Ghulam Muhammad Khan Bhurgri

Ghulam Muhammad Khan Bhurgri (Barrister, 1878-1924) was a Sindhi statesman.

Raees Ghulam Mohammad Bhurgri was one of the earliest leaders of Sindh during the colonial period. He was contemporary and one of the closest aide of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Alike Jinnah, Bhurgri was also associated with both the Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League. The role of both these leaders was to bridge the differences between two major political parties of India as well as the religious communities. Bhurgris family had migrated from "Bhurgarh" place in Dera Ghazi Khan to present MirpurKhas district of Sindh.

Professional career After his return, he started a practice in Hyderabad (Sindh).

Ghulam Mohammad Bhurgri was among the foremost Muslim leaders of Sindh whose activities had a significant impact on mainstream Indian politics. He was active at one time or another in several major political organisations.

He was the first to clamor for compulsory free education and in this connection moved the 'Muslim Education Cess Bill' (to recover just one 'pie' per rupee for this purpose) in the then Bombay Legislative Assembly. This move was strenuously opposed and defeated by the Zamindars and other vested interests who feared the possible dangers of spreading education, especially amongst the Haris and landless -labourers.

His relentless efforts brought in more grants to the local boards, besides more facilities to the cultivators and drastic improvements in the conditions of irrigation canals and roads. He also clamored for many other welfare causes and liberally helped the needy, especially poor litigants and students.

In an interview eminent politician and Jurist Rasul Bux Palejo Said: "If Bhurgri had been alive at the time of independence, Quaid-E- Azam Would have made him the first Prime Minister instead of Liaquat Ali Khan". He was among the most trusted and close political allies of Mr. Jinnah he further said. Raees Ghulam Mohammad was among those very few leaders who openly opposed the British rule right from the word go, He was progressive Landlord;

Muslim League

He remained a dedicated member of the All India Muslim League all through his life and attended all its annual sessions. He was a member of the Reforms Committee (8th session, Bombay, December 1915-January 1916), a member of the Committee to Discuss Congress-League Scheme (10th session - Calcutta, December 1917- January 1918) and a member of the Committee of Moplah Trouble (14th session, Ahmedabad, December 1921).

Role for Sindh He championed the cause of separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency with a view to safeguarding the interests of Sindhi Muslims. He with his friends came to the conclusion that the issue must be brought to all India political forums. All India National Congress had been made aware of the issue since 1913, and now All India Muslim League must also be asked to play its part. In December 1925, in its seventeenth session, the Muslim League passed the resolution that Sindh should be separated from Bombay and constituted into a separate province.

Bhurgri continuously lobbied for a separate province, proposing resolutions at all-India moots, from 1925 onwards. He repeatedly urged the Aga Khan who led the Muslim delegation to the Round Table Conferences (1930–32) and Jinnah to get the Sindh separation issue settled favourably during the London confabulations.

In recognition of his services, the Sindh Government changed the name of the town and Taluka of Jamesabad to Kot Ghulam Muhammad Bhurgri.

Books on Bhurgri Barrister Raees Ghulam Muhammad Khan Bhurgri Life and Works by former bureaucrat Mohammad Hashim Leghari