Syed Nabiullah (سيد نبي الله) was a prominent barrister from

Lucknow Lucknow () is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the largest city of the List of state and union territory capitals in India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is the administrative headquarters of the epon ...

, India, and one of the eminent leaders of the

All India Muslim League The All-India Muslim League (AIML) was a political party founded in 1906 in Dhaka, British India with the goal of securing Muslim interests in South Asia. Although initially espousing a united India with interfaith unity, the Muslim League lat ...

Early life

Syed Nabiullah was born in Kara/Manikpur village in the District of

Prayagraj Prayagraj (, ; ISO 15919, ISO: ), formerly and colloquially known as Allahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The other five cities were: Agra, Kanpur, Kanpur (Cawnpore), Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi, Varanasi (Benar ...

in 1860. He was one of the first few students who passed BA from Mohmmadan Anglo-Oriental College, established by

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (17 October 1817 – 27 March 1898), also spelled Sayyid Ahmad Khan, was an Indian Muslim Islamic modernist, reformer, philosopher, and educationist in nineteenth-century British Raj, British India. Though initially esp ...

. Later at the behest of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, he and his brother Syed Habibullah went to England to study law. In England he became a Barrister-At-Law at

Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...

. Nabiullah had a tall gaunt and imposing structure. He didn't have his left eye and had set a stone modelled eye. Nabiullah was the toast of Prayagraj and his hometown: Kara. He was a man of discipline and strictly adhered to his routine with punctuality.

Career

In 1885, Nabiullah returned to India from England and established his law practice in Lucknow. In Lucknow he also became active in local and national politics. He was one of the founding members of All India Muslim League, as well as one of its prominent leaders. He was one of the 35 delegates, of the deputation who went to

Shimla Shimla, also known as Simla ( the official name until 1972), is the capital and the largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of British India. After independence, the city ...

on 1 October 1906 to meet Lord Minto. He was a distinguished member of the All India Muhammadan Educational Conference at Dhaka, held in December 1906, in which formation of the All Indian Muslim League was resolved, and at the same time he became a member of this newly founded party. Syed Nabiullah served as President of the All India Muslim league for two years. In 1910, at the Nagpore Session of the All India Muslim League, Nawab Ghulam Ahmed Khan Kalami of Madras proposed the election of Syed Nabiullah as President of the Sessions. The Nawab, in his speech proposing the election of Syed Nabiullah, stated that, "the East and West have blended in Mr. Syed Nabiullah to the best advantage". He concluded his speech by saying, "it is but right and proper that a gentleman of Mr. Nabiullah's attainments should be given the honour that is his due". Nawab Ghulam Ahmed Khan Kalami's proposal was unanimously accepted and Syed Nabiullah was declared the President of the Nagpore Session. He remained actively involved with the All India Muslim League till his death. He was held in very high esteem by other leaders of All India Muslim League because of his balanced views, talent and selflessness. He served as the chairman of the Lucknow Municipal Board from 1916 to 1923.

Death

He died in 1925, aged 65. A road in Lucknow is named Nabiullah Road after him.

Personal life

His brother Syed Habiullah was also a well known lawyer of Lucknow. He was also related to Syed Zahur Ahmad of Lucknow to whom his sister Fatima Bibi was married. Syed Nabiullah had a son Syed Waliullah and two daughters: Jannati Bibi and Ahmadi Bibi. Syed Waliullah was his only surviving son and Jannati Bibi was his only surviving daughter.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nabiullah, Syed Date of birth missing 1925 deaths People from Prayagraj district Members of Lincoln's Inn All-India Muslim League politicians 1860 births Leaders of the Pakistan Movement