Asaf Ali
Asaf Ali | |
|---|---|
 Asaf Ali c. 1909 | |
| Born | 11 May 1888 |
| Died | 2 April 1953 (aged 64) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | St. Stephen's College, Delhi |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, Activist |
| Spouse | Aruna Ganguly (m. 1928) |
Asaf Ali (11 May 1888[1] – 2 April 1953) was an Indian independence fighter and lawyer. He was the Indian Ambassador to the United States and Switzerland. He previously became the Governor of Odisha. He was the head of Railways and Transport in the Interim Government of India from 2 September 1946 until 15 October 1946.
Education[change | change source]
Asaf Ali was educated at St. Stephen's College, Delhi. He was called to bar from Lincoln's Inn in England.
Indian National Movement[change | change source]
In 1914, Ali opposed on the British attack on the Ottoman Empire. He resigned from the Privy Council. He returned to India in December 1914 and became heavily involved in the nationalist movement.
He was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly in 1935 as a member of the Muslim Nationalist Party. He later joined the Indian National Congress as a member and was appointed as deputy leader.[2]
Ali was imprisoned during the freedom movement in the rise of the 'Quit India' resolution, which was adopted by the All India Congress Committee in August 1942. He was detained at Ahmednagar Fort jail along with Jawaharlal Nehru and other members of the Congress Working Committee.[3]
Post 1946[change | change source]
He was in charge of the Railways and Transport in the Interim Government of India headed by Jawaharlal Nehru from 2 September 1946. He served as the first Indian Ambassador to the United States from February 1947 to mid-April 1947.
Post independence[change | change source]
Asaf Ali was first Indian Ambassador to United States. He was appointed governor of Odisha for two terms and later, Indian Ambassador to Switzerland.
Legal career[change | change source]
Asaf Ali rose to become one of the most respected lawyers in the country.[4] He defended Batukeshwar Dutt as a lawyer.[5][6]
Bhagat Singh was charged with attempt to murder under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code. Ali was his lawyer then.[6]
Death and legacy[change | change source]
Ali died in office in Bern on 2 April 1953.[7] In 1989, India Post brought out a stamp in his honor.[3]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ G. N. S. Raghavan and Asaf Ali (1994) M. Asaf Ali's Memoirs: The Emergence of Modern India. Ajanta. ISBN 81-202-0398-4. p. 36.
- ↑ M. Asaf Ali | Making Britain. Open.ac.uk. Retrieved on 7 December 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Asaf Ali. Indianpost.com (2 April 1953). Retrieved on 2018-12-07.
- ↑ Historical Trials (2008). "The Trial of Bhagat Singh". India Law Journal. 1 (3).
- ↑ "Years ago, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt did something 'to make the deaf hear'". India Today. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mahotsav, Amrit. "A park named on Asaf Ali". Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ↑ "Asaf Ali Dead". The Indian Express. 3 April 1953. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by None |
Indian Ambassador to the United States 1947–1948 |
Succeeded by Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
