Ayub Ali Master facts for kids

Ayub Ali Master (Bengali: আইয়ুব আলী মাস্টার; died 1980) was an important person in the early British Bangladeshi community. He was a social reformer, a politician, and a businessman. He is famous for helping many early British Asians (people from Asia living in Britain).

He set up a special home called "Number 13" that worked like a boardinghouse. It offered many services to people from Asian countries. Ayub Ali was one of the first people from Sylhet to come to the United Kingdom. Today, many people from Bangladesh live in the UK. Because of his work, he was a well-known name in the Sylhet region. People called him one of the brave jahazis (sailors). His family was also known for being good businesspeople.

Ayub Ali's Early Life

Ayub Ali was born into a Bengali Muslim family. His village was Achol, in Jagannathpur Upazila within the Sylhet District. This area was part of British India at the time. We don't know exactly how, but he later moved to the United States. He then came to the United Kingdom as a former lascar, which was a sailor from Asia.

His Career and Work

Ayub Ali arrived in the United Kingdom in late 1919. He came on a ship from the United States to the Tilbury Docks in England. At that time, there were many people from Asian countries living in Britain. There was also a big need for food from South Asia, as there weren't many restaurants serving it.

Starting a Restaurant

In 1920, Ayub Ali started his career by opening the Shah Jalal Restaurant and Coffee House. It was on Commercial Street, London. The restaurant became very popular. It was a central place for the British Asian community to meet. Many important meetings happened there. For example, the India League held a meeting there on June 13, 1943. About eighty Asian sailors and factory workers, plus three Europeans, were there. Other famous people like Narayana Menon and Mulk Raj Anand also visited the restaurant often.

Helping Others at "Number 13"

In 1945, Ayub Ali moved to 13 Sandys Row in the East End of London. He lived there until 1959. Through his restaurant and his home, he helped other former sailors find jobs. He also gave them food, education, and a place to stay for free in his own home.

Ayub Ali was very good at English. This skill allowed him to write letters for the men. He also helped them send money back to their families in other countries. People believe that he got the nickname "Master" during this time. This was because he was so good at reading and writing.

Founding the Indian Seamen's Welfare League

In 1943, Ayub Ali and his friend Shah Abdul Majid Qureshi started the Indian Seamen's Welfare League. Their goal was to help sailors from Asia. This group made sure that people from Asia had their rights protected. It also helped them talk to their families back home.

The first meeting was on July 14, 1943, in King's Hall, Commercial Street, London. Most people at the meeting were Bengali Muslims, but dozens of Europeans also came. Later, the group changed its name to the Indian Seamen's Welfare League. This made it sound less political.

V. K. Krishna Menon also made Ayub Ali the treasurer for the East End branch of his India League. Ayub Ali was also the president of the All-India Muslim League. He had connections with important leaders like Liaquat Ali Khan and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Later Businesses and Return Home

Later in his life, Ayub Ali started a travel agency business. It was called Orient Travels and was first run from his house. This business later moved to Brick Lane. Brick Lane is now a very important area for the British Bangladeshi community.

Afterward, he went back to his home village of Achol in Jagannathpur. This was in the newly independent country of Bangladesh. There, he became a member of his local Union Parishad (local council). He even renamed his village from Achol to Hason-Fatehpur.

Ayub Ali's Legacy

Ayub Ali died on April 1, 1980, in Hason-Fatehpur, Bangladesh. He had two sons and one daughter. His work helped shape the early British Bangladeshi community.