256 6.7: Legal Reform: his Views, Thoughts and Contribution 259 CHAPTER-VII: EVALUATION 268 CHAPTER-VIII: CONCLUTION 281 APPENDIX: 286 Appendix-I : Photograph of Sir Mohammad Azizul Huque 288 Appendix-II: Letters of Mohammad Azizul Huque 289 Appendix-III: Letters on Mohammad Azizul Huque 297 Appendix-IV: Lectures on the inside system of irrigation and its application 299 Appendix-V: Speeches of Mohammad Azizul Huque 302 Appendix-VI: Najrul Songit/Songs 318 Appendix-VII: Anondo Ussash poem of Korunanedhe Bondhopaddhay 319 Appendix-VIII: Poem of Sadat Hosen 321 Appendix-IX: Literature of Mohammad Azizul Huque 322 Appendix-X: Bibliography 325 Dhaka University Institutional Repository v INDEX OF TABLES & DIAGRAM Diagram 1: Genealogy of M. Azizul Huque (1892-1947) 38 Table 1: Moslem Representation by elected representative in District Board (1927-28) 165 Table 2: Muslim Representation in municipalities 169 Table 3: Percentage of Muslim Representation in Bengal district Boards (1912-28) 172 Table 4: Muslim Professors and Lecturers in Bengal 183 Table 5: Muslim ministerial officers in Bengal 184 Table 6: Living expenses of an agriculturist family compared with Jail 228 Table 7: Average family income of agriculturist family 229 Dhaka University Institutional Repository vi ABSTRACT I have completed a thesis on “SOCIO-POLITICAL THOUGHT OFSIR MOHAMMAD AZIZUL HUQUE”under the department of History & Culture, Dhaka Universityto explore socio-political thought and contribution of Sir Mohammad AzizulHuque which can enrich the store of Islamic History and Culture indeed. That is why, as a curious student and researcher of Islamic History and Culture, I am completed the thesis on above topic under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Md. Ataur Rahman Miazi. My thesis has divided into the seven chapters; they are: Chapter-i: Introduction; Chapter-ii: Socio-economic and political background of contemporary British-India; Chapter-iii: Early life and education of Sir Mohammad AzizulHuque; Chapter iv: Professional life; Chapter-v: A brief discussion on publications of M. Azizulhuque; Chapter–vi: Political thought and social works and its effect; Chapter-vii: Evaluation and Chapter-viii: Conclusion.A briefdiscussion on the above chapters has presented in the abstract. Chapter-I:Introduction. Those who were famous for their works in British Bengal, Mohammad AzizulHuque (1892- 1947 CE) were one of them. He was well known for his socio-political thought and social work. As a student of Islamic history and culture, I am impressed to know about his practical thought, comprehensive views especially on education and rural economy. There is a scope of research to explore his socio-political thoughts and contribution.The true reward of a purposeful life is the affection and esteem of friends, contemporaries and next generation. Hon’ble Sir Mohammed AzizulHuque shines with the luster of public esteem and the brilliancy of talent. He represented great steadfastness of purpose. His manners were simple and easy. He had allied the politeness of a man well-born to the gravity of the philosopher. Mohammad AzizulHuque was a famous Muslim politician in British period. He was not only a famous politician but also a lawyer, parliamentarian, social worker and writer which were discussed in this Chapter. Chapter-II: Socio-economic and political background of contemporary British –India. Socio-economic and political background of contemporary British –India has been discussed in this Chapter.My main focus was on the socio-economic and political situation of contemporary British India. After great movement of 1857, British government took steps against Muslim in India. Muslims were deprived from all assistances of British government due to those steps.They were less educated and fallen in to the dark of the society. But Muslims have taken education and got chance of government jobs by the initiatives of Syed Ahmed, Sir Ameer Ali, Nawab Abdul Latif and others famous educators. Muslims were re thought about their development after Bengal partition of 1905. They started to see dream to live as an educated person not as a deprived citizen. But they were unpleased on the British Government due to abolish of Bengal Partition in 1911 and broken of Caliphate of Turkish as a result of First World War. They started Caliphate movement to protect Caliphate system. Muslim development of last 60 years was going to stop due to Caliphate movement. Muslim started avoiding British assistance when Caliphate movement and non-cooperation movement was connected. Muslim students did not admit in government schools.They resigned from Dhaka University Institutional Repository vii government jobs. On the other hand, Hindus were taken the chance and filled out those vacant positions. Hindu-Muslim conflict was started. Mahatma Gandhi and C. R. Das called a campaign to establish religious harmony which was failed; because non-cooperation movement was first started by the support of Mahatma Gandhi. On the other hand, entry in politics by the middle class and voting power of rich farmer create a new complex environment in 30th decade. In this period, politicians were started competition in favor of new voter to get vote. As a result, policy makers of the society considered the issues of deprived Muslims (new voter). But they did not considered issues of general farmers and land less labor. In this situation, AzizulHuque entered in the politics actively and he raised voice to the government in favor of common people. He tried heart and soul by his initiatives to improve the situation of common people. Chapter-III: Early life and education of Sir Mohammad AzizulHuque. The issue has been written in detail in this chapter. Mohammad AzizulHuque was born on 27 November 1892 C.E. in a middle class Muslim family of Santipur, in Nadia district of West Bengal. His father’s name is Muniruddin Ahmed and he was only one son of his parent. He lost his mother infancy. His mother died in 1st January in 1893 C.E.