Photos of Sir Sultan Ahmed

Sir Syed Sultan Ahmed was born in 1880 in Patna, and was a Bihari Shia Muslim. He was a Barrister & Politician. He had a very successful practice as a barrister having victories over Motilal Nehru, Tej Bahadur Sapru and Sarat Chandra Bose etc. While he was the founder and first Indian Vice-Chancellor of Patna University (1923–30) he was included as a delegate, from British India, to the Round Table Conference (1930–31) in London which was attended by Mahatama Gandhi. He was Member of Bihar Legislative Council in 1937 but resigned on the ground of not getting enough time for politics. He joined the Viceroy’s Executive Council (1941–43) and was made the Member for Information and Broadcasting.knighted by the British for his contribution to education. He was thereafter known as Sir Sultan Ahmed, and her wife  as Lady Sultan Ahmed, customarily called ‘Lady Saheb’.

I am stating his affiliation to Shri Nathji is brief. He has been mentioned in the Mahagranth God Incarnate on page 319 – 320 were we can read his story in detail. Shri Nathji had to celebrate His birthday in June 1935. His residence at that time was the small Kahkashan Cottage. Beneath His house was a large building by name of Kaashaana, which belonged to Sir Sultan Ahmed. Sir Ahmed had met Shri Nathji at the mall and had been greatly impressed by Him. That building had a large hall which would have been ideal for the celebrations. Sardar Basant Singh, Shri Nathji’s attendant prayed to Shri Nathji that it would be nice if Sir Sultan Ahmed were to offer his large hall to us for the birthday celebrations. Shri Nathji suggested that it is inappropriate to ask him since we hardly knew him. However Shri Nathji send Sardar Basat Singh with an invitation card and with a message that we hope you will not mind the crowd and the noise of music in your neighbourhood.
Sardar Basant Singh returned and prostrated before Shri Nathji and said that Sultan Ahmed suggested that Kahkashan will be too small for such a large function, and he shell feel honoured if Nathji could celebrate the birthday at his premises. She Nathji accepted that offer. At the celebrations a local pundit applied tilak on Shri Nathji’s forehead and that of Sir Sultan Ahmed and others, which was a Hindu ritual. Shree Nathji immediately drew a handkerchief and handed it over to Sir Sultan Ahmed and suggested that he may wipe the tilak off with this. But he declined and said that how can he wipe off from his forehead that which adorns yours? This was another magnificent gesture from him. Many months later when Shri Nathji was in Allahabad He read about the death of Sir Sultan Ahmed’s wife, and wrote him a long letter of condolence. Sir Sultan Ahmed wrote back that your letter came as a tremendous consolation to him. He said that when his wife was alive he did whatever he could do for her, but now were she has gone he cannot do anything for her but You can.
Shree Nathji never forgot Sir Sultan Ahmed who remained alive in His sermons. After the death of his beloved wife Sir Sultan Ahmed continued to rise materially and spiritually. Later he was also Advisor to the Chamber of Princes (1945–47) in India. Later he was also Adviser to the Chamber of Princes (1945–47) in India. He had refused a cabinet position in Pakistan offered by M.A. Jinnah stating that he could not leave India as it contained the graves of his forefathers. Sir Sultan Ahmed had previously also refused the Nizam of Hyderabad's offer of being his Prime minister. After Indian Independence, Sir Sultan turned to his law practice. In 1950 he became the President of the All India Shia Conference. Sir Sultan edited the most popular book on Muslim Law "Mohammedan Law" for several years.
Those who wish to know more about him can read the book “Freedom and Partition and Seasons Changed” which records the ‘Life and Times of Sir Sultan Ahmed, which is written by his grandson, Syed Tanvirul Hasan.
As for his residence Kashana, there is an indication that he sold it when he left Mussoorie to an English family of K. Stephens, prior to 1942. The only hint of that is a postcard send from Kashana, Maddock Road, Mussoorie by K. Stephens to a British Prisoner of War held by the Japanese in Singapore on 4 Feb. 1943. Kashana was located on Maddock Road. It is same road on which Savoy Hotel now stands as it was build after razing down the Maddock’s Mussoorie School.

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