"You always remained a true Muslim and a true nationalist. If there was one single thought that constantly drove you, it was that if almighty could give some sense to your fellow Muslims, they too would join hands with the Hindus and worked for the betterment of Hindustan."

From the Revolutionary- Ram Prasad Bismil's Autobiography from the Death Row

Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan present to us the picture of what India could have become had it not promoted the isolationist feelings among Indian Muslims before independence by connecting them with the foreign lands of the Caliphate and later with the appeasement politics which drew the wedges further down. For political purposes, while a rather undeserved fascination towards Communist mercenary murderers like Che Guevara was cultivated, our own selfless heroes were pushed into the shadows.

Today, on this Birth Anniversary of Ashfaqullah Khan, we must remember the distances which have been cultivated among the communities by creating false heroes. While Maulana Azad, erstwhile Congress president and first Education Minister of India has been often touted as the epitome of Hindu-Muslim unity. As things unravel, with the loosening of Congress-Communist stranglehold over the narrative, we discover to our shock and surprise the views of Maulana Azad, whose grew up quite isolated from the Hindu community, was a big supporter of Pan-Islam (on record claimed it the duty of Indian Muslims to rise in support of Muslims in another country, a horrifying form of which we see today in violent protests in Azad Maidan, Mumbai and terror activities in the name of global Islamic cause which is not different from the affiliation of International Communist brotherhood) and even an advocate of the hostage policy which spoke of security of Hindus in Muslim majority areas as a guarantee for the safety of Muslims in Hindu majority areas.

Sir Agha Khan, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, advocated a loosely built federation where ideology, or rather religion-based alignments could rise in line with the idea of Pan-Islam without tying up the Muslims with a national identity of India^1. Even Maulana Muhammad Ali, spoke about Gandhi- "According to my religion and creed, I do hold an adulterous and a fallen Mussalman to be better than Mr. Gandhi." Gandhi on the other hand threw the entire weight of Congress, largely comprising of the Hindus, to support the movement to restore the Caliphate, even after infamous Moplah rebellion, in the name of independence, calling the Ali Brothers his brothers. Even Dr. Kitchlew, who was behind Jalianwalla, a nationalist, has been quoted by Ambedkar as claiming that if Hindus stand in the way of the work of Tanzeem, or the Muslim community, it was perfectly justified for the Muslims to join hands with Islamic rulers of Afghanistan and Persia to take on the Hindus.

While the mainstream politics was being penetrated by such communal ideology, and the space was being ceded to them step by step by ignoring these utterances, at the same time, the nationalists who were called as terrorists by Nehru in his autobiography, were setting up a truly secular front against the British. This brotherly duo of Bismil and Ashfaqullah was to emerge in the life and death as a model of an India unified across the religious divide.

Born on this day, 22^nd October, 1900, Ashfaqullah Khan Warsi was to become true representation of Hindu nationalist. As Anusheelan Samiti, moved into various forms, from Matruvadi Sanstha of Mainpuri under Hindustan Republican Army of Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil, a staunch Aryasamaji and proud Sanatani Hindu, Ashfaq was ready to join him as his lieutenant, overcoming his initial suspicions and apprehensions. While he always considered Bismil his elder brother and senior with a steady sense of loyalty, in so many ways, Ashfaq was clearer in his mind about complex political questions. For instance, Ashfaq would not confuse Communism with Socialism and pro-Poor government, or Religious rights with religious extremism. While Bismil wrote extensively, even after deliberate attempt of later politicians to sideline them, much of it survives which allows us to look into the heart of Ram Prasad Bismil. On the other hand, very little is found about Ashfaq's writing and he is reduced to the poster without any words at extremist religious movements like CAA.

Very few words which can be directly attributed to Ashfaq can be found in a book 'Shaheed-ae-vatan Ashfaqullah Khan' by MI Rajaswi. This book gives a glimpse into the mind of a staunch Muslim and a truly secular Nationalist. This book leans of Bismil's Autobiography, Ashfaq's letters sent to family and friends and the references from other nationalist writers like Manmanath Gupt and Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi. When Ashfaq was born, India was writhing under the heavy boots of British imperialism. After the failed 1857 revolution, the spirit of India was despondent, tired and defeated.

