Amir Ali Khan (subedar)

Subedar Amir Ali Khan
Amir Ali Khan in 1942
Born	Amir Ali Khan Nov. 9, 1899 India
Died	April 10, 1987 Hyderabad
Nationality	Indian
Education	Hyderabad Civil Service
Occupation	Subedar
Known for	Father of pensioners
Spouse	Rehmath Khatoon

Amir Ali Khan was one of the four Subedars in the Hyderabad district during the erstwhile Nizam's rule.

Amir Ali Khan died in 1987. He was also the president of the All India Pensioner's Association. He is remembered as the father of pensioners in India. His house is located on the Malakpet Junction-Dabeerpura, flyover stretch.

Early life

Amir Ali Khan in childhood

Subedar Amir Ali Khan Sahab was born on November 9, 1899 in Hyderabad. His father's name was Sardar Ali Khan Sahab. He completed his early education in Hyderabad itself. He completed his matriculation in 1916. He was a graduate from Nizam College.

Career

Amir Ali Khan with classmates

Amir Ali Khan while training for H.C.S Akola

He joined Hyderabad Civil Services (HCS) (Equivalent to the present IAS) in the year 1918.

Walkers Gold Medal H.C.S

Gold medal for his achivement

Name on the medal

The Tuljapur Epidemic

Subedar Amir Ali Khan took over the reins of Suba Gulbarga (in the then Hyderabad State) in 1937 the Tuljapur Epidemic broke out. Tuljapur (now in Maharashtra) is known for its philosophical stories associated with the famous Tuljapur Temple. Hundreds of Thousands of people from all over India throng to this Temple Town every year to participate in the Annual Jatra held on a particular day of the year.

More than 100,000 Pilgrims attend the Jatra, drawn from four corners of India. None of the previous district officials had made any special arrangements to provide the necessary amenities to such a large number of Pilgrims as well the thousands of Vendors, Hawkers, Thhela Bandi Wallahs, Food and Snacks Sellers, Toy Sellers, Giant Wheel and other Playground Equipment Wallahs, Magicians, Snake Charmers, Musicians, Soothsayers, Singers, Dancers, Monkey Wallahs, Bear Wallahs, Jokers, Story Tellers, Conjurers, Con Men, Hakims, Vaids, Quacks and God Men who keep a track of_ and survive on the business generated during_ such Jatras, Urs’ and Melas being conducted in quick succession at one Temple Dargah or the other in different places throughout the country on different dates almost throughout the year.

While the situation with regard to planning and provision of Pilgrim amenities, safety, health and hygiene in other such Pilgrimage centers was nothing to boast about it was particularly grim in Tuljapur. In addition to these problems, there used to be traffic chaos while trekking over the dingy, pot holed and just 12 feet wide road leading to the Jatra place. Subedar Saab ordered this road to be widened to 60 feet to ease the traffic jam for the pilgrims.

Lack of safe drinking water, proper sanitation and drainage, open defecations and generally very unhygienic conditions culminated into an Epidemic of Cholera and Plague spread like wild fire.

The Epidemic started spreading with no let up. Subedar Amir Ali Khan took note of the grim situation. And like an Army Commander he hastened to mobilize the state resources to fight the Epidemic he set the tone and pace of the entire Suba administration on a War Footing. Subedar Saab immediately mobilized the Medical and Health wing and all available Doctors and health workers and kept them on their toes until the unfortunate Health Emergency lasted. The services of other departmental employees were also commandeered and they were immediately pressed into relief and rehabilitation work. Wasting no further time, Overhead Water Tanks were ordered to be built. And in order to meet the temporary exigency expediently, Water in Bulk was brought in tankers from adjoining areas.

