The Promised Son — Page 40
40 Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad ra was very reluctant to take this position because of the doctrinal differences between Jama’at-e-Ahmadiyya and the rest of the Muslims of India. He thought it better that someone who would be more acceptable to the mullahs of India, as well as the political leaders, should be elected as President. Allaamah Iqbal made a forceful and passionate speech at the conference. He stated that there was only one per- son in India who was capable of initiating any change in the Kashmiri situation and that was Hazrat Mirza Bashir- ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad ra. He argued that Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad ra had a dedicated and honest Jama’at behind him who would answer any calls by their Imam with great enthusiasm and complete integrity. Only Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad ra and his Ahmadiyya Jama’at had the required resources in terms of being able to raise a volunteer group along with legal and financial resources. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad ra accepted the position and galvanised the Jama’at for the task ahead. They first looked to provide immediate relief for the poorest people in Kashmir and provide legal assistance for the many people who had been unfairly imprisoned. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad ra then set about forming political representation for the Muslims of Kashmir. The work of the All India Kashmir Committee under his Presidency made a direct impact on the British who were