When Syed Shahabuddin entered in the Speaker Hall of the Constitution Club, the venue of the book release, this writer heard someone saying, “The epitome of Muslims in India has arrived,” May be an honest way to mark his contribution. But what is also true is that it may not be possible to summarise his persona, contribution and struggle in one book or programme.
Friends, admirers and well-wishers from all walks of life were present at the Constitution Club on 21 April to make the release of the book, Syed Shahabuddin: Outstanding Voice of Muslim India, a momentous event in order to show their respect and pay homage to this septuagenarian Muslim leader in return of his selfless service to Indian Muslims. The book which is compiled by Mustaque Madni and published by P.A Inamdar was released by Salman Khursheed, Minister for External Affairs, amidst thundering applause.
Mr.Khursheed, while speaking on the occasion, lauded the efforts Mr. Shahabuddin made in Babri Masjid movement, Muslim personal law, reservation and many other issues pertaining to Muslims. He also said that people oftendubs a person as one doing petty politics if one stands up to raise an issue, but that was not the case with Mr. Shahabuddin, and political class certainly failed to get the benefit from him that was in his store all these years. He also expressed his willingness to contribute in writing if any new volume is to be published on him.
The mood of the people assembled in the hall was euphoric and the only possible wish to him from his well-wishers could have been: “May the Almighty Allah shower on him His choicest blessings, May He bless him with good health and long life.” P.A Inamdar, a renowned educationist, in his welcome speech, said the idea behind this book was to repay him for having benefitted from his writings. Mr.Inamdar categorically pointed out how an article published in Muslim India on Article 30 that deals with educational institution of minorities, turned out to be a path-breaking idea that helped him establish his first college without prior permission of the Government of Maharashtra;and now the Azam Campus has 29 institutions with approximately 25,000 students and the credit for it goes to Mr. Shahabuddin.
Syed Shahabuddin, speaking on the occasion, said if Congress and the Muslim League had jointly led the political discourse then surely Hindus and the Muslims today would have remained on the same page in every sphere with amity and friendship.
While recalling his four phases of life he said there is general perception that diplomats tell lies, and politicians accumulate wealth, but as a diplomat, he never told a lie or went after money in his political stint. “In 1970, when I was to put my papers, AtalBehari Vajpayee, then Minister for External Affairs,called me thrice and asked why I was going away.‘Has there been any mistake on my part?’ and asked me not to resign,” he recalled.
Mr.Shahabuddin also said that when he was to start his magazine Muslim India, people at that time criticised him that he wanted to become a second Jinnah, but the fact was that he would have craved to become a second Nehru, and not a second Jinnah.
Towards the end he wished the Muslims of India to be equal contributors along with others for a developed and peaceful India.
K Rahman Khan, Union Ministerfor Minority Affairs, who arrived a bit late because of his busy schedule from Karnataka elections saidMr. Shahabuddin is an institution in himself and has inspired many by his free and frank behaviour. His Muslim India is a rich source material for historians and research scholars. He asked the people to take stock of all the positive things happening in the Muslim community. He also said that Mr. Shahabuddin, as a diplomat, journalist and social activist, has left an undeniable mark for the future generation to emulate. Mr. Khan also expressed that Syed Shahabuddin is not only an outstanding voice of Muslim India but also an outstanding voice of Muslims in India.
In the book several eminent personalities from different fields have penned down their experiences and thoughts on his personality, contribution and his struggle. The contributors are Hamid Ansari, Justice A. M Ahmadi, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Omari, Justice Rajinder Sachar, Dr Subramanian Swamy, Dr. Subhash C. Kashyap,Justice AftabAlam,Prof. MuchkundDubey, Prof. SaifuddinSoz, Kant K. Bhargava, ZafaryabJilani, D.R. Goyal, Salman Haider, Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Amar Nath Ram, KaleemKawaja, Dr. KhaliqAnjum, C.R. Gharekhan,Shahid Siddiqui, YoginderYadav, K.M Arifuddin, Dr. Hilal Ahmed and AtherFarouqui.