An Eminent Personality
An Eminent Personality of Hyderabad
Subedar Amir Ali Khan
His fine persona, attributes, his services and achievements
An Article published in the “Siasat” Urdu Daily of Hyderabad, India on Nov. 12, 2011
Author: Dr. Syed Dawood Ashraf
Translation: Ar. Ansar Naqvi
Among the higher Govt. officers of the former state of Hyderabad who distinguished themselves on merits, highest level of capabilities and achievements and earned for themselves a name and fame, Amir Ali Khan stands out as an exemplary personality whose services and feats would never be forgotten for a long time.
Amir Ali Khan was born in Hyderabad on Aug.12, 1901. He had his formal education in Govt. High School Chaderghat and Nizam College. He was selected for the Hyderabad Civil Service in 1918, passed the exam in 1919 and was awarded the Walker Gold Medal. His HCS training was completed in the Central Provinces, where he was placed first in the exam paper on Revenue.
Amir Ali Khan reported for first posting was as additional assistant Taluqdar on December 14, 1919. And after serving as assistant Taluqdar, Joint Taluqdar, Acting Taluqdar and Taluqdar, upon promotion, he took charge on October 13, 1935 as the Taluqdar of Osmanabad District.
On November 25, 1941, he was elevated to the post of Subedar of Gulbarga, thereafter he was appointed as the Subedar of Warangal and Medak. He served in various other positions too while in Govt. and his last posting was as the Member, Board of Revenue. He retired from service as the Senior Member, Board of Revenue.1
Amir Ali Khan had four sons and six daughters. One of the most eminent persons of Hyderabad, Chief Justice, (retired) Barrister Sardar Ali Khan is the eldest son and well known Gynecologist, Dr. Sultana Khan is the third daughter. Amir Ali Khan passed away on April 10, 1987.
In their discussions with this writer as well as in their writings, almost all the subordinates, close friends and junior colleagues of Amir Ali Khan have profusely praised his personal demeanor, good traits and services rendered by him.
Considering the Life’s Mission, Resolve and Courage of Subedar Amir Ali Khan, his son Farook Ali Khan has established “The Subedar Amir Ali Khan Global Peace Foundation”. He said: “Promoting Truth, Justice, Honesty, Removing Fears and apprehensions from the hearts and minds of people, are the true aims and objects of this foundation. Farook Ali Khan says: “A Majority of people is desirous of Positive Changes, Peace and Amity in the country. They wish to take the Minorities into confidence and include them in the National Mainstream.” He said further: “A Majority of politicians is amassing huge amount of wealth only for themselves and their children. And there is no feeling of serving the nation and the the country in their hearts. Education illuminates the minds and it empowers the educated masses to safeguard themselves from the exploitation and machinations of the wily politicians. He said: ” This foundation is conducting workshops and seminars in educational institutions, from the humble Govt schools to the mighty centers of higher education in order to make the students broad minded.
Late Mr. Ghulam Jeelani, I.A.S. (retd.) in his article about Amir Ali Khan published in the Siasat daily, dtd. April 26, 1987 wrote:
“Everybody has to taste death and leave this world but what remain of him are his good deeds. The entire life of Amir Ali Khan was good deeds personified. I can vouch for the fact those who benefited from his best treatment would never forget him until their last breath.”
Late Mirza Shukoor Baig in his article about Amir Ali Khan published in the Siasat daily, dtd. April 18, 1987 narrating an incident that throws light on the humble nature of Subedar Amir Ali Khan, wrote:
“Subedar Amir Ali Khan took charge of the post of Subedar of Warangal a little before Police Action when I (Mirza Shukoor Baig) was practicing as a lawyer in Warangal. My close friend Abdul Qader Sayeed, Superintendant of Excise wanted me to accompany him for his customary meeting with the new Subedar. But not having any prior acquaintance or introduction, I was reluctant to go. However upon friend’s insistence I agreed to accompany him. I was introduced to Amir Ali Khan by my friend and after the exchange of formal pleasantries, during the meeting Amir Ali Khan kept on talking to Abdul Qader Sayeed and I sat quietly. On the way back from the meeting I got very angry with Abdul Qader Sayeed and told him that he had put me in embarrassment and I felt humiliated. Abdul Qader Sayeed kept quiet then but conveyed about my feelings to Amir Ali Khan. The very next day Amir Ali Khan came to my house and asked for my forgiveness for his behavior during the meeting. I requested him to please be seated and have tea with me but he refused and asked me to forgive him first. Upon his persistence I said that I forgave him. Amir Ali Khan hugged me and said he was returning very pleased with my forgiveness and went away and I thought to myself, what a noble and humble gentleman! Where do we get such officers now?”
