Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk: the man who turned opponents into friends

The problem

Badruddin Tyabji was one of the fiercest opponents of Sir Syed's mission and of Aligarh College. After one speech by Mohsin-ul-Mulk, both men were in tears, and Tyabji gave a large donation to the college.

How does one man do that? Maulvi Abdul Haq, who knew him, answers with a character sketch: his gifts, his work in Hyderabad, his speeches, his way with people, and his loyalty to Sir Syed.

Author: Dr Maulvi Abdul Haq (1870–1961). The lesson is taken from his book “Chand Hum Asr”. Genre: khaaka (character sketch). Subject: Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk, Nawab Syed Mehdi Ali Khan (1837–1907), Sir Syed's close companion.

Key terms

حیدرآباد کا منتظم

In Hyderabad Deccan his statesmanship shone. He prepared the state budget on the model of Egypt's, set up the land-settlement department that measured the land, and reformed finance and revenue.

ہردلعزیز

Many great men came to Hyderabad, but none won such love. When he left, the city wept: thousands at the station, rich and poor, widows and orphans.

خوش بیان مقرر

Sweet voice, charm and eloquence: flowers fell from his mouth. His speech won over Badruddin Tyabji, and in heated meetings his wit worked like magic.

سرسید کا جانشین

First an opponent of Sir Syed, later one of his circle. After Sir Syed he became secretary of Aligarh College, defended Urdu at the great Lucknow meeting, and kept to Sir Syed's road.

Short questions with model answers

1. Q1. Write the tashreeh of this passage (exercise 6, part 1). Board answers are written in Urdu.«ان کی ایک ہی تصنیف ہے جو خالص مذہبی ہے … ان کے مضامین میں مغربی خیالات کی ترجمانی صاف نظر آتی ہے۔»

   • حوالہ: سبق «نواب محسن الملک»، مصنف ڈاکٹر مولوی عبدالحق، کتاب «چند ہم عصر»۔
   • سیاق و سباق: مصنف محسن الملک کے مذہبی مزاج اور سرسید کے حلقے میں ان کی شمولیت کا ذکر کرنے کے بعد ان کی تحریروں کا جائزہ لیتے ہیں۔
   • وضاحت: ان کی زیادہ تر تحریریں تعلیمی، معاشرتی یا علمی ہیں مگر سب کا تعلق مسلمانوں سے ہے۔ وہ صفِ اول کے ادیب نہیں، پھر بھی روانی، فصاحت اور تسلسلِ بیان نمایاں ہے۔
   • خاص بات: انگریزی نہیں جانتے تھے مگر انگریزی کتابیں پڑھوا کر سنتے اور ترجمہ کروا کر پڑھتے تھے، اسی لیے ان کے مضامین میں مغربی خیالات نظر آتے ہیں۔

   سیکھنے کا شوق زبان کی رکاوٹ کو بھی پار کر لیتا ہے۔

2. Q2. Write the tashreeh of this passage (exercise 6, part 2).«دوسروں سے کام لینے کا انھیں بڑا اچھا سلیقہ تھا … اور وقت پر جان لڑا دیتے تھے۔»

   • مشکل الفاظ: سلیقہ — ڈھنگ، طریقہ؛ مہر آمیز — محبت بھرا؛ تن دہی — پوری محنت؛ جان لڑا دینا — پوری جان سے کوشش کرنا۔
   • وضاحت: وہ حکم نہیں دیتے تھے بلکہ محبت سے کہتے اور ہمت بڑھاتے تھے، اس لیے لوگ خوشی سے کام کرتے۔ ملازم بھی ان کا کام اپنا ذاتی کام سمجھ کر کرتے تھے۔
   • مثال: جیسے ایک class monitor جو ڈانٹنے کے بجائے شکریہ ادا کرے اور حوصلہ دے، اس کی بات سب خوشی سے مانتے ہیں۔

   محبت اور حوصلہ افزائی سے لیا گیا کام دل سے کیا جاتا ہے۔

Common mistakes

• ✗ Writing that this sketch is by Hali or by Sir Syed.

  ✓ It is by Dr Maulvi Abdul Haq, from his book “Chand Hum Asr”. Hali wrote “Hayat-e-Javed” about Sir Syed.

• ✗ Calling Badruddin Tyabji a supporter of Aligarh from the start.

  ✓ He was a strong opponent of Sir Syed's mission and the college. Mohsin-ul-Mulk's speech turned his opposition into sympathy and a large donation; he later presided over the Educational Conference in Bombay.

• ✗ Writing that he read English books himself.

  ✓ He did not know English. He had English books and papers read out to him, or translated, and then studied them.

MCQs

1. 1. What was Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk's real name?

   1. (a) نواب سید مہدی علی خاں
   2. (b) سید احمد خاں
   3. (c) بدرالدین طیب جی
   4. (d) مشتاق حسین
   Show answer

   (a) The footnote gives Nawab Syed Mehdi Ali Khan (1837–1907).

2. 2. On which country's model did he prepare the Hyderabad state budget?

   1. (a) انگلستان
   2. (b) مصر
   3. (c) ترکی
   4. (d) ایران
   Show answer

   (b) The text says the budget was prepared on the model of Egypt's budget.

3. 3. Where did he win over Badruddin Tyabji?

   1. (a) حیدرآباد
   2. (b) علی گڑھ
   3. (c) بمبئی
   4. (d) لکھنؤ
   Show answer

   (c) In Bombay, where he had gone because the Deccan weather disagreed with his health.

4. 4. Where was the great meeting in support of Urdu held?

   1. (a) لکھنؤ
   2. (b) بمبئی
   3. (c) دہلی
   4. (d) حیدرآباد
   Show answer

   (a) An Anjuman was formed to protect Urdu; its great meeting was held in Lucknow, where he gave a powerful speech.

5. 5. The idiom “munh se phool jharna” means:

   1. (a) بہت میٹھی اور دلکش باتیں کرنا
   2. (b) بہت غصہ کرنا
   3. (c) خاموش رہنا
   4. (d) جھوٹ بولنا
   Show answer

   (a) It describes his sweet, charming way of speaking.

Quick revision

• A khaaka by Maulvi Abdul Haq (“Chand Hum Asr”) of Nawab Syed Mehdi Ali Khan, Mohsin-ul-Mulk (1837–1907).
• Hyderabad: budget on Egypt's model, the land-settlement department, and a tearful farewell that showed how loved he was.
• A gifted speaker and a gentle leader who won over opponents, defended Urdu, and carried on Sir Syed's work.