Who was Khawaja Nazimuddin? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Назимуддин, Хаваджа

Died At Age: 70

Family:

siblings: Khwaja Shahabuddin

Prime Ministers Political Leaders

political ideology: Political party-Muslim League

Died on: October 22, 1964

place of death: Dhaka

City: Dhaka, Bangladesh

More Facts

education: Trinity Hall, Cambridge, Aligarh Muslim University, Dunstable Grammar School

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1

What was Khawaja Nazimuddin's role in the Pakistan Movement?

Khawaja Nazimuddin played a significant role in the Pakistan Movement, serving as a key political leader and advocating for the creation of Pakistan.
2

How did Khawaja Nazimuddin contribute to the early years of Pakistan's independence?

After independence, Khawaja Nazimuddin served as the second Governor-General and later as the second Prime Minister of Pakistan, playing a crucial role in shaping the country's early governance.
3

What were some of the major challenges faced by Khawaja Nazimuddin during his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan?

Khawaja Nazimuddin faced challenges such as managing post-independence tensions, economic issues, and regional conflicts during his time as Prime Minister of Pakistan.
4

How did Khawaja Nazimuddin's policies impact Pakistan's political landscape?

Khawaja Nazimuddin's policies focused on promoting democracy, strengthening institutions, and addressing socio-economic issues, leaving a lasting impact on Pakistan's political development.
5

What is Khawaja Nazimuddin's legacy in Pakistani history?

Khawaja Nazimuddin is remembered as a statesman who played a crucial role in the early years of Pakistan's independence, contributing to its political and social development.

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Childhood & Early Life

Khawaja Nazimuddin was born on July 19, 1894, in Dhaka, present Bangladesh, to Khwaja Nizamuddinand Nawabzadi BilkeesBano, members of the Nawab family of East Bengal.

He pursued his primary education from the 'Dunstable Grammar School' in Bedfordshire, England. The young man then attended the ‘Aligarh Muslim University’ in Uttar Pradesh, and 'Trinity Hall' college of the 'University of Cambridge', in England, for higher studies.

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Career

He started his political careerin 1922, when hebecame the Chairman of 'Dhaka Municipality', and also held a position at the 'Executive Council' of 'Dhaka University'.

In the Barisal Muslim constituency, he became a 'Member of Bengal Legislative Assembly' on three occasions, from 1923-29.

In 1929 Sir Khawaja was appointed as the 'Education Minister' of Bengal. The same year he became a representative of the ‘Governor’s Executive Council’. As the 'Education Minister', this political leader passed the 'Compulsory Primary Education Bill', which aimed at bringing about educational equality amongst Hindus and Muslims.

Nazimuddin was made the 'Minister of Agriculture' in 1934, in the capacity of which he introduced major reforms like the 'Agriculture Debtors Bill' and the 'Bengal Rural Development Bill', which sought to stop the oppression of Muslim peasants by Hindu zamindars.

The ‘Muslim League’ in Bengal was reorganized by Khawaja, in 1935, and it included all Muslim political parties, barring the ‘KrishakPraja Party’ formed by FazlulHaq. Two years later the former lost to Haq at the general elections held in Bengal's Patuakhali constituency, but won the elections in North Calcutta.

In 1937, this eminent leader became a part of Haq’s Coalition Ministry, serving as the Home Minister for four years. A supporter of Pakistani leader Jinnah, Sir Khawaja resigned from his post when differences with Haq started surfacing.

This dedicated politician was announced the Chief Minister of Bengal in 1943, where he took prompt steps to deal with the famine affecting the region. During the same time, he also served as the Head of the ‘Muslim League’.

In 1945 Nazimuddin’s cabinet of ministers had to step down and his comrade Suhrawardibecame the chief minister.Two years later, when Pakistan was formed, this leader was made the Chief Minister of the new country’s state of East Bengal.

Jinnah passed away in 1948, and Khawaja succeeded the former as Governor-general of Pakistan.The next year, the national leader from Dhaka formed the 'Basic Principles Committee', acting on the suggestionofLiaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, to discuss the principles of the country’s constitution.

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In 1951, Liaquat was succeeded by Sir Khawaja as the Prime minister of Pakistan. He also acted as a representative of the ‘Constituent Assembly’and as the President of ‘Muslim League’.

Adverse circumstances like poor economic conditions, weak governing policies, and the rivalry between the Punjabi and Bengali population led to the dismissal of Nazimuddin as Prime Minister on April 17, 1953. Governor-general Ghulam Mohammad forcibly removed the prime minister and allowed the new ministry to be formed by Mohammad Ali Bogra.

Major Works

Even though his tenure was prematurely shortened, Sir Khawaja will always be remembered for being one of the most dedicated Prime Ministers of Pakistan. Even today, his removal from the post is considered to have hindered democracy in the country.

Awards and Achievements

In 1926, Nazimuddin was honoured with the title of the ‘Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire’, a rank of courage founded by Queen Victoria.

He received the rank of ‘Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire’, in 1934, from King George V.

Personal Life & Legacy

Khawaja Nazimuddin got married in 1924, to the daughter of Khwaja Ashraf, Shah Bano.

He died on October 22, 1964 and was buried next to the graves of Bangladeshi national leaders, FazlulHaq and Suhrawardi at the ‘SuhrawardiUdyan’, inside the premises of the Dhaka High Court.

This distinguished leader is the eponym of Karachi’s outlying districts of Nazimabad and North Nazimabad. Dhaka and Islamabad, the capital cities of Bangladesh and Pakistan, respectively, have the Nazimuddin Roads named in his honour.

The ‘Pakistan Post’, which is a major postal service of the country, issued a stamp as a tribute to Nazimuddin.

Facts About Khawaja Nazimuddin

Khawaja Nazimuddin was known for his impeccable sense of style and was often seen wearing traditional attire with a modern twist, making him a fashion icon of his time.

He had a deep love for poetry and was known to recite verses from famous poets during his public speeches, showcasing his appreciation for literature and culture.

Despite being a prominent political figure, Khawaja Nazimuddin had a passion for gardening and was often seen tending to his plants and flowers, finding solace in nature.

Khawaja Nazimuddin was a firm believer in the importance of education and often emphasized the need for continuous learning and knowledge-sharing, inspiring many to pursue academic excellence.

Khawaja Nazimuddin Biography

You wanted to know

What was Khawaja Nazimuddin's role in the Pakistan Movement?

How did Khawaja Nazimuddin contribute to the early years of Pakistan's independence?

What were some of the major challenges faced by Khawaja Nazimuddin during his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan?

How did Khawaja Nazimuddin's policies impact Pakistan's political landscape?

What is Khawaja Nazimuddin's legacy in Pakistani history?