Mohamad Asaf Ali Activist of the Indian independence movement, public, political, state and diplomatic figure, lawyer Date of Birth: 11.05.1888 Country: India

1. Early Life and Education
2. Indian National Movement
3. Post-Independence
4. Legal Career
5. Personal Life
6. Death and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Asaf Ali received his education at St. Stephen's College in Delhi. He was called to the bar from Lincoln's Inn in England.

Indian National Movement

In 1914, Britain's attack on the Ottoman Empire deeply affected the Muslim community in India. Asaf Ali supported the Turkish side and resigned from the Privy Council. He viewed this as an act of non-cooperation and returned to India in December 1914.

Upon his return, Asaf Ali became actively involved in the nationalist movement. He was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly in 1935 as a member of the Muslim Nationalist Party. He later became a prominent member of the Congress and was appointed Deputy Leader.

Asaf Ali's last of several imprisonments during the freedom movement came after the Quit India Resolution passed by the All India Congress Committee in August 1942. He was detained in the Ahmednagar Fort prison along with Jawaharlal Nehru and other members of the Congress Working Committee.

Post-Independence

He was in charge of Railways and Transport in the Interim Government of India headed by Jawaharlal Nehru from September 2, 1946. From February to mid-April 1947, he served as India's first ambassador to the United States.

Asaf Ali was India's first ambassador to the United States. He was appointed as Governor of Orissa for two terms, and subsequently as India's ambassador to Switzerland.

Legal Career

Asaf Ali became one of the most respected lawyers in the country. He notably defended Batukeshwar Dutt as his advocate.

In 1945, Ali was the convenor of the INA Defense Committee, set up by the Congress to defend Indian National Army officers charged with treason later in November 1945.

Bhagat Singh was charged with attempted murder under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code. His defense lawyer was Asaf Ali, a member of the Congress party.

Personal Life

In 1928, he married Aruna Asaf Ali, a marriage that raised eyebrows due to their religious difference (Asaf Ali was Muslim, while Aruna was Hindu) and age gap (Aruna was 20 years younger than him). She is widely remembered for hoisting the Indian National Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay during the Quit India Movement in 1942. For her work, Aruna Asaf Ali was later awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna.

Death and Legacy

Ali died in office on April 2, 1953, in Bern, while serving as India's Ambassador to Switzerland. In 1989, a postage stamp was issued by India Post in his honor.