Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah Collection

Biography of Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah

This great son of Sindh was born in January 1879 at Shikarpur. His family history and life is very interesting.

He belong to a well to do Zamindar family of Sindh. He completed his early education at his native place.

  • Matriculation examination passed from Bombay University.
  • Graduation from Sindh Madresat-ul-Islam and DJ College 1901.
  • LL.B. from Law College, Bombay in 1903.

He started Law practice at Hyderabad in 1904. After becoming an established Lawyer, he became the President of Hyderabad Municipality. He was selected to represent all local boards of Sindh division at Bombay legislative council since 1912 to 1920. In 1934 he was nominated as a member of Viceroy’s Executive council. In 1935 he was elected to the central Indian Legislative Assembly from Sindh Jagirdars and Zamindars seat. During the round table conference held at London, he represented the Muslim of the Bombay presidency along with Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto.

Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayutullah successfully advocated the separation of Sindh from Bombay presidency by proving its economic and administrative viability as an independent province. It was decided to grant autonomy to Sindh Province with effect from 01st April 1936. The Bombay legislative council of which Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah was a member passed a resolution bidding farewell to their departing colleagues. The first election for Sindh provincial Assembly was held in February 1937. After this election Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah was entrusted with the responsibilities as the first head of the Government of autonomous Sindh on 26th June 1947.

After establishment of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah appointed him as the first Governor of Sindh. He died on 4th October 1948 in Karachi in the age of 69. He was buried with full military honor at Karachi.

The Collection

In the year 2008 Sindh Archives acquired the collection of Mr. Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah from his son. This collection include letters received by Mr. Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah during his political career. Mostly these documents are related with the seperation of Sindh from Bombay presidency. 

  • (List to be added soon)