ASHFAQULLAH KHAN: SPIRITED REVOLUTIONARY OF THE FREEEDOM MOVEMENT: PRAMOD DIXIT MALAY

ASHFAQULLAH KHAN: SPIRITED REVOLUTIONARY OF THE FREEEDOM MOVEMENT: PRAMOD DIXIT MALAY

19-DEC-ENG 18

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------I have no other desire, if I have any desire, it is this:

That someone place a little dust of my homeland in my shroud.

These lines were written by Ashfaqullah Khan, the hero of the Kakori train robbery incident and a true devotee of Mother India, shortly before his execution. Even in the final moments of his earthly journey, he wished to adorn his forehead with the dust of Mother India's feet. Every moment of his life was dedicated to the service of his country. He had no personal desires or ambitions. He was not only a strong bridge of Hindu-Muslim unity but also a sensitive poet whose writings resonated with vigor, patriotism, courage and valor, and the spirit of national unity and integrity. This brave lion of a man was sentenced to death at the age of 27. He was loved by all the revolutionaries; everyone affectionately called him 'Kunwar Ji'. Ashfaqullah Khan was a spirited revolutionary who dedicated his life to the freedom movement.

Ashfaq was born on October 22, 1900, in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, into a zamindar family. His father, Mohammad Shafiqullah Khan, and mother, Mazharunnisa Begum, were overjoyed at the birth of their child. Ashfaq was the youngest of his siblings. Everyone at home affectionately called him 'Achchu'. From childhood, he was fond of playing, swimming, horse riding, shooting, and hunting. Tall, strong, and handsome with large eyes and a fair complexion, Ashfaq, like Ram Prasad Bismil, was also a good Urdu poet. He also wrote poems and articles in Hindi and English. Ashfaq's family was not very educated, while his maternal relatives were highly educated and held important jobs. It is said that when his maternal relatives did not support the Indian freedom fighters during the First War of Independence in 1857, the people, in anger, set fire to their mansion, which is still known in the area as "Jali Kothi" (Burnt Mansion). In 1920, after coming into contact with Ramprasad Bismil, a classmate and friend of his elder brother Riyasat Ullah Khan, Ashfaq also developed feelings of rebellion against the British and began to mobilize young people to drive the British out of the country. Meanwhile, he also established contact with revolutionaries from Bengal, and a decision was made to form an organization. Lala Hardayal, who was living abroad, was also in contact with Bismil and was giving instructions to form an organization and write its constitution. During this time, Ashfaq wanted his people to participate in the Congress party. Therefore, Ashfaq, along with Bismil and other companions, participated in the Ahmedabad session of 1920.  They maintained contact afterward and also attended the Gaya session in 1922. However, Gandhi's unilateral withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement disappointed the youth, and after returning from there, they discussed forming their own party. And then, in 1924, with the cooperation of revolutionaries from Bengal, the 'Hindustan Republican Association' came into existence. On January 1, 1925, a four-page pamphlet in English titled 'The Revolutionary' was published, which was essentially the party's manifesto. Each page had the heading, "Whether small or big, poor or rich, everyone will receive free justice and equal rights." This pamphlet was pasted in major cities and public places across the country so that as many people as possible could read it. Funds were needed to expand the party's work, but no wealthy merchants or moneylenders were willing to donate. Coincidentally, during this time, Yogesh Chandra Banerjee and Sachindranath Sanyal were arrested while carrying these pamphlets to Bengal. Now the entire responsibility of the group fell on Bismil and Ashfaq. Two robberies were carried out at the homes of wealthy people to raise funds, but not enough money was obtained, and two innocent people were unintentionally killed. This deeply disturbed Bismil, and he resolved not to carry out such robberies again.  Instead, a plan was made to loot the government treasury. In a meeting, Bismil proposed looting the treasury being transported by train from Kakori. All the comrades present agreed, but Ashfaq strongly opposed the proposal, saying that they were not yet strong enough to fight the British government directly, and that after the treasury was looted, the police would be after them, and the group would be scattered. Ashfaq was then called a coward and someone afraid of death. Finally, Ashfaq agreed, saying that he was not afraid of death and that time would tell. So, according to the plan, on the evening of August 9th, 10 revolutionaries boarded the "8 Down Lucknow-Saharanpur Passenger Train." As soon as the train, loaded with the treasury, moved forward from Kakori, Rajendra Nath Lahiri pulled the chain. Ashfaq quickly held a Mauser pistol to the driver's temple. The guard tried to resist, but Bismil overpowered him, knocking him face down on the ground. The treasury chest was unloaded, but despite all efforts, the locks could not be opened. Seeing the time running out, Ashfaq handed his Mauser to Manmathnath Gupta and began to break open the chest with a hammer. Ashfaq's powerful blows created a large hole in the chest. Silver coins and rupees, amounting to approximately four thousand rupees, were wrapped in sheets, and they made their escape. However, in their haste, one sheet was left behind, which later became a crucial piece of evidence for the police in catching the revolutionaries. This incident greatly embarrassed the British government, and rewards were announced for the capture of the revolutionaries. Police investigations and intelligence gathering led to simultaneous raids across the country on September 26. On September 25, 1925, several revolutionary hideouts were raided, and 40 revolutionaries were arrested. However, the police still failed to apprehend Ashfaq and Chandrashekhar Azad. Ashfaq evaded the police and went to Nepal. From there, he came to Kanpur and stayed at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi's press. He then traveled through Banaras, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Bhopal before reaching Delhi. His plan was to obtain a passport and leave the country. However, due to the betrayal of the friend whose house he was staying at in Delhi, he was apprehended by intelligence officer Ikramul Haq. Although the court had already delivered its verdict in the Kakori Conspiracy case on April 6, 1926, a supplementary case was filed against Ashfaq and Sachindranath Bakshi. The verdict in this case came on July 13, in which Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendranath Lahiri, and Thakur Roshan Singh were sentenced to death, and 16 others received sentences ranging from four years to life imprisonment (kala pani). Following the court's order, Ashfaq was hanged in Faizabad Jail on Monday, December 19, 1927. His last words were:

“India will one day reach the pinnacle of success.

Our home will be freed from the clutches of the oppressor.

That day will surely come when we will see our own rule,

When this land will be ours, and this sky will be ours.”

The great hero Ashfaqullah Khan will forever live in our hearts.