In remembrance of Suhrawardi

The 53rd death anniversary of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardi was observed on December 05. He is not well known to the present generation. Two-thirds of today's population was born after Suhrawardi died. 
In British India, the last general election took place in 1946. The election put a challenge to the Muslim League to establish that it represented the majority of Indian Muslims. The Muslim League won the majority seats in the Bengal Legislature and formed the provincial government, with Suhrawardi as the Prime Minister. In other provinces that subsequently comprised parts of Pakistan, the Muslim League could not make any spectacular gain. In Punjab, Unionist Party formed the government. In Sind, North-Western Frontier and Baluchistan Muslim League formed the government only in coalition with other parties.
 On the eve of the partition of the Sub-continent, Suhrawardi realised the dangers of dividing Bengal. He reached out to the moderate Hindu leaders and persuaded them in favour of united Bengal encompassing Assam, as a separate state. He was also able to convince the Muslim League high command in support of his proposal. But the attempt was frustrated by the hardliners in the Indian Congress. Had Suhrawardi succeeded in crafting United Bengal as a separate state, history of the region would have been much different.
The partition of the Sub-continent was followed by unprecedented communal riots and large-scale migration. The Muslims in India felt insecure and moved to Pakistan in thousands. The Hindus in Pakistan began to leave for India in large numbers. 
The riots had caused colossal damage of lives and properties in Calcutta, Noakhali and other parts of Bengal. Suhrawardi joined Gandhi in his mission to quell the unrest that was spreading from one area to another.
 Jinnah used to admire the talents and organising skills of Suhrawardi. He offered several positions to Suhrawardi including a cabinet post, High Commissioner in New Delhi, Pakistan's representative at the United Nations, Governor of Punjab and Special Envoy in Europe. Suhrawardi politely declined these offers, stayed back in Calcutta and resolved to help the distressed people.
Following the assassination of Gandhi, India became inhospitable to Suhrawardi and he migrated to Pakistan. By that time, his detractors had consolidated their positions in the government both at the centre and in Dhaka. They cancelled his membership in the Constituent Assembly.
The Muslim League, after the death of Jinnah, gradually turned into a conglomeration of vested groups devoted to power and opportunities. Senior civil servants and military personnel ascended to positions of influence in the government. The politicians lost touch with the people and became hostage to vested interests. In this backdrop, a general election was held in the then East Pakistan in 1954. Suhrawardi, in concert with Fazlul Huq and Maulana Bhashani formed a coalition of parties known as the United Front and challenged the ruling Muslim League. The United Front scored a landslide victory. The Awami League was the largest component of the coalition and could rightly claim the position of the Chief Minister. But Suhrawardi being the President of the Awami League convinced his party people to allow the octogenarian leader Fazlul Huq to become the Chief Minister. 
In September 1956, Suhrawardi became the prime minister of Pakistan. It was Awami League-Republican coalition government. Three months earlier, Awami League came to power in East Pakistan and Ataur Rahman Khan became the Chief Minister. In an address to the nation, Suhrawardi said "the wishes of the people, not choice of individuals, would be the lodestars of the government." This was the period of the highest level of civil liberty in Pakistan. All political prisoners were set free and none was detained under public safety act. Suhrawardi was keen to hold a general election but 'joint electorate' became a conundrum. He argued that separate electorate was essential to pursue the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims. Since a new state has been created and under the changed circumstances joint electorate would strengthen the foundation of the new nation.
Suhrawardi was the only leader amongst his contemporaries who could make impression in both wings of Pakistan. In popularity, he was second to none. He was a brilliant parliamentarian, distinguished attorney and above all, a statesman. His competence as the prime minister was beyond any doubt. His administration diminished the role of the civil servants in politics. Suhrawardi was comparable only to Pandit Nehru in merit and statesmanship.
Suhrawardi pursued a balanced foreign policy, established closer ties with China but at the same time kept the relation with western countries and the United States cordial. The leftists within the Awami League and outside the government demanded withdrawal from the CENTO and SEATO military pacts. Pakistan had joined these blocs in early 1950s. Suhrawardi kept the relation with the alliances at low profile but did not consider prudent, in the height of the cold war, to withdraw in view of New Delhi's excessive leaning towards Moscow.
The leftists under the leadership of Maulana Bhashani challenged Suhrawardi at the Awami League conference in Kagmari in 1957. This led to a division in the party and eventually the National Awami Party (NAP) was established. The split in the Awami League weakened Suhrawardi. President Mirza was growing uncomfortable with Suhrawardi's role as an all-Pakistan leader and felt overshadowed by his charisma. Mirza took full advantage of the situation and forced resignation of the Suhrawardi-led central government. Suhrawardi's removal exacerbated the political crisis and culminated in the abrogation of the constitution and imposition of martial law in 1958.
Suhrawardi was arrested. Following his release from jail, he formed the National Democratic Front (NDF) to restore democratic rights of the people. 
Suhrawardi fell ill andwent to Beirut for recuperation following his surgery in Zürich. He wrote to Manik Mia from Beirut on November 29, 1963, "If I die I shall be happy. There is no point in living. I am of no further use to anybody. If of use to myself, then life is not worth it." He died in Beirut on December 05, 1963.
Suhrawardi is no more with us but his patriotism, commitment to the rule of law and unfailing love for humanity would remain as our national treasure.
The writer is a former official of the United Nations.
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