50th death anniversary of Nawab Ismail Khan

The 50th death anniversary of great freedom fighter Nawab Mohammad Ismail Khan is being observed here as elsewhere with anniversary functions having started from June 28.
As an active member of the Working Committee of All-India Muslim League, Nawab Ismail Khan was the President of the Provincial Muslim League of UP and Chairman of every important committee of the All-India Muslim League. He was amongst the closet associate of the Quaid-e-Azam, who always held him in the highest esteem. Born in Agra in 1884, Nawab Ismail Khan did his trips from England from the famous Temple Inn As a bar-at-law, on his return to India in 1906, he worked as an apprentice to Motilal Nehru in Allahabad.
From 1910 onward, Nawab Ismail Khan started taking active part in politics and joined the All-India Muslim League. Always concerned with Muslim cause, he was more interested in protecting the rights of the Muslims, fighting for their due representation, incorporating safeguards in the constitution of India. In this regard he presided over the 2nd session of the All-India Muslim Conference, held in Lucknow on November 15, 1930. He actively participated in the Khilafat Movement and presided over several of its sessions as he also did for the All-India Muslim League in the absence of Jinnah.
It was Nawab Ismail Khan, who was always selected by the Quaid-e-Azam to visit every nook and corner of the country, to reach out to the Muslims, give them a sense of participation and representation. He toured the length and breath of the country from Bengal, Assam to Quetta and onto Mohmand Agency.
Nawab Ismail Khan was a force to reckon with, he was highly respected by the Congress leaders and had very cordial relations with Jawaharlal Nehru, Vijay Lakshmi Pandit, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Mrs. Sarojini Naidu to name just 2 of 3 a few his strength of character, integrity, wisdom and sagacity earned him place in the All-India Muslim League 'second only to that of the Quaid-e-Azam'. When it came to allotment of parliamentary tickets to the Muslim leaders Nawab Ismail Khan headed the Parliamentary Board and handled this delicate task without ever a heartburn from any side.
And when the decisive moment came, it was Nawab Ismail Khan who headed the Direct Action Committee. Interestingly, it was Nawab Ismail Khan's samoor cap that became famous as the 'Jinnah cap' when the Quaid-e-Azam entered the Pindal wearing it in the historic Lucknow session of 1937. It is an irony of the Pakistan Movement that Nawab Ismail Khan chose not to come to Pakistan.
He stayed back in India, as he strongly felt, his, was a position that required sacrifice, giving up everything he struggled for. He could not possibly abandon his Muslim brethren in India. He faced the trials and tribulations with fortitude and remained solidly behind the Muslims. He held the reins of the Aligarh Muslim University in the troubled times after Pakistan.
He accepted the challenge and steered clear the ship from troubled waters, serving as its Vice Chancellor 1947- 48.
Earlier in 1934-36 he served as both Pro-Vice Chancellor and Chancellor after the death of Sir Ross Masood. Belonging to the nobility of UP, Nawab Ismail Khan's father, the indomitable Nawab Ishak Khan was a member of the Administrative Services of India before the creation of ICS (Indian Civil Service). He also served Aligarh when it was the M.A.O College as the third successor of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan taking over from Nawab Viqar-ul-Mulk, Nawab Ismail's grandfather was the famous Urdu poet Nawab Mustafa Khan Shefta. His home in Meerut 'Mustafa Castle' was the hub of Muslim politics in UP and the headquarters of Provincial Muslim League.
His family migrated to Pakistan, his three sons were members of the Civil Service of Pakistan, the late G. A. Madani, I. A. Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed Adani. He is survived by his two daughters Rafia Bashir Malik and Atiya Shujaat, both living in Karachi and a large number of grand children and great grand children.