Malick Mohammad Younus

MALICK MOHAMMAD YOUNUS

Date of Birth: 4^th May, 1884 and Date of Death: 13^th May, 1952

            Malick Mohammad Younus, who created a sensation as the first prime mister of Bihar state, was born on 4^th May, 1884, in Panehar village of Bihar state.  His father, Moulvi Ali Hasan Mukhtar, was a famous advocate.  Malik Mohammad Younus completed his graduation in Patna and then studied in England where he also succeeded as a journalist.  He returned to India as an advocate and he set up practice in Calcutta in 1906.  He entered into politics in 1906 during the Indian National Congress sessions held in Calcutta.  He played a major role in Indian National Congress meetings held in Lahore in 1908.  He worked efficiently as the secretary of the All India Muslim League and the suggestions made by him were incorporated in the Minto-Morley reforms.  He designed various development programmes as a people’s representative in Patna Municipal Corporation.  He contested and won in the elections to the Imperial Legislative Assembly and was elected to Bihar-Orissa Provincial Council in 1921.  In 1924, he started a weekly, ‘Patna Times’ which soon became a popular daily mirroring the problems of the people.  In 1936, he started ‘Bihar Muslim Independent Party’ which he refused to merge in Muslim League even when Mohammed Ali Jinnah advised him to do so.  His party contested in 1937 elections in alliance with Indian National Congress and won 15 seats out of 40 reserved for Muslims and emerged as the 2^nd largest party after the Congress.  As the Indian National Congress leadership refused to form the Government, Younus assumed charge as first Premier (Prime Minister) of Bihar state on the 1^st April, 1937.  His government gave priority to agriculture and announced Urdu as the official language.  As a result of noncooperation from the main political parties and protests by communal forces, his government fallen on 19^th July, 1937.  He was elected to the Bihar provincial council uninterruptedly from 1921 to 1945 during which period he dedicated himself to social service.  He shouldered various responsibilities in ‘Theosophical Society’ and ‘Male Milaap Association’.  He tried his hand in poetry and succeeded as a poet while taking rest due to illhealth.  Malick Mohammad Younus died on 13^th May, 1952 in London.