Asaf Ali obtained his degree in law at the Lincoln’s Inn. He returned to India in 1914 and started practising here. Soon he was drawn into the nationalist mainstream and was deeply involved in Home Rule League, Non-Cooperation Movement etc.

He gave up his legal practice in response to Gandhi’s call for non-cooperation. He was a member of the Congress Work­ing Committee; of Central Legislative Assembly (from 1935-1947); and of Executive Council, Government of India (1946-47). After independence, he was made India’s first Ambassador to Washington, a post he held for two years (1947- 1948). He also served as the Governor of Orissa and as India’s Ambassador to Switzerland. He passed away in 1953.