Syed Nausher Ali

Summary

Syed Nausher Ali (1891 – 6 April 1972) was an Indian left-leaning politician in West and East Bengal (now India and Bangladesh) during British rule.[2] He was a cabinet member in the first A. K. Fazlul Huq ministry and later the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the second coalition Ministry. He was renowned for his advocacy of abolition of British imperialism and his support of Hindu-Muslim cooperation in the form of an undivided India.[3]

Syed Nausher Ali
Member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly
In office
1937–1945
Succeeded byLutfar Rahman[1]
ConstituencyJessore Sadar
Personal details
Born1891
Narail, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died6 April 1972(1972-04-06) (aged 80–81)
West Bengal, India
Political partyKrishak Praja Party
Indian National Congress
EducationDaulatpur College
Daulatpur High School
Alma materUniversity of Calcutta (BL)
Calcutta City College

Early life edit

Syed Nausher Ali was born in Narail in 1891 in an affluent family. He had his early education in Khulna and later moved to Calcutta for his higher education and obtained his bachelor's degree and a law degree from Calcutta University. He joined the Calcutta High Court Bar in 1921. Ali was elected as a member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1921 and 1936 he joined the Krishak Praja Party (KPP).[citation needed]

In 1937, when A. K. Fazlul Huq formed a coalition government with the All-India Muslim League, Nausher Ali was the only other KPP representative in the joint cabinet. He served as the Minister of the Health Department and was also responsible for the Local Self-Government Department. During his tenure as a minister, Nausher Ali came under the spotlight for appointing Muslim candidates in the open posts. This led to internal political tensions among the members of the joint cabinet and as a result, when the government was reconstituted after 1938, Ali was left out of the cabinet.[citation needed]

In 1939, Ali formally joined the Congress. To assist Congress' campaign, Ali organized meetings with peasants in the districts of Khulna and Jessore, attacking the zamindars and supporters of British imperialism and organizing means to empower peasants by encouraging them not to pay rent to the government. In 1942 when Fazlul Huq formed the second coalition Ministry, Syed Nausher Ali became the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1 March 1943 to 14 May 1946.[citation needed]

Later life edit

In the 1940s, Muslim opinion in Bengal turned in favor of a Pakistan independent of India. Syed Nausher Ali, however, continued to voice his support for the unity of India. During the election of 1945–46, he was one of the only two Muslim candidates from the Indian National Congress in Bengal. After 1947 he decided to stay in India and became a Muslim politician in West Bengal. He died on 6 April 1972.[citation needed]

References edit

  1. ^ Reed, Sir Stanley, ed. (1947). The Indian Year Book.
  2. ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Ali, Syed Nausher". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  3. ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Krishak Praja Party". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20090619074905/http://legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in/STATISTICAL/wbengal.html
  • https://archive.today/20081118011715/http://www.ethikana.com/bangladesh/greatpersonality/politicians.htm