Shah Muhammad Sulaiman

Who was Shah Muhammad Sulaiman?

Sir Shah Muhammad Sulaiman was the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court from March 16, 1932 to 30 September 1937 and was the first Indian and one of the youngest ever to hold this coveted position. He was born into a distinguished family of lawyers and scientists of Jaunpur district. One of his ancestors was Mulla Mahmud Jaunpuri, who was the foremost philosopher and physicist of Shah Jahan's time, a debater of issues in Shiraz with Mir Damad, and the author of a much valued commentary, Shams al-Bazigha. His father Muhammad Usman was leading member of the Jaunpur Bar. He had three brothers and one sister.

Sulaiman married Lady Fatima Sulaiman and had three sons and one daughter; Shah Mehmood Sulaiman, Shah Ahmed Sulaiman, Shah Hamid Sulaiman and Salma Akhter.

He was buried at Nizamuddin Dargah by the side of Amir Khusrow. Sir Shah Sulaiman Road, named after him, is a large road in Karachi that runs from the East wall of National Stadium, Karachi up to Government College for Men Nazimabad