In such a world, came Ram Prasad Bismil in a family facing abject poverty in Shahjahanpur and soon after came Ashfaqullah Khan, his Lakshman, in Pathan family with links to the Mughal Courts of Shahjahan. The family originated from Peshawar in Afghanistan. He plainly mentions that when his ancestors arrived, it was mostly Gujjar dominated area. The paternal ancestors acquired lands there and settled down, but did very little to get themselves educated and progress. Ashfaq mocks his ancestors’ antipathy towards modern English education, stating that not one person could graduate in the entire family. Most relatives on the maternal side were Government officials like Judges and Collectors, but with embarrassment, Ashfaq says they were British spies during the 1857 Mutiny.

Ashfaq says the blot of infamy brought in by the ancestors will be now cleansed with his blood. Ashfaq writes that in view of his supreme sacrifice, he hoped that the nation will forgive the disloyalty of his own ancestors. How often we find modern leaders writing with such disarming honesty?

His father was Shri Shafeequllah Khan and mother was Mazhar-ul-Nissa. Ashfaq was the youngest among four siblings- three brothers- Riyasat-ul-llah Khan, Shaqi-Ul-Lah Khan, Shehanshah Khan and one sister- Parvarish Bano. Ashfaq writes that his martial spirit was a result of caning by his teacher Mr Manoharlal Jyotishi. Such lovely wit seems to be similar to the incident when Bismil was thrown out of his home by his father, when he was only a teenager.

Ashfaq was physically well-built and as per his own admission, looked like a wrestler. Ashfaq was sharp and good in Mathematics. His pet name was Achhu Khan in the family. Ashfaq quotes how he questioned his father about the brutality of British and what should one do as a Muslim if the one who is oppressor and the one who is oppressed, both are non-Muslims. His father, Ashfaq quotes, responded that if a Muslim thinks that he should not intervene because the oppressed is a non-Muslim and thinks his religion is a hindrance than he is not a true Muslim. When Mainpuri Conspiracy of Pandit Gendalal came to light, Ashfaq was in Class Seventh.

Ashfaq wrote that he was much influenced by Sir Walter Scott's Love of Country and another a speech by Horace on patriotism. He then quotes the incident where one of the teachers gave him a book 'Patriots of the World' to read and how Nationalistic education should be made compulsory so that the young would grow up feeling attachment to their homes. After reading 'Anandmath' Ashfaq became more and more interested in revolutionary work. Then he heard Bismil speak in one of the school events and attempted to meet him. Ashfaq's account of their meeting is similar to how Bismil accounts meeting Ashfaq. There was initially an attempt by him to avoid Ashfaq, due to distrust towards a Muslim boy. But Ashfaq persisted in the line of service of the motherland and eventually Bismil came to regard Ashfaq as his own brother.

Ashfaq had very strong views about Pan-Islam and is very upfront about it. He writes- "I am a Pathan and by nature Pathan's are quite sentimental. I used to pray that Turks may conquer India and we become the citizens of Caliphate. I was very much against the Hindus." He then explains how a Teacher was poisoning his mind against the Hindus. He then says how he would call it evil designs on the part of the teacher and how later his heart became as open to the Hindus as it was for the Muslims. He then says that he remained Pan-Islamist for a long time, but that was the time a time when I knew little.

There is also much written about Bismil and Ashfaq being Communist. Manmannath Gupt, their comrade revolutionary flatly negates it. He writes- “We knew very little about Karl Marx apart from the fact that he was an old and not-a-good-looking person”. He in fact wrote that someone called Satya Bhakt did establish some Communist Party which had a membership of 80 people but the party suddenly collapsed. He categorically says that they were not Socialist rather they wanted Democracy with equity across the classes.

