Mohammad Usman of Madras
Encyclopedia
Khan Bahadur
Sir Mohammad Usman, KCSI
, KCIE
, Kt (1884 – January 1, 1960) was an India
n politician
, hakim
and socialite who served as the Minister of Home for the Madras Presidency in the Justice Party
government of the Raja of Bobbili and as the acting Governor of Madras from May 16, 1934 to August 16, 1934. His name is often also spelled Muhammad Usman.
Usman was born in an aristocratic family of Tanjore in Madras Presidency in 1884. He graduated from Madras Christian College and joined the Justice Party. He was elected to the Madras Legislative Council and later, to the Governor's executive council. He served as the Minister of Home in the Raja of Bobbili's cabinet and acted as the Governor of Madras between May 16, 1934 and August 16, 1934. Usman was the first Indian to act as the Governor of Madras. Usman served as the member of posts and air in the Viceroy's Executive Council between 1942 and 1947. Usman died in 1960 at the age of 76.
Usman was a part-time hakim or doctor in Unani medicine and used his influential position in the provincial administration to promote indigenous systems of medicine.
In person, Usman was both tall and very heavy. He was once described by V. S. Srinivasa Sastri as having a "magnificent frame", and Sastri's biographer says he was "of gargantuan size".
in 1884. Usman graduated from the Madras Christian College
and joined the South Indian Liberal Federation. Usman practised Unani medicine
and acquired a reputation as an efficient physician.
as a Justice Party candidate in 1920 and served as a legislator from 1920 to 1923. Usman served as the President of the Corporation of Madras in 1924–25 and as the Shera of Madras in 1924. In October 1921, the Raja of Panagal, the Chief Minister of Madras, established a committee on Indigenous Systems of Medicine. He appointed Usman, the Secretary of the committee. In 1922, this Committee concluded that Ayurveda
was based on genuine scientific theories and noted that its practice has been waning over the years. On March 30, 1925, Usman was appointed member of the executive council of the Governor of Madras. He was elected president of the Muhammedan Education Association of South India in 1930.
When the Raja of Bobbili took over as the Chief Minister or Premier of the Madras Presidency, Usman was made the Minister of Home in the provincial government. However, Usman resigned in 1934 recommending A. T. Panneerselvam as his successor. Muslims of the Madras Presidency felt betrayed that Usman had not recommended a Muslim for the post and strongly opposed the candidature of Panneerselvam who was a Christian. Violent Muslim-Christian riots erupted in the province. Though the riots were eventually quelled, the incidents radicalized public opinion, both Muslim and Christian, against the Justice Party.
In 1935, Usman became the first Indian President of the Rotary Club of Madras.
from May 16, 1934 to August 16, 1934. He was the first Indian to act as the Governor of Madras.
On 2 July 1942, the Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow
, expanded his Executive Council to nineteen members, bringing in Usman, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, B. R. Ambedkar
, Sir Jogendra Singh
, and Sir J. P. Srivastava. This took the number of Indian members of the Council to fourteen, with five Europeans. Usman was made the member for Posts and Air.
Usman's political views, according to the next Viceroy, Wavell
, were "such that even a hardened Tory might regard as reactionary", and Wavell later noted in his journal that Usman "believed that God never meant India to be independent".
At a conference of Post Masters General shortly after the end of the Second World War, Usman said of the need to improve postal and telegraph services "We have won the War. We have now to win the peace."
in the New Year Honours of 1933. On 14 June 1945, he was appointed a KCSI
.
Usman Road, a thoroughfare in T. Nagar
, Chennai
is named after Mohammad Usman.
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
Sir Mohammad Usman, KCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
, KCIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, Kt (1884 – January 1, 1960) was an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, hakim
Hakim (title)
' and ' are two Arabic titles derived from the same triliteral ḤKM "appoint, choose, judge". Compare the Hebrew title hakham.-Hakīm :...
and socialite who served as the Minister of Home for the Madras Presidency in the Justice Party
Justice Party (India)
The Justice Party , officially known as South Indian Liberal Federation, was a political party in the Madras Presidency of British India. The party was established in 1917 by T. M. Nair and Theagaroya Chetty as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency...
government of the Raja of Bobbili and as the acting Governor of Madras from May 16, 1934 to August 16, 1934. His name is often also spelled Muhammad Usman.
Usman was born in an aristocratic family of Tanjore in Madras Presidency in 1884. He graduated from Madras Christian College and joined the Justice Party. He was elected to the Madras Legislative Council and later, to the Governor's executive council. He served as the Minister of Home in the Raja of Bobbili's cabinet and acted as the Governor of Madras between May 16, 1934 and August 16, 1934. Usman was the first Indian to act as the Governor of Madras. Usman served as the member of posts and air in the Viceroy's Executive Council between 1942 and 1947. Usman died in 1960 at the age of 76.
