Shahnawaz Khan Mamdot
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Nawab Sir Shahnawaz Khan Mamdot (17 December 1883 – 28 March 1942) was a politician of British India, a key supporter of the Pakistan movement and for some time, the largest landowner in undivided Punjab.[1][2]
He was born in Mamdot, Ferozepur District, Punjab in 1883. In 1907, he left Punjab, British India and settled in Hyderabad State where he joined the state police.[3] In 1928, Nawab Ghulam Qutbuddin Khan Mamdot, ruler of the Mamdot estate at that time, died childless. The British Court of Law awarded Shahnawaz the jagirs and title of Nawab of Mamdot,[1] thus making him one of the largest landowners in the Punjab.[4]
He returned to his ancestral land in 1934 and joined the Unionist Party (Punjab).[1] Following the Jinnah-Sikandar Pact in 1937, Mamdot joined the All-India Muslim League and became President of the Punjab Muslim League in 1938.[5] Then he became head of it and started structurally re-organizinig the Punjab Muslim League. He played a key role in organizing the historic session of the All-India Muslim League in March 1940 in Lahore. He personally paid almost all its expenses.[5][6] He also was the chairman of the reception committee. Jinnah usually stayed at his 'Mamdot Villa' whenever he was in Lahore.[1][7][5]
He was knighted in the King's New Year's Honour List at the start of 1939.[8] Later that year, he funded publication of a book by Mian Kifait Ali titled "Pakistan", which caused Mohammad Ali Jinnah to intervene and insist on a name change before publication for risk of antagonizing non-Muslims.[9]
Mamdot was a staunch supporter of a separate Muslim nation, and held the belief that Muslims could never tolerate subjugation to a community with which they shared no common ground in religion, culture and civilisation.[1][10][6]
At the Lahore Resolution session in 1940, he gave the welcome address as chairman of the local reception committee.[1][11]
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