Abdul Bari (professor)

Prof. Abdul Bari
Born	Abdul Bari 1892 kansua, Bihar
Died	(1947-03-28)28 March 1947
Cause of death	Shot dead near Fatuah Railway Crossing
Resting place	Peermohani Qabristan, Patna
Nationality	Indian
Education	M.A. from Patna College, Patna University
Occupation	President of Tata Worker's Union from 1936–1947
Years active	1917–1947
Organization	Tata Steel Workers Union
Known for	Played active role to unite worker section of Bihar, Bengal and Orissa for freedom struggle movement in 1921, 1922 and 1942
Notable work	In 1937 his first historical agreement with TISCO Management
Term	1936–1947
Predecessor	Subhas Chandra Bose
Successor	Michael John
Political party	Indian National Congress
Movement	Quit India Movement 1942
Parent	Md Qurban Ali
Website	https://web.archive.org/web/20110202210120/http://pabtciti.com/Profile.aspx

Abdul Bari(Urdu:پروفیسر عبد الباری, Hindi: प्रोफ़ेसर अब्दुल बारी; 1892–1947) was an Indian academic and social reformer. He was born in 1892 in Sahabad, Village Kansua of Jahanabad District in Bihar. He graduated in 1918 and later engaged in post-graduate studies in History in 1920 at Patna University. He joined Bihar National College, which was then started under Mahatma Gandhi's inspiration, as Professor in 1921.

From the very beginning of the life an idea was developing in his mind to bring about social reform in Indian society by awakening the people through propagation of education and teaching as well. He had a vision of India free from slavery, Social Inequality, communal disharmony. He took part in freedom movement and finally sacrificed his life for the cause of nation. He had taken part in many freedom movements along with Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Shri Babu & Anugraha Babu.

Biography

Bari was born in 1892 at Bhojpur (Sahabad), Bihar. His father was Md Qurban Ali. He lived in the village Koilwar, on the banks of river Sone in the locality called Pathantoli He received his M.A. from Patna College, Patna University. A national level college has been established in Sadaqat Ashram, Patna in 1921 in which Dr. Rajendra Prasad was Principal and Abdul Bari was Professor along with Dr Anugrah Narayan Sinha.

His first meeting with Mahatma Gandhi was as a congress worker in 1917 during his visit to Bihar. He played active role to unite worker section of Bihar, Bengal and Orissa for freedom struggle movement in 1921, 1922 and 1942. He also played active role in Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922 with Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr Anugrah Narayan Sinha and Dr Sri Krishna Singh.

In the provincial election in 1937, he was elected as an MLA of Bihar from Champaran area on Congress ticket. It was the same election when his relative Barrister Mohammad Yunus was leading second largest party of Bihar- Muslim Independent Party. He became Dy. Speaker of Bihar Assembly in July, 1937 of first Congress Government which formed on 19 July 1937 after the fall of 4 months long First democratic government of Bihar headed by First Premier(Prime Minister) of Bihar province Barrister Mohammad Yunus He became Vice Chairman of Bihar Labour Enquiry Committee under Chairmanship of Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

The Bihar Labour Enquiry Committee visited Jamshedpur to see the labour problem in Jamshedpur. On the request of Netaji Subhas, then President of Jamshedpur Labour Association, he decided to lead the labour association in Jamshedpur. On the advice of Netaji Subhash Bose he decided to change the name of Jamshedpur Labour Association to Tata Worker's Union in 1937. He was President of Tata Worker's Union from 1936–1947.

In 1937 his first historical agreement with TISCO (now Tata Steel) Management. Played active role in the Quit India Movement in 1942. In 1946 he became President of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee. In 1947 riot spread in Patna.

On request of Mahatma Gandhi he was coming to Patna by car from Jamshedpur, he was shot dead near Fatuah Railway Crossing on 28 March 1947. His killer never got punished because it is said that he was being killed by fellow congressmen in Power struggle for BPCC President and Chief Ministerial Candidate. He is buried in Peermohani Qabristan.

On the first death anniversary of Prof. Abdul Bari, Dr. Rajendra Prasad recalled his contribution to the nation through a message dated 22 March 1948 published in Mazdur Avaz.

Places and institutes named after him

• Abdul Bari Memorial College, Golmuri, Jamshedpur
• Abdul Bari Town Hall, Jehanabad
• Bari Maidan Sakchi, Jamshedpur
• Bari Park, Ranchi
• Prof. Abdul Bari Technical Centre, Patna
• Prof. Abdul Bari Path, Patna
• Prof.Abdul Bari Memorial High School, Noamundi Iron Mine, Singhbhum(W),Jharkhand
• Bari Maidan, Burnpur, Asansol

References

• Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Correspondence and Select documents Volume 8 by Valmiki Choudhary published by Centenary Publication
• At the feet of Mahatma Gandhi by Rajendra Prasad published by Asia Publication House
• History of the freedom movement in Bihar by Kalikinkar Datta published by Govt. of Bihar.
• Bihar Through the Ages by Ritu Chaturvedi published by Sarup & Sons
• My Days With Gandhi by Nirmal Kumar Bose page 139
• Working together: labour-management co-operation in training and in technological and other Changes by Alan Gladstone, Muneto Ozaki published by International Labour Office, Geneva
• The Politics of the Labour Movement: An Essay on Differential Aspirations by Dilip Simeon
• History of The Indian Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. by Dr. N.R.Srinivasan
• Official website of Tata Workers Union

External links

• Official website of Tata Workers Union
• The Politics of the Labour Movement: An Essay on Differential Aspirations
• Prof. Abdul Bari Technical Centre
• Tata workers union pays homage to Prof. Abdul Bari
• About Shahabad