A statesman, barrister and educationalist, Tej Bahadur Sapru was born in a Kashmiri Brahmin family at
Aligarh in 1875. Patriotic leaders such as
C Rajagopalachari were his close associates. Apart from being a scholar in English, he was well-versed in
Urdu and Sanskrit.
After completing his matriculation in Agra College, Sapru started his career by managing the family legal business in Moradabad. Later he established his name by arguing suits in the Allahabad High Court. In 1923, he was knighted for his outstanding legal contributions, and was elected a member of the Privy Council in 1934.
In 1907, he joined Indian National Congress, and in 1917, he became an active participant of the Home Rule League, an organization founded by Annie Besant. During his life, he held the positions of a member of the Imperial Legislative Council and a law member in the Viceroy’s Executive Council in 1921. He resigned the latter position on the completion of two years in protest against the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms.
Sapru also took an active role in the All Parties Committee to conceive a constitution for a future independent India in 1928. In Round Table Conferences held at London, he took the role of a conciliator between the congress and the British.
He passed away on January 20, 1949, but Tej Bahadur Sapru is still remembered for his patriotic deeds.
