IOS and Milli Council remember Syed Shahabuddin
March 8, 2017 at Institute Building, 162, Jogabai, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi
L-R: Janab Intezar Naeem, assistant secretary of Jamat-e-Islami Hind for Milli Affairs; Dr. Syed Farooq, chairman of Tasmia Education and Welfare Society; Mrs. Parveen Amanullah, former minister of Bihar and the daughter of Syed Shahabuddin; Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam, chairman of the IOS; Mr. Navaid Hamid, president of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat; Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi Salafi, chief of the Markazi Jamaate Ahle Hadith of India; Mr. Abdul Mannan, joint director of Delhi State Cancer Institute
New Delhi: “Syed Shahabuddin’s entire life symbolised discipline, sacrifice and persistent struggle. He visualised equality among all citizens, justice, freedom and fraternity. He strove to attain these goals throughout his life. He moulded his domestic and public life accordingly, so that the people emulated it and the philosophy got a further boost”.
These views were expressed by Parveen Amanullah, former minister of Bihar and the daughter of Syed Shahabuddin, at a condolence meeting jointly organised by the Institute of Objective Studies and the All India Milli Council at the IOS conference hall here on March 8, 2017 to pay tribute to his memory. She said that her father wanted to resolve all issues within the framework of the Constitution. He never went beyond the pale of the Constitution as he had an unwavering faith in democracy. These were the principles which he followed all along his life. Thinking like him and acting on his thoughts would be a fitting tribute to him, she added.
Presiding over the meeting, the chairman of the IOS, Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam recalled his first meeting with Syed Shahabuddin after the establishment of the Institute and said that the latter had advised him to confine the activities of the Institute to research, instead of active politics. He stated that he stuck to the advice and spurned the offer of membership of the Rajya Sabha, preferring research over politics. Syed Shahabuddin was one of the three or four leading personalities whose vision dominated the scene before the All India Milli Council came into being in 1992. He asked the audience to share Syed Shahabuddin’s unpublished views so that the IOS could bring them out in book form.
The chief of the Markazi Jamaate Ahle Hadith of India, Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi Salafi, opined that the great deeds of a dead person continued to influence people for ever. Syed Shahabuddin’s services to the Muslim community would continue to inspire everyone, he said.
The president of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Navaid Hamid described him as a leader of not only Muslims, but also a national leader. He was the last national leader of Muslims. Muslim leadership, which consisted of petty leaders, conspired against him, inflicting a blow on Muslims. He said that Syed Shahabuddin was criticised for taking decisions in a haste, but this was far from the truth. He held that Syed Shahabuddin was amenable to change if confronted with valid arguments.
The assistant secretary of Jamat-e-Islami Hind for Milli Affairs, Intezar Naeem pointed out that Syed Shahabuddin was fully devoted to the cause of the country and the Muslim community. His concern was reflected in the Muslim India. He was the voice of the community in Parliament. His efforts to forge unity in the community and connect the people of different shades of opinion were praiseworthy. Mr. Naeem emphasised the need for the community to produce leaders like Syed Shahabuddin.
The chairman of Tasmia Education and Welfare Society, Dr. Syed Farooq observed that Syed Shahabuddin did much for the community, adding that everybody was destined to death, but Syed Shahabuddin’s deeds should be remembered by the community for ever.
The joint director of Delhi State Cancer Institute, Abdul Mannan, while recalling the services rendered by Syed Shahabuddin to the country and the community, prayed for a place for him in the heaven and sought forgiveness from God for him.
Earlier, the secretary general, IOS, Prof. ZM Khan briefly dwelt on his life and works and said that Syed Shahabuddin used to attend the functions of the IOS.
Conducting the proceedings, the editor of the Urdu weekly Chauthi Duniya, AU Asif echoed the same sentiments as Navaid Hamid that nobody knew who would be the new leader of the community. Nobody knew who Allah chose to carry out the job He oradained, he pointed out.
A view of audience
Those who attended the condolence meeting included former secretary to the Government of Bihar, Afzal Amanullah, SMA Kirmani, Dr. MA Qureshi, Anjum Zahoor, Maulana Abdul Malik Mughisi, Dr. Pervez Miyan, Usman Khan, Dr. MA Siddiqui, Syed Kamal Ashraf, Inamur Rehman, Dr. Javed Zulqarnain, Atiqur Rehman Siddiqui, Waseem Ahmad and Safi Akhtar.
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