Hostel Life
Hadi Hasan Hall
Professor
Hadi Hasan
An Overview to his life and contributions
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rof. Syed Hadi Hasan born on September 3rd, 1896 in the
City known for origin of Urdu poetry, Hyderabad,. He was bestowed with a highly
reputed and educated family. He belonged to a very distinguished family of
Saadat-I-barha. Among his ancestors, Ata Hussain, Tahsin, was a prominent
Sholar of Etawah, Uttar Prasesh and his father Syed Aneer Hasan was
commissioner in the then Hyderabad state of erstwhile Nizam`s Rule. He was
nephew of Nawab Mohsinul Mulk Syed Mahdi Ali Khan, a close companion of Sir
Syed Ahmad Khan.
Hadi Hasan was sophisticated to the very depths of his being
because of early care and training by his Persian Mother. He was capable of casting
the spell of his unique personality on whomsoever he came across even at the
first encounter. He attracted people of all shades of opinion around him with a
magnetic charm. He bore upon himself all the graces of his aristocratic origin
and the imprint of vigorous incisive and discriminating mind. He inspired
confidence and affection among his associates and admirers and was always moved
by a sense of charity and benevolence whenever he saw anyone in distress.
After receiving his early education in Hyderabad, Hadi Hasan
joined Ferguson College, Poona to peruse Bachelors degree in Science. Being
brilliant in academics he was awarded scholarship of Hyderabad state. Then be
moved to England to peruse his higher students. He took Tripos in Botany from
Cambridge. Hadi Hasan was very efficiently perusing his academics but at the
same time in India Non cooperation movement by Mahatma Gandhi and Khilafat
movement by Ali brothers was taking momentum. The love for the country and his
patriotic ideology forced him to return and join the fight for independence. He
worked ceaselessly for the emancipation of the country from the British rule.
Due to his sincere and selfless dedicated services for country`s cause, he
earned admiration of many senior leaders including Mahatma Gandhi.
Hadi Hasan joined the Aligarh Muslim University as Reader and Head
in Department of Botany owing to his undisputed achievements in academics.
Besides his accolades in Botany, he soon distinguished himself as a well grounded
scholar of Persian literature.
He again went to England by taking loan from university owing to
his interest in Persian to achieve doctorate in Persian. He passed very hard
days in England during his stay, but with strong determined mind he surpassed
all the adversities and overcame all the difficulties. He obtained Doctorate in
Persian from London School of Oriental Studies.
After his return from England he was appointed as Prof. and Head
of Persian department. During his tenure he established separate department for
Persian at University of Hyderabad, Patna Lucknow. With his influential works
he not only enriched Persian literature but also secured it in the curriculum
of the Indian Universities endeavoring for status of Persian teachers in the country. He played an
important role in communication between
Indian and Iranian Intellectuals. He represented India at the millennium
Celebrations of Firdaus in Iran and his outstanding performance not only raised
the image of Aligarh Muslim University but also strengthened the cultural and
friendly relations between the two countries.
His contribution to Persian literature was immense. He also received international acclaim for
many of his works. Chief of his works are studies in Persian literature (1923),
A History of Persian Navigation (1928), Falak-I shirwani: His life, Times and
works (1929), Diwan-I Falak-I-Shirwani (1930), Radiu`d-Din-i-Nishapuri: His
life and Times (1940), Mughal Poetry:
Its Historical and Cultural VIaue (1952), Qasim-I-Kahi: His Life,Times
and works (1954), The Unique Diwani-i-Qasim-i-Kahi (1956),Majmu`ah-i-Maqalat
(1956),Shakuntala, translated in Persian (1956),Researches in Persian Litrature
(1958) etc. He led the life a dedicated scholar till his last. At the time of
his death his two work s entitled, Golden Treasury of Persian Poetry and
Qasim-i-Kahi, vol.II, were in the press. He was preoccupied in the correction
of proof of these works when his appointed hour came. After the death of the
Author, Masood A. Mirza Qaiser had the privilege of printing Qasim-i-Kahi in
1963, while Golden Treasury of Persian Poetry was revised and edited in 1966 by
his illustrious student, Dr.M.Shamoon Israili, He also dedicated one of his
works to his beloved wife, Begum Kshwer Hadi and remembered her death as 19,5,7
which depicts the complete chronogram of her demise, for 19 gives the century
and also the hour, 5 gives the month and 7th day, i.e. 1957 A.D., 7
p.m May the 7th Hadi Hasan was not confined to Persian but he was
also deeply interested in Mathematics ,
History, Astronomy, and Sanskrit drama.