A special Sanitation and Cleanliness drive was undertaken and the people were advised to take necessary precautions and also to isolate and report even their near and dear ones if any symptoms of Cholera or Plague were noticed in them. They were also being advised to use the Temporary Toilets and Baths built by the Government instead of relieving themselves in the open or taking bath in the fields, near water courses and ponds. Garbage was removed and burnt, dead rats, which are the major Carriers of the Bubonic Plague Virus were destroyed by burning and the remaining live rats were caught in hundreds of Rat Traps that were set up and killed with Rat Poison in a special drive involving the villagers and some volunteer pilgrims. Those that had already contracted the disease were isolated, Quarantined treated and the unaffected were given preventive medicines as were available during those days.

With all these measures, implemented with clockwork precision and at great speed, the Epidemic subsided without taking a further toll of people, apart from those who had already caught the infection and had died before any treatment could reach them.

The total toll in such a major Epidemic in Tuljapur was in Hundreds which could actually have escalated perhaps to thousands, had the Subedar Saab not taken the measures he did and had he not remained in the forefront of this war against the Twin Epidemic day and night and had he not inspired the people and his subordinates to risk their own lives to save hundreds of thousands of Pilgrims by his own personal example.

People heaved a sigh of relief and Subedar Saab got a well deserved respite when the Cholera and Plague Epidemics beat a hasty retreat without leaving a trail of death and destruction they were otherwise capable of.

Given below is a translation of a Memorandum written in Urdu and submitted to the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad Sir Akbar Hyderi by the chairman and the members of the Town Improvement Board Tuljapur, acknowledging the service rendered by Subedar Saab to the town.

“To,

His Excellency Right Hon’ble Sir Akbar Hyderi, Nawab Hyder Nawaz Jung Bahadur,

The Prime Minister of Hyderabad.

Sir,

We are the inhabitants of Tuljapur town in Usmanabad District, where the famous Sri Tulja Bhavani Temple, a noted pilgrim centre is located. The population of this town is 6057, out of which 5354 persons are directly or indirectly dependant on this temple for their livelihoods. More than one lakh pilgrims from all parts of India come to this small town for a darshan of the Devi, during the annual Jatra.

The habitations of the pilgrims in and around the Jatra places become so densely populated that the pilgrims found it difficult to move around and face great difficulties in travelling.Traffic chaos were rampant while trekking over the dingy, pot holed and just 10-14 feet wide road that lead to the temple from the Jatra place. The width of old and meandering passages within the town, made it difficult for such a large number of pilgrims to travel safely. None of the previous district officials had made any special arrangements in Tuljapur town to provide the necessary amenities to such a large number of Pilgrims and our pleas were brushed aside on the excuse that there were denser populations and narrower passages everywhere in India. The sufferings faced by the pilgrims due to this lack of interest and planning on the part of the administration need not be emphasized. But shortly after Subedar Amir Ali Khan took over the reins of Suba Gulbarga, he ordered this road to be widened to 100 feet to ease the traffic jam for the pilgrims.

Your Excellency have been known for time bound program execution and luckily during your period we were provided with all kinds of amenities, facilities and comforts that we are short of words to thank your Excellency and our benign ruler H.E.H. the Nizam, for his munificence.  We offer our thanks to your Excellency and request your Excellency to convey our thanks to the H.E.H. the Nizam. We will feel elated and honored if the same is accepted. Your Excellency, during his reign, Subedar Amir Ali Khan has turned his special attention to solve the problems of this pilgrim town. The width of this new road, which is already opened for traffic, is 60 feet and wide foot paths are built on either side. Electrical poles with streetlights are being installed and will shortly be illuminated. Trees are planted on both sides of the footpaths. In a few years the trees will grow up to provide shade to the pilgrims.