With little financial support from anyone, under the leadership of Bismil, the revolutionaries were forced to loot from Government treasury in Kakori on the 9^th of August, 1925. The government quickly got into action as it punctured the image of a strict government created by the British after the cruel crushing of 1857 Revolution. A series of betrayals landed Bismil and other revolutionaries in the prison quickly. Ashfaq was arrested later and was represented in the Sessions Court by Shri Kripashankar Hajela. He was appointed by an informal committee headed by Shri Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi.

Shri Hajela later recounted how when he went to Ashfaq with the message from Ashfaq's relative advising him to turn Government approver to escape a definite death sentence, Ashfaq was very disappointed that possibly he was singled out for this because he was a Muslim. In the first of his hearing Ashfaq appeared wearing a Saffron dress. While writing to Privy Council for mercy (yes, he and Bismil wrote, because they wanted to expose the hollowness of British Justice System), he took the entire responsibility of Kakori on himself, claiming Bismil to be innocent.

When Hajela ji objected, Ashfaq replied- "Hajela Saheb, I am only a foot soldier and Shri Ramprasad Bismil is our only leader. If by sacrificing my life, I am able to save him, it will be good for the party”. When the plea was rejected and Death sentence was confirmed, Mr. Hajela and Ashfaq's elder brother visited him with the nephews. Ashfaq told them that among the Hindus, great men like Khudiram Bose and Kanhaiyyalal Dutt have already laid down their lives for the nation, but I am first Muslim to be so fortunate to get this opportunity.

As fanaticism and religious intolerance keeps on increasing in Indian society, it is very important re-discover Ashfaq. Today, the Muslim leadership has an issue to pick up with any symbol which is Hindu, merely because anything which goes into ancient India will be linked with Hinduism, as it is an Indigenous religion. It is really interesting to read the description of Bismil in the Courts, wearing Saffron Kurta, raising slogans of Vande Mataram, celebrating Holi, Saraswati Puja and Basant Panchmi in the Prison singing – Mera Rang de Basanti Chola, Isi Rang me Rang ke Shiva ne Maan ka Bandhan Khola. 

Modern Politics has reduced the Muslim into a mob without any individual identity which would ask from their representatives’ individual things like food, roads, employment, electricity and education. This decay started by the time of Independence as explained by Ambedkar in his writings. This explains why people of Shaheen Bagh who sat blocking the roads for months never questioned the local MLA Amanatullah Khan on broken roads and overflowing drainage in the area. It is important for the Muslims to discover Ashfaq and understand the truth that while Ambedkar was pretty settled with the idea that Partition is inevitable, it was Savarkar who was closer to the idea of Bismil and Ashfaq when he stressed,

"We are prepared to emphasize that the legitimate rights of minorities with regard to their Religion, Culture and Language will be expressly guaranteed: on one condition only that the equal rights of the majority also must not in any case be encroached upon or abrogated."

The message Ashfaqullah Khan left in his last letter, after all the appeals made by Shri Gobind Ballabh Pant on their behalf fell to deaf ears in Privy Council, is similar to what Savarkar wrote in his book on The First War of Independence. Ashfaq wrote:

"It is impossible that 7 Crore Muslims will get Purified (reconverted to Hinduism) or 22 Crore Hindus will become converted to Islam. Yes, it is though possible that they both will come together only to put the yoke of slavery around their necks… I beg you to have pity on the young men of Kakori case for their early deaths. Come together and be united, else the charge of misfortune of India will be upon you and you are responsible for this slavery. To the Communists I would say that when you use foreign theories to explain India, you declare yourselves un-Indian."

It is important to find those Ashfaq who are still there, suffocated in fanatic religious system, cunningly cultivated by politicians since Independence and be Bismil to them.  In the name of Ashfaq, let us stretch our arms to them, and bring them out of the ghettoes of suffocating isolation.

Reference:

1. Ambedkar, Pakistan or Partition of India.

Image Credit: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashfaqulla_Khan