History
How the common room started by the “Students union” of Madrasah Alia gradually developed into “Muslim Institute” of Calcutta is an interesting event worth mentioning which Mr. Chapman, the then acting Principal of Calcutta Madrasah depicts as follow :-
“Normally it is the Union of students of Calcutta Madrasah, actually the meeting ground of the entire Muslim students and their friends of colleges in Calcutta. The Principal of Calcutta Madrasah is the ex-officio President and cashier and thus he has got an enviable opportunity to meet the elites of the Muslim youth of the City.” There were two literary institutions in the Taltola adjacent to the Madrasah area functioning as separate entities known as (1) Muslim Debate Society, (2) Society for Mutual Improvement of young men.
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As majority of the members were common to both, ideas engendered that if both the societies were merged, better purpose could be served with strong foundation and positive support of the entire Muslim youths. Consequently, a committee was constituted comprising Maulavi Abdul MukarimFazlulWahab (representing Muslim Debating Society, who later on became the Librarian of Calcutta Madrasah), ChawdhuryAzizulHaque, NawabAdulFaiz, Md. Abdul bAli, M.A, (representing the other society), Maulavi Md. Hamid, B.A. and MaulaviAdul Hamid Reshad, M.A.
They thrashed out the details and gave the project a final shape. With their joint efforts Muslim Institute of Calcutta came into being in July 1902 at Madrasah Alia Mr. R.A. Stark, Headmaster, Calcutta Madrasah became its first President Dr. Denison Ross the treasurer and Mualavi Kamal Uddin Ahmed M.A, I.E.S. the first secretary. After the retirement of Mr. Stark, Dr. Ross became President-cum-Treasurer.
Its popularity rose to such a high degree that besides Muslim intelligentsia, Non-Muslims as well desired to become its members. Sir Gurudas Banerjee, Sir Roper Lathbridge and Mr. Stephen, Mr. Radclilff (Statesman’s Editor), Roy SaratChander Das, Kumar Kamalanand Singh, Raja of Srinagar, Mr. HarinathDey, a few of the many others became its Honorary members. Amongst prominent Muslims who figured in the list as member and Patrons was Mr. A.K. FazlulHaque, the undisputed leader of Bengal, Khawja Sir Nazimuddin, Mr. Husain ShaheedSuhrawardy, etc.
The Government of Bengal handed over a portion of Calcutta Madrasah (in which formerly there was a branch school) to the Muslim Institute with an annual grant of Rs.3,150/- Calcutta Municipal Corporation put the tank adjacent to C.M. under the charge of Muslim Institute to be used by its members for swimming. A few years before the partition of the country (1947) a two storied building was constructed in the Madrasah compound where it has been functioning since then as a centre of cultural and literary activities even today.
They thrashed out the details and gave the project a final shape. With their joint efforts Muslim Institute of Calcutta came into being in July 1902 at Madrasah Alia Mr. R.A. Stark, Headmaster, Calcutta Madrasah became its first President Dr. Denison Ross the treasurer and Mualavi Kamal Uddin Ahmed M.A, I.E.S. the first secretary. After the retirement of Mr. Stark, Dr. Ross became President-cum-Treasurer.
Its popularity rose to such a high degree that besides Muslim intelligentsia, Non-Muslims as well desired to become its members. Sir Gurudas Banerjee, Sir Roper Lathbridge and Mr. Stephen, Mr. Radclilff (Statesman’s Editor), Roy SaratChander Das, Kumar Kamalanand Singh, Raja of Srinagar, Mr. HarinathDey, a few of the many others became its Honorary members. Amongst prominent Muslims who figured in the list as member and Patrons was Mr. A.K. FazlulHaque, the undisputed leader of Bengal, Khawja Sir Nazimuddin, Mr. Husain ShaheedSuhrawardy, etc.
The Government of Bengal handed over a portion of Calcutta Madrasah (in which formerly there was a branch school) to the Muslim Institute with an annual grant of Rs.3,150/- Calcutta Municipal Corporation put the tank adjacent to C.M. under the charge of Muslim Institute to be used by its members for swimming. A few years before the partition of the country (1947) a two storied building was constructed in the Madrasah compound where it has been functioning since then as a centre of cultural and literary activities even today.