A.M.O. Ghani

Abu Asad Mohammed Obaidul Ghani
Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly for Entally
In office 1957–1971
Preceded by	Devendra Chandra Dev
Succeeded by	Mohammed Nizamuddin
Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly for Entally
In office 1972–1973
Preceded by	Mohammed Nizamuddin
Succeeded by	Sachindra Kumar Dhar
Personal details
Born	3 January 1903
Died	24 September 1973 (aged 70)
Political party	Communist Party of India
Profession	Medical doctor

Abu Asad Mohammed Obaidul Ghani (1903–1973), also referred to as A.M.O. Ghani, was an Indian politician, belonging to the Communist Party of India.^[1][2]

Youth

Obaidul Ghani's grandfather, Maulvi Elahad, had moved from Darbhanga, Bihar to Calcutta in the mid-19th century.^[2] After obtaining his M.B.B.S. degree he founded the Park Circus charitable dispensary in 1950, serving the poor and lower middle-class populations of the city.^[3][4] Obaidul Ghani contested the 1952 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election as an independent, standing in the Baniapukur Ballygung constituency.^[5] He obtained 524 votes (0.88%).^[5]

Legislator

Obaidul Ghani represented the Entally constituency in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly 1957–1971, standing as a CPI candidate in the 1957, 1962, 1967 and 1969 elections.^[1] As a politician, he obtained significant popularity for his provision of medical services to the poor people of Calcutta.^[3] He stayed with CPI in the 1964 split.^[1] In August 1969 the Modern Furnishers Mazdoor Union was registered, with Obaidul Ghani as its president.^[6] The union was affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress.^[6]

He lost the Entally seat to Mohammed Nizamuddin of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the 1971 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election.^[7] He managed to defeat Mohammed Nizamuddin in the 1972 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election and regained the Entally seat.^[8]

Death and legacy

Obaidul Ghani died following an attack of coronary thrombosis on 24 September 1973.^[2][3][4] After Obaidul Ghani's death, a by-election was held for the Entally seat on 3 June 1974.^[9] The by-poll was won by Sachindra Kumar Dhar.^[9]

There is a road named "Dr. A.M.O. Ghani Road" in Ward 64 of Kolkata.^[10] Obaidul Ghani used to live on this road, which was previously known as 'Pearl Road'.^[11] The new name was issued on 1 April 1974.^[10] There is also a "Dr. A.M.O. Gani Memorial Primary School" and a "Dr. A.M.O. Gani Memorial Girls School" in Ballygunge.^[12]

References

1. Communist Party of India (Marxist). West Bengal State Committee. Election results of West Bengal: statistics & analysis, 1952–1991. The Committee. pp. 393, 409, 546. ISBN 9788176260282.
2. Tazeen M. Murshid (1995). The Sacred and the Secular: Bengal Muslim Discourses, 1871–1977. Oxford University Press. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-19-563701-4.
3. Journal of the Indian Medical Association. Vol. 61. Indian Medical Association. 1973. p. 418.
4. The Annual Register of Indian Political Parties. Orientalia (India). 1974. p. 317.
5. "General Elections, India, 1951, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal" (PDF). Constituency-wise Data, Assembly Constituency No. Election Commission. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
6. West Bengal Labour Gazette. Department of Labour, Government of West Bengal. July 1969. p. 530.
7. "General Elections, India, 1971, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal" (PDF). Constituency-wise Data, AC No. Election Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
8. "General Elections, India, 1972, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal" (PDF). Constituency-wise Data, AC No. Election Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
9. West Bengal (India). Legislature. Legislative Assembly (February 1975). List of Members. Superintendent, Government Print. p. 5.
10. P. Thankappan Nair (1987). A history of Calcutta's streets. Firma KLM. p. 298. ISBN 9780836419344.
11. Bangladesh Quarterly. Vol. 27. Department of Films & Publications, Government of Bangladesh. July 2006. p. 47.
12. M. K. A. Siddiqui; Institute of Objective Studies (New Delhi, India) (1997). Institutions and associations of the Muslims in Calcutta: a preliminary survey. Institute of Objective Studies. p. 152. ISBN 978-81-85220-42-0.