Your Excellency, the construction of this new road cost about Rs. Fifty thousand. We are deeply grateful to your Govt. and the H.E.H. for the sanction of this huge amount. Water works, Electricity and Drainage works have been ordered by the Subedar Saab with a cost of Rs. 36800/- and the same are in progress. We are also thankful to Moulvi Samiullah Sahib, special engineer water works and his officers who are aware of our needs and doing their work sincerely under the guidance of Subedar Saab. Your Excellency is aware that due to the shortfall in rains in the year 1346 Fasli, all but one well of the town dried up and not even a bowl of water could be fetched from them. As a result, your subjects were forced to fetch water from a distance of two miles. Due to the unhygienic conditions resulting from water shortage, an epidemic of Cholera broke out and eight to ten deaths were being reported on a daily basis. As soon as Subedar Amir Ali Khan, the Collector of this district received this information, he made arrangements forthwith and provided emergency relief and facilities to the subjects for protecting their lives. His sympathetic attitude and sincere services to the people of this town cannot be forgotten by us. The Hygiene department on the one hand started preventive measures against Cholera through inoculations / vaccinations and on the other the local fund department installed a pump set and constructed water galleries at the lone working well two miles away. 500 Gallon steel water storage tanks with taps were installed at various places within the town and habitations. Water from the above said well and adjoining areas was brought in day and night in tankers and people, irrespective of cast and creed took water from these taps. People were also being advised to use the Temporary Toilets and Baths built by the Government instead of relieving themselves in the open or taking bath in the fields, near water courses and ponds. The epidemic has completely subsided by the grace of God. Had not these and similar measures and arrangements made by Your Excellency’s Government through the district administration, God only knows how many more deaths in Tuljapur town would have occurred among the local inhabitants as well as among the pilgrims.

Your Excellency, if we describe our state of affairs and the favors of the concerned authorities, it will continue for long. So we limit our submission saying that whenever the ordure tasked, Hon’ble Revenue Member, Mr. R.N.Crofton or Nawab Ghouse Yar Jung visits Tuljapur, there is a likelihood of new favors, and the splendor and brightness in this town as a result of favors of the above said persons. And from auspicious tour of your Excellency, we hope that Tuljapur will be linked to a railway line. We have submitted our state of affairs in short before your Excellency. We request your Excellency to inaugurate the road for traffic by your auspicious hands and convey our request to H.E.H the Nizam.

We pray to God that our rulers’ power be resplendent and His Highness the Prince of Berar and Prince Moazzam Jah may live long. We also pray that your Excellency should hold the portfolio of Prime Minister ship with the perfect condition of health.

Loyal to your Excellency

Chairman and Members of town

Improvement Board

Tuljapur.

Member of board of revenue

Subedar of Warangal

His dealings with subordinates

Reminiscing about his many encounters with Amir Ali Khan, Mr. Ghulam Jeelani wrote in the same article in the Siasat Daily, referred above:

“I had many opportunities to see Nawab Amir Ali Khan at close quarters. During his tenure as Subedar of Warangal, he visited Adilabad. At that time, the annual Jatra of the Gond tribals was being held at Kamlapur, Utnoor Taluq. Subedar Saab camped in Kamlapur almost all officers of the District were summoned and tents were pitched for them too, it was like a merrymaking camp in the desert. I attended the function as Tahsildar, Adilabad. The camp was held for three days. Every morning Subedar Amir Ali Khan came out of his tent, and talked to every officer, regardless of his rank in a very polite and courteous manner. It was like a “Pa’ter’fa’mil’I’as” (a man in the role of father and head of a household) was in conversation with his wards, not the highest officer of the Suba. All our efforts to maintain a respectable distance from him were foiled by his kind behavior and exhortative talk.

Alhaj Mirza Shukoor Baig’s tribute to Subedar Amir Ali Khan

Alhaj Mirza Shukoor Baig, a leading legal luminary of Hyderabad wrote an article about Amir Ali Khan as his tribute to him after his death on 10^th April, 1987, that appeared on 18^th April, 1987, in the Siasat Daily, the leading Urdu Newspaper of Hyderabad,

