Swadhinata Trust supported the application for Ayub Ali Master’s Plaque and after waiting many years it was finally unveiled, amongst others we were in attendance with five generations of Ayub Ali’s family where his grand daughter Parul Husain spoke eloquently on the day of event.
Tower Hamlets Recently paid tribute to one of the area’s earliest Bengali settlers with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque for Ayub Ali Master. The ceremony took place on Sunday, 2 November, outside Drewett House on Christian Street, the site where he founded the Indian Seamen’s Welfare League in the 1940s.
The event began with an introduction by Anna Zucchelli, Tower Hamlets Conservation Officer, followed by a speech from Julie Begum, Chairperson of the Swadhinata Trust, the organisation responsible for the research. Parul Husain, granddaughter of Ayub Ali, spoke on behalf of her family, expressing pride that her grandfather’s legacy was finally being recognised.
The plaque was unveiled by the chief guest, Tower Hamlets Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Lead Member for Culture, who emphasised the importance of remembering the pioneering first Bengali settlers and acknowledging their contributions to the UK’s Bengali community today.
Ayub Ali Master was only 19 years old when he travelled alone to London in 1919. Many of his brothers, nephews and others from various parts of Sylhet later followed in his footsteps, reaching London with his help. He had first travelled to America before deciding to settle in the UK.
A fluent speaker of both English and Bengali, he became a respected community leader and a successful businessman. He opened restaurants and a travel agency in Commercial Street and Sandy’s Row, including the famous Shah Jalal Coffee House, a gathering place for early Bengali seamen and migrants. Known affectionately as “Master” for his education and command of languages, he offered support to newly arrived sailors, providing food, shelter and help with paperwork, letters and remittances back home.
He later established Orient Travels, a travel agency that eventually moved to 96 Brick Lane. Ayub Ali Master passed away in 1980 in Bangladesh, where he was laid to rest in his hometown of Asal, Jagannathpur, Sylhet.
The plaque serves as a lasting tribute to a man whose compassion, vision and leadership laid the foundation for the thriving Bengali community in the UK.
Thanks to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for organising.