Syed Shahabuddin, former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, Member of Parliament and President of All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, who was suffering from prolonged illness, breathed his last in at a Noida hospital on 4 March. He was 82.
Shahabuddin was hospitalised two weeks ago following pulmonary complications. He is survived by his wife and four daughters. He was buried at Panjpeeran Graveyard in Nizamuddin. His funeral prayer was attended by many dignitaries, bureaucrats, senior government officials, renowned journalists, friends and relatives, well-wishers, including Vice President Hamid Ansari, former Governor Najeeb Jung, JIH Ameer Jalaluddin Umari, Maulana Madani, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, Justice Fakhruddin and Swami Agnivesh. Many after the funeral prayer said that the community has lost powerful genuine voice and his contribution can never be forgotten. Some even said another torchbearer of the community is no more with us.
Born in Ranchi in 1935, he joined Indian Foreign Service in 1958 but took premature retirement to enter into active politics. Hardly after eight months of relinquishing service he was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1979 from Kishanganj in Bihar and represented this constituency many times. He was president of All-India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat from 2004 to 2007 and earlier pioneered All-India Babri Action Committee.
Syed Shahabuddin, with his vast experience as an IFS officer, expert in constitutional law, parliamentarian, journalist, lawyer and social activist, was always eager to serve Muslims and was always determined to take on the system to ensure that respect and dignity of the people is protected.
Condolence poured in from every nook and corner of the country. Vice President Hamid Ansari, in a message, said, “Syed Shahabuddin was a man of deep convictions, he pursued issues that were dear to him with great tenacity and determination. I am deeply saddened to learn of the demise of renowned political leader, scholar, diplomat and former parliamentarian Shahabuddin,” He added that his passing away is a personal loss to him as Shahabuddin was his friend.
“My condolence to the family of Syed Shahabuddin Saheb IFS and Ex-MP. May his soul rest in peace,” Manipur Governor, Najma Heptulla said in a tweet.
JIH Ameer, Syed Jalaluddin Umari, during monthly briefing at JIH headquarters, in reply to a question on Syed Shahabuddin’s demise, said his death is a great loss to the entire community. He never hesitated to put forward what he wanted to say before anybody and we wish we could find an alternate to him to fill the vacuum.
The founder of the Muslim India once said, “Over the years Radiance has become the mouth organ of the community” and that he is an avid reader of Radiance. “I have found Radiance to be more trustworthy as compared to all newspapers or magazines which come to my office and I read it the most. The noteworthy point of Radiance is that it does not fuel the fire of sectarianism and communalism but rather it has followed the path of tolerance in its approach and contents,” he said while addressing Golden Jubilee celebration programme of Radiance Viewsweekly at India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi in September 2013. The entire Radiance team stands aggrieved at his demise and prays to Allah for his forgiveness, acceptance of his services to the community and grant of a blissful seat in the Paradise for him as well as for patience and fortitude for the aggrieved family.
Former president of All-India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, who was closely associated with him for more than a decade, while expressing his condolence, said he was an indisputable leader and his death is great loss to the community.
Navaid Hamid, president of the All India Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM), said his contribution for the community cannot be forgotten. He was champion not only of Muslim issues but also weaker and marginalised sections. It is unfortunate that he was the most misunderstood leader.
In the Book on him, “Syed Shahabuddin-Voice of Muslim India” Justice A.M. Ahmadi, former chief Justice of India, has portrayed him as a Ghazi of social crusade who was made of rather sterner stuff and under no circumstances would yield to pressure tactics. Further, according to Justice Rajinder Sachar, Syed Shahabuddin’s name became synonyms with Babri Masjid because of his relentless effort in solving the issue.