Gifts of Emmanuel College
By Sir Cam
Cambridge, England

The University of Cambridge has produced many distinguished people. As far as distinguished Muslims from the sub-continent are concerned, I've often gone through the list of names, such as Allama Iqbal, Allama Mashriqi, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Sir Fazl-i-Husain, and MAH Ispahani.
The prominent colleges behind these men include Trinity, Christ's, St John's and Emmanuel (Emma).
Let's focus on Emma for today. The reason for this will become apparent below. Emma gave us Ahmed Shah (Patras) Bokhari (1898-58), the great literary figure of pre-1947 "India" and later the UN diplomat of Pakistan. He read English at the college from 1925-27. Patras was soon followed by Choudhary Rahmat Ali (1897-1951), who arrived in the UK in 1930 but joined the college in January 1931 to study law.
Exactly two years later, on January 28, 1933, Rahmat Ali issued his Pakistan Declaration or "Now or Never" from his student address 3 Humberstone Road, Cambridge. Further details in KK Aziz's "Rahmat Ali: A Biography" (1987). Knowing my interest in this subject, KK Aziz very kindly gave me an original copy of the rare document "Now or Never". The first attachment is a scan of the opening para of this historic document.
To commemorate this event, when the word "PAKSTAN" was first published (the real "Pakistan Day"), I visited Emmanuel College today. It was a dull, overcast day, but the gardens of the college are serene and relaxing, especially by the pool, which is where I took the pretty flower photo. I thought I'd share a macro shot for a change: a present from Emma!
Finally, take a peep at Tom (Taufiq) Shelley's page:
http://www.shelleys.demon.co.uk/Ali.htm . Taufiq was also at Emma and had the privilege to interview Rahmat Ali's secretary and landlady.


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Editor: Akhtar M. Faruqui
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