Mir Moazzam Hussain, a retired UN officer and very well known among the top echelons of Hyderabad’s social circles, told this writer during an interview that among the people he fondly reminisces about, Subedar Amir Ali Khan occupies a special place. He was one of those special persons for whom he has love and respect and who were very close to his heart.
Dr. Raheemuddin Kamal, a well known university professor, critic, author and a socialite, especially among the Urdu literati of Hyderabad, appreciated the courteous behavior and kind treatment of Amir Ali Khan, towards his subordinate officers and his formidable power of grasping even the most complex issues quickly.
Dr. Hasanuddin Ahmed, I.A.S. (retd.) the scion of a noble family, a historian, author, critic and a virtual encyclopedia of Hyderabad’s nobles and of recent history spoke about Amir Ali Khan’s extraordinary courteousness and best manners especially with the youngsters.
Amir Ali Khan considered education as the key to eliminate economic and social backwardness. He believed that education would train healthy minds, promote broadmindedness and it would bring about a positive change in the society. With this vision, he established his own schools and patronized many others. He was the founder president of the managing committees of The Rahmatiya Upper Primary School and The Rahmatiya Girls High School. He was also the president of the managing boards of The Minhajush Sharqia Girls School and The Ashraful Madaris High School.
Amir Ali Khan performed his official duties with a lot of diligence and conscientiousness. He always cared for the welfare of people and was never wanting in immediate redressal of public grievances, mitigation of their difficulties and fulfilling of their needs. He was always ready and geared up for help and providing relief to the needy and deserving people. This was the reason for his being equally popular among the Govt. and the public. When he was the Subedar of Warangal, his appeal to the people of Warangal for contributions to the victory fund during the Second World War drew tremendous response and a huge (in those days when Gold was Rs. 360/0 per 10 gram) amount of Rs. 3, 61,000/- was contributed for this fund by the people of Warangal, Karimnagar and Adilabad, besides this, a considerable number of recruits and technical personnel enlisted themselves to serve the British Army in its war effort. Similarly a huge amount of Rs. 3,75,000/- was contributed on his appeal within a short period of three months by the people of Medak while he was the Subedar of Medak.
Amir Ali Khan hardly had been able to take rest for a few days after his retirement from Govt. service when a delegation of retired persons and pensioners reached his house. The prevailing anomalies and irregularities in fixation of pay and pensions of the retired personnel was a painful issue for him which cost him his peace of mind. During this period a calamity struck him and one of his legs had to be amputated. In spite of this he did not simply lie down in bed. He formed an association of retired Govt. Employees. He was elected president of All India Pensioners? Association. Morarji Desai was the Prime Minister then. He took an appointment and met him in New Delhi. But Morarji showed scant regard to the plight and demands of the pensioners.
Despite the handicap of an amputated leg and other problems of advancing age, there was no change in his humanism, perseverance and strong resolve to serve mankind. When Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister he went again to New Delhi. When she came to know of his handicap, Indira Gandhi came out of her chambers up to his car. Indiraji heard him with attention and promised to sympathetically consider his memorandum about the plight of the pensioners. Due to his untiring efforts considerable increments were made to the pensions benefiting all the pensioners throughout the country.
Amir Ali Khan was a principled, candid, straightforward and a just officer. He dexterously resolved many vexatious but urgent issues during his service. Only two such issues are being narrated here for fear of length of this article, which prove his best performance, acumen, good judgment and understanding.
The Tuljapur Epidemic: Because of a drought in Tuljapur (Osmnabad district) in 1346 Fasli, all the wells in Tuljapur went dry. Shortage of drinking water and outbreak of Cholera made the suffering of people unbearable. Amir Ali Khan was the Taluqdar of Osmanabad districs during this period. He made necessary arrangements on a war footing to alleviating the sufferings of the people of Tuljapur. The details of this incident have come to light in the address presented to Sir Akbar Hyderi by the people of Tuljapur. It is recorded in the address:
“In 1346 all the wells in Tuljapur went so dry that it became impossible to draw drinking water from them as a result people began fetching water from a distance of two miles. Along with these difficulties a dangerous cholera epidemic broke out in the area. 8-10 people were dying every day. As soon as the district Taluqdar, Janab Amir Ali Khan came to know of this calamity, he immediately swung into action with a lot of empathy and arranged the required amenities for the people and maintain public health in such a prompt manner the we cannot forget.” The department of health began inoculations to prevent spreading of the cholera epidemic any further, the local fund department installed pump sets and water gallery works at the well 2miles away which was the only source of drinking water in the area, 500 gallon capacity water tanks with water taps were constructed in different areas of the Taluq and the tankers were pressed into day and night service to supply water from the well to these tankers and people began getting water from these tanks without any consideration of cast and creed. By the grace of Almighty, the Cholera epidemic too was eradicated fully. Had these measures not been taken in time, God knows how many of people of Tuljapur and the pilgrims would have been dead.”
