Justice Mian Shah Din
Encyclopedia
Mian Shah Din was born at Lahore in 1868. He belonged to the well-known Arain
Mian family
of Baghbanpura
, Lahore
.
In 1887, he graduated from the Government College
, Lahore, and left for higher study of Law in England, being the first Muslim from the Punjab
to go abroad for this purpose. While in England he joined Sir Abdul Rahim and others in the foundation of the Anjuman-i-Islamiya, London, which was established on 10 November 1889. This was the first Muslim organization in the United Kingdom and Shah Din was elected its Vice-President.
In 1891, he established Young Men Mohammedan Association at Lahore. Two years later, he read out at the All-India Mohammedan Educational Conference, a learned and thoughtful paper on “The Education of Musalmans in the Punjab”, which remains a mine of information for the historians. This paper impressed Syed Ahmad Khan so much that Shah Din was chosen, at the early age of twenty-six, to preside over the next session of the All-India Mohammedan Educational Conference.
Mian Shah Din was one of the members of the Simla Deputation in 1906. After the All-India Muslim League was established, an active provincial branch was organized in the Punjab in November 1907 and Shah Din was elected its president.
In Oct. 1908, he was appointed as a (first Muslim) Judge of the Punjab Chief Court. Mian Shah Din presided Muhammadan Educational Conference
in 1894 and 1913. He was fellow of the Punjab University
, Lahore, in 1895 and worked as a Trustee of the Aligarh College
in 1896. He also launched monthly magazine "Humayun". Allama Iqbal's
poem 'Humayun' is also about that magazine.
Under the Minto-Morley Act of 1909 Mian Shah Din along with Sir Mian Mohammad Shafi, Umar Hayat Tiwana and Chaudhary Shahab-ud-din was taken on the Punjab Council. These leaders were marked by their progressive and liberal views. Drawn from the Muslim middle class, this group was western educated. It had championed the Pan-Islamic Movement which emerged in 1911 even at the cost of displeasing the government. It felt betrayed at the annulment of the Partition of Bengal, and claimed ‘Islam to be in danger’. In March 1908, Mian Shah Din was elected President of the All-India Muslim League.
Mian Shah Din died in 1918 at the age of fifty, and was eulogised by Muhammad Iqbal
.
Arain
The Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...
Mian family
Mian Family Baghbanpura
Mian family of Baghbanpura is a Pakistani noble family. It has enjoyed a prominent role in Punjabi and Pakistani politics since the days of the Mughal Empire...
of Baghbanpura
Baghbanpura
Baghbanpura is a town and Union Council of Shalimar tehsil, Lahore District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located along the Grand Trunk Road some 5 kilometres northeast of the main Lahore city....
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
.
In 1887, he graduated from the Government College
Government College University
Government College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...
, Lahore, and left for higher study of Law in England, being the first Muslim from the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
to go abroad for this purpose. While in England he joined Sir Abdul Rahim and others in the foundation of the Anjuman-i-Islamiya, London, which was established on 10 November 1889. This was the first Muslim organization in the United Kingdom and Shah Din was elected its Vice-President.
In 1891, he established Young Men Mohammedan Association at Lahore. Two years later, he read out at the All-India Mohammedan Educational Conference, a learned and thoughtful paper on “The Education of Musalmans in the Punjab”, which remains a mine of information for the historians. This paper impressed Syed Ahmad Khan so much that Shah Din was chosen, at the early age of twenty-six, to preside over the next session of the All-India Mohammedan Educational Conference.
Mian Shah Din was one of the members of the Simla Deputation in 1906. After the All-India Muslim League was established, an active provincial branch was organized in the Punjab in November 1907 and Shah Din was elected its president.
In Oct. 1908, he was appointed as a (first Muslim) Judge of the Punjab Chief Court. Mian Shah Din presided Muhammadan Educational Conference
All India Muhammadan Educational Conference
The All India Muhammadan Educational Conference was an organisation promoting modern, liberal education for the Muslim community in India. It was founded by Syed Ahmed Khan, also the founder of the Aligarh Muslim University...
in 1894 and 1913. He was fellow of the Punjab University
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
, Lahore, in 1895 and worked as a Trustee of the Aligarh College
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
in 1896. He also launched monthly magazine "Humayun". Allama Iqbal's
Muhammad Iqbal
Sir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
poem 'Humayun' is also about that magazine.
Under the Minto-Morley Act of 1909 Mian Shah Din along with Sir Mian Mohammad Shafi, Umar Hayat Tiwana and Chaudhary Shahab-ud-din was taken on the Punjab Council. These leaders were marked by their progressive and liberal views. Drawn from the Muslim middle class, this group was western educated. It had championed the Pan-Islamic Movement which emerged in 1911 even at the cost of displeasing the government. It felt betrayed at the annulment of the Partition of Bengal, and claimed ‘Islam to be in danger’. In March 1908, Mian Shah Din was elected President of the All-India Muslim League.
Mian Shah Din died in 1918 at the age of fifty, and was eulogised by Muhammad Iqbal
Muhammad Iqbal
Sir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
.
See also
- Mian Family BaghbanpuraMian Family BaghbanpuraMian family of Baghbanpura is a Pakistani noble family. It has enjoyed a prominent role in Punjabi and Pakistani politics since the days of the Mughal Empire...
- BaghbanpuraBaghbanpuraBaghbanpura is a town and Union Council of Shalimar tehsil, Lahore District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located along the Grand Trunk Road some 5 kilometres northeast of the main Lahore city....
- LahoreLahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
- All-India Muslim League
Book References
- Title: Justice Shah Din, by Bashir Ahmad (1962).
- Title: Modern Muslim India and the Birth of Pakistan, Lahore, 1997 (7th edition), by S.M. Ikram.
- Title: The Punjab in 1920’s (A Case Study of Muslims) Karachi, 1997, by Zarina Salamat.