Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
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Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy (September 8, 1892 - December 5, 1963) was a politician from Bengal in undivided India, and later in East Pakistan, who served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1956 until 1957. He is also known for his controversial role in the Direct Action Day of August 16, 1946. Following riots in Bengal during the last days of India's freedom struggle, he was considered a favourite of Muhammad Ali Jinnah who spoke well of him. He is also considered as the first populist leader in Pakistan's history.He is the founder of Awami League, one of the two major political parties of present day's Bangladesh.
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[edit] Early life
Suhrawardy was born on 8th September, 1892 to a prominent Muslim family in the town of Midnapore, now in West Bengal. He was the younger son of Justice Sir Zahid Suhrawardy,a prominent judge of Calcutta High Court. In conformity with the elite muslim tradition of India, his family members spanned the entire subcontinent speaking Urdu and did not identify themselves as ethnic Bengali.But Suhrawardy learnt Bengali and chose to identify himself with the politics and society of Bengal.
[edit] Education & Marriage
Suhrawardy completed his undergraduate studies at St. Xavier's College, and completed a masters degree at the University of Calcutta. Afterwards, he moved to the United Kingdom to attend Oxford University from where he obtained a BCL degree. On leaving Oxford, he was called to the bar at Gray's Inn.
In 1920, Suhrawardy married Begum Niaz Fatima, daughter of Sir Abdur Rahim, the then home minister of British India.
[edit] Return to India
Suhrawardy returned to the subcontinent in 1921,earned a good name as a practicing barrister of Calcutta High Court and became involved in politics in Bengal.He joined Swaraj Party and became an ardent follower of Chittaranjan Das.He played a major role in signing Bengal Pact in 1923.He became the Deputy Mayor of Calcutta Corporation at the age of 31 in 1924 and also the Deputy Leader of the Swaraj Party in the Provincial Assembly .But with the death of Chittaranjan Das in 1925, he started disassociating himself with the Swaraj Party and eventually joined Muslim League. He also served as Minister of Labour, and Minister of Civil Supplies under Khawaja Nazimuddin among other positions.
In 1946, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy established and headed a Muslim League government in Bengal. It was the only Muslim League government in India at that time.
[edit] Direct Action Day
Under Suhrawardy's direction, the Bengal Government declared August 16, 1946 to be a public holiday to celebrate the Direct Action Day called by Jinnah to protest against the Cabinet Mission plan for the independence of India.
Mobs rioted throughout Bengal, resulting in huge loss of life and property, particularly at capital Calcutta. There was also a significant riot in the Noakhali district. Suhrawardy was widely blamed for not taking steps to prevent the carnage, and trying to suppress the news of the same from the media.
[edit] Independence
In 1947, the balance of power in Bengal shifted from the Muslim League to Congress, and Suhrawardy stepped down from the Chief Ministership.Unlike other Muslim League stalwarts of India,he did not leave his hometown for newly established Pakistan.Apprehending revenge of Hindus against Muslims in Calcutta after transfer of power, Suhrawardy sought help from Gandhi. Gandhi was persuaded to stay and pacify tempers in Calcutta, but he agreed to do so on the condition that Suhrawardy share the same roof with him so that they could appeal to Muslims and Hindus alike to live in peace. "Adversity makes strange bed-fellows," Gandhi remarked in his prayer meeting.
[edit] Political life in East Pakistan
Upon the formation of Pakistan, Suhrawardy maintained his work in politics, continuing to focus on Bengal or East Pakistan as it became after independence from the British. In 1949 he formed the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League, which would develop into the Awami League.
In the 1950s, Suhrawardy worked to consolidate political parties in East Pakistan to balance the politics of West Pakistan. Under Muhammad Ali Bogra, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy would serve as Law Minister and later become the head of opposition parties.
In 1956, he was made Prime Minister by President of Pakistan Iskander Mirza after the resignation of Chaudhry Muhammad Ali. Suhrawardy inherited a political schism that was forming in Pakistan between the Muslim League and newer parties, such as the Republican party. The schism was fed by the attempt to consolidate the four provinces of West Pakistan into one province, so as to balance the fact that East Pakistan existed as only one province. The plan was opposed in West Pakistan, and the cause was taken up by the Muslim League and religious parties. Suhrawardy supported the plan, but the vast opposition to it stalled its progress.
In order to divert attention from the controversy over the "One Unit" plan as it was called, Suhrawardy tried to ease economic differences between East and West Pakistan. However, despite his intentions, such moves only led to more political friction, and was worsened when Suhrawardy tried to give more money to East Pakistan than West Pakistan from aid received. Such moves led to a threat of dismissal looming over Suhrawardy's head, and he resigned in 1957.
In the foreign policy arena, he is considered to be one of the pioneers of Pakistan's pro United States stand.
[edit] Post-political life and death
Disqualified from politics under the military regime of Ayub Khan, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy died in Lebanon in 1963. His death was officially due to complications from heart problems, though some have alleged he was poisoned. After a befitting funeral attended by a huge crowd, he was buried at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.
[edit] See also
- Chronicles Of Pakistan
- Category:Prime Ministers of Pakistan
- List of Prime Ministers of Pakistan
- Politics of Pakistan
[edit] References
- Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy:A Biography by Begum Shaista Ikramullah(Oxford University Press-1991)
- Freedom at midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins
- Gandhi's Passion by Stanley Wolpert (Oxford University Press)
| Preceded by Chaudhry Muhammad Ali |
Prime Minister of Pakistan | Succeeded by I.I. Chundrigar |
| Prime Ministers of Pakistan |
|---|
| LA Khan | Nazimuddin | Bogra | Ali | Suhrawardy | Chundrigar | Noon | A Khan | Amin | Z Bhutto | ul-Haq | Junejo | ul-Haq | B Bhutto | Jatoi | Sharif | Mazari | Sharif | Qureshi | B Bhutto | Khalid | Sharif | Musharraf | Jamali | Hussain | Aziz |
