Bahadur Yar Jung

Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung (or Bahadur Yar Jang) (3 February 1905, Hyderabad – 25 June 1944) (Urdu: بہادر یار جنگ‎) was a foremost Muslim leader in the princely state of Hyderabad in British India. He founded the branches of Tablighi Jamaat and Khaksars in Hyderabad and was known as a powerful religious preacher. In 1938, he was elected the President of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, a position in which he served till his death.

Jung aged 1

Particularly, he wanted his own home state, Princely Hyderabad, to be separate from the rest of India as a Islamic/Muslim state with Sharia Law in force. He led an organisation called Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, for the propagation of Islam. A friend and aid to Mohammed Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he was one of the most admired leaders of the Pakistan Movement. In 1926 Bahadur Yar Jung was elected president of the Society of Mahdavis. In 1927 he led an organisation called Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, of which he was the founder member. In 1930 he was elected secretary of the Union of Jagirdars which had been established in 1892 but was moribund. A great Muslim zealot, he advocated love and brought about views which are largely appreciated and read about today. He was a great author and a devoted Muslim.

Matched by very few, his oratory skills served as a catalyst to the independence struggle.

On December 26, 1943, he delivered an important speech in the All India Muslim League Conference. In the first half of his speech he laid stress on the struggle for Pakistan. In the second half he talked about the creation of Pakistan. At the end he said,

"Muslims! Decisions made under pressure do not last for long. To-day we are not in need of a tree that blooms like a flower or in need of fruit that tastes sweet to our mouths. Instead, we are in the need of fine manure that dissolves in the soil and strengthens the roots. That will unite with the water and soil to produce beautiful flowers. That will destroy itself but will leave its scent and taste in the flowers. We are at present not in need of beautiful scenery that looks good to the eyes, but what we need are foundation stones that will bury themselves in the soil to make the building standing on them strong."

• BAHADAR YAR JANG at www.brain.net.pk

He was the maternal grand-uncle of Fatima Surayya Bajia, Anwar Maqsood, Zehra Nigah, Zubaida Tariq and Mrs Kazmi.

Bahadurabad, a neighbourhood of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, is named after Bahadur Yar Jung.

In 1990, Pakistan Post issued a stamp depicting him in its Pioneers of Freedom series designed by Saeed Akhtar.