“More than forty years have elapsed but I think it appears to me yesterday’s event only. I was practicing in Warangal. Mr. Abdul Quader Sayeed was superintendent of Excise then.He was one of my close friends. Rationing of petrol was in force. Hence we have decided that one day we will go to club in my car and the other day in his car. Office and home of Saveed Bhui was the same. I used to go strolling to his home and from there we both use to go to club. On that day it was the turn of his car. I came out of my home after 5 p.m Saveed Bhai is coming in his car towards me. Instead of thanking him I burst at him and said “What an impatient person you are! I was just coming and you are bringing car. He laughed and said “Sorry, I committed a blunder and sat in my car”. When the car took a turn . Saveed livaan said “Shukoor Mivan. I have come earlier because before going to club we will meet Ameer Ali Khan Sahib who has come here today and have taken charge of subedari. I said “”pardon me ! Saeed Bhai I will not go there, first I do not know him I do not know what sort of person he is what is his temperament? Unless I know all this I would not go. Sayeed Bhai said “ you will be glad to meet him, he is very noble, sociable and courteous and well – mannered. We will sit there for a while and then go to the club’. And by this time no one would have come to the club. On his saying I too went to the bungalow of Sudebar Sahib. This double storied building, which was the residence of subedars. As located on the way to Waddepali. Which was near the office of Subedar and he Masjid of Subedar. This was the first house on the road where District Educational officer use to reside. On informing him, the Subedar who was sitting in the drawing room, came up till the door and received us by saying “Sayeed bhai. Sayeed Nilyaan. Sayeed Miyan. When he looked at me Sayeed Mivan introduced me to him saying he is Mirza Shukoor Baig. He practices here and he is my friend. Ameer Ali Khan Sahib shook hand with me and we the three entered the drawing room and we sat in this way. Saveed Bhai on one side then Subedar Sahib and them myself Ameer Ali Khan Sahib addressed Sayeed Bhai the whole time. Recited the past events and experiences and inquired about his last meeting and the places where Sayeed Sahib was posted. Then asked “Sayeed Miyan! Will you take tea or cold drink”. Sayeed Miyan replied in negative. Then he did not ask again. Then he saw me and ask the same thing. I too refused with thanks. Then he started talking to Sayeed Bhai Abdul Quadeer Sayeed who was the brother-in-law of Mr. Ahmed Mohiuddin. Chief Rationing  Officer and relative of Gulam Mahmood Qureshi, H.C.S. Qureshi Sahib was given the title of Mahmood Yaar Jung and he was posted in Revenue Department. Mustafa Qureshi was the brother of Mr. Mahmood Qureshi, whose second son Gulam Dastagir. I.A.S. was later married to Sayeed Bhai. However, after sometime we took leave of him. Saveed Bhai was engaged in conversation and I was on tentrhooks when the ear came out of bungalow of Subedar Sahib I burst at Sayeed bhai that you brought me even after my refusal and I was in mental anguish. Sayeed Bhai told me “what happened”. I said “ I was humiliated and you did not know? He said “what happened “. I said “ I had not gone to him with an application. He talked to you the whole time and did not enquire me, What are you doing here? To which Ihmi I belong to He had to speak to me. He is a great man, I have no complaint. It was a on my part to go over there. You are responsible for taking me there”. Sayeed Bhai kept quiet and said “ kindly excuse me I was dispirited in the club. After some time I started playing bridge and as usual left for home with Sayeed Bhai after 8 p.m.On the second day it was 9 a.m. I was informed that Subedar Sahib has come to my home. I was not fully ready. Wore Sherwani and came out. When he saw me he said “ Shukoor Baig Sahib I seek forgiveness I came to know your complient from Sayeed Miyan. I took your address from him your complient is genuine. Kindly excuse me . I said “ kindly be sseated I will serve tea. He said no . I will come again to take tea. I have come to remove the burden on my heart. I thought of your twice and thrice in the night. I value your feelings of self respect. I suppose you have pardorned me”. I submitted, “I am like your son. He said “this is all right first of all pardon me “. On his very insistence I said I pardoned you”. Then he embraced me and by saying goodbye, he got in the car. I walked to the car. He said “I am returning happily by your pardoning me “. I left car proceeded. I thought how noble and high minded man he is. Where such are! Though many events are coming to my memory, and I have become enabled to read and write and I am out of sorts. I cannot but describe and event. Where the residence and officer of Subedar was locted was nicknamed Subedar ,’ there was a road in Subedari whose name was liliter road, Mr Hunter was collector here, he layed out a road which was the nearest way to Nlaththwara (warangal). My house was on the road, and away from this road there was a house of a noted contractor Fiaji Muhmmad Zuhoor. He was a Denizen of Moradabad in those days.

