Muslims had Lion's Share in Freedom Fight for Independent India

BY SHAFEE AHMED Ko

The Muslim names like “Ahmadulla” may be strange but are so sublime and solemn are resting in peace now but they neither knew any discrimination between Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or Christians nor relaxed their incorrigible battle against to liberate India from the British Imperialism. Several of young Muslim boys of tender age, graduates or any ordinary unskilled worker, they were all precursors in the fight to win the freedom for India. Their thunderous and vibrating watchword was,”Vande Mataram” (Bow to thee, Mother).

 It was never “Allahu Akbar”, since it was only in their prayer halls,the mosques.

It is very obvious that the Muslims too had a lion’s share in fighting to free our nation along with Hindus with other faith holders, not yearning for a nation like Pakistan, but only to form an independent India.

But strangely enough, the mindset of present cohort particularly of few zealots is regrettably different; for they think that it was only Hindus who achieved the Independence along with Mahatma Gandhijee.

A feeling that only   a handful of Muslims alone  like Ali Brothers, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Ghaffar Khan, Shaik Abdullah, Moulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr.Zakir Hussain  the only some who were on the fray to fight for our India, is inconsolable. There are number of common Muslims who laid down their lives for the cause independent India.

The book,” WHO IS WHO OF INDIAN MARTYRS” is so important  testimonial that it contains all the details of Muslims martyrs who laid their lives for the sake of our India.

There are several Muslims names in the aforesaid book, the age being tender, from eight-year-olds and senior Muslim citizens who sacrificed lives in bullet shots, death sentences, and life sentence, sent to Andaman Island cellular jails  to die there unattended and uncared for. Despite they were tortured, they stood for Inpendent Secular India, and never for Pakistan. Their photos and bio-data are all referred in the valuable book.

 Following are few excerpts from the book:

“Ahmadullah: b.1808 Patna, Bihar; S. of Shri Elahi Bux; Prominent public man of Patna;

Served as Deputy Collector and as a member of Income Tax Board of Assessors for some time; Took active part in Wahabi Movement Arrested in 1857.Released after 3 months. Arrested again in November 1864.

Removed from all public offices. Tried on charging plot on against the Government. Sentenced to death on February 27, 1865.The death sentence was later commuted to transportation for life and forfeiture of all property. Deported to the Andaman Islands in June 1865 and imprisoned. Died in the jail on November 21, 1881, alone and unattended. His younger brother, Yahya Ali, was also convicted of high treason at Ambala and deported Andaman Islands. Yahya Ali also died in Andamans.”

Another reference is worthy of note, how Muslim youths, school children along with brothers and sisters of different communities became victims all unarmed, gathering at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritser on April 13,1919.

The cruel act of the British Raj, under Brigadier -General Reginald Dyer who opened fire indiscriminately. The fire which lasted only for 10 to 15 minutes killed hundreds and wounding more 1500, including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians.

There is a short and precise account of another “Ahmad Ullah who was born on 1884 at Amritsar Punjab, son of shri Karim Baksh; Took part in Nationalist activities against British rules. Seriously wounded in firing by British troops on people attending a public meeting at the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsir on April 13, and 1919.Died on May 25, 1919″.

“Alauddin, Sheikh, born on 1912 a village in Mohammad Distt. Midnapur,West Bengal; Took part in the Quit India Movement (1942).

Led a procession to the Nandigram Police Station on September 30,1942.received bullet wounds in firing by the police and died the same day”.

 Similar accounts are many a one. The reiteration here is that the common notion that prevails in the minds of the young and old that India belongs to only  for Hindus is misconceived.

The genuine love and patriotism to our country lies not only in slogan like “vandematram”, but more importantly not being hostile to other faiths.

It’s strange that taking faiths as agenda for political purpose, and ill treat the privileged people, who love India in genuine perceptions;perspiring to alleviate its present poor condition of life especially rural India,they have seldom say in the interest of India.

Present day politicians barring few are divided in factions spewing poison on each other in communal intolerance.

The own communities versus own communities, own brothers fighting for political mileage is no wonder in India.

The winning politician ought to think that  younger generation is the future leaders of our Nation, focus on text books  not to keep them  controversial.It is happening pathetically so.

The students especially in the rural areas are not well informed on healthy politics. Most students are vulnerable to petty politics and remain enigmatic since they are not able to reach the patriotic assignments in the text books. 

Names like Mira Bhen, Anne Besant Allan Octavian Hume, William Digby, and Henry Cotton who are friends of India are less known to young students.

Let the politicians know there is no separate and isolated community as “Muslims” for they are also born in India as good patriots as “Hindus” in creating “Incredible India” whole heartedly hating radical Muslim terrorists.

Islam is no way responsible for such acts of brutality as radical Muslims do, and Islam do condemn it. Islam does not say, “Hold the Quran in one hand and kill the innocent with the other” It is quite unfortunate.

The word Jihad (an Arabic word for "struggle")  is most misunderstood, and has become  an easy tool for bigots to divide India, and they are the most influential to perpetrate violence, and strangely more percentage of young Muslim boys fill the prisons in the name of encounters, in fact most of them innocents for they know nothing about any crime.

 The fact can be supported on the Godhra Verdict that 31 were held guilty and 63 acquitted after years of orgies in the prison, the verdict was in February 2011.

WHO IS WHO OF INDIAN MARTYRS

Author Name: Dr P.N. Chopra (Chief Editor)

Binding: Hard Cover

Publisher: Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, Government of India 1972

Printed Pages: 357