Birth Anniversary - Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru : 8th December
Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru played a pivotal role in the development of modern India's constitutional and political life. Born in Aligarh on 8th December , 1875, he practiced law in Moradabad before moving to Allahabad, a city then synonymous with intellectual rigour and scholarship.
A staunch Congressman, he attended the 1892 session of the Indian National Congress, was a member of the All India Congress Committee, the General Secretary of the Congress party and also the President of the UP Congress Committee. He was knighted in 1922 and after receiving knighthood he was known as sir Tej Bahadur Sapru.
He was also a member of the UP Legislative Council ( 1913-16) , and thereafter of the Imperial Legislative Council ( 1916–20) law member of the Viceroy’s Council (1920–23) . The principal milestones of India's constitutional development and freedom struggle have the stamp of Sir Tej's distinctive contributions, his brilliant legal acumen, and great constitutional ability. Thus, whether it is on the Round Table Conferences or in Cripps Mission or for various attempts at Constitutional Reforms, concepts of our federal structure, and so many other, Sir Tej was always there as a guiding spirit. In 1918, he parted company with INC on grounds of principle. He became one of the founding members of a party that eventually came to be called The National Liberal Federation of India.
Member of Muddinman Committee (1924) :
The British Government had set up a committee under Sir Alexander Muddinman which was popularly known as Muddinman Committee to meet the demand of the Indian Leaders and in view of the resolution adopted by Swaraj Party in early 1920s. The Committee was consisting four Indian members other than British members.
Indian members of the Committee
- Sir Sivaswami Aiyar
- Dr. R P Paranjape
- Sir Tejbahadur Sapru
- Mohammad Ali Jinnah
Sapru represented India at the 1923 Imperial Conference in London, served as President of the National Liberal Federation in 1923 and 1927, and was closely involved in all debates around Indian constitutional reform.
From the perspective of the Ministry of External Affairs, his role in the establishment of the Indian Council of World Affairs, in 1943, and thereafter as its first President till his death in 1949 is of great significance.
Supporter of Hindu Muslim unity :
Sir Tej Bahadur, a staunch, life long advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity and of a United India; unable to serve in the Constituent Assembly on grounds of deteriorating health, in June, 1947, with great prescience wrote in reply to a letter: "I am afraid the division of India is not going to be the end of our trouble. I fear that may be the beginning of new trouble which may last for a quarter of a century". These words of great wisdom, then conceived that a quarter century was perhaps far enough. Alas! this 'trouble' of which he spoke so presciently has lasted for over half a century now.
