Submitted
by on 2 October 2009 - 10:49am
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 Hindu brethren and 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 eight 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, was Arrested in 1857. Released after three months. He was arrested again in
November 1864, was stripped off from all
public offices. He was tried on charging plot 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. He died in the cellular jail in Andaman Island
as an isolated prisoner on November 21, 1881. He was all 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 Andaman.”
Another
reference is worthy of mention 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. He was seriously wounded in firing by British troops on
people attending a public meeting at the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar on April
13, and 1919 and died on May 25, 1919.
Alauddin
Sheikh, who was born on 1912 at a village in Mohammad Distt, Midnapur, West Bengal took part in the Quit
India Movement (1942). Led a procession to the Nandi gram Police Station on
September 30, 1942 received bullet wounds in firing by the police and died the
same day.
The
similar accounts are many but all remain oblivious. The reiteration here is
that the common notion that prevails in the minds of the young and old is that
India belongs to only to Hindus and it is badly
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 eyed with
vote banking 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 but
should not remain controversial and prejudiced;
rulers of the country should
bring real history of Muslim folks who lived for India, who fought for India
and died for India.
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.
There
is a book to be cherished in which one can find the names of young Muslims who
fought for India, and died for the cause of India’s independence. Every school,
colleges and libraries should have the following book to understand the names
of the Muslim martyrs.
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
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