HVK Archives: The prophet of India
The prophet of India - The Hindu
Narendra Luther
()
10 August 1997
Title: The prophet of India
Author: Narendra Luther
Publication: The Hindu
Date: August 10, 1997
When I was researching for my book: "Hyderabad - Memoirs of a City", I came
across a story that a certain noble, Nawab Akbar Yar Jung had, in a speech
delivered in the Thirties, referred to Lord Krishna as a "Propher" of India
and as a result was dismissed from service. I knew his son Prof.
Rasheeduddin Khan was in Delhi and wrote to him to ascertain the facts.
This story is based on the letters and other documents that he sent.
Ghulam Akbar Khan (1856-1957) was the son of Ahmed Sher Khan, a Pathan
whose forefathers had migrated from the Khyber region (now in Pakistan) in
the mid-18th Century to Kaimguni in Farukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
It was one of the four major areas of Pathan habitation in India.
At the age of 16, Ghulam Akbar came to Hyderabad to study law. After
passing the required examinations, he became a junior under his cousin Fida
Hussain Khan (father of the former President Dr. Zakir Hussain). In due
course, Ghulam Akbar established himself as a independent lawyer. In 1918,
he was appointed a judge of the Hyderabad High Court. Four years later he
was inducted into the executive branch of the Nizam's government and became
Home Secretary.
Six months later the title of Jung was conferred upon him and he came to be
known as Nawab Akbar Yar Jung Bahadur. He served under three Prime
Ministers, namely, Faridoon-mulk, Wali-ud-dowla and Kishen Pershad and was
a particular favourite of the last. He retired in 1938 i.e. two years after
the normal age of retirement for a judge.
He was a deeply religious person and a devout Muslim known for his
scrupulous conformity with all the injunctions of Islam. He never missed a
prayer in his life and observed all the fasts. Apart from zakaat, he was
well known for his general charity including weekly aims to the poor on
every Thursday.
He performed Haj at the age of 72 and, despite being a member of the
Jamait-e-Ahmedia, he was universally respected by all sections of the
Muslims. Leaders of the Congress in Hyderabad like B. Ramakrishna Rao,
Madapati Hanumanth Rao, Narsing Rao and others also held him in high
esteem. In 1948 he was unanimously requested by all organisations to
preside over the massive public meeting held at the Nizam College grounds
to condole the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi.
On August 11, 1936, on the occasion of the birthday of Lord Krishna
(Janamashtami), a public meeting was organised by the Young Men's Kayasth
Union of Hyderabad, in the deodi of Raja Narsing Raj Bahadur Aali it
Hussaini Alam, The meeting was presided over by Mirza Yar Jung Bahadur,
Chief Justice of the Hyderabad High Court, and was attended by a very large
congregation of Hindus and Muslims, including eminent citizens. The
meeting began by a prayer-song composed by Maharaja Sir Kishen Prasad.
Prime Minister of Hyderabad, and a symbol of Hindu-Muslim amity. Nawab
Akbar Yar Jung delivered the main address, entitled: "Shri Krishna: The
Prophet of Hind."
His interpretation and deductions were based mainly on ii deep and critical
interpretation of the verses of the Quran, the savings of the Prophet and
commentaries of some of the enlightened and liberal scholars of the faith.
His main proposition was based on two verses of the Quran: "And for every
people there has been a guide (13:7); "And certainly we have sent Apostles
before thee: there are some of them that we have mentioned to thee and
others whom we have not mentioned." (40:78).
>From these major premises of the Quran, he postulated that if therefore
Shri Krishna is not mentioned by name in the Quran, there is no reason to
doubt his Prophethood.
"Would you believe," he asked, "that a nation whose civilisation and
culture have spread over such a large part of Asia, whose philosophy and
learning had influenced Greece and Egypt was left without a guide and
teacher?" Then he affirmed that "these teachers are styled variously by
some as rishis, munis, by others as nabis, paighambar, etc. Among these
was one holy personage, whose birth we are here to celebrate. I mean Shri
Krishna, whom in my religious phraseology I would call Krishna alaihis
salam (upon whom be peace). I have no hesitation in regarding this great
personage, whom the Hindus regard as an avatar of God, as nab! (a Prophet
of God). I therefore otter him the salutation due to the Prophets." Then he
underlined the doctrine that 'according to the teaching of the Quran, a
Muslim can make no distinction between the Prophets. Even as they regard
Noah and Abraham, Moses and Jesus (Upon all of whom be peace) as prophets
of God, even so do they regard the prophets of all nations."
With the bold expression of such a forthright opinion, he indeed risked
unpopularity. But he was true to his convictions. As expected, his address
did not go well with a section of the orthodox theologians in Hyderabad.
He used a benediction for Krishna - May peace be upon him - which the
Muslim use only for the Prophets.
One Aini Shah Nizami wrote a rejoinder in Subeh Deccan, an Urdu daily on
August 19, 1936 accusing the speaker of "Innovative flight of imagination"
which went beyond the pale of conventional and traditional Muslim beliefs
and which might not even be acceptable to the orthodox Hindus.
On this prompting, three days later, Nizam VII, Mir Osman All Khan, also
wrote his personal comments in the same paper in its issue of August 22,
1936 adding a warning that government officials should refrain from making
public speeches on controversial themes, religious or political, that might
upset prevailing peace and harmony. He also warned editors of newspapers
from printing such controversial speeches or articles.
It was rumoured at that time that the Nizam was being pressurised to issue
a firman to banish him from the State for his heretical utterance. But,
fortunately, that never came to pass. Probably because it was known that
the Nizam, and the Prime Minister, Maharaja Kishen Pershad, held him in his
regard as a person of integrity, dignity and popularity, and were not
inclined to take any extreme step to penalise him.
Indeed, such was his reputation, that within four months of his speech,
when he reached the age of superannuation, he was given an extraordinary
extension of two years as judge, of the High Court, and was also nominated
as it Member of the Legislative Council, which lie served from 1936 to
1940. He died at the age of 80.
What is significant is the fact that it was possible for an eminent Muslim,
while still serving as a fudge of the High Court in the biggest Muslim
princely States of India, not only to affirm the Prophethood of Krishna, in
clear and unambiguous diction, but to invite the Muslims and Hindus to work
for - to use his own words - "inter-communal peace, unity and solidarity."
A comprehensive report on his address was published in The Hindu, Madras,
on August 17, 1936 and a laudatory letter on September 4, 1936. The Modern
Review, Calcutta, printed an abridged version of the speech. Nawab Akbar
Jung received several letters of congratulations for his bold initiative
and innovative interpretation.
Incidentally, this was not the only case of a man of conscience and
conviction speaking out his mind without fear. There were some others too
and it is the likes of them at which make India what it is - a home of
diversities.
Back
Top
|