The Sharan Basappa Temple Row: The Sharan Basappa Temple in Gulbarga was the cause of a long pending row for many years between the Lingayaths and Muslims of Gulbarga over construction of the Temple compound wall. Muslims and the Lingayaths were both claiming ownership of the land in question. There were fears of a communal flare up between the Lingayaths and Muslims of Gulbarga. When Amir Ali Khan was the Subedar of Gulbarga in 1946, he took into confidence a few leading members of the Muslims and the Lingayaths and began having consultations and talks and solved this vexatious issue to the satisfaction of all concerned even though his decision was in favor of the Lingayaths. It is said that Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung cooperated in solving this row at the request of Subedar Amir Ali Khan. Upon an amicable resolution of this row the Lingayaths felicitated Amir Ali Khan and presented an address in his honor.
The address recorded:
“Your Honor!
Though your period of rule has proved a God Gift for the people of Gulbarga and the people of the Suba, irrespective of caste and creed, who have not only benefited by your good governance and prudence but also your memorable deed shall remain forever in the hearts of Lingayat Community as a valuable asset and that deed is the construction of the compound wall of the shrine of Shri Sharan Basappa Maharaj, because it is not a secret to your Honor that this sublime shrine is highly venerated and revered by the Lingayat community which is a holy place for all and a famous center of pilgrimage for long.
Your Honor! The construction of the compound wall of this temple was a bone of contention between the Hindus and Muslims of this town for long and every one of your predecessors tried his best to solve this problem but their efforts failed. But your sagacity and wisdom, unique statesmanship and unequalled intelligence and diplomacy solved this enigmatic problem very successfully, and instead of following of orders, your infallible strategy and distinctive nature coupled with your innate courteous behavior, prevailed upon both Hindus and Muslims to bury this dispute by mutual consent. Your achievement, with your level-headedness and many sided personality is not only a cause of pride and joy for H.E.H. the Nizam’s Government but it is also an example of communal amity and administrative acumen for various towns of India which has added a new and golden chapter to the history of religious tolerance of H.E.H. the Nizam’s Government.
Your Honor! For the gratifying treatment meted out by you to the Lingayat Community, we take the honor of thanking you and hope that the appraising eye of our Lord H.E.H. The Nizam will provide you a berth in the cabinet for the welfare of the country and nation.
Your Honor! As a mark of our joy for your kind visit and honoring us, we present a humble amount of Rs.3100/- to Your Honor. Though it is a very humble Nazrana but by your benignity and favors, we are sure that Your Honor will accept this small present as a token of our sincere feelings and sentiments. These traits of yours are inherent in you.
Respected Sir, the source of civilization and culture, and peace and tranquility, from which we are being benefited / blessed from is the Sun of kingdom, H.E.H. the Nizam from whom every one of this country’s communities and religions is getting benefited. We too have imbued the religious tolerance and favor of the Asafia dynasty in general and H.E.H the Nizam in particular, through our loyalty to the throne.
May His Exalted Highness’s shadow never grow less.”
Considering the Life’s Mission, Resolve and Courage of Subedar Amir Ali Khan, his son Farook Ali Khan has established “The Subedar Amir Ali Khan Global Peace Foundation”. He said: “Promoting Truth, Justice, Honesty, Removing Fears and apprehensions from the hearts and minds of people, are the true aims and objects of this foundation. Farook Ali Khan says: “A Majority of people is desirous of Positive Changes, Peace and Amity in the country. They wish to take the Minorities into confidence and include them in the National Mainstream.” He said further: “A Majority of politicians is amassing huge amount of wealth only for themselves and their children. And there is no feeling of serving the nation and the the country in their hearts. Education illuminates the minds and it empowers the educated masses to safeguard themselves from the exploitation and machinations of the wily politicians. He said: ” This foundation is conducting workshops and seminars in educational institutions, from the humble Govt schools to the mighty centers of higher education in order to make the students broad minded. The members of this foundation have also addressed the gatherings of foreign students in India. In such gatherings the students were taught training of their minds, maintenance of peace and amity and improving the relations with the neighboring countries.
