Some of the greatest achievements in human history have come about through the services of dedicated individuals. The late Syed Shamsul Hasan, who died 30 years ago today, was one such person.

As Maulvi Muhammad Yakub, general secretary, All India Muslim League, puts it in his Annual Report, 1931-32: “Had it not been for Shamsul Hasan’s firmness and perseverance, the All India Muslim League would have been a thing of the past.”

Syed Shamsul Hasan joined the All India Muslim League in July 1914. Though he held the title of assistant secretary he also worked as stenographer, typist, clerk and anything else that was necessary to keep the League functional. During the early days, before Liaquat Ali Khan was elected general secretary, the finances of the League were often in dire straits. At such times Hasan kept things going by borrowing funds and even by dipping into his own pocket.

Seeing this dedication the Quaid elected Hasan as the printer and publisher of various League publications including its flagship newspaper, the Dawn. Hasan was also the custodian of all the League’s written records including published material, minutes of meetings and correspondence. At the time of Partition he refused to leave Delhi until arrangements could be made for the safe transport of these records to Pakistan; these documents were eventually brought across and stored at the Pakistan Muslim League office in Karachi.

Soon after Partition he again travelled to Delhi on Jinnah’s request to rescue the Quaid’s personal correspondence with other Muslim League leaders. That Hasan was ready to risk even his life is clear from the fact that, once in Delhi, he was arrested and clapped into jail on trumped-up charges but he did not lose sight of his mission. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Jawaharlal Nehru intervened and he eventually returned with the voluminous correspondence.

These papers, which later came to be called the Shamsul Hasan Collection, add up to around 10,000 original documents, collected in 72 volumes — a veritable treasure trove of history that Hasan, and after his death his son Zahid, preserved for posterity. However, after over half a century of guarding these papers, Zahid Hasan has donated the collection to the National Documentation Wing, of the Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan, for publication.

The first book, comprising volumes one to five, was published last year under the title The Punjab Story, 1940-1947; the remaining volumes will follow. This is in accordance with the Quaid’s wish who desired these records be published so future generations could get a glimpse of the struggle behind Pakistan’s creation.

Unfortunately, the nation has not been as kind to the rest of Shamsul Hasan’s legacy. A large portion of the original records, transported from Delhi at the time of Partition and estimated to total up to 200,000 documents, were mishandled by different authorities as the ownership of the Pakistan Muslim League office changed hands. Copies of early editions of Dawn and Manshoor, another League publication, were either destroyed or sold as wastepaper before Hasan managed to shift the precious cargo to another location.

Though the Shamsul Hasan Collection has at long last been accorded the respect it deserves and though both Hasan sahib and his son Khalid Shamsul Hasan were awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, we must regret the heedless manner in which we lost part of this unique legacy.

The writer is a member of staff.