ملف رقم ١٢٩٠ لسنة ١٩٠٥ "بلاد الرافدين: وصية أيوديا" [و‎‎٦‎١] (٢٦٠/١٢٦)

No. 153, dated Baghdad, the 13th February 1909 w (Confidential).
From— Lieutenant-Colonel J. Ramsay, C.I.E., Political Resident in Turkish
Arabia and His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General, Baghdad,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have the honour to enclose a copy of a letter dated the 28th December
from Syed Ahmad, whose views on the Oudh Bequest were explained in
my letter No. 844, dated the 30th September 1907.
2. The possibility of improving the system, of distributing the Oudh
Bequest money has been discussed with a very large number of people during
the last three years, but I have met no one who defended the present system,
or who could suggest any practical improvement. Everyone tells me that the
money ought to be spent on charitable objects, and I believe that the really
leading Mujtahids might be willing to support Syed Ahmad’s efforts as soon
as they saw them bear some fruit. Unfortunately the Mujtahids are men of
no experience : they have never seen what we should consider to be a decently
managed charitable fund, and consequently they are unable to understand
appeals in favour of a reasonable expenditure of the Oudh Bequest money.
If there is to be improvement it must come from some place other than Nedjef
or Karbala, and seeing that the money comes from Oudh I do not think any
more suitable agent could be used than a leading Priest of Lucknow.
3. For these reasons I have written a reply to Syed Ahmad encouraging
him in his efforts. A copy of this reply, as well as the original, is herewith
enclosed for the information of the Government of India. Should it be consi
dered free from objection I shall be obliged if it can be forwarded to Syed
Ahmad as early as is convenient.
4. I earnestly hope that the Government of India will forward the letter.
Should Syed Ahmad fail in the task that he proposes to take upon himself no
harm will be done: but if experience proves him to be an honest and capable
man he may be able to introduce a system which will be a blessing to thousands
of poor and suffering people, and which will bring credit to the British
Government.
Dated the 28tk December 1908.
From —Syed Ahmad Moin-ul-Olama Allamah-i-Hindi,
Shamsul Olama Syed Muhammad Ibrahim,
Deurhi Agha Meer, Lucknow,
To—His Excellency the British Consul-General of Baghdad.
Mujtahid,
Chief High
son of
Priest,
Most respectfully I beg to lay the following lines for your kind and
favourable consideration.
1. When I paid my respects to you in the Baghdad Consul House last
time, on the last day of September 1907, I had a talk with you about the
Wasika of Nawab Mobarak Mahal, in which I expressed my opinion that it
was not fairly distributed. I then introduced Your Excellency with a pro
posal for the establishment of a hospital for the poor which was approved by
Your Excellency. Unfortunately I, as desired by Your Excellency, could not
stay there on account of some domestic affairs which urgently demanded my
presence at Lucknow. Ever since that time I was thinking that Your Excel
lency will kindly inform me about it through the Commissioner of Lucknow or
perhaps consult me about the matter.
I still firmly hold the opinion mentioned above, for my experience during
my stay at Karbala urges me on to state plainly that there is an urgent need
of a hospital for the poor British subjects.
It will be far better to spend it for the Indians living there than to spend
it for the foreigners according to the Will of the donor. It is possible that
according to the donor’s Will the money may be handed over to the Mojawir
Mujtahid to establish a regular hospital for the good of the Government
subjects, I
431 Fin. D,