Under a resolution passed by the All-India Muslim League at is 1943 Karachi Session, Quaid-i-Azam formed the Economic Planning Committee to prepare a Plan for the economic amelioration of the Muslims of the subcontinent, those inhabiting the Pakistan Zones in particular. He enjoined the Committee to keep in mind that “it is not our purpose to make the rich richer and to accelerate the process of the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few individuals. We should aim at leveling up the general standard of living”. The Committee examined the various issues thoroughly and in a very short time prepared basics of the Plan which were revolutionary in most respects. But due to various reasons the recommendations of the Committee could not be implemented with the result that Quaid-i-Azam’s dream of that Pakistan where the rich should not be richer remained unrealized.
Syed Shamsul Hsan (1885-1981) joined the staff of the All Indian Muslim League in July 1914. After a short while he took over charge of its central office as Assistant Secretary. He held this position till Partition. After the bifurcation of the All India Muslim League in 1948 into the India and Pakistan Leagues, he served the Pakistan Muslim League in the same capacity till October 1958 when all political parties were banned, their office and records taken over and sealed by the martial law regime. The precious party documents were put in hessian bags, removed from the site and left to decay until their remnants were retrieved considerably later.
The papers known as Shamsul Hasan Collection which Quaid-i-Azam had entrusted to Syed Sahib were however saved in entirely. These papers and documents spread over approximately ten thousand sheets are of considerable importance for the understanding of the pre-partition events. Most of them are letters on various topics, personal as well as political, written to and by Quaid-i-Azam.
Shamsul Hasan Foundation for Historical Studies and Research has undertaken to publish them with background material and notes. Besides the present volume which is the third in the series comprising documents relating to the Economic Planning Committee, two other volumes SINDH’S FIGHT FOR PAKISAN and OUT OF ASHES are with the press.
The publications of the Shamsul Hasan Foundation are being compiled by Syed Shamsul Hasan’s son Khalid. Educated at Anglo-Arabic College and the University of Delhi from where he obtained a Master’s Degree in 1947. Khalid Shamsul Hasan actively participated in the Freedom Movement. He joined the Provincial Muslim Students Federation in 1939, was elected member of its Working Committee in 1940, treasurer in 1941 and General Secretary in 1943. He was re-elected to the last position in 1944 and again in 1945. In 1947 he was elected Joint Secretary of the All India Muslim Students Federation. He had been an eye witness to momentous national events both at home and in public.
Selections from Shamsul Hasan Collection
with background material and notes by
Khalid Shmsul Hasan
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