Hassan Ali (14 August 1830 - 20 August 1895), known as Hassan Ali Effendi (Mr. Hassan Ali) was an educationist who established one of the first Muslim schools in British Sub-Continent: Sindh Madrasatul Islam. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, studied at the school.Ali, of Turkish origin, was born in a respectable family of Akhunds in Hyderabad. While still very young, he lost his father and was brought up by his elder brother. According to the tradition of Akhund family, he was enrolled in a local madrassa to read the Qur'an and learn the basics of the Persian language.
After completion of this traditional education, Ali found work as a clerk in the office of the Deputy Collector of Naushahro. One of his Christian colleagues there encouraged him to learn English, a language that was at the time despised by Indian Muslims. Nevertheless, he devoted all his leisure hours to the pursuit of learning English and soon acquired reasonable proficiency in reading, writing and speaking the language.
The river Indus was an important artery of communication and Jherrick was an important river port, the headquarters of the Indus Flotilla. Large quantities of firewood were kept to fuel steamboats. Ali kept account of the incoming and outgoing quantities of wood, a job which offered him free hours to improve his English.
In the mid 1860s, the judge of Karachi, a Mr. Middleton, arrived to cross the river by ferry, spending the night on the ferry boat in order to cross the following morning. He found Hassan Ali reading an English book by the dim light of an oil lamp. Surprised to discover that the man was a Muslim, he was impressed enough to offer him an appointment as the Serishtadar and Translator of the District Court of Karachi on the magnificent salary of sixty rupees a month. Hassan Ali accepted the offer and moved to Karachi to assume his new responsibilities in the court. Impressed by his performance, Judge Middleton allowed him to practice law before the court without passing any formal degree in law. This was the turning point in Hassan Ali's life. At that time, there was not a single Muslim advocate apart from him in whole of the province: the lawyers being either Hindus or English. Soon he was appointed as the Public Prosecutor, the first non-European in Sindh to hold that post, which he retained for 14 years.
Ali then directed his energies towards the welfare of the Sindh Muslims, forming an association Anjuman-Islam Karachi' and becoming its president. The main objective of the association was to safeguard the rights of Sindhi Muslims and spread education amongst them. In those days a Hindu lawyer Dayaram Jethamal had also organized an association known as Sindh Sabha for promotion of education amongst Sindhis and other similar objects. The organizers of Sindh Sabha asked Hassan Ali to join them for the collective good of the Hindus as well as the Muslims of Sindh. He joined it without any prejudice and became its Vice President.
At that time Sir Syed Ahmed Khan started his Aligarh Movement. Sir Syed believed that unless Indian Muslims took part in Western education, they would not be able to compete with other educated communities of India. His efforts resulted in the establishment of MAO College at Aligarh. Wishing to replicate these efforts, Hassan Ali found a number of sympathizers such as Allah Bakhsh Abojho and Shamsuddin Bulbul from the Sindhi Muslim community. Ali travelled to Aligarh in order to study the working of the institution there and to seek further guidance from Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Sir Syed encouraged him in his pursuit but advised him not to "think of a school only: aim at college to expand into a university." At Aligarh, Hassan Ali also met the European principal of the college, Theodore Beck and his assistant Theodore Morrison.
On his return to Sindh he found that his Hindu friends in Sindh Sabha had started a scheme for establishment of a college in Sindh. (At that time there was not a single college in Sindh and the matriculates of the province had to go to Bombay or Aligarh if they desired to continue their studies. This was mainly a Hindu issue as there were only three Muslim matriculates at the time. The Muslims took the view that the priority was to establish a school on the Aligarh model. Ali declined to join the campaign to establish a college, saying that he had already committed himself and his Muslim friends to the cause of the Madressah. This meant a parting of ways between the two communities in Sindh. Hindus went ahead with their objective to establish Sindh Arts College (today DJ Sindh College) while the Muslims decided to continue with the Madressah scheme under the leadership of Hassan Ali.