Subedar of Medak

As Subedar (Governor) of Suba Medak

Amir Ali Khan was appointed as Subedar(Governor) of Suba Medak. During his tenure between as the Subedar, he brought in a number of reforms in the administration and made it accessible to the public and the people friendly. He identified various problems faced by the farmers, traders, students, teachers, Government employees and the pensioners and tried to solve them one by one.

There were four Subas (states) in the “Mamalik-e-Mahroosa-e-Sarkar-e-Aali” (The Dominion of the Nizam of Hyderabad) which was the largest in British India and which geographically consisted of an area larger than, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and France put together. A Subedar was thus ruling 1/4^th. area of the Princely State of Hyderabad almost independently in the day to day affairs.

Each Suba consisted of many Zil’as/ Zilla (District), Each Zil’a /Zilla consisted of many Taluqs, and Samsthans, and each Suba was governed by a Subedar, handpicked and appointed by the Government of the Nizam but the title Subedar really represented and suited Amir Ali Khan, fitting his stature and the respect he commanded through his political skills.

Subsequent to Amir Ali Khan being appointed as the Subedar (Governor) of Suba Warangal and Suba Medak, the word Subedar became synonymous with Amir Ali Khan, because of the sincerity and verve he alone was able to infuse into this important post. To this day, the word Subedar is his nom de plume and to this day an entire locality around the Collector’s office in Warangal District in Andhra Pradesh State is known as Subedari.

Medak’s Historical Church and Mosque, Hyderabad – 1943-1944

The Medak’s historical church & Mosque, formally known as Gulshanabad, were in dire need of funds to carry out the restoration and repairs to their structure and walls. Sooner, Subedar Amir Ali Khan noticed this, against objections, arranged and allocated huge amount of funds for the Church’s & Mosque’s restoration and repairs. Once again setting an example and restoring the faith of Christian Community and Muslim Community of Medak in fairness of his Administration. This action, in spite of objections from few elements, brought the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities together. For this Father Malaloo and the congregation of the church were very grateful.

Hyderabad  co-operative Insurance Society

Amir Ali Khan as Director for Hyderabad Co-operative Insurance Society

Subedar of Gulbarga

The Bassappa Temple Row Gulbarga

There were sixteen districts of Hyderabad State, one of the districts was Gulbarga Shareef, the last resting place of the famous Sufi Saint, Khwaja Banda Nawaz (Now in Karnataka state). In this city there is a big Lingayat community temple by the name “Sharan Basappa”

During  Saab’s tenure as Subedar at Gulbarga the bitter dispute between the Hindus and Muslims over the “Bassappa Temple” lands came to a head. Subedar Amir Ali Khan made up his mind that this will not continue to assail Hindu – Muslim communal harmony and he decided to intervene in the matter.

According to authentic histrionic, the property in dispute was believed to be the compound wall around the Sharan Basappa Temple, Hindus claimed the compound wall while Muslims contended the property belonged to the nearby Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah premises. For more than two decades, the issue kept both the communities in opposition, with religious fervor being an impetus. Many government officials avoided addressing the communal fray. While the situation could have been turned violent and the confrontation between the two communities, it did not. Subedar Saab intervened.He realized the Hindu/Muslim communities of Gulbarga were attempting to start a war like battle over the issues.

