https://www.jauharuniversity.edu.in
who was maulana mohammad ali jauhar?
Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar (10 December 1878 – 4 January 1931) was a prominent Indian freedom fighter, journalist, poet, and leading Muslim political figure who played a crucial role in the struggle against British colonial rule. He is most famously known for leading the Khilafat Movement alongside his brother, Shaukat Ali, where they were collectively celebrated as the Ali Brothers. [1, 2, 3]
Key Roles and Historical Contributions
- Khilafat Movement Leader: He mobilised millions of Indian Muslims alongside Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement to protest the post-WWI dismantling of the Ottoman Caliphate. [2, 4, 5, 6]
- Congress and Muslim League Presidency: He was a founding member of the All-India Muslim League and served as its president in 1917. He later served as the national president of the Indian National Congress in 1923. [3, 7, 8, 9]
- Fearless Journalist: He used the power of the press to critique British colonial policies, editing highly influential publications including the English weekly Comrade and the Urdu daily Hamdard. [10, 11]
- Educational Pioneer: He was one of the central co-founders of Jamia Millia Islamia University in 1920, establishing it to promote independent national education. [3, 11]
Background and Final Days
Born in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, Jauhar studied at Aligarh and later graduated in Modern History from Lincoln College, Oxford University. His political activism resulted in frequent incarcerations by colonial authorities. Despite severe health issues, he travelled to London in 1930 to attend the First Round Table Conference. He famously declared that he would not return to a slave country, choosing instead to die in a free land or stay in exile. He passed away in London in January 1931 and was buried in Jerusalem near the Al-Aqsa Mosque. [4, 7, 10, 11, 12]
If you would like to explore further, please let me know. I can provide details on:
- His relationship and cooperation with Mahatma Gandhi
- The history and impact of the Khilafat Movement
- His profound contribution to Urdu poetry and literature