However, the Muslims of Sindh alone had no sufficient means or resources to establish an institution on their own. Luckily, Justice Syed Amir Ali, a supporter of Muslim education, who was still a practicing lawyer in 1884, came to Sindh from Calcutta in connection with an important case. Upon the suggestion of Syed Amir Ali a Sindh branch of the National Mohammedan Association was established with Hassan Ali as its President. To bring life to the association, Hassan Ali toured the interior of Sindh and personally canvassed the support of prominent Sindh Muslims, succeeding in convincing several important zamindars, mirs, and pirs to join the association. The British government provided a substantial grant and money was also obtained from the Muslim princes of various states.
There were still obstacles to establishing a school where English-medium education was to be imparted. There was opposition from the orthodox body of the ulema, who saw every sign of kufr (infidelity) in an institution. In order to counter the opposition. Hassan Ali started a weekly journal, Mouwin-I-Majmai-Mohammadi, on the pattern of Sir Syed's Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq. As tine passed, the opposition grew weaker and a moment came when Muslim public opinion became favorable towards the movement. The next task before him was finding a suitable place for the Madressah and a boarding house where the students from the interior of Sindh could stay.
Before the advent of railway service, the Karachi Municipality had constructed a Qafila-Seraie over a large tract of land measuring about eight and a half acres at the present site of the Madressah. The place served as an abode for the camel-caravans coming to Karachi for trade from Faran (Iran), Afghanistan and other farther parts of the subcontinent as well as Central Asia. Inside of the place, there were solid residential structures based on stone pillar and covered with tiled roofs. They were open in front and were backed with a wall on roadside. This room-like construction was termed as Landhi. The whole complex formed a large quadrangle and provided accommodation for a large number of people. The traders stocked their goods in the Landhis and lodged nearby.
The gate of gate Seraie (complex) opened on the Seraie Road (presently known as Shahra-e-Liaquat). The top of this gate bore a carved stone block bearing the designs of a crescent and a star (Islamic sign). Next to the residential complex on the Western side was a spacious plot (present site of the main building of Madressah) fenced round with barbed wire, which served as the Camel Encamping Ground for the camels coming with the caravans. Both the plots originally belonged to the Government and were handed over by it to the Karachi Municipality, which used them as the Qafila-Seraie and the Camel Encamping Ground. Being in the centre of the city, the facility had great value for the trades who paid a small amount of money as rent. However, after the advent of Sindh-Pishin Railway service, the traders began to prefer railways over camel caravans for transportation of their merchandise to Karachi. Slowly and gradually Qafila-Seraie lost its importance and became deserted.
While Hassanally was in search of a proper place for the Madressah and the Boarding House, one day he and his son Wali Muhammad were passing by the Serai. Hassanally' eye fell upon he design of crescent and stare engraved on stone installed over the entrance of the complex. He alighted from his carriage and exclaimed to his son, 'Insha Allah, we shall have this place for our Boarding house'. His son reminded him that the place belonged to the Municipality and they were hardly likely to give it. But Hassanally was determined to get it. Next day he applied to the municipality for allowing the association to use the premises for the Boarding House of the Madressah. Famous architect and engineer Mr. James Stachen, who served then as the secretary of the municipality was not very encouraging to the idea in the beginning. But, Hassanally convinced him. Then they approached another British gentleman Mr. James Grant, who was holding the charge of the president of the municipality. He also agreed with the proposal was to be accorded by the municipality's board, where Hindus were dominating. Because of their opposition towards the establishment of the Madressah, it was unlikely that they would be sympathetic towards the proposal. Hence, it was decided by the two Britons and Hassanally that instead of the board the matter be brought before the managing committee, where they enjoyed majority. The strategy went successful and the place was allotted to the association on a monthly rental of seventy-five rupees. In order to cover the Qafila-Seraie structure into a livable place for students, certain modifications were required. The spaces between the pillars were partitioned and wooden doors were installed in these makeshift rooms. In addition to fifty-two dormitories for the boarders, few large rooms were reserve to serve as Sunni Mosque, Shea Mosque, kitchen, dining room and a conference/meeting room. The place provided ample accommodation for several pupils supposed to come from upcountry.
