Syed Nasir Hassan

SYED NASIR HASSAN

Date of Birth: 2^nd August, 1928 and Date of Death: 13^th November, 1960

            Syed Nasir Hassan, who led the students’ movement demanding the release of the soldiers of the Azad Hind Fouj, who were detained by the British Government under the charges of treason, was born on 2^nd August, 1928 in Hyderabad of Andhra Pradesh state, in a freedom fighter’s family.  His father was Syed Alam Bardar and mother Zohra.  Hassan’s maternal grandmother Fakrul Hajia Hassan was a famous freedom fighter.  His maternal uncles Abid Hassan Safrani, Badrul Hassan, Prof. Jafar Hassan had also played active roles in the Indian freedom movement.  Nasir, while studying at the City College in Hyderabad, entered the students’ movement in 1946, which demand the release of the Azad Hind Fouj soldiers who were detained by the British Government.  Nasir also supported the demand for the merger of the Nizam State with the Indian Union after Independence in 1947.  He actively participated in this movement.  He led the students, who encircled the house of the President of the Hyderabad State Congress, demanding him to pressurize the Nizam Government for the merger.  When the Nizam Police unleashed repressive attacks on the pro-merger movement activists at Suryapet in Nalgonda district, Nasir led the agitation against the repression in September, 1946.  Nasir got attracted towards communism after India got Independence.  He went to Pakistan on the invitation of the progressive writer Sajjad Zaheer.  He led the people’s agitations in Pakistan on behalf of farmers and labourers.  He rose to the level of the Secretary of the Communist Party, Sindh Provincial branch.  The military government of Pakistan irked by the pro-people activities of the Nasir, exiled him for two years and prior to that had put him under detention for about four years.  During the period of exile, he reached Hyderabad and spent time with his parents.  During that time, he stayed away from publicity to avoid problems to the family and returned to Pakistan after the exile period was over.  Later, the Military Government of Pakistan apprehended and detained him in Jail in the Lahore Fort.  And there Syed Nasir Hassan was poisoned to death on 13^th November, 1960.