The India Independence movement is one of the longest freedom struggle in the World History. It took nearly 90 years for the leaders of India to achieve independence from British Empire. Although various tribes and rulers of princely states did revolt from time to time against the British Empire their revolt was in a specific area and not for the nation as whole. The first major revolt that was mobilized throughout the Indian mainland was the Revolt of 1857 when most of the northern part of India united under the banner of Bahadur Shah Jafar-II. Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 and a huge wave of nationalism and freedom began in 1905 (after Banga Bhanga Movement or Partition of Bengal ). Indian National Congress demanded for complete freedom from British rule in 1930 and finally India achieved its independence in 1947. Almost every section of society participated in the freedom struggle and after Independence Indian Government honored the contribution of almost every individual. Islam is the second largest religion in India and thousands of Muslims fought along with Hindus during these years but over a period of time the names of Muslim Freedom Fighters have been omitted from the history as well as from the text books. Muslims are also blamed for the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan. After 70 years of Independence, if we ask three Muslim Freedom Fighters of India, then most of the people won’t be able to answer this question. Even the History Text Books covers only few leaders like Ashfaqulla Khan, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and few others. When I searched Google there were hardly few websites that lists the Muslim Freedom Fighters of India in detail and even the Wikipedia Page doesn’t display any result when searched for Muslim Freedom Fighters. Now the question arises why there is no specific data for this or is it true that the contribution of Muslims is very less in Indian Independence Movement? I started searching the various lists, websites, books related to Indian Independence movement and magazines and finally came up with the list of Muslim Freedom Fighters of India. I hope this article will break the myths about contribution of Muslims in the freedom struggle of India and would enlighten those who even see the Independence Movement through the lens of Religion and Caste.
Which Muslim Freedom Fighters are Included in this List
While compiling the list I have included the Muslim Freedom Fighters of India from the year 1857 to 1947. The leaders prior to 1857 are not included as, prior to 1857 the fight with British Empire was primarily for their own kingdom or specific area. For example I have not Included Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah as he fought for the province of Bengal and not India. Similarly Tipu Sultan is also not included as he fought for the Mysore Province. One more reason why the rulers prior to 1857 are not included, as it would help us know the exact names of Freedom Fighters thereby making the article well within the era of Indian Independence Movement.
List of Muslim Freedom Fighters of India
Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Quadri: Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Quadri was born in the year 1901 in Nawada district of Bihar and he was Unani Physician by profession. When Mahatma Gandhi announced the Salt March of 1930, he joined the Indian Independence Movement. Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Quadri was in the same Cell of Cuttack Jail where Gandhi was imprisoned. Syed Quadri with the help of his father treated the Frist President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad when we was ill due to respiratory issues. In the year 2007, Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan. He died on 30th December 2015, at the age of 114.
Government of India awarded Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Quadri the Padma Bhushan
Zakir Husain: Dr. Zakir Husain served as 3rd President of India and he was also the first Muslim President of India. He was born on 8th February 1897 and founded Jamia Millia Islamia University of Delhi. He was deeply influenced by the Gandhi’s doctrine of Non-Violence and believed that India’s struggle for freedom would only be successful when Indian Society is educated with value-based education. He acted as the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia for 22 years (1926-48) and made it one of the finest educational institute of India. He died on 3rd May 1969 while serving as President of India and he was first president to die in office. He was awarded The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest National Honor.
Peer Ali Khan: Peer Ali Khan was one of the most important Muslim Freedom Fighter of India who took part in the rebellion of 1857 but the stories of his bravery are forgotten and he is omitted from the history books. Peer Ali Khan was born in Azamgarh District of Uttar Pradesh and at the age of seven he ran away from his home and reached Patna where he met Zamindar Nawab Mir Abdullah. Peer Ali was falsely arrested by British and he was very angry on this incident. He decided to attack the British Regiment and to execute his plan he managed to get 50 guns and distributed it among his group. The attack was unsuccessful as British came to know about this and British hanged few of his friends without any trials. This incident further increased the hatred and he planned a bigger attack which included the attack on Administrative Headquarter of Gulzar Bagh. On the day of attack i.e. 3rd July, Peer Ali Khan along with his 200 supporters raised the flag of revolution and attacked the building. British Superintendent Dr Llyoal ordered his men to open fire at the mob. The cross firing resulted in the death of many protesters as well as of Dr. Llyoal. A search operation was ordered and many revolutionaries were arrested, tortured and hanged without any trial. Most of the followers of Peer Ali Khan were hanged but he survived the tortures and didn’t reveal any information. He was hanged till death on 7th of July on the charges of Murder of Dr. Llyoal. One of the famous saying of Peer Ali Khan was
“There are some occasions on which it is good to give up life and that if I sacrificed; thousands others, every day will fill their place.”
Bakht Khan: Bakht Khan was another important Muslim Freedom Fighter of India who took part in the rebellion of 1857. Bakht Khan was born in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh (then United Province) in the year 1797. At the time of rebellion he was serving as Subedar in the Army of East India Company. He was a shrewd military commander and knew about the military formations and artilleries. When the rebellion started the rebellion forces declared Bahadur Shah Jafar-II as the King of India but they lacked fighting skills. Bakht Khan took the command of rebel forces and under his leadership the position of rebel forces improved drastically. Bakht Khan lacked Arms and Ammunitions as well as a steady supplies of food and other important things required for carrying out rebellion. When Bhadur Shah Jafar surrendered to British Baktht Khan fled to Lucknow and joined the rebel forces of Lucknow and Shahjahanpur. When the rebellion failed, British started man hunting the rebel readers and Bakht Khan was one of their prime target. He was wounded and succumbed to death on 13th of May 1859.