For holding the classes, Hassanally hired another double storied buildig opposite the Boulton market. The building was actually a go-down with two hall on the first floor and a few small rooms on the ground floor. It was not a good place for a school but it was chosen on two counts: its location being central in the town and its being near to the Boarding house. In those days there was a great scarcity of good buildings in Karachi. So the above building, not withstanding its defects as a school, was hired. Next task was the recruitment of teachers. In those days there was acute dearth of English knowing qualified persons in Sindh. The total number of graduates in Sindh was only three. They were Mr. Ali Muhammad Effendi, Mr. Wali muhammd Effendi and Mirza Sadiqali Beg. The former two were the sons of Hassanally himself, while the third one belonged to Mirza Kaleech Beg's family. All the three were in the Indian Government service and were not available for the service in the Madressah. It was then resolved to bring qualified teachers for the institution from other parts of India. A talent search took place throughout the India by Hassanally and his friends. A galaxy of devoted and dedicated Muslims from various parts of India came to Sindh to take up the sacred mission of teaching their Sindhi Muslim brethren on nominal wages. They were people with missionary zeal having devoted their lives for the cause of education.
The most difficult task, however, was the enrollment of students, for whom all these arrangements were being made. Hassanally and his friends took up a tour of the interior of Sindh to convince the parents to let their sons get education in the Madressah. Owing to blind prejudice prevalent against English education, it was very difficult to convince them to send off their kids to such a far off place like Karachi for sake of learning infidels' language (English). But, on persuasion, many parents expressed their willingness to send their children to this institution for the sake of religious instructions also that were being imparted here and not in any other English school. Finally, some thirty students of interior enrolled themselves bringing the institution into operation.
With this the dream of Hassanally to open a school was about to come true. Friends and well wishers were invited to attend the opening ceremony of the Madressah at Karachi on first of September 1885. The ceremony was a very simple one. No more than three dozens of his friends and co-workers were there. Among them were Seth Alibhoy Karimji, Seth Ghulam Hussain Ghagla, Seth Khalikdina Rahimdina and a few others besides the teachers and the students. A speech was made by Hassanally in which he described the backward condition of Sindhi Muslims and the measures he and his friends were taking to remove the evil of ignorance. Moulvi Taj Muhammad of Soldier Bazaar recited a Sura of Holy Quran and the Madressah was declared open. Detailed account of opening of the Institution has been given in the article on the history of Sindh Madressah.
After the establishment of the institution, Hassanally next turned his attention towards its consolidation. Qafila-Seraie boarding house was still on rental basis. Hassanally wanted this place to be secured on permanent basis. He again approached his European friends Mr. James Grant and Mr. James Strachen, who assured him of their sympathy towards the great cause of the education amongst Sindh's Muslims. But, they put a condition for their support. They planned to impose a two percent tax upon the houses, which took water connections from Malir water that had been brought into Karachi a few years back. A strong opposition was expected. It was arranged that if Hassanally would get all Muslim members to vote for the tax, all the European members would vote for Seraie being given for the boarding house of Sindh Madressah free of charge on permanent basis. Hassanally agreed. Then, he and his friends went to the members belonging to other communities to secure their support. Zoroastrians (Parsis) agreed to support, Hindus decided to oppose.
The meeting ofl the Board was held in the Frere hall. Prominent Hindu lawyer Mr. Dayaran Gidumal, who was also a municipal counselor, made a spirited speech against the tax. He took quite a long time. The meeting was adjourned at a late hour. At the next meeting there were speeches in favor and against of the proposal. But when the voting time came, all the Muslims, Parsis and Europeans went on one side, while the Hindus on the other. There were in all 32 members of the board. Of them ten were Muslims, eight or nine Europeans, three or four Parsis and the rest Hindus. Thus, they won the day against their opponents. After some time the adjoing Camel Camping Ground was also got allotted for the institution through hectic efforts and persuasion on part of the founding fathers. This way, Hassanally and his friends secured the priceless premises for Sindh Madressah as a gift from the municipality.
