Diwan of Mysore
Mirza Ismail became the private secretary to the Maharajah, who had great faith in his administrative acumen and abilities to implement them. It was at this time the King urged Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya to guide him. It is well documented that Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya became Mirza Ismail's mentor. In 1926 on the recommendation of Vishvesvaraya the King supplemented Mirza Ismail by elevating him to the coveted position of the Diwan of Mysore.
The Kingdom of Mysore under the reigns of Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV and Sir Mirza Ismail was known as "the golden age of Mysore", prompting Mahatma Gandhi to call it Ram Rajya, implying they were like brothers and despite their religious backgrounds they put the welfare of the people of the state above all else. An ideal which he later lamented Nehru and Jinnah could not achieve.
Lord Sankey said during the Round table conference that Mysore was "the best administered state in the world". Princes from other sections of India were sent to Mysore for administrative training.
Mirza Ismail had a deep love for his state and encouraged Sanskrit and made Kannada compulsory to all in the State. He believed "If Sanskrit would be divorced from the everyday life of the masses of this country, a light would be gone from the life of the people and the distinctive features of Hindu culture which have won for it an honoured place in world-thought would soon be affected to the great disadvantage and loss both of India and of the world.”
He attended to the needs of society with an impartial outlook, religious biases were never part of his administrative agenda. Peace, Progress, Economic Wealth and welfare for the people and the state were his top priority.
Considered a pioneer he helped Bangalore attain its modern outlook and vision. His contributions over this period of time were countless the most notable would be the meticulously planned and designed Brindavan Gardens, located on the terrace of the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam, near the Mysore City. The gardens contain a number of fountains in all shapes and sizes and in the evenings they are tastefully illuminated giving the gardens a fairy tale look.
During his time the Medical College was established in Mysore also. The Bangalore Town Hall and the first rural electrification programme in India were also implemented by him. Like his mentor Mirza Ismail was a man who was Industry friendly and set up Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
His contributions to the Indian Science Academy in Bangalore also are worth mentioning also. It was his initiatives which helped to get twelve acres of land from the Maharajah for the Academy in which the Raman Institute also is established. The Nobel laureate Sir C.V. Raman paid eloquent tributes to Sir Mirza in the following words:” For many years, in fair weather as well as in foul, Sir Mirza Ismail remained the truest of friends to me, ever ready to give support and advice. He leaves behind him a memory which will be treasured and cherished by all who have known him.”
He was a superlative administrator and set an inspiring example to the officials by undertaking extensive tours and personally looking to the grievances of the people. Over his fourteen years of service, Mysore State made substantial progress in the field of industries, both in the private and public sectors. If Vishvesvaraya paved the way for the eventual establishment of the sugar industry, the credit for actually bringing the factory into existence went to Mirza Ismail who was largely instrumental in sponsoring the company by taking advantage of the favourable opportunity presented by the grant of protection to the sugar industry in 1932. The Sugar Factory at Shimoga and the Khadi Production Centre at Badanval were the other industries that were set up during his time. A Trade Commissioner was also appointed in London.
British Indian authorities started laying the metre gauge line in the year 1938 from Shimoga to Talaguppa to provide access to Jog Falls. Another purpose was to transport wooden logs from the forests of the Malnad region to make wooden sleepers and also to be used as a fuel in the furnaces of the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited at Bhadravathi. In 1939, Sir Mirza Muhammad Ismail took the maiden journey on this line to visit Sagara town. Sir Mirza Muhammad Ismail, CIE, OBE (1883-1959 was a Diwan of the Kingdom of Mysore. The connection till Talaguppa was inaugurated on 9 November 1940. Some of the prominent people who have used this line to visit Jog Falls include Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, Sir M. Visvesvaraya, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Morarji Desai. Socialist leader, Ram Manohar Lohia travelled in a train on this line to participate in the Kagodu Satyagraha but was arrested at Sagara station.
The Cauvery high level canal was also constructed, irrigating 120,000 acres (490 km²) of land in Mandya district. Other industries started during his period as diwan include Porcelain Factory and the Glass Factory all in Bangalore were established paper, cement, steel, fertilizers, sugar and electric bulbs. Vasya Bank, cement factory, the Chemical and Fertilizers factory and Sugar mills. In 1940, he laid the foundation stone of the Jamia Masjid mosque, near City Market in Bangalore.
Mirza Ismail also ensured the Maharajas assets and investments earned healthy profits and were protected. Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV was deemed the richest King in the country at the time of his death.
A major part of his administration was spent in suppressing various kinds of public disturbances. He had to do a great deal of tight-rope walking in the face of popular agitations conducted by the Congress Party. He had to maintain good relations with the top Indian National Congress leaders like Gandhi and Nehru on one hand and in alliance with Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, he did everything possible to suppress Congress movement in the State for fear of communal violence and unrest on the Garden City of India. It was this very fear which came to the fore over Sultanpet Ganapathi Disturbances in Bangalore in 1928 this upheaval created the long desired opportunity the Congress desired and they finally gained ground in the illusive state of Mysore also.
Following the King Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV death in 1940, he continued as the Diwan with king Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. However, he resigned in 1941 over differences.
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