Dr.Iqbal Shidai’s: Role of Maulana Abdul kalam Azad
Dr. Iqbal Shedai’s return travelogue is uploaded with minor spelling changes and these documents are part of Pakistan archives.
Chapter 1: Dr Iqbal Shedai's Return Travelogue
On 14th Sepatember, 1946, His eminence Maulana Abul Kalam Aazad wrote to me from Masoori in which he advised me to return to India as soon as possible because, he said, that all patriots must come back to Dehli.
I had no passport with which I could travel freely. I had the Italian passport but it too was to be renewed. The new Italian government did not like to renew it as my passport was issued during Signor Mussolini’s regime.
I, therefore, wrote to Maulana Azad that the passport difficulty was a great hindrance in my return to India. He wrote to me in return that he was going to Dehli and would talk with Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the interim Prime Minister of the Indian Government.
I had also informed my younger brother, Dr. Mohammed Jamal Bhutta, about my passport difficulty. He went to Dehli and met Mr.Asif Ali who in turn introduced him to Maulana Azad who was also in Dehli in those days. My brother explained to him my passport difficulty.
The Maulana introduced him to Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru who, the Pundit, after hearing about my difficulty said that he had already written to me to come back. In reality, I had received a letter from Mr.Dyal, personal secretary of Pundit Nehru, that the Indian Government was in touch with the British Government to facilitate my return to India.
(This letter of Mr.Dyal is still with me.)
My brother also tried through his friends Chaudhri Mohammed Ali etc. for my return to India. It all happened after the middle of the year 1946.
In October 1946, I was informed by the secretary of the Pundit that orders had been given to the British Embassy in Rome which was representing Indian Government in those days, that I must be given a passport and I should ask the British Consul General in Rome to issue the passport.
When I met the Consul General and asked him for the passport, he refused to issue it saying that he would only give me a letter to enter India.
I refused to get that letter and said that I would write to my government about his refusal to issue the passport.
He was annoyed with my answer and asked me which was my government.
I replied to Mr. Jawahar Lal Nehru and Maulana Azad.
He became red hot and with anger asked me with what papers I had been living and traveling in Europe.
I said that his government got me kicked, from every country and the country where I was obliged to enter gave me protection for some time and then I was again obliged to leave it for another country. Thus, I said, I traveled to different countries.
I did not and could not tell him that I had first a Turkish passport then an Afghan and lastly the Italian one.
After hearing such an “impudent “reply he left the room for some five minutes, he again returned and said in very nasty language that I should come after ten days.
When I returned to the Consulate and asked the clerk that I would like to see the Consul General and button gave him my card.
The clerk after two minutes came back and told me that I should return after ten days.
I used to write all about this conversation to His Eminence Maulana Azad and I am sure my letters to him would be found among his papers.
When again I went to the Consulate General The clerk after seeing the Consul told me that I should return after ten days.
Thus, a full one month passed in waiting for the passport. When I next saw the clerk, he, after seeing the Consul General, told me to come after two days with three photos of mine and ten shillings.
Finally, I was given The Passport.
