Mohammad Ali Jauhar (1878-1931)

Mohammad Ali Jauhar was born on December 10, 1878, in Najibabad, District Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. He received his education at the M.A.O. College, Aligarh, and Lincoln College, Oxford, where he pursued Modern History. Early in his career, Mohammad Ali established himself as a distinguished journalist and a fearless critic of the British Government. In January 1911, he founded and edited “Comrade,” a weekly publication that earned him recognition for his exceptional journalistic skills in English. The following year, he launched “Hamdard,” an Urdu daily. Mohammad Ali’s articles in “Comrade” and “Hamdard” had such a significant impact that the British Government interned him and his elder brother and close associate, Shaukat Ali, from May 1915 to December 1919.

Throughout his eventful political career, Mohammad Ali Jauhar brought his tremendous organizational capacities, journalistic prowess, oratorical skills, and fighting spirit to bear upon the Indian Independence Movement. Under the joint leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and Mohammad Ali, the Indian Independence Movement and the Khilafat Movement were united, leading to unprecedented scenes of Hindu-Muslim unity and a strong national upsurge against British rule. In 1923, Mohammad Ali was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress, presiding over the session held in Kakinda. His close associate at this time was Jawaharlal Nehru, who served as the General Secretary of the Indian National Congress. With his characteristic vigor and force, Mohammad Ali championed the cause of Swaraj.

In 1920, Mohammad Ali founded the Jamia Millia Islamia, originally located in Aligarh and now in Delhi, as a new National Muslim University. He was appointed its first “Shaikhul-Jamia,” or Vice-Chancellor. At the Round Table Conference held in London in November 1930, he boldly declared, “I would even prefer to die in a foreign country so long as it is a free country, and if you do not give us freedom in India, you will have to give me a grave here.” Mohammad Ali remained true to his words, passing away in London on January 4, 1931, and being buried in Jerusalem.