Indian academia suffered a huge loss on Monday with the passing away of noted Partition historian Professor Mushirul Hasan. He was 71 when he passed away at a private hospital in the wee hours of December 10.
Hasan, who had served as the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamia (2004-09), is survived by his wife Zoya Hasan, a political scientist.
Hasan was an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University and University of Cambridge. He had served several academic positions during his long and illustrious career as a historian and academician, including the director-general of the National Archives of India, the president of the Indian History Congress (2002), and Vice Chairman of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.
In addition to India’s Partition, Prof. Hasan had worked extensively on Islam and Muslims of South Asia. Known for a strong sense of humour, his ability to tackle even the most difficult issues with ease is reflected in his works like the Wit and Humour in Colonial North India (2007), From Pluralism to Separatism: Qasbas in Colonial India (2003), and John Company to the Republic: A Story of Modern India (2001).
In his book India Partitioned: The Other Face of Freedom, Hasan brilliantly captured the bitterness between the governments as well as between the people from India and Pakistan, resulting from the partition. His works like The Nehrus: Personal Histories (2006), Between Modernity and Nationalism: Halide Edip’s Encounter with Gandhi’s India, Faith and Freedom: Gandhi in History, established him as one of the most prominent historians of modern India.
Hasan was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2007. He had also been awarded the Ordre des Palmes Academiques in 2010 for his distinguished contribution to history of South Asia.
Soon after his death, condolences messages from all over the country started pouring out on Twitter. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "A Historian, A Teacher, A Vice-Chancellor, An Archivist: Mushir ul Hasan blended all fine qualities of our syncretic culture and scholarship. His work and his books continue to shape our consciousness.”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote on Twitter: "Shocked to know about the sad demise of noted scholar and writer Mushirul Hasanji. His contribution to Jamia Millia Islamia will always be remembered."