Subedar saab took the initiative under his own stream and brought the local leaders of both communities to the negotiating table to find the truth. With his judicious foresight and administrative competence, he also called the leaders of both the communities; prominent among them was Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung the fire brand Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen leader, Mr.Mallikarjunappa, president of the Lingayat Conference and the Lingayat leader spearheading the campaign for the Bassappa Temple, the Mutawalli and Sajjada Nasheen of the Gulbarga Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah as well as some prominent local Hindus and Muslims and other neutral parties, to sit across the table along with the officials of revenue and the land records department. Subedar Amir Ali Khan didn’t want to let the issue prolonged and requested Mr.Abdul Kareem Sahib Timmapuri, member Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen giving details of the case and requested nawab Bahadur Yar Jung, the president of Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen to come to Gulbarga for a political solution along with Lingayat leaders of Gulbarga. Subedar Amir Ali Khan as a competent authority had the power to do it and to solve the simmering issue between the Hindus and Muslims. The Subedar exercises wisdom and caution for long lasting peace in Gulbarga and other parts of India.

As per Deccan Chronicle news paper

On 17th July 1942 foundation stone was laid to construct compound wall around Sharana Basaveshwara Temple in the presence of Subedar Amir Ali Khan

Sipaas-naama from Lingayat community

Translation of the Sipasnama

For the kind perusal of Nawab Moulvi Mohammad Amir Ali Khan Sahib, H.C.S., Subedar Gulbarga Shareef.

Your Honor!

Though your period of rule has proved a God Gift for the people of Gulbarga and the people of the Suba, irrespective of caste and creed, who have not only benefited by your good governance and prudence but also your  memorable deed shall remain for ever in the hearts of Lingayat Community as a valuable asset and that deed is the construction of the compound wall of the shrine of Shri Sharan Basappa Maharaj, because it is not a secret to your Honour that this sublime shrine is highly venerated and revered by the Lingayat community and which is a holy place for all and a famous center of pilgrimage.

Your Honor! The construction of the compound wall of this temple was a bone of contention between the Hindus and Muslims of this town for long and every one of your predecessors tried his best to solve this problem but their efforts failed. But your sagacity and wisdom, unique statesmanship and unequalled intelligence and diplomacy solved this enigmatic problem very successfully, and instead of following of orders, your infallible strategy and distinctive nature coupled with your innate courteous behavior, prevailed upon both Hindus and Muslims to bury this dispute by mutual consent. Your achievement with your, shrewdness and many sided personality is not only a cause of pride and joy for H.E.H. the Nizam’s Government but it is also an example of communal amity and administrative acumen for various towns of India which has added a new and golden chapter to the history of religious tolerance of H.E.H. the Nizam’s Government.

Your Honor! For the gratifying treatment meted out by you to the Lingayat Community, we take the honour of thanking you and hope that the appraising eye of our Lord H.E.H. The Nizam will provide you a berth in the cabinet for the welfare of the country and nation.

Your Honor! As a mark of our joy for your kind visit and honoring us, we present a humble amount of Rs.3100/- to Your Honor. Though it is a very humble Nazrana but by your benignity and favors, we are sure that Your Honor will accept this small present as a token of our sincere feelings and sentiments. These traits of yours are inherent in you.

Respected Sir, the source of civilization and culture, and peace and tranquility, from which we are being benefited/blessed from is the sun of kingdom. i.e. H.E.H. the Nizam. from whom every one of this country’s communities and religions is getting benefited. We too have imbued the religious tolerance and favors of the Asfia dynasty in general and H.E.H the Nizam in particular, through our loyalty to the throne.

May His Exalted Highness’s shadow never grow less.

Father Of Pensioners

SUBEDAR AMIR ALI KHAN – “THE FATHER OF PENSIONERS IN INDIA”

It was Mr. D.R. Chadha and Major Pratap Singh, the secretary general and president of head quarter region respectively of the All India Organization of Pensioners (ATOP) who first called Subedar Amir All Khan, the Founder President of the AIOP as the “Father of the Pensioners in India”. The title has since stuck to Subedar Amir Ali Khan as a gem fits the ring. This title was justified as it was Subedar Amir Ali Khan who was the first person to organize the 80 Lakh pensioners/retirees from all departments’ of all states into the AIOP Circa 1962, (Formerly “Central Association of Pensioners Andhra Pradesh, established in 1950 and registered in 1958) with its administrative office at his own house, the “Subedar House” (Formerly Sardar Bagh) in MalakpetChanchalguda, Hyderabad.

