Page 37 - NIS English February1-15
P. 37
Personality
An Ode to ‘Frontier Gandhi’
A close associate of Mahatma Gandhi – Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan –
advocated Hindu-Muslim unity and was a staunch believer of non-violence.
India is paying tribute on his birth anniversary...
on
Pakistani
A but citizen true Testament’, with the mildness
of ‘New Testament’. How
paper,
a
Bhagavatparayan he is! I am
Hindustani by heart!
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan thankful to you for introducing
was conferred with India’s us to him.”
highest civilian honour Bharat Ghaffar Khan, nicknamed
Ratna in 1987, of which he as Frontier Gandhi (Sarhadi
was the rightful recipient. A Gandhi) by Amir Chandra
freedom fighter, educationist, Bombwal, demanded
Gandhian, the leader, who Pakhnutistan instead of joining
advocated Hindu-Muslim unity, Pakistan by presenting Bannu
was one of the staunchest Resolution in June 1947, which
BORN: 6 FEBRUARY 1890
votaries of unified India. was turned down by the British.
DIED: 20 JANUARY 1988
He was fiercely against the A graduate from Aligarh
creation of Pakistan. When Muslim University, Ghaffar
the Congress accepted the the Red Shirt movement Khan took the oath of
demand of Pakistan, he felt (Khudai Khidmatgar) among allegiance of Pakistan on
betrayed telling the Congress Pashtuns which espoused February 23, 1948, at the
leaders “you have thrown us to nonviolent agitation for Indian first session of the Pakistan
the wolves”. independence and sought to Constituent Assembly. He
Love, honour and respect awaken Pashtuns’ political formed Pakistan’s first National
for him was all encompassing consciousness. Impressed opposition party on May 8,
when Prime Minister Narendra with ideas and thoughts of 1948, the Pakistan Azad Party,
Modi said, “It has been my Gandhiji, he had become one which was non-communal in
good fortune that I had the of his close associates and its ideology. In 1984 he was
opportunity to touch the feet of Khudai Khidmatgar supported nominated for the Nobel Peace
Khan Abduhal Ghaffar Khanji the Congress. Prize.
as a boy. I consider it my pride. Muriel Lester, a British He last visited India in 1985
Be it Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, citizen and social worker, to participate in the centenary
Ashfaq-Ulla Khan, Begum wrote to Gandhiji in 1939 celebrations of the Congress.
Hazrat Mahal, Veer Shaheed about Ghaffar Khan, “Now He died in Peshawar under
Abdumal Karim or former after getting to know Khan house arrest in 1988 and
President Shriman APJ Abdul Abdul Ghaffar Khan well, I feel was laid to rest in Jalalabad,
Kalam, all of us are Indians in that as far as meeting amazing Afghanistan. We offer our
our eyes.” people around the world is tributes to this legendary
Soon after attending concerned, I am not going to personality who will be loved
Congress session in 1929, get such a fortune in my life. forever in India.
Ghaffar Khan founded He is the prince of the ‘Old
New India Samachar 35
