Khawaja Nazimuddin

Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin was an East Pakistani statesman who served as the second governor-general of Pakistan from 1948 to 1951. He later held the position of second prime minister of Pakistan between 1951 and 1953.

Early life and education

Nazimuddin was born on 19 July 1894 in Dhaka into an aristocratic Nawab family. His father was Khwaja Nizamuddin, while his paternal grandfather was Khwaja Fakhruddin. The family originated from Kashmir but had long been settled in Dhaka. He was the maternal grandson of Nawab Bahadur Sir Khwaja Ahsanullah and the son of Nawabzadi Bilqis Banu. His younger brother, Khwaja Shahabuddin, also entered Pakistani politics later.

He attended Dunstable Grammar School in England during his youth. After completing his matriculation, he returned to British India to enroll at the MAO College of the Aligarh Muslim University. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from this institution before returning to England for further studies. At Trinity Hall in the University of Cambridge, he obtained a Master of Arts. These academic pursuits allowed him to practice law as a Barrister-at-Law.

Career

Nazimuddin joined the All-India Muslim League alongside his brother to engage in Bengali politics. He served as the chairman of Dhaka Municipality from 1922 until 1929. During this period, he held the role of education minister for Bengal until 1934. He successfully piloted the Compulsory Primary Education Bill during his tenure. In 1934, he was appointed to the Viceroy's Executive Council, a position he held until 1937.

Political shifts occurred in 1937 when he lost a regional election to Fazlul Haq of the Krishak Praja Party. Despite this defeat, he remained a member of the legislative assembly and joined a coalition government as home minister until 1941. He eventually broke away from the Haq premiership to lead the opposition. In 1943, he assumed the role of Prime Minister of Bengal after Governor John Herbert dismissed Haq. His administration lasted until 1945 when his ministry's agriculture appropriation was defeated by a vote of 106 to 97.

Following this, he served as the chairman of the Muslim League in Bengal from 1945 to 1947. He strongly opposed the United Bengal Movement because he preferred a Muslim-majority East Bengal over a capital in Kolkata. After the Partition of India in 1947, he became the first chief minister of East Bengal. He led a motion of confidence that supported joining the Federation of Pakistan.

The death of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1948 led to Nazimuddin's ascension as governor-general. He transitioned to the role of prime minister in 1951 after Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated. His term faced significant instability due to power struggles with Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad. Protests regarding the Bengali language movement occurred in Dhaka in 1952, and religious riots broke out in Lahore in 1953. Consequently, Ghulam Muhammad dismissed Nazimuddin from office on 17 April 1953.

Personal life

Nazimuddin grew up speaking Urdu. He retired from national politics following his dismissal from the premiership. He died after a brief illness in 1964. His remains are interred at the Mausoleum of Three Leaders in Dhaka.

Awards and recognition

He was knighted in 1934. He held the titles of Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire and Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire. Between 1947 and 1949, the vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, Mahmud Hasan, granted him the degree of Doctor of Laws.