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
[Photo: media.kansascity.com]