Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: Veteran of All India Forward Block leader from West Bengal and former minister Kalimuddin Shams (73) passed away on March 4 in Kolkata. Shams had won assembly elections five times and was the state food minister for long time. Later he also held the post of Deputy Speaker of West Bengal Assembly.
Originally from Bihar, Kalimuddin Shams was born on December 30, 1930 at village Simra of Gaya district in Bihar. His father Alhaj Mujibar Rahman permanently settled in Kolkata before independent at Mominpur Road, in Khidderpore area. After completing post-graduation from Calcutta University, he also obtained the law degree and practiced at the Calcutta high Court.
Vetran Forward Block leader Kalimuddin Shams
Shams was closed the Khilafat Movement leader Jan Muhammad, who motivated him to become a member of the Khilafat Movement. An active member of the movement, in 1965 he contested in Calcutta Municipal Corporation election and won the seat. Later in 1967 he joined the All India Forward Block Party.
He first contested in Assembly Election at Kabitirtha Constituency (under which Khidderpore comes) in Kolkata and won. He again won in 1977 and was made the Deputy Speaker in the Jyoti Basu government, and continued on the post in next assembly as well till 1987, when he lost the assembly elections to the Congress candidate Ram Pyare Ram.
In 1991, however, he won the Kabitirtha Constituency again and bagged Ministry of Food and Food Processing Department of Government of West Bengal. But in 1996 he contested elections from Nalhati in Birbhum district and won twice – 1996 and 2001. He remained a state minister even under Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government.
However, due to age and poor health he did not contest elections in 2006 and retired from active politics. He was member of State Secretary Committee of All India Forward Block and was also a member of Central Committee of All India Forward Block.
Kalimuddin Shams is survived by four sons and three daughters. His eldest son Moinuddin Shams is the West Bengal State Committee member of All India Forward Block.
Shams was also associated with many Muslim social organization in the state. He was Chairman of the Eastern India Islamic Cultural and Educational Trust and editor of two literary magazines – `Hamara Mulk’ and `Shan-E-Millat’. He has also written three books.
His Namaz-E-Janaja was held on March 5 at Solah Ana Mosque and buried at the Solah Ana Graveyard, adjacent to the mosque.
Several Muslim leaders, representatives of several Muslim organisations as well as Chairman of State Left Front Committee and State Secretary of CPIM Biman Basu, Chairman of All India Forward Block Ashok Ghosh, Hafiz Alam Sairani and many other political personalities sent their condolence on his demise.
Besides Muslim leaders and many Muslim organizations, Chairman of State Left Front Committee and State Secretary of CPIM Mr Biman Basu, Chairman of All India Forward Block Ashok Ghosh, Hafiz Alam Sairani and many other political personalities was send the condoled his death.