He translated Kalidas` Shakuntalam into England and while staging it, used to
play the roles of different characters by himself. Prof. Hadi Hasan being a
great humanist, Patriot and linguist of international fame, got recognized by
many institutions of the world. In 1959 the president of India conferred him a
certificate of honour and Robe of Honour with an annuity of Rs. 1500. This
award was introduced in 1958to honour the scholars in Sanskrit, Arabic and
Persian language. Thus Prof. Hadi Hasan might be the second person to receive
this prestigious award. In 1960, the Imperial government of Iran bestowed him
its highest academic award, the Nishan-i-Danish for the first Grade scientific
Order.
Hadi Hasan had many milestones of distinguished services to
Aligarh Muslim University, but the silver lining is marked by his contribution
in establishment of Medical College at University due to which our hall is
named after this Mega personality. At the instance of Sir Ziauddin Ahmad, the
then Vice Chancellor he traveled throughout India and collected a sum of Rs.30
lakhs. The establishment of Medical College at AMU was a long cherished dream
of his life and he saw his dream fulfilled when he himself inaugurated the
Medical College named after our first Prime Minister Jahaharlal Nehru. Apart
from his academic contributions he also had remarkable administrative skills.
He worked as Provost of V.M. Hall, Dean Faculty of Arts, in charge competitive
examination and employment exchange. His methodology of working had
ethical sense and he brought dignity to it by his sincere and selfless work.
Owing to his professional accolades he was appointed as professor
for 2 years after his retirement under UGC`s scheme. UGC also selected him a
great of 4000 Rs. Per annum. He served AMU for sincerity till September 3rd
1958.
Hadi Hasan was an orator par excellence. His art of public
speaking was not only admirable but also enviable. He could move his audience
to tears or laughter whenever he so desired. He could speak England, Persian
and Urdu, especially the first two languages, with remarkable fluency, ease and
effectiveness. He was God gifted with a prodigiously tenacious memory and could
quote anecdotes and fragments of poetry expensively and without interruption or
a sense of embarrassment. When the Shah of Iran Mohd. Raza Shah Pahalvi and
Queen Surrayya Shah Pahalvi visited AMU, he welcomed the Shah in Persian on
behalf of the Student`s Union on February 2nd, 1956. The Shah and
the Queen sat spell bound while Prof. Hadi Hasan was speaking. So impressed was
the Shah that when he rose to address the students he paid his tribute to the
great scholar orator saying that should
his college days return he would deem it a privilege to become a student of
Prof. Hadi. Dr. Zakir Hussain, who was Vice President of India and a close
friend of Hadi Hasan, remarked.
?Dr. Hadi Hasan was one of the most talented persons I have met.
Starting his career as teacher of science, a Professor of Botany, he allowed
his passionate love of Persian literature, which he may have inherited from his
Iranian mother, to pervade and possess his mind, so that he to go back to the
University of London for higher research in the History of Persian which he
secured on his return to the Aligarh Muslim University and held almost to the
end of his life. His valuable work as a scholar and teacher, his brilliant
achievement as an orator, but above all, the paternal love and care which he
bestowed on his students won for him universal regards and affection. Though
his corporal life has come to an end, yet he continues to live in the minds of
his many pupils and friends?.
Prof. Hadi Hasan lived in name and fame throughout his due to his
sterling qualities of head and heart and brought great honours to the
university and nobility to the teaching community. He left this world for his
heavenly adobe on May 23, 1963 and was laid to rest in the University Graveyard
the next morning.