Usman was a part-time hakim or doctor in Unani medicine and used his influential position in the provincial administration to promote indigenous systems of medicine.
In person, Usman was both tall and very heavy. He was once described by V. S. Srinivasa Sastri as having a "magnificent frame", and Sastri's biographer says he was "of gargantuan size".
Early life
Usman was born to Mohammad Yakub who belonged to an aristocratic family of Tanjore, Madras PresidencyMadras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
in 1884. Usman graduated from the Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College
The Madras Christian College, commonly known as MCC, is a liberal arts and sciences college in Madras , India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. Currently, the college is affiliated to the University of Madras, but functions as an autonomous institution from its campus...
and joined the South Indian Liberal Federation. Usman practised Unani medicine
Unani
Unani-tibb or Unani Medicine also spelled Yunani Medicine means "Greek Medicine", and is a form of traditional medicine widely practiced in South Asia...
and acquired a reputation as an efficient physician.
Political positions
Usman was elected to the Madras Legislative CouncilMadras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
as a Justice Party candidate in 1920 and served as a legislator from 1920 to 1923. Usman served as the President of the Corporation of Madras in 1924–25 and as the Shera of Madras in 1924. In October 1921, the Raja of Panagal, the Chief Minister of Madras, established a committee on Indigenous Systems of Medicine. He appointed Usman, the Secretary of the committee. In 1922, this Committee concluded that Ayurveda
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
was based on genuine scientific theories and noted that its practice has been waning over the years. On March 30, 1925, Usman was appointed member of the executive council of the Governor of Madras. He was elected president of the Muhammedan Education Association of South India in 1930.
When the Raja of Bobbili took over as the Chief Minister or Premier of the Madras Presidency, Usman was made the Minister of Home in the provincial government. However, Usman resigned in 1934 recommending A. T. Panneerselvam as his successor. Muslims of the Madras Presidency felt betrayed that Usman had not recommended a Muslim for the post and strongly opposed the candidature of Panneerselvam who was a Christian. Violent Muslim-Christian riots erupted in the province. Though the riots were eventually quelled, the incidents radicalized public opinion, both Muslim and Christian, against the Justice Party.
In 1935, Usman became the first Indian President of the Rotary Club of Madras.
As Acting Governor of Madras Presidency
Usman served as the acting Governor of MadrasGovernors of Madras
-English Agents:In 1639, the grant of Madras to the English was finalized between the factors of the Masulipatnam factory, represented by Francis Day, and the Raja of Chandragiri. In 1640, Andrew Cogan, the chief of the Masulipatnam factory, made his way to Madras in the company of Francis Day and...
from May 16, 1934 to August 16, 1934. He was the first Indian to act as the Governor of Madras.
Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council
The British trusted Usman and considered him loyal. He served as a member of the Indian Defence Council in 1941–42 and as the Vice-Chancellor of Madras University from 1940 to 1942.On 2 July 1942, the Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow
Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow
Victor Alexander John Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow KG, KT, GCSI, GCIE, OBE, PC was a British statesman who served as Governor-General and Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943.-Early life and family:...
, expanded his Executive Council to nineteen members, bringing in Usman, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, B. R. Ambedkar
B. R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar , popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, a revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of independent India. He was also the Chairman...
, Sir Jogendra Singh
Jogendra Singh
Sir Jogendra Singh was a member of Viceroy's Executive Council in India. He served as Chairman of the Department of Health, Education and Lands. He was a figure in the Sikh community and one of several delegates chosen to represent the Sikh community before the Cripps' mission of 1942...
, and Sir J. P. Srivastava. This took the number of Indian members of the Council to fourteen, with five Europeans. Usman was made the member for Posts and Air.
Usman's political views, according to the next Viceroy, Wavell
Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell GCB, GCSI, GCIE, CMG, MC, PC was a British field marshal and the commander of British Army forces in the Middle East during the Second World War. He led British forces to victory over the Italians, only to be defeated by the German army...
, were "such that even a hardened Tory might regard as reactionary", and Wavell later noted in his journal that Usman "believed that God never meant India to be independent".
At a conference of Post Masters General shortly after the end of the Second World War, Usman said of the need to improve postal and telegraph services "We have won the War. We have now to win the peace."
Honors
Usman was knighted in 1928 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian EmpireOrder of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
in the New Year Honours of 1933. On 14 June 1945, he was appointed a KCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
.
Usman Road, a thoroughfare in T. Nagar
T. Nagar
Theagaraya Nagar , popularly known by its abbreviated form T. Nagar, is a neighbourhood in the city of Chennai, India. Though originally conceived as a residential locality, it is presently one of the principal shopping districts of the city....
, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
is named after Mohammad Usman.