Meanwhile, Hassanally and his friends had collected a handsome amount through donations, grants and subscriptions for the construction of building. Mr. James Strachen, the famous architect and engineer of Karachi Municipality was assigned to draw the plans and drawings for the new buildings. The plan and estimates were then submitted before the association for the final approval. The Viceroy of India Lord Dufferin was invited to lay foundation stone of the building. On the other hand the Hindu dominated 'Sindh Sabha' body had been working on their college scheme. They also approached the Viceroy to lay foundation of Sindh Arts College, presently known as DJ Sindh College. The Viceroy decided to perform the foundation stone laying ceremony of both the institutions - the Madressah and the college - on the same day, i.e. 14 November 1887. The madressah's function was agrand one. Commenting on the program Wali Muhammad Effendi wrote, Almot the whole of Karachi attended the function, the like of which I have not seen again in the city" With this the construction work started under supervision of Mr. Strachen. His interest and dedication towards Sindh Madressah can be gauged from the fact that he did not charge even a single rupee for his professional fees.
While, the Madressah building was still under construction, the classes were regularly held in the rented place under direct supervision of Hassanally Effendi. By1886 one of the great educationists of his time Mr. W.W. Hunter came to Sindh. He paid a visit to the Madressah also. The standard of education of the institution highly impressed him. His favourable remarks on the performance of Sindh Madressah brought its importance to the notice of the British authorities as well as the general public. Sometime later Dr. Pollen, the popular Assistnt Commissioner of Sindh, who was popularly known as 'Ghairb-Ka-Palnewala' (subsistence provider to the poor) also paid a visit. Towards the end of the year the Madressah had its first annual inspection conducted by Mr. Hart Davis, who later became sessions judge of Karachi. The inspection resulted in fullest satisfaction of the authorities. The work of Hassanally and his friends won laurels from the Government as well as public. This was the time when the government decided to provide regular grant-in-aid to the institution, recognizing it as an aided school.
By 1887, within two years of the establishment of the institution, Hassanally and his friends took decision to re-designate the title of the head of the Madressah from Headmaster to Principal. In those days, schools used to have the headmasters, colleges the principals. It was a remarkable deviation from the custom. Initially, the Madressah started with Moulvi Umerddin as the first headmaster in 1885, who served the institution for almost one year and left for a better position elsewhere. He was replaced by another headmaster, Mr. Sajid Mirza, who also served for about one year. These short tenures at the top of the institution were hampering its consolidation. But the problem was that the number of well educated and qualified persons in those days was very small and opportunities for them abound. The founding fathers wanted to make the post more attractive. Perhaps, the dream of developing the institution to college level also helped in taking the decision. Secondly, the association decided to fill the upgraded post of the Principal with some government officer on deputation basis. This paved the way for coming of Hassnally's son Mr. Wali Muhammad, who was in the Education Service of Bombay Government at that time, as the third head and the first principal of Sindh Madressah in 1887.
Mr. Wali Muhammad was not only the Principal, but also the Personal Assistant to his father. Hassanally used to supervise all the matters relating to the institution including the correspondence, which were to be placed before Hassanally for his approval. Once Hassanally asked his son to draft a letter for donation to a millionaire of Boombay. After putting much of his effort in it. Wali Muhammd took the draft to his father the next morning. When the letter was read to him, he took it from his son and said, 'Although you have received university education, but you can hardly draft'. The letter was dictated afresh by Hassnally himself and handed over to his son for dispatch. This was the degree of interest in the matters of the institution on part of Hassanally.
