Shah Nawaz Bhutto
Encyclopedia
Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, CIE
, OBE
, OBI
(1888–1957) was a politician hailing from Larkana
in Sindh
province of British India, which is now part of Pakistan
.
for his higher education.
rule, Shah Nawaz Bhutto joined the service of the Nawab
of Junagadh
, who was much impressed by his education and talents, and he ultimately rose to become the Dewan
, or prime minister, of Junagadh.
In 1934, with G. M. Sayed, Bhutto founded the Sindh Peoples Party.
The British appointed him a Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
.
At the time of the partition of British India in 1947, the princely states were left by the British to decide whether to accede to one of the newly independent states of India
or Pakistan
or to remain outside them. Bhutto, as Dewan of Junagadh, claimed to have persuaded the Nawab to decide in favour of his state's accession to India, but the Nawab decided in favour of Pakistan, although this decision was soon defeated by Indian intervention. However there is no documentary proof of Bhutto's advice. Some commentators suggest that he gave the opposite advice to the Nawab.
After the plebiscite in Junagadh which voted overwhelmingly for accession to India, Bhutto moved with his family to Larkana District
in Sindh
, where land given to him for his services had made him one of the wealthiest and most influential landowners in Sindh.
Bhutto was a good friend of Governor General
(later President) Iskander Mirza, who was a regular guest for the annual hunt in Larkana, staying at the Bhutto family home, Al-Murtaza. In the winter of 1955-1956, Mirza brought General Ayub Khan with him to Larkana for the hunt.
, who in 1924 was made a sardar
and in 1926 was elected to the Imperial Legislative Assembly from Sindh
, a constituency of the Bombay Presidency
, becoming the first member of the Bhuttho family to be elected to public office.
Bhutto was married to Khursheed Begum, formerly Lakhi Bai, who was of a modest Hindu family. She converted from Hinduism
to Islam
before her marriage. Her brothers remained Hindu and eventually migrated to India.
Their children included Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
, the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan
, and a daughter called Mumtaz, who married Brigadier
Muhammad Mustafa Khan Bahadur of the Sidi clan. Their first child, Sikandar, died from pneumonia
at the age of seven in 1914, and their second child, Imdad Ali, died of cirrhosis
at the age of thirty-nine in 1953. Their son Zulfikar Ali was born in his parents' residence near Larkana
, and was their third child.
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, OBI
Order of British India
The Order of British India was a medal and chivalric order which was bestowed by the East India Company for "long, faithful and honourable service", beginning in 1837. The Company's powers were removed after the Indian Mutiny, and the Order was incorporated into the British honours system in 1859...
(1888–1957) was a politician hailing from Larkana
Larkana
Larkana or Larkano is the fourth largest city in the north-western part of Sindh Province, Pakistan, and is located within Larkana District.The old name of larkano is chandka which was changed in 1901. In August 2000 Larkana celebrated its hundred years of existence...
in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
province of British India, which is now part 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...
.
Early life
Bhutto, the son of Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto, was born into Arain family of Sindh . The father was impressed with western values, so he decided to send his son, Shah Nawaz, to the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for his higher education.
Career
On his return to India, then under a mixture of British and princelyPrincely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
rule, Shah Nawaz Bhutto joined the service of the Nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
of Junagadh
Junagadh
Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,...
, who was much impressed by his education and talents, and he ultimately rose to become the Dewan
Dewan
The originally Persian title of dewan has, at various points in Islamic history, designated various differing though similar functions.-Etymology:...
, or prime minister, of Junagadh.
In 1934, with G. M. Sayed, Bhutto founded the Sindh Peoples Party.
The British appointed him a Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
At the time of the partition of British India in 1947, the princely states were left by the British to decide whether to accede to one of the newly independent states of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
or 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...
or to remain outside them. Bhutto, as Dewan of Junagadh, claimed to have persuaded the Nawab to decide in favour of his state's accession to India, but the Nawab decided in favour of Pakistan, although this decision was soon defeated by Indian intervention. However there is no documentary proof of Bhutto's advice. Some commentators suggest that he gave the opposite advice to the Nawab.
After the plebiscite in Junagadh which voted overwhelmingly for accession to India, Bhutto moved with his family to Larkana District
Larkana District
Larkana or Larkano is a district of Sindh province of Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, it had a population of 1,927,066 of which 28.70% were urban. Its main city is Larkana...
in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, where land given to him for his services had made him one of the wealthiest and most influential landowners in Sindh.
Bhutto was a good friend of Governor General
Governor-General of Pakistan
The Governor-General of Pakistan was the representative in Pakistan of the Crown from the country's independence in 1947. When Pakistan was proclaimed a republic in 1956 the connection with the British monarchy ended, and the office of Governor-General was abolished.-History:Pakistan gained...
(later President) Iskander Mirza, who was a regular guest for the annual hunt in Larkana, staying at the Bhutto family home, Al-Murtaza. In the winter of 1955-1956, Mirza brought General Ayub Khan with him to Larkana for the hunt.
Family
Bhutto was a first cousin of Wahid Baksh BhuttoWahid Baksh Bhutto
Sardar Wahid Baksh Bhutto was a landowner of Sindh, and an elected representative to the Central Legislative Assembly of India...
, who in 1924 was made a sardar
Sardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
and in 1926 was elected to the Imperial Legislative Assembly from Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, a constituency of the Bombay Presidency
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
, becoming the first member of the Bhuttho family to be elected to public office.
Bhutto was married to Khursheed Begum, formerly Lakhi Bai, who was of a modest Hindu family. She converted from Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
before her marriage. Her brothers remained Hindu and eventually migrated to India.
Their children included Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
, the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
, and a daughter called Mumtaz, who married Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Muhammad Mustafa Khan Bahadur of the Sidi clan. Their first child, Sikandar, died from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at the age of seven in 1914, and their second child, Imdad Ali, died of cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
at the age of thirty-nine in 1953. Their son Zulfikar Ali was born in his parents' residence near Larkana
Larkana
Larkana or Larkano is the fourth largest city in the north-western part of Sindh Province, Pakistan, and is located within Larkana District.The old name of larkano is chandka which was changed in 1901. In August 2000 Larkana celebrated its hundred years of existence...
, and was their third child.