Mohammad Ismail Khan (Indian Politician) - Early Life

Early Life

Mohammad Ismail Khan was born in August, 1884 in Meerut, a part of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. He was born to Nawab Mohammad Ishak Khan of Jehangirabad and was the Grandson of the renowned Urdu and Persian poet, Nawab Mustafa Khan Shefta (sometimes spelled as "Shaifta") - "Shaifta/Shefta" being his Urdu pen-name. Upon completing his early schooling in India, he proceeded to England, at the age of twelve to continue his studies as a full-time boarder at Tonbridge School in Tonbridge, Kent. He went on from there to attain his undergraduate credentials from St John's College, Cambridge to thereafter become a Barrister of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple (Inns of Court School of Law). In those days travel to the Great Britain was by ship from Bombay and around the Cape of Good Hope, taking more than a month to reach. He returned to India at the age of 24 in 1908 and opted for a career in law. His father, as a career ICS (Indian Cicil Servant) officer had become a Judge in Allahabad and was a founding member of the Muslim League; in addition to being a close friend of Pundit Motilal Nehru's. During his job as District and Session Judge, he was greatly impressed by the eminence of Pundit Motilal Nehru as a lawyer. When M. Ismail Khan returned from England after becoming a barrister at law, Nawab M. Ishak Khan made commenced his legal practice as assistant lawyer to Pundit Motilal Nehru - who prevailed upon Nawab M. Ishak Khan to permit his son to stay with him as his guest. Hence M. Ismail Khan was sent to live with the Nehru family in Anand Bhawan for a few years. Whilst practicing law in India, he befriended Muhammad Ali Jinnah, with whom he entered politics.