Description

Fazl i Husain

A Political Biography

Sir Mian Fazl-i-Husain was born in Sialkot and was one of the most Influential politicians in the United Punjab and a founding member of Unionist Party (Punjab). He is credited with having been the main engineer of the scheme to establish employment quotas for Muslims in the Indian civil service.

He practiced barrister at Sialkot; during 1905-1920 practiced at the bar of the Punjab Chief Court and Punjab High Court. He served as minister for education, health and local government, Punjab from 1921-1925. He was the substitute delegate for India to the assembly of the League of Nations in 1927. He became officiating member of the governor-general executive council, department of education, health and lands in 1929.

Fazl i Husain was one of the founders of the old Punjab Unionist Party, and was opposed to Jinnah’s vision of an Independent Pakistan. In fact, when he was nominated to the central government of the British Raj, he allowed a Hindu, Chaudhry Sir Chhotu Ram, to take over the leadership of the Punjab Unionist Party to emphasize the importance of communal harmony.

Sir Fazl i Husain was a member of the legislative assembly of Punjab prior to the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms. In 1930 he was appointed a member of the Viceroy’s Council for India.
He was knighted in 1926 and appointed a KCSI in 1932. After his death, Fazl i Husain’s son Mian Azim Husain wrote this biography of him “Fazl i Husain, A Political Biography”.