Lesson 4/45 min
Muslim educators and reformers
At a glance
| Person | Known for |
|---|---|
| Haji Muhammad Mohsin | Philanthropist; ‘Hatem Tai of Bengal’; Hooghly College and Madrasa |
| Nawab Abdul Latif | Mohammedan Literary Society (1863); ‘the Syed Ahmad of Bengal’ |
| Syed Ameer Ali | Central National Mohammedan Association (1877); The Spirit of Islam |
| A.K. Fazlul Huq | Krishak Praja Party; moved the Lahore Resolution (1940) |
Haji Muhammad Mohsin
- Born 1732 (some say 1730), died 1812
- Inherited the vast property of his half-sister Mannujan Khanam, who died childless
- Gave all his property to spread education (the Mohsin Trust); ‘the Hatem Tai of Bengal’
- Founded the Hooghly College and Hooghly Madrasa; built the Imambara mosque at Hooghly
Nawab Abdul Latif
- Born in Faridpur; a pioneer of modern education among Bengal's Muslims
- Founded the Mohammedan Literary Society in Calcutta, April 1863 (2 April in Khandokar)
- The society's centre was his residence at 16 Taltala Lane, Calcutta
- The Hindu College became the Presidency College in 1855
- He is called ‘the Syed Ahmad of Bengal’
Syed Ameer Ali
- Explained Islam in a scientific way; born in Cuttack (Orissa)
- Judge of the Calcutta High Court 1890–1904; member of the Privy Council in London in 1909
- Formed the Central National Mohammedan Association (1877); from then the movement for Indian Muslims' political identity began; it was active until 1924
- One of the promoters of the British Red Crescent Society
- Books: The Spirit of Islam; A Short History of the Saracens; Life and Teachings of the Prophet
- Died 3 August 1928 in England
Watch out: Khandokar gives Ameer Ali's birth as ‘Assam’ and death ‘in London’; according to Banglapedia he was born at Cuttack (6 April 1849) and died in Sussex. Two printed answers also look wrong: ‘who donated property for Muslim education’ — Haji Mohsin, and ‘what Latif built after 1857’ — the Mohammedan Literary Society. So there is no quiz on them.
A.K. Fazlul Huq (Zubair)
- Formed the Krishak Praja Party (1936)
- The Bengal Agricultural Debtors Act 1938 — debt settlement boards to reduce farmers' debts
- Moved the Lahore Resolution (23 March 1940)
Check yourself
Who is known as ‘the Hatem Tai of Bengal’?
At a glance
- 1
Haji Mohsin (died 1812): ‘Hatem Tai of Bengal’; Hooghly College and Madrasa.
- 2
Nawab Abdul Latif: Mohammedan Literary Society (1863); ‘the Syed Ahmad of Bengal’.
- 3
Syed Ameer Ali: Central National Mohammedan Association (1877); The Spirit of Islam.
- 4
Ameer Ali was a Calcutta High Court judge 1890–1904; Privy Council 1909.
- 5
Fazlul Huq: Krishak Praja Party 1936; Lahore Resolution 1940.