Hassan Ali Effendi, founder of Sindh Madarstul Islam

Hassan Ali Effendi born on 14 August 1830 belonged to respectable tribe of Akhunds of Hyderabad moreover he had Turkish ancestry. He lost his father in childhood and was grown up by his elder brother namely Umed Ali Akhund. He got enrolled in a local madrassa for studying Qur'an and learning the basics of Persian language.

After completion of his primary education from madarssa he got employed at bank of Sindh River near Village Jhirk, District Thatta as reader “Munshi” on monthly salary of twenty  rupees  per month in a company transporting woods to either bank of river. He found a job of clerk in the office of Deputy Collector of Naushahro Feroze. Where, a Christian friend convinced him to learn English, which was avoided by Muslims in Indian subcontinent. However, he constantly gave his all his leisure time in learning of English and early he achieved appreciable skills in reading, writing and speaking English.  Later, he got a job to work with a shipping company namely “Indus flotilla” at Kotri. This ferry company was running ships from Hyderabad to Kotri due to non availability of trains.

In mid mid-1860s when he was still working in this company, a British judge namely Middleton serving in Karachi occasionally had to cross Indus River through ferry; he found Hassan Ali Effendi reading an English book in dim light of oil lamp. Judge Middleton surprised very much to discover that a Muslim person is reading English book and he offered Hassan Ali Effendi for a job as translator in Karachi District Court on sixty rupees per month. Hassan Ali Effendi accepted his offer and assumed his responsibilities at District Court Karachi. In the court, he saw tricks of lawyers as well as started to read law books meanwhile, in a short time he earned legal techniques and over his impressive output, Judge Middleton granted him formal degree in law and allowed him to practice before the court. At that time, there was no Muslim advocate apart from him in Sindh province since; this was the turning point in Hassan Ali Effendi's life because there were some Hindu or English Lawyers in Sindh. Next, he was appointed as Public Prosecutor which was the first non-European in Sindh to be on the vacancy of this post and he remained on that post for 14 years.

In these days Britain government was going to introduce new system of governance and education in the area however, he took along to Karachi to his sons “Ali Ahmed” and “Ali Akbar” for getting admission in Ali Garh College where, he met with Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Both the personalities interacted with each other on political scenario and independence cause of Muslim community. Meanwhile with the motivation of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, he founded Sindh Madarstul Islam School under National Muhammadan Association. The role of Muhammadan association was to highlight appropriate representation of Muslim community in different government departments and its administrative control was under Hassan Ali Effendi. Due to his efforts through association, Muslim community got reasonable rights in the area.

Following the instruction of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Hassan Ali Effendi collected donations from whole India’s Muslims and constructed building of Sindh Madarstul Islam School.

Not only in education sector but he struggled for Muslim Community as Municipal Councilor Bombay, Assembly Member and President of Muhammadan Association. Over his struggle, he was given title of “Khan Bahadur”. During the war between Russia and Turkey, he collected donations from whole India for assistance of Turkey since he was given medal from Turkey Council as Tamgha Mujadayi. In 1889, he was given the title as “Effendi” from Turkish Sultan. 

In 1990, Pakistan Post has also issued Commemorative postage stamp in his honour in Pioneers of Freedom postage stamp series. 

Hassan Ali Effendi expired on 20 August 1895 and he was placed in rest at his own garden in Hyderabad as per his last wishes.

Wajid Shamsul Hasan, former High Commissioner of Pakistan in United Kingdom was also from his family as well as Asif Ali Zardari, former president is his great grandson through his mother's family.