Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi
Encyclopedia
Prof. Dr. Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi SP, HI was a noted historian
, educationist and scholar of Pakistan
as well as a prolific writer. He is regarded as the founding member of Muqtadra Qaumi Zaban and served as the first education minister of Pakistan
. He is also credited for editing a four-volume series on history of Pakistan
, British India. He did matriculation in 1916, and joined MAO College
Aligarh. At this time, he took active part in Khilafat movement
. He did graduation and M.A. in History
from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
with distinction. In 1927, he got M.A. in Persian
. He served as Lecturer
in History at St. Stephen's College from 1928 to 1944. Between 1937-40, he studied at Cambridge University for a PhD
degree. The topic of his thesis was Administration of Sultanate of Delhi. During this period, he also briefly joined the Pakistan National Movement founded by Choudhary Rahmat Ali
.
After returning from England
, he joined Delhi University where he was appointed Professor of History, and subsequently, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. He also served as Acting Vice Chancellor of the Delhi University. In 1947, during the Partition riots
, when the Muslim students of the St Stephen's College had to be evacuated to the Purana Qila, Dr Qureshi's library was completely burnt down by the mobs.
, Lahore
. He also joined the Government of Pakistan
as Minister of Refugee
Rehabilitation, and later as Minister of Education. Later on, he joined the Columbia University
, New York
where he wrote his famous book, the Muslim Community of the Subcontinent, as a story of the trials and tribulations of the Muslims in the subcontinent. On his return, he played a pivotal role in the establishment of the University of Karachi
. He died on January 22, 1981 in Karachi
.
, Administration of the Mughul Empire, role of religious scholars in politics, brought him into the category of the distinguished historians of subcontinent. After retirement he associated with writing and research.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, educationist and scholar of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
as well as a prolific writer. He is regarded as the founding member of Muqtadra Qaumi Zaban and served as the first education minister of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He is also credited for editing a four-volume series on history of Pakistan
Life
Ishtiaq was born on November 20, 1903 in a noble family of Patiali, District Etah, a town in Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, British India. He did matriculation in 1916, and joined MAO College
MAO College
MAO College was founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the leader of Muslim renaissance in Indian subcontinent, in 1875 at Aligarh. This later became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920....
Aligarh. At this time, he took active part in Khilafat movement
Khilafat Movement
The Khilafat movement was a pan-Islamic, political campaign launched by Muslims in British India to influence the British government and to protect the Ottoman Empire during the aftermath of World War I...
. He did graduation and M.A. in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
with distinction. In 1927, he got M.A. in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
. He served as Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in History at St. Stephen's College from 1928 to 1944. Between 1937-40, he studied at Cambridge University for a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree. The topic of his thesis was Administration of Sultanate of Delhi. During this period, he also briefly joined the Pakistan National Movement founded by Choudhary Rahmat Ali
Choudhary Rahmat Ali
Choudhry Rahmat Ali was a Pakistani Muslim nationalist who was one of the earliest proponents of the creation of the state of Pakistan. He is credited with creating the name "Pakistan" for a separate Muslim homeland in South Asia and is generally known as the founder of the movement for its...
.
After returning from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he joined Delhi University where he was appointed Professor of History, and subsequently, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. He also served as Acting Vice Chancellor of the Delhi University. In 1947, during the Partition riots
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, when the Muslim students of the St Stephen's College had to be evacuated to the Purana Qila, Dr Qureshi's library was completely burnt down by the mobs.
Career in Pakistan
After suffering from riots, he migrated to Pakistan in 1948. There, he continued his academic and political career, and served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. In 1949, he was appointed Professor of History at the University of the PunjabUniversity of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. He also joined the Government of Pakistan
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
as Minister of Refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
Rehabilitation, and later as Minister of Education. Later on, he joined the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he wrote his famous book, the Muslim Community of the Subcontinent, as a story of the trials and tribulations of the Muslims in the subcontinent. On his return, he played a pivotal role in the establishment of the University of Karachi
University of Karachi
The University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
. He died on January 22, 1981 in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
Memberships
He was:- Member of the Indian as well as Pakistan Historical Records Commissions,
- Member of the Councils of the Indian and the Pakistan Institute of International AffairsPakistan Institute of International AffairsThe Pakistan Institute of International Affairs is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Karachi whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs.-History:PIIA was founded in 1947 in Karachi in affiliation with the Royal...
, - Member of the Executive Committees of the Indian History Conference and Pakistan History Society.
- Vice-President of the Pakistan History Society
- President of Pakistan Political Science Association.
- General President of Pakistan History conference as well as Pakistan Political Science conference.
- Director of the Central Institute of Islamic Research,
- Founding member of Urdu Language AuthorityNational Language AuthorityThe National Language Authority is an autonomous regulatory institution established in 1979 to support the advancement and promotion of Urdu which is the national language of Pakistan. Initially it was aimed at creating a synergy between national and provincial governments and institutions for...
Muqtadra Quami Zaban, and - Vice-Chancellor of the University of KarachiUniversity of KarachiThe University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
(1961).
Political activities
- Elected to the Constituent Assembly of IndiaConstituent Assembly of IndiaThe Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and following independence served as the nation's first Parliament.-Nature of the Assembly:...
, and then to the - Constituent Assembly of PakistanConstituent Assembly of PakistanThe Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was formed to write Pakistan's constitution, and serve as its first parliament. It first convened on 11 August 1947, before the end of British rule on August 15, 1947. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the first President of this Assembly until his death on...
- Between 1949-1954, he remained deputy minister, then minister of state and finally as minister with cabinet rank in Government of PakistanGovernment of PakistanThe Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
.
Honours
- In recognition of his services he was decorated with the order of Sitara-e-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan).
- On November 20, 2001, Pakistan PostPakistan PostPakistan Post is a state enterprise dedicated to providing wide range of postal products and public services in Pakistan. It is the largest postal service in the country...
issued a commemorative postage in his name - The annual Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi Memorial Lecture continues to be organised by the History Society of St. Stephen's CollegeSt. Stephen's College, DelhiSt. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
Work
His books on the history of Muslim community in the subcontinent as well as other publications on the Pakistan MovementPakistan Movement
The Pakistan Movement or Tehrik-e-Pakistan refers to the historical movement to have an independent Muslim state named Pakistan created from the separation of the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent, partitioned within or outside the British Indian Empire. It had its origins in the...
, Administration of the Mughul Empire, role of religious scholars in politics, brought him into the category of the distinguished historians of subcontinent. After retirement he associated with writing and research.
English titles
- Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli (1942)
- Ulema in Politics
- Akbar, the Architect of Mughal Empire
- Education in Pakistan
- The Administration of Mughal Empire
- Struggle for Pakistan
- The Muslim community of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent, 610-1947: a brief historical analysis. Gravenhage, Mouton. 1962
- A Short History of PakistanA Short History of PakistanA Short History of Pakistan is an edited book published by University of Karachi Press and comprises four volumes. The book is edited by Prof Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi and provides a comprehensive account of the history of the Pakistan region and its people from the prehistory leading to the creation...
(General Editor) - The Religion of Peace (1930)
Urdu titles
- But Tarash
- Band Lifafa
- Katt Putlian
- Gunha ki Diwar
- Mitthai ki Tokri
- Moalim Aswad
- Mullah Aala
- Nafrat ka Beej
- Hamzaad
- Neem Shab
- Naqsh-e-Akhir