Dr.Syed Mehboob
Political and Economic Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
email: drmehboob.thenewslark@gmail.com
Some people have such a strong personality and have such a high character that they become a history. Pakistan and Turkey’s relations are deep rooted, time tested and as described by His Excellency Cemal Sangu during my detailed discussions with him in a meeting on 12th March, 2024 as” deeper than oceans and greater than k2 “and he also used a very heart touching sentence and said,“Pakistan Turkiye relations are Eternal, not seasonal”. There was a great person who was himself a history of Pakistan Turkiye relations and he was” HASSAN ALI EFFENDI”.
Hassan Ali Effendi was an educationist, social activist, well-wisher of Muslims of subcontinent who founded one of the first Muslims schools of subcontinent, “the Sindh Madrasatul Islam” in 1885 in Karachi. The Originator and founder of Pakistan, Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah received his education from Sindh Madrasatul Islam. He joined Sindh Madrasatul Islam in 1887 and left the School on 30th January,1892. Also, other prominent persons who studied there were Sir Abdullah Haroon, Ghulam Hussain Hidayat Ullah, Shahnawaz Bhutto, Allama I. I Qazi former vice chancellor of Sindh University and renowned scholar. Also, another renowned scholar and first Muslim Ph.D. from Sindh, Dr. Umer bin Dawood Pota received his matriculation from Sindh Madrasatul Islam.
The Illustrious son of Pakistan Hassan Ali Effendi was born on 14th August, 1830 in Hala Sindh. He belonged to a highly respectable family of Akhunds from Hyderabad Sindh and had Turkish ancestry. Akhund means “Scholar” who have in-depth knowledge of Islam. Hassan Ali Effendi enrolled in a local madrassah to read and study Quran and learn basics of Persian language. He also learned English, Arabic and became a great scholar. Later he shifted to Karachi and since he was proficient both in English and Persian he had a job of translator in Karachi District Court. Impressed by his performance, Judge Middleton allowed him to practice law before the court without passing any formal degree in law. This was a turning point in his life as at that time, there was not a single Muslim Advocate apart from him in the entire province. Soon he was appointed as the Public Prosecutor, the first non-European in Sindh to be incharge of that post, which would retain in fourteen years. This great scholar, and educationist died on 20 August,1865 at Hyderabad.
Hassan Ali Effendi was very keen to promote education among the Muslims of Sindh. He was the lifelong president of the Managing Board of Sindh Madrassah. He also travelled to Aligarh and met with Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to seek his guidance. Sindh Madrasatul Islam was given status of University in 2012.
Turkish government, in collaboration of Sindh government ‘s Sindh Culture and Antiques department is working to restore the home place and tomb of Hassan Ali Effendi located in Hyderabad City.
Hassan Ali Effendi had strong relations with Turkiye’s Ottoman rulers and he was given the title of “Bey” and “Effendi“by Sultan of Turkiye.His Excellency Cemal Sangu, Consul General of brother country Turkiye announced one Ph.D. scholarship on poverty cum merit bases for a student of SMIU in Turkiye and said that the scholarship would be given to SMIU student every year due to the association of its founder Hassan Ali Effendi’s relationship with Turkiye. In 2023 Turkish government had given 128 scholarships to Pakistani students for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate programs.
Sindh Madrasatul Islam would open a Roomi Chair in SMIU and Turkish corner, where information about Turkiye’s history, literature, culture and education would be available for SMIU’s students. SMIU would also encourage research on the relations of Hassan Ali Effendi with the Ottoman Empire. Turkiye government had given many certificates to Hassan Ali Effendi which now being translated into English by Turkish government.
The Muslims of South Asia had a very strong sense of reverence and attachment for the Ottoman Empire as well as for its civilizational achievements. When the Ottoman Empire was attacked by Russia in 1877, Hassan Ali Effendi, came forward to support his Turkish brothers in that hour of need. He organized a campaign all over Sindh to collect funds and other items for them. This was neither first nor the last act of its kind, South Asian Muslims always extended their support to Turkiye. Khilafat Movement is its example.
There is Khan Bahadur Hassan Ali Effendi Library in Sindh Madrasatul Islam University with thousands of books. Hassan Ali Effendi was the first Consul General of the Ottoman Empire in the Sindh and his services will always be remembered. His remarkable journey, from an orphaned child to a master of Arabic, Persian and English and founder of Sindh Madrasatul Islam is a source of inspiration for our youth and this information should be transferred to our new generation.
Cadet College Larkana has “Effendi House “ in Larkana. There is a need that some of Government schools’ name should be given Hassan Ali Effendi and since his birthday is on 14th August, similar to the birthday of Pakistan his birth anniversary should officially be celebrated in Sindh as well as in federal government’s official ceremonies on 14th August every year.
