Raja Jai Kishan Das

Raja Jai Kishan Das

Birth: 24th November 1832 (Muradabad- UP)
Died: 30th April, 1905
Father’s Name: Brindaban Das Chaubey


Jai Kishan Das, popularly known as Raja Jai kishan Das was born on 24th November, 1832 in a respected family of Mr. Brindaban Das Chaubey in Muradabad. His father was a respectable and influential figure in Muradabad. Jai Kishan Das completed his formal education in Muradabad and joined Civil Services as a treasurer in Tahseel and retired as a Deputy Collector. For his services to create a harmony between the government and people, he was awarded with Mutiny Medal. In 1860, received the title of RAJA and became Raja Jai Kishan Das. Later received C.S.I. from British Government.


Association with Sir Syed and Aligarh Movement

After reading Sir Syed’s articles in Loyal Mohammadan’s of India, Raja Jai Kishan Das were upset about Sir Syed and his vision but when he first saw him in helping and taking care of Hindus in Muradabad, he became a fan and life long companion of Sir Syed. In 1863, when Sir Syed established The Scientific Society at Ghazipur, Raja Sb praised Sir Syed’s efforts and encouraged others to participate in these efforts. When Sir Syed moved to Aligarh, he relocated the Scientific Society to Aligarh but when he got transferred to Banaras, the Scientific Society elected Raja Jaikishan Das as its Secretary in on 15th August, 1867. Raja Saheb took care of the society with full sincerity and played a key role in its growth and progress. On 21st February 1874, he got transferred to Allahabad. In the farewell function, Sir Syed praised his efforts and sincerity for The Scientific Society and The Society elected Raja Jai Kishan Das as Co-President of The Society for life.

He was also President and Secretary of British Indian Association (Founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan). He was always an active participant in Muslim Education Conference (Founded by Sir Syed, in 1886). Raja Jai Kishan Das always played a key role for promotion of education and communal harmony among Hindus and Muslims. He used to visit Aligarh regularly to meet Sir Syed and used to stay with Sir Syed at his residence. On Sir Ross Masood’s (grandson of Sir Syed and son of Justice Syed Mahmood) Bismillah, Raja Saheb gifted 500/- rupees which Sir Syed donated to MAO College Fund and a plaque were installed in Streachy Hall with Raja Jai Kishan Das’s name.

On 30th April 1905, he died and MAO College was remained closed for the day to mourn this great companion of Sir Syed. MAO College and later Aligarh Muslim University is awarding two medals with Raja Jai kishan Das’s name. Later one of the hostel in Sir Sulaiman Hall of AMU was named after Raja Jai Kishan Das.

Deputy Nazir Ahmad

Shamsul Ulema Maulvi Deputy Nazir Ahmad

Father’s Name: Maulvi Sa-adat Ali
Born: 1831 Bijnor (UP)
Died: 28th December 1910 (Delhi)
Biographies:
Hayatun-Nazir by Syed Iftekhar Alam Bilgrami
Maulvi Nazir Ahmad ki Kahani, Kuch Unki Kuch Meri Zabani

by Mirza Farhatullah Beg

Maulvi Nazir Ahmad Dihlavi: Ahvaal-o-Aasar by Siddiqi, Iftikhar Ahmad

Literary Works:
Mara-tul-Uroos (A very famous Novel based on the Tarbiyat of girls)
Banatun-Naash, Taubtun-Nasooh, Ibnul Waqt, Mohsinaat, Aiyyami,

Rooya-e-Sadaqa, Fasana-e-Mubtala


The history of rise and fall of Islamic thoughts in Indian sub-continent and Aligarh Movement can never be completed without mentioning Nazir Ahmad.
Shamsul Ulema Maulvi Nazir Ahmad, popularly known as Deputy Nazir Ahmad was born in district Bijnor in western UP. He had spent his first 4 years of childhood with his father at his maternal grandfather’s place in Afzalgarh, Nageenah, Bijnor. After his maternal grandfather’s death, they moved to Bijnor. Their financial condition was not very good so his father became a private tutor and was Nazir Ahmad’s first teacher. The young Nazir Ahmad was very naughty so his father sent him to Delhi for further education in a small Arabic Madrasah in Aurangabadi Masjid close to Ajmeri Gate under Maulvi Abdul Khaliq. He faced a lot of hardship there and described his stay in this Madrasah as worst part of his life. Later he got married to the grand daughter of Maulana Abdul Khaliq. Later got admission in Delhi College, stayed there from 1845 to 1854 and completed his LLD. After completing his education started his career as a teacher in Punjab, later moved to Kanpur and then moved to Allahabad and became Deputy Inspector of School. In Allahabad he learned English and joined the team of translator who were translating Indian Penal Code from English to Urdu. After this he was appointed as Tahsildar and rose to Collector and worked in Jalone, Gorakhpur and Azamgarh. Deputy Nazir Ahmad was not very happy with the course material of schools so he decided to develop his own for his daughter Sakeenah. His intention was to make the course material interesting and useful. Later his work became very popular among the girls students and his course material resulted in a very famous novel Mara-tul-Uroos, a training guide for girls.

Association with Sir Syed and Aligarh Movement:
In 1877 on Sir Syed’s recommendation Mohsinul Mulk, who was working in Hyderabad state recommended Deputy Nazir Ahmad for Director (Administration) in the state. He was in Hyderabad state for a while and retired from there and moved back to his home in Delhi. He was a very good orator and Sir Syed used to take him to each Muhammadan Education Conference as Keynote Speaker. He was an ardent supporter of Sir Syed and Aligarh Movement and became a close Associate of Sir Syed. He wrote few poems in praise of Sir Syed. He was fully convinced about the role of Tahzeebul-Akhlaq for social and cultural progress of Muslims. Sir Syed had a great influence on his political thought. He traveled a lot with Sir Syed to garner the support for Aligarh Movement.

Like Sir Syed, Nazir Ahmad was a strong believer of Hindu-Muslim Unity. He strongly felt that the history books written by westerners which were taught in the government schools are spreading the communalism. He seriously intendend for Hindu-Muslims to live a life with peace and harmony. He was so serious about his thought that he became the first person to recommend putting forward a request to the department of education to re-write the history books with an emphasis on communal harmony.

He was emotionally very attached with Sir Syed. After Sir Syed’s death he used to refuse to deliver lectures and talks and used to say;

“ Kya Karoo(n) mashgala lecture ka aji ch-hoot gaya
Hum se ek yaar ch-hutaa aisa ke Ji ch-hoot gayaa”

He served the community with his money and pen till his last breath and died on 28th December 1910 in Delhi.