The first prize distribution ceremony for the students of Sindh Madressah was held in 1887. The Governor of bombay, Lord Reay, who had come to Karachi on his first visit, was requested to be the Chieg Guest on the occasion. The British Education Inspector mr. HP Jacob strongly recommended the request. Hence, the Governor agreed. A beautiful dais was erected for the occasion. The Muslim gentry of Karachi fully participated in the pgoramme. The proceedings began with the recitation of Sura Al-Rehman from holy Quran. It was followed by a Sindhi verse to welcome the honourable guest. In the well-come address the deplorable condition of Sindhi Muslims was brought before the Governor. The efforts of the association to improve their condition by the establishment of Sindh Madressah were also highlighted. The Governor then stood up to reply. He thanked the association for the welcome address presented to him and highly appreciated the services that the Madressah was rendering towards the uplift and advancement of Muslim community of Sindh. He stated his belief that the institution was destined to play very important role in the coming years. He recongnized the need for financial assistance and announced a recurring grant of six thousand rupees per annum for the institution from the Government of Bombay.
The British Government fully satisfied with the work of Hassanally for the cause of education of Sindhi Muslims, conferred upon him the title of 'Khan Bahadur', in year 1888. Then, during the war between Turkey and Russia, he collected a log of funds for Turkish soldiers. In appreciation of his service for the cause of his Muslim brethren in Turkey, he was appointed as the Honorary Counsul of Turkey and was conferred the Turkish titles of 'Bey Majidi' and 'Effendi' in 1889. In addition to that, he was elected as a municipal councilor of Karachi in early eighties, and was elected as the member of the Council of the Governor of Bombay in 1891, the p9osition he retained till his death.
Hassnally was a man of rare talents. He had a fairly good knowledge of foreign languages like Persian, Arabic, English, Turkish, Latin and French. He offered prayers regularly at proper times. After the construction of mosques at Sindh Madressah, Hassanally made it a point to say his Friday prayers every week regularly till his death.
All his life he faced the difficulties and opposition, but he never lost his heart. His magnetic personality, integrity of character and iron will enabled him to surmount the difficulties. In private life Hassanallye observed a routine throughout his life. In summer as well as in winter, he had a habit to get up at five o' clock in the morning. After having bath and offering prayers he read holy Quran for a while. This done, he went for a morning walk in his garden, where the news of the day was read to him. At nine o'clock he would engage himself in learning a foreign language. After this, he used to dress up and had his breakfast. On his way to the court, he would drop in the Madressah or its boarding house for awhile to give necessary instructions. His nights were devoted to rest only. Seldom did he allow any serious work to interfere with his sleep, which he considered the restorer of consumed energy. A full night's repose always made him look fresh again in the morning and ready to go through the duties of the day with renewed vigor. This schedule helped him a lot not only keeping him healthy throughout his life, but also enabled him to contribute extraordinarily towards the betterment of his Muslim brethren in Sindh.
By 1895, with the untiring efforts of Hassanally, the institution had fully developed into a very well functioning high school with three primary branches of Sindhi, Urdu and Gujrati. The Quran classes were regularly conducted in the prayer halls. A group of highly dedicated teachers, like Mr. Wali Muhammed, Khawaja Ali Muhammed, Mr. Tejani, Mr. Parshotam, Moulvi Allah Bakhsh and others, had revolved themselves into a dedicated and devoted team. With the first batch of six students passing the matriculation examination from the University of Bombay in 1892, the institution had already started producing the generations of educated Sindhi Muslims. Seven his dread come to realization and his objective accomplished, Hassanally, one of the most remarkable men of Sindh, breathed his last in the afternoon of 20 August 1895, at an age of sixty five years, at Hassanally Hall situated at the Mcleod Road (presently known as I.I. Chundrigar Road) of Karachi. He had always desired that he should be buried in the garden of his Hyderabad residence, known as Effendi Bagh. Considering his wish as his last will, his body was taken in a special train from Karachi to Hyderabad, where he was laid to rest in midst of thousands of the mourners.