Through the years 1950 until 1962 Subedar Amir Ali Khan focused on problems faced by the pensioners of Andhra Pradesh and established branches or associate offices of the “Central Association of Pensioners Andhra Pradesh, in Warangal, Kareem Nagar, Srikakulam and almost all district headquarters of Andhra Pradesh and continued his fighting for the state pensioners, bringing out the injustice meted out to the pensioners especially from Telangana. It was in the 1960’s when he thought of spreading his struggle to the rest of India. The All India Organization of Pensioners was thus established under his presidency. However it was not until 1970 when it was thought of getting the organization registered with the registrar of societies. Through this period Subedar Amir Ali Khan and his team kept on establishing the branches or associate offices of the ATOP, bringing out the issues concerning the pensioners at an all India level. The pensioners, a “Lost Tribe” and the problems and hardships they were facing were brought into the lime light by AIOP through various forums including the media and by a membership drive that in a few years saw the membership of the ATOP swelling to 3 Lakh active pensioner members from all cadres of the Govt. service i.e. Civil, Military, central or state, railway or local bodies.

Setting up an organization like the AIOP was not an easy task with branches in all the capital cities of India and its headquarters in New Delhi especially in those days when means of communication were so few and difficult, when the only media was the print media or the All India Radio and Doordarshan, which up until 1975, covered only seven Indian cities and had a television service. In 1982 Doordarshan as a National Broadcaster came into existence. Doordarshan remained the sole provider of television in India. Both All India Radio and Doordarshan were under the Govt. control then and continue to be so even today.

It takes a man of vision, courage and organizational skills par excellence to be able to set up and manage a voluntary organization (without any source of funds) that too of retired Govt. employees of different backgrounds, regions, religions, language and customs and to bring out a bi-monthly magazine “National Pensioner” from Meerut under the editorship of Mr. K.B.L. Mathur as the mouth piece of All India Organization of Pensioners based in Hyderabad. One can only imagine the pioneering efforts and zeal with which Subedar Amir All Khan focused his attention on the problems of the Indian pensioners and succeeded in his life’s mission of getting as many benefits for the pensioners as was possible under a recalcitrant ‘Babudom’; indifferent ministers and insincere politicians who often paid mere lip service to the cause of those who had spent a lifetime in service to the nation in war or peace, in the freezing subzero temperatures of the Himalayas, in the burning deserts of the Thar, the difficult terrains of the hilly regions, the staid Gangetic plains, the desolate Deccan, the dangerous Ghats or the sweltering coastal areas.

The National Pensioner, vol.5, 6 Dec. Jan.1971, has reproduced a news item published originally in National Herald newspaper on Dec. 26th. 1970, under the heading; Pensioners’ tale of woe, datelined New Delhi, Dec.25 and it is worth quoting it verbatim now to feel the pain and anguish that was the plight of the pensioners in India then and which kept men like Subedar Amir Ali Khan on his toes to struggle for their cause. Quote: “They can be seen every first week of the month outside the treasury offices, waiting patiently to take home their ‘reward for past services’ and hoping that some passerby would recognize them and say hello. But, usually nobody would. Pensioners might have mattered yesterday but today they are just a group of forgotten men. These men of yesterday men met once again today, the first day of the annual convention of the All India Organization of Pensioners here. The mood was reminiscent as well as apprehensive. The speakers, all of them in the evening of their lives, talked of the good old days and also of the hard time staring at them and their children. Their faces glowed when they tried to reconstruct the past. But within moments the glow turned pale as their voices became apprehensive. After all they had come here to discuss their future. ”

