Syed Ameer Ali

SYED AMEER ALI

Date of Birth: 6^th April, 1849 and Date of Death: 3^rd August, 1928

            Syed Ameer Ali, the first Muslim scholar to recognise the need for creating political consciousness among Muslims, was born on 6^th April, 1849 at Cuttack in Orissa.  His father was Sadat Ali Khan, who was a scholar of Arabic and Persian.  Ameer Ali learned those languages from his father along with Islamic scriptures.  Later, he went to England, where he studied Law with the help of a scholarship provided by the Government.  He returned to India in 1873 and started legal practice at Calcutta.  He took membership in several organisations and held key posts in them.  Upon becoming a famous advocate he established the ‘Central National Mohammadan Association’ in 1877 to create political consciousness among Muslims.  He got elected to the Bengal Legislative Council in 1978 and was elected a member of Imperial Legislative Council.  Ali’s ‘Central National Mohammadan Association’ played an important role in the foundation of the Indian National Congress in 1885.  But he withdraws from the Indian National Congress alleging that the Congress was baised infavour of the Hindus.  Since then, he worked for the development of Muslims through his ‘Central National Mohammadan Association’ and held discussions with the British Government.  He led the association for about 25 years and demanded for special facilities for the Muslims in the fields of education and employment.  He also organised and led the ‘All India Mohammadan Educational Conference’ in 1889 and called the Muslim society to work not only for the political power, but also for the educational advancement.  He was appointed as a Justice in the Calcutta High Court in 1890.  He settled down in England after his retirement in 1904.  He became the first President of the London unit of ‘All India Muslim League’ in 1908.  He led the delegation which met Lord Minto in 1909, demanding separate electorates for Muslims and proper representation in Legislature and Local Bodies.  Ameer Ali was the first Indian who could become a member in the Privy Council in 1909.  He sent special teams to help the Balkan War victims in 1912 through the British Red Crescent Society, when the war erupted between the Italy and Turkey.  He worked for the protection of Khilafat along with Aga Khan in 1919.  He wrote famous books like ‘The Spirit of Islam’, ‘History of the Saracens’ and number of books on Law.  Syed Ameer Ali passed away on 3^rd August, 1928 in London.