Malik Barkat Ali facts for kids

Malik Barkat Ali (born April 1, 1886 – died April 5, 1946) was an important Indian Muslim leader. He was a politician, a lawyer, and a journalist. He played a big role in the movement to create Pakistan.

Early Life and Career Journey

Malik Barkat Ali was born in April 1885 in Lahore. At that time, Lahore was part of British India. His family belonged to the Kakazai Pashtun group.

He went to a local high school. Then, he won a special award called a scholarship. This scholarship helped him study at the famous Forman Christian College in Lahore.

After finishing college, he worked as an Assistant Professor there. This was from 1905 to 1907. Later, he studied Law and became a lawyer. In 1908, he was chosen to be a Junior Magistrate in Punjab. He worked in this job until 1914. He decided to leave because he had different ideas about how things should be done.

After leaving his government job, he worked as a full-time lawyer. He also became an editor for an English newspaper called The Observer. He worked there from 1914 to 1918. Being a newspaper editor helped him become well-known in Punjab politics.

Malik Barkat Ali's Political Role

Malik Barkat Ali joined the Punjab Muslim League in 1916. This group worked for the rights of Muslims. He was greatly inspired by the ideas of Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Iqbal was a famous poet and thinker. For many years, Malik Barkat Ali was a very strong member of the Muslim League.

In 1937, he was chosen to be a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. He was the only person from the All-India Muslim League in that assembly. For seven years, he stood alone against another group called the Unionist Party (Punjab).

Supporting Bhagat Singh's Trial

In 1929, a famous freedom fighter named Bhagat Singh was on trial in Lahore. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Malik Barkat Ali, and two others worked together. They put forward a plan in the Lahore High Court. This plan was to speak out against the trial. Malik Barkat Ali was a strong supporter of Allama Iqbal. He continued to support him until Iqbal passed away in 1938.

Role in the Pakistan Resolution

In March 1940, a very important meeting happened. It was led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In this meeting, the famous Lahore Resolution was approved. This resolution was a big step towards creating Pakistan. Malik Barkat Ali was also part of this important event. He was a member of the All-India Muslim League's Working Committee.

In his later years, Malik Barkat Ali was very impressed by another leader, Syed Ata Ullah Shah Bukhari. His ideas changed quite a bit. He then joined a group called the All India Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam. Malik Barkat Ali also worked as a secretary for the Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam for some time.

Death and Lasting Legacy

Malik Barkat Ali passed away on April 5, 1946. He was in Lahore at the time. He was giving a speech to a special court when he died.

Commemorative Postage Stamp

In 1990, the Pakistan Post Office honored Malik Barkat Ali. They released a special postage stamp with his picture on it. This stamp was part of their 'Pioneers of Freedom' series. It recognized his important contributions.