Allah Bux Soomro: Full name of Allah Bux Soomro was Allah Bux Muhammad Umar Soomro and he was born in the year 1900 in the Sindh province of India (Now in Pakistan). Allah Bux Soomro founded the Sind Ittehad Party and he served as the Chief Minister of Sindh for two terms. One from March 23rd 1938 to April 18th 1940 and second form March 7th 1941 to October 14th 1942. He was against the two nation theory proposed by the Muslim League and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Due to his stand for one nation, in 1940, a no-confidence motion was passed against Allah Bux Soomro and Indian National Congress joined hands with the Muslim League and voted in favor of motion. When Mahatma Gandhi started Quit India Movement, Allah Bux Soomro renounced his Knighthood title and Khan Bahadur title which the British government gave him and joined the Quit India Movement. As a Chief Minister of Sindh, he tried to start reforms for betterment of people. He reduced the salary of ministers to Rs.500 per month and prohibited the practice of nominating members to local bodies. He also tried to bring reforms in religion and it was the prime reason for his assassination. On 14th May 1943, while travelling in his hometown, Allah Bux Soomro was assassinated by four people.
Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah: Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah participated in the first War of Independence and he was considered as great warrior by many British officers. He was a man of “great abilities, of undaunted courage, of stern determination, and by far, the best soldier among the rebels”. Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was working as a Talookdar in Faizabad District but his property was confesticated by British after the Annexation of Awadh. After this incident Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah decided to free his motherland from the foreign invaders and he formed a rebel force which constituted citizens who were ill-treated by British. He was a great writer and wrote revolutionary pamphlets and distributed them. British arrested him and charged for sedition and he was sentenced to be hanged. At the same time the revolution of 1857 broke out and he escaped the prison and joined Begum Hazrat Mahal, the wife of the imprisoned Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. With the support of Begum Hazarat Mahal, Ahmedullah created much terror of his fighting skills that Lord Canning had put a reward of 50,000 on his head. When British recaptured the City of Lucknow, he escaped from Lucknow and joined rebel forces of Shahjahanpur. The King of Pawayan offered asylum to Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah but when he reached Pawayan, the King refused to open the door and opened fire on Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah and shot him. Incidents like killing of Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah by Indian Rulers was one of the main cause why the Great Rebellion of 1857 failed and it took us 90 years more to gain independence.
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Professor Abdul Bari: Abdul Bari was born in the year 1892 in the Jahanabad District of Bihar and he was working as a Professor in Bihar National College when he first met Mahatma Gandhi. He was deeply inspired by the doctrine of Non-Violence started by Mahatma Gandhi. Dr Rajendra Prasad was working as principal of Bihar National College and along with him he participated in the Non Co-operation Movement of 1919. Abdul Bari headed many important post in his life time and he was even very close to Netaji Shubash Chandra Bose. On the request of Netaji, Abdul Bari decided to lead the labor association in Jamshedpur. It was again on the advice of Netaji that he changed the name of Jamshedpur Labor Association to Tata Worker’s Union in 1937. He played an active role during the Quit India Movement and later became the President of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee. Abdul Bari was shot dead on 28th March 1947 while he was travelling from Jamshedpur to Patna for some official work instructed by Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. Rajendra Prasad recalled his contribution to the nation (both have worked together in 1921) through a message published in Mazdur Avaz on his first death anniversary.
Syed Allauddin Hyder (Maulvi Allauddin): Most of the Indian think that the First War of Independence was confined only to northern India but they are wrong. There were many freedom struggles in southern part of India also and one such struggle took place in Hyderabad under the command of Maulvi Allauddin. Maulvi Allauddin was born in 1824 in Nalgonda district of present day Telangana State. He worked as a preacher and Imam of Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad. He decided to attack the British Forces when British arrested Zamindar Cheeda Khan and locked him in the Residency building of Hyderabad. On 17th July 1857 after the Namaz, Maulvi Allauddin along with his friend Turrebaz Khan and 300 other freedom fighter attacked the British Residency Building. The attack failed as the minister Salar Jung betrayed the Maulvi and his friend and sided with the British. Maulvi Allauddin was arrested and tried under Indian Penal Code. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and send to Andaman Cellular jail (Also Known as Kala Paani). He was in jail for nearly 30 years and died there. He was the first prisoner to be sentenced and deported to Kala Paani.
In the year 2005 Voice of Telangana (VOT) approached the Lok Sabha Secretariat (L.S.S) and requested to install the statue of Maulvi Allauddin in the Parliament complex. LSS replied that further statues would not be considered due to lack of space in the Parliament complex. But a RTI query revealed that 14 statues and 16 portraits were installed between 2005 and 2009 in the Parliament Complex.
Turrebaz Khan: Turrebaz Khan was another Muslim Freedom Fighter of India, he along with Maulvi Allauddin participated in the attack of British Residency Building. Turrebaz Khan was born in Begum Bazar in Hyderabad and he joined the rebel forces when he heard that Zamindar Cheeda Khan was arrested by British. He along with some 300 fighters marched towards the British Residency Building but British were already informed and prepared. The rebel forces with Turrebaz Khan lacked formal training as well as arms and ammunitions. The gunfire went all the night but Turrebaz Khan and other freedom fighters were no match for the trained soldiers of Madras Horse Artillery. Later Turrebaz khan and Maulvi Allauddin both were captured and sentenced to life imprisonment at Andaman Cellular Jail. Turrebaz Khan tried to escape but he was shot by English Soldiers. When he died his dead body was dragged back to the main city and was hanged near the Residency building to set an example for other revolutionaries. Government of India honored the sacrifices of Turrebaz Khan by naming a road in his memory. The “Turrebaz Khan Road” is situated near University College for Women in Koti, Hyderabad.
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