Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: The great freedom struggle sacrifices of Muslims we cannot forget on India’s 76th #IndependenceDay
How can we forget the great sacrifices for the freedom of India of Ulama, intellectuals and Urdu journalists for the country as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Independence?
It has been 75 years since India became an independent nation. With the spirit of euphoria rising, as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our independence with the title of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, let us keep every important aspect of the freedom struggle in front.
Today, an attempt is being made to create the impression that this ‘Amrit Mahotsav‘ of freedom is a gift from a certain category of people and while they played the most prominent role in the freedom struggle, sacrificing even their lives, sadly today efforts are being made to wipe out the sacrifices of another class of people.
Efforts are being made not only to ignore them but also to question their patriotism and nationality. In such a situation, it is necessary to bring to the fore those aspects of the freedom struggle which are generally not discussed knowingly or unknowingly.
What Happened on 15 August 1947
There is no doubt that a large number of people took part in the freedom struggle from all religions and castes during the entire fight for India’s Independence, but what is little known is many important personalities also came to the forefront such as the Muslim scholars, intellectuals and journalists, who contributed to India’s freedom. They sacrificed everything including their lives. India did not get freedom from the British yolk easily, but our ancestors went through a bitter fight and struggle to give us the liberty we breathe today. During this struggle, various agitations were launched, jihad fatwas were issued, hundreds of people were hanged, and thousands were put in prison dungeons.
These include ulama, Muslim intellectuals and Urdu journalists who dedicated their lives to the attainment of independence. Finally, the day of 15 August 1947 brought new dawn when India gained independence from the British Empire.
It is heartbreaking that due to the narrow mindsets of certain people, attempts are being made to erase the memory of Muslim freedom fighters from the pages of history. A group of historians have mentioned some Muslim Mujahideen of independence with some degree of honesty, but many other names made their special contributions to the freedom struggle are slowly being washed away from the pages of history books.
While we do not want to blow a trumpet about their achievements, it is disturbing that neither we want to remember them nor do others try to highlight their achievements and their exploits. The sorry situation has come to the point that while some names are still on the tongue of the people, efforts are being made to forget them too.
Living Powerful Nations Never Forsake Their History
We must not forget that the living nations never forsake their history. Rather, they save the achievements of their ancestors for future generations and learn great lessons from their lives by reading the merits of their sacrifices and achievements. So we all have this responsibility as our historians, our journalists, and our intellectuals should, as far as possible, bring to knowledge the sacrifices of our ancestors and make the new generation aware of them.
Today in our new generation, there will be very few who are aware of the sacrifices of their elders or are interested in knowing their achievements. That is why we must make our new generation aware of our glorious past and make them aware of the sacrifices our ancestors have made for this country. In today’s situation, it becomes even more necessary that we repeat the sacrifice of our ancestors again and again. This would be a true tribute to those ancestors.
Beginning of India’s Freedom Struggle
Although India got independence on 15 August 1947, the foundation of the freedom struggle was laid before 1857. The Revolt of 1857 holds a special place in modern Indian history, as it is considered to be the beginning of India’s freedom struggle. Since that time the Muslim leadership has spearheaded the freedom struggle. Lakhs of people participated in India’s freedom struggle, but some emerged as new symbols rising in inspiration for others.
It would not be wrong to say that our freedom fighters sacrificed their lives for the existence of the country and because of these people we are living in a free country today. There are many such incidents recorded in the pages of history, from which it can be estimated what kind of atrocities the Muslims suffered for India and what kind of troubles they faced.
The story and history of India’s independence are written with the blood of Muslims. Historical references show that 65% of those who stood, fought and sacrificed against the British for India’s independence were Muslim freedom fighters. . The series of freedom struggle starts long before 1857.
In 1780 Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan started the first struggle against British rule over India. In the 1780s and 1790s, these men effectively used rockets and cannons against British invaders.
The Unknown Heroine Of The First Freedom Struggle
Similarly, Begum Hazrat Mahal, being a woman, was an unsung heroine of the First War of Independence who terrified the British Chief Commissioner Sir Henry Lawrence and the British suffered a humiliating defeat on 30 June 1857.
Meanwhile, Allama Fazal-e-Haq Khairabadi had already realized the intentions of the British in the freedom struggle.
He performed title 4 after Friday prayers at the historic Jama Masjid in Delhi and presented a resolution which resolved to do jihad against the British. They were Mufti Sadruddin Khan, Maulvi Abdul Qadir, Qazi Faizullah, Maulana Faiz Ahmed Badayuni, Wazir Khan Akbarabadi, Syed Mubarak Hussain Rampuri, Syed Muhammad Nazir Hussain, Noor Jamal, Abdul Karim, Sikandar Ali, Mufti Ikramuddin, Muhammad Ziauddin, Ahmed Sayeed, Muhammad Anwar Khan, Muhammad Karimullah, Sayeed Shah Naqshbandi, Maulvi Abdul Ghani, Muhammad Ali, Sarfaraz Ali, Syed Mahbub Ali, Muhammad Hamiuddin, Maulvi Saeeduddin Fariduddin, Syed Ahmed, Ilahi Baksh, Muhammad Ansar Ali, Hafizullah Khan, M. Noorul Haq, Muhammad Rahmat Ali Khan, Muhammad Ali Hussain, Saifur Rahman, Muhammad Hashim, Syed Abdul Hameed, Syed Muhammad and many others.
Fatwa of Jihad by Allama Fazle Haque Khairabadi
Allama Fazle Haq Khairabadi issued the fatwa of Jihad rising a wave of fear that ran across India against the British and on streets, villages, towns, and cities, battles transpired that shook the British empire. The British reacted with a strategy of war and crushed this movement by intimidating the people and killing countless people.
In January 1859, Allama Fazle Haq Khairabadi was tried for sedition and sentenced to Kalapani. He fought his case himself and said in court, “Jihad’s fatwa has been written by me and I still stand by my fatwa.”
Fazal Haq Khairabadi was hanged on February 12, 1861. Similarly, Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah played an important role in carrying forward the first freedom struggle of the country. In 1857, a large group of Muslim scholars and Ulama was formed, which instilled the spirit of fighting for independence among the people of the country and laid a strong foundation for the freedom movement. Among them, in addition to Allama Fazle Haque Khairabadi and Maulana Ahmadullah Shah, the names of Maulana Rehmatullah Kairanvi, Maulana Sarfaraz, Mufti Ahmed Kakorvi, Mufti Mazhar Karim Dariyabadi, Haji Amdullah Muhajir Makki, Maulana Rashid Ahmed, Maulana Munir Nanotvi etc. are notable.
Muslims have made immense contributions to building the greatness of India and this must not fade out with the annals of time but be commemorated and applauded because only then can a nation progress together.
(The author is the Resident Editor of Urdu daily Inquilab, Delhi)
The views presented in the article are those of the author.