Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad (1914-1973)

Quaid-e-Azam with Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad

Raja Amir Ahmed Khan of Mahmudabad, well known as 'Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad', was a gifted disciple and trusted associate of Quaid-e-Azam at a very early age. He was born on November 5, 1914, educated at Lucknow and then in England. His father, Maharaja Sir Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan (1877-1931), was a great landowner of the U.P. and a trusted friend of Quaid-e-Azam, who had presided sessions of the All-India Muslim League in 1917, 1918 and 1928.

Raja Amir Ahmed Khan succeeded to the estate Mahmudabad on March 23, 1931 on his father's death. At that time Mahmudabad was one of the richest estates of the Awadh. Raja Sahib was keenly interested in the Muslim renaissance and associated himself with the Muslim League at an early age. He was at one time the youngest member of the Working Committee of the All-India Muslim League. In 1937, he formed the All-India Muslim Students Federation, which mobilized the Muslim Youth for the cause of Islam and soon became vanguard of the Pakistan Movement. Under his able guidance, Muslim students spread throughout the sub-continent and most tenaciously organized the campaign of Muslim League candidates in the general elections, which eventually led to the establishment of Pakistan.

Quaid-e-Azam - Not a Maharaja!

The Quaid with Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad

Once Quaid-e-Azam stayed with the Raja of Mahmudabad in Butler Palace. During the lunch a servant stood as a waiter. Quaid-e-Azam was lost in his thoughts, and then seeing the man exclaimed: “What do you want”?. The servant explained that he was under orders to wait on him during the lunch. In the evening addressing the Raja of Mahmudabad Quaid-e-Azam said: “If your man stands over my head like that, I will be disturbed in my thoughs. I am an ordinary person of Bombay and not a Maharaja.” This provided good entertainment for the guests.
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