While the prices are rising unabated, there has been no material increase in the pensions since independence,” Major Pratap Singh, president of the organization headquarters complained. The present method of calculation of pensions was evolved a century ago by the Pension Act of 1871, which was based on the Pension Act then in vogue in Britain. Since then, pensions have been increased in Britain many times. But in India the rates are the same. “Since pension has been defined as deferred pay, it is unfair to overlook the rising spiral of prices,” argued Nawab Mohammad Amir All Khan, founder president of the organization. The intent of pension rules, when they were framed, was that after an employee’s period of service was over, 50 per cent of his expenses would be met by the exchequer, he pointed out. But most of the pensioners belonged to distant past, when the salaries were lower, keeping the amount of the pension static defeats the very purpose the rules under the present circumstances.” He said. Apart from rising prices the value of currency has also gone down appreciably while the pensioners’ previous salaries were fixed in accordance with the old value of currency, many speakers contended. This puts the pensioners in an even more disadvantageous position, they said” Unquote.

The rest of the news item continues in a similar vein and many speakers echoed the same views and demanded many benefits from the Govt. Today the Govt. Pensioners enjoy many benefits, (http://www.pensionersportal.gov.in) for current benefits and pension rules of the Govt. of India who are perhaps unaware of the untiring efforts and struggle their predecessors, especially through the pioneering work of the likes of Subedar Amir All Khan, the national founding president of the All India Organization of Pensioners (AIOP),Major (Retd.) Pratap Singh, president of AIOP Head Quarters region, Mr. D.R. Chadha, the secretary general, ATOP, Mr. M.S. Sawhney, vice president ATOP, U.P; Sardar Saheb S. Natha Singh, vice president ATOP, Punjab, Sardar Sohan Singh, authorized representative of ATOP, Bharatpur and a host of others have undertaken and have taken up the sufferings of the pensioners’ community in spite of many handicaps like old age, meager income, lack of funds for the organization and personal debility.

Subedar Amir Ali Khan stands out as an exceptionally strong willed leader who continued his pioneering efforts from 1950 onwards in the service of the pensioners until his demise in 1982 despite having one of his legs being amputated in 1976 due to Gangrene as a result of his long neglect of Diabetes. And he rightly deserves the soubriquet the ‘Father of Pensioners in India.”

Subedar Amir Ali Khan and few others in Delhi for pensioners association

Amir Ali Khan Peace and Global Foundation

The peace foundation is located in Hyderabad. Farooq Ali Khan, Chairman at Subedar Amir Ali Khan Peace Foundation is his son.

Subedar Ali Khan Road

As per GO Ms No 224 dated February 10, 2009, the government accorded permission for naming the Malakpet Junction-Dabeerpura, flyover stretch as "Subedar Amir Ali Khan Road.

The Times Of India article about road naming

Road named after ex-Subedar

Published: The Times of India, March 16, 2009

HYDERABAD: The road from Malakpet Junction to Dabeerpura Flyover was formally named after Subedar Amir Ali.

Amir Ali Khan was one of the four Subedars in the Hyderabad district during the erstwhile Nizam’s rule. Khan, who died in 1987 at the age of 87 years, was also the president of the All India Pensioner’s Association and first member, Board of Revenue. His house is also located on the Malakpet Junction-Dabeerpura Flyover stretch.

As per GO Ms No 224 dated February 10, 2009, the government accorded permission for naming the road as “Subedar Amir Ali Khan Road.” The Subedar Amir Ali Khan Peace Foundation had made a request to name the road after him.

The road signs installed were formally unveiled by 102-year-old former IAS officer G Narayan Shetty, who is also former president, All India Pensioners’ Association. Speaking at the programme, Shetty said:

“Amir Ali Khan led the movement of the pensioners and worked for their welfare. He created a lot of trust among the people of Hyderabad and helped the downtrodden.”

Subedar Amir Ali Khan Peace Foundation founder chairman Farook Ali Khan, who is the son of Amir Ali Khan, also spoke.

Hindu article about road naming