Invitation to Ahmadiyyat — Page viii
viii financial contributions of the Community, initiated the annual campaigns of Tahrik-e-Jadid in 1934, and Waqf-e-Jadid in 1957, greatly expanding the global missionary activity. He was an active political figure, especially in India prior to its independence. He was also one of the founding members and the first president of the All-India Kashmir Committee set up for the establishment of the civil rights of Kashmiri Muslims. Hadrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Deen Mahmood Ahmad was an avid scholar and a prolific author, who spoke and wrote exten - sively in defence of Islam. A twenty-six volume compilation of his works called Anw a rul-‘Ul u m contains over 800 writings and lectures (aside from thousands of sermons). His Tafs i r-e-Kab i r — the ten-volume commentary of the Holy Quran—is revered as a treasure trove to this very day. Likewise, he was an orator of unmatched eloquence, captivating his audiences for hours on end. Hadrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Deen Mahmood Ahmad ra gave the Jam a ‘at its current organizational and administrative structure, for - mally establishing the Majlis ash-Shura (Consultative Council). He established auxiliary organisations for men, women, and chil - dren. His many momentous achievements include the establish - ment of the Electoral College for the election of Khalifatul Masih , and the establishment of the Community’s new headquarters in Rabwah, Pakistan, after the Partition of British India in 1947. He passed away on 8 November 1965 in Rabwah, Pakistan, and was succeeded by Hadrat Mirza N as ir Ahmad as Khal i fatul- Mas ih III rta.