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In a rarely discussed yet noteworthy chapter of Indian history, the first President of Pakistan, Major General Iskander Ali Mirza, once served as the political agent in the Indian province of Odisha in 1945.
This episode stands in stark contrast to his later career as a controversial leader of a nation that today faces global scrutiny for harbouring extremist elements and backing cross-border terrorism, including the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
During the British Raj, Mirza was part of the Indian Political Service (IPS), a select cadre managing complex interactions between princely states and the colonial government.
Odisha, then freshly carved out as a province in 1936, was undergoing administrative reorganisation. In his capacity as political agent, Mirza was tasked with supervising princely territories in Odisha, engaging with local rulers, and helping maintain civil order.
This brief tenure brought him into contact with the distinct cultural and administrative milieu of Eastern India, marking perhaps the only phase of his career viewed without disrepute in India.
Early Life and Colonial Grooming
Born in 1899 in Murshidabad, then part of the Bengal Presidency, Mirza came from an elite background. Initially commissioned into the British Indian Army, he moved into the Indian Political Service, climbing the bureaucratic ladder with efficiency typical of colonial loyalists.
His administrative roles in various provinces, including Odisha and the North-West Frontier, provided him with insights into India's complex political landscape. However, these were largely preparatory acts for what was to come.
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Post-Partition: The Descent into Authoritarianism
After 1947, Mirza chose to align with the newly formed Pakistan, swiftly becoming Defence Secretary. Known for his intolerance of democratic norms, he arbitrarily dismissed several civilian governments. In 1956, he took over as Pakistan's first President under a new constitution, only to junk it two years later and impose martial law.
His final act of political theatre came when he handed control to General Ayub Khan, a move that backfired as Ayub quickly exiled him to London. There, Mirza lived out his remaining years in obscurity, dying in 1969, his legacy largely regarded with contempt.
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A Forgotten Footnote in India-Pakistan History
Iskander Mirza's short-lived but documented association with Odisha remains an oddity in an otherwise divisive legacy. While modern India continues to deal with the ramifications of its hostile neighbour's policies, this obscure stint by a future Pakistani autocrat in an Indian province serves as an ironic reminder of how deeply entwined the subcontinent's histories once were.
