Colonel Jamaluddin (Indian Medical Service)

Sajeela Khan, daughter of Col. Jamaluddin has submitted this post. Col.Jamaluddin, was a cousin of my father Sheikh Karim Baksh. I think this post is a natural follow on to my previous post about my dad. I will be glad to add additional information from others to this blog. Please leave the information in the form of a comment to this blog.

Colonel Jamaluddin was born in Amritsar, to the well known family of Hakim Ghulam Jilani, on May 22nd 1891. His father Sheikh Abdul Aziz was in the postal service with a jurisdiction extending from Poonji and Chilas to Jullunder. He was one of four brothers with no sister, and was educated at Randhir College, Rawalpindi. When the time came for the older two to be sent to England for higher education, their Mother insisted they get engaged to be married. At the time both brides to be,daughters of near relatives from Kapurthala, and Amritser, were barely eleven years old and still playing with dolls. Col Jamaluddin’s mother brought the young girls over,to keep her company on their long travels from Poonji and Chilas and to live with her as she had no daughters. During that time, a plague at Kapurthala broke out taking a toll. Most of Col. Jamaluddin’s relatives were lost, including the siblings and parents of Col Jamaluddins wife.

Col Jamaluddin was the first Muslim to graduate from Edinburgh in 1914 and was selected in the Indian Medical Service. On his return to India, He received a red carpet reception from the Maharaja of Kapurthala. His father in law had been the Maharajah’s Chief minister, and the family had lived in the prestigious area of Feel Darwaza (Elephant Gate). His daughter, Salima, was born in 1918 in Amritsar. His son, Jamil Akhtar, was born in Busra, Iraq, where Col Jamaluddin was the Captain in charge of a hospital. The second son, Group Captain Said Aziz, was born in Dehradoon. Col Jamaluddin took a leave of absense in order to return to Edinburgh to complete his medical degree to also become a civil surgeon. His wife was expecting their second daughter in 1922, so they came back to Agra in time for the birth of Sajeela. His youngest son Salar was born in Campbellpur, in 1929. The youngest daughter Safina was born in Ferozepur in 1931, where he was the Civil Surgeon.

In 1927 Col Jamaluddin had been posted as Civil Surgeon in Lahore. Mr Kirpalani was the Deputy Commissioner and Sardar Teja Singh was the Sessions Judge. All three Indians were posted together for the first time. With the help of a French architect who was their mutual friend, they planned the community of Model Town, as a retirement abode. Innitially, ModelTown was divided into three parts with a Mosque, a Temple and a Gurduwara as a center point to worship, surrounded by three blocks of housing each. Land at the center of the development was left vacant for recreation and community service centers.

Col Jamaluddins service throughout his career was exemplary. In Lyallpur, the Jamaluddin Gate was constructed in his honor.In 1938 he was transferred to Jallunder as Civil Surgeon. He was always pampered by the Maharaja of Kapurthala, and invited to play tennis in his royal court and ride elephants on the golden hoda along with his family. In 1941, during his posting in Fort Sandeman, as a Surgeon in the Military, his first granddaughter was born to his daughter Saleema. During the Partition in 1947, Col Jamaluddin opened the Walton Camp in Lahore and took early retirement to manage and treat patients at the camp. He was posted as Director of Health, Govt of Pakistan in Karachi. His voluntary services to the community continued as President of the ModelTown Society from 1950-56.

Col Jamaluddin died in December 1972 and was buried in Model Town. May his soul rest in peace, Amin.