Syed Sultan Ahmed

Sir Syed Sultan Ahmed, KCSI (1880–1963, Patna, Bihar, India) was an Indian barrister and politician who had a very successful practice as a barrister, having victories over Motilal Nehru, Tej Bahadur Sapru and Sarat Chandra Bose. Sultan Ahmed was related to Sir Ali Imam and Syed Hasan Imam and like them were from bihar.

While he was the first Indian Vice-Chancellor of Patna University (1923–30) he was included as a delegate from British India, to the Round Table Conference (1930–31) in London which was attended by Mahatama Gandhi.

He was Member of the Bihar Legislative Council in 1937 but resigned on the grounds of not getting enough time for politics. He joined the Viceroy’s Executive Council (1941–43) and was made the Member for Information and Broadcasting. Later he was also Advisor to the Chamber of Princes (1945–47) in India. In the 1945 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI).

Syed Sultan Ahmed backed M. C. Davar in his opposition to the partition of India, joining the United Party of India which aimed at bridging the gap between the Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League.

Although Jinnah offered him a cabinet position in Pakistan, he stated that he could not leave India as it contained the graves of his forefathers. Sir Sultan Ahmed had previously also refused the Nizam of Hyderabad's offer of being his Prime minister as his father who was himself a lawyer reminded him of the bad experiences of his relative Sir Ali Imam in that role.

After Indian Independence, Sir Sultan turned to his law practice. In 1950 he became the President of the All India Shia Conference.

Sir Sultan’s grandson, Syed Tanvirul Hasan’s ‘Freedom and Partition and Seasons Changed’ records the ‘Life and Times of Sir Sultan Ahmed’.

However, prior to this book by Tanvirul Hassan which was published some time in 2007 a very comprehensive biography in Urdu with all important details and other references of related history was published by Ataullah Palvi in the June 1963 (just three months after the death of Sir Sultan) issue of the monthly "Nusrat", Lahore, Pakistan.It was a fifty page write up titled as "Dr.Sir Syed Sultan Ahmad" .Ataullah Palvi was a Sunni Muslim and he and his family were very much attached to Sir Sultan Ahmad and were his great admirer. He belonged to the same village of Pali, Bihar, India which was also of Sir Sultan Ahmad.(s.h.akbari)

Sir Sultan edited the most popular book on Muslim Law "Mohammedan Law" for several years.