Maulana Muhammad Ali Jouhar (1878-1931) was born in a wealthy and enlightened family of Pathans, in Rampur state, in 1878. During his childhood, his family suffered some financial problems after the death of his father. He and his brothers received good education due to the efforts and determination of her mother. He completed his graduation from
Aligarh University and went to England in 1898 to study modern history. After his return to India, he was appointed as the Director of Education in Rampur state. Later he served seven years in the Baroda civil service.
Maulana Muhammad Ali Jouhar was an impressive writer and an orator of the first magnitude as well as a farsighted political leader. He wrote many articles, both in English and Urdu, in various news papers. In 1911, he launched his famous English Weekly 'Comrade' from Kolkata. It was an internationally famous journal and attracted many subscribers in numerous foreign countries. In addition to his English weekly, he introduced his Urdu weekly 'Hamdard' in 1913. He was one of the co-founders of the All India Muslim League.
In 1906, Jouhar attended the first session of the All India Muslim League at Dhaka. Later he was elected as its president in 1918. He went to England in 1919 to represent India and to present the view of the Muslims, during the Khilafat Movement. He toured all over India in order to gather support for the success of the non-cooperation movement. At the end of this he was arrested and imprisoned for two years.
He left the Indian National Congress in 1928, to work in the interest of Muslims. Maulana Muhammad Ali Jouhar died in London on January 4, 1931. According to his own wish, he was buried in Jerusalem.
