By TCN News,
New Delhi: On the eve of 152nd death anniversary of last Mughal king Bahadur Shah Zafar, Chiragan and recitation of his poetry was organized here on Thursday by Khudai Khidmatgars.
The event was held at Khooni Darwaza, where three princes of the Mughal dynasty – Zafar’s sons Mirza Mughal, Mirza Khizar and grandson Mirza Abubkar – were killed by a British soldier in 1857 during India’s first freedom struggle.
Khudai Khidmatgar leader Fateh Nadvi said: “We demand from the government to name a central university after Bahadur Shah Zafar and celebrate/observe his birth and death anniversary officially. The government should also install a portrait of Bahadur Shah Zafar in the Parliament.”
Rizwan Ahmad, the organisation’s delhi co-ordinator said: “Some forces are ignoring the contribution of one community in the freedom movement. By this type of programmes, we want to give message to the society that our sanjhi virast should be protected if we want to make India really a strong nation.”
“It is time to come forward and protect our democratic character of the society and progressive forces need to counter the designs of reactionary forces in every sphere of life,” Kirpal Mandloi, another leader, said.
Nargis Bhan, Gaurav and Sadiq Zafar from Jamia Millia Islamia, Rizwan Khan from Eye India Eram, Rehsma and others participated while Usman Zaheer and theatre artist recited Bahadur Shah’s poetry.