By Shafee
Ahmed Ko, TwoCircles.net,
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 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.
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
Hindu’s is regrettably different, for they think that it was only Hindus who
achieved the Independence along with Mahatma Gandhi and negligibly a handful of
Muslims like Ali Brothers, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Shaik Abdullah, Maulana
Abul Kalam Azad, Dr. Zakir Hussain are the few who stood on freedom fight.
The
book,” WHO IS WHO OF INDIAN MARTYRS” is so important one that it contains all
the details of martyrs who laid their lives for the sake our India. There are
several Muslims names, the age being tender from 8 and beyond who sacrificed
lives in bullet shots, death sentences, and life sentence, sent to Andaman
Island prison to die there unattended and uncared for. Following are few
excerpts from the book:
“Ahmadullah:
b.1808 Patna, Bihar; Son 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 here how Muslim youths, school children along with brothers
and sisters of different communities became victims all unarmed gathering at
Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 13,1919. The cruel act of the British
Raj, under Brigadier -General Reginald Dyer who opened fire indiscriminately.
The fire which lasted for 10 to 15 mts killed hundreds and wounding more 1500,
including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians.
A short
and precise account of one more 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, Amritsar 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”
The
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 to
Hindus is misconceived. The genuine love and patriotism to our country lies not
in only saying” “vandematram”, but not showing hatred, taking faiths as agenda
for political purpose and ill treat privileged people. Present day politicians
barring few are divided in factions spewing poison on each other in communal
intolerance.
Since
younger generation is the future leaders of our Nation, focus on text books
should not remain controversial after the government’s change.
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 Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Zakir Hussain, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Mira Bhen,
Anne Besant, Allan Octavian Hume, William Digby, and Henry Cotton (who are
friends of India) are less known to young students.
Title:
Who's 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
