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The 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement in Peshawar Valley from the Pashtoon Perspective
Sayed
"bstract
Studies in History 29(1) 87118 2013 Jawaharlal Nehru Uni ersity S!"# $u%li&ations 'os !n(eles) 'ondon) New *elhi) Sin(a+ore) ,ashin(ton **./0 101117720237453013594490 htt+022sih1sa(e+u%1&o6
'i8e other +arts o7 /ndia) the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent was also laun&hed in North,est 9rontier $ro in&e (:hy%er$a8htoon8hwa)) althou(h initially with little su&&ess1 ;he lo&al -on(ress sou(ht hel+ 7ro6 the :hudai :hid6at(ars) the 6ost +o+ular so&io<+oliti&al or(ani=ation o7 the +ro in&e> 23 !+ril 1930 saw the worst 8ind o7 6assa&re in $eshawar) 7ollowed %y other +arts o7 the $ro in&e1 *urin( the &i il diso%edien&e) the &olonial ad6inistration tried all 8inds o7 dra&o< nian 6ethods to su++ress the 6o e6ent %ut in ain1 ;he +ur+ose o7 the +resent resear&h is to in esti(ate and analy=e the &i il diso%edien&e and its i6+a&t in the $eshawar ?alley) hitherto ne(le&ted %y the s&holars and there%y hel+ +ro ide a new and dee+er understandin( o7 the whole s&enario1 /n a 6u&h %roader &on< te@t and in a wider +ers+e&ti e) howe er) the +resent study will en&o6+ass the 7ollowin( 6ain issues0 (a) /ndian Ausli6s and the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent laun&hed %y -on(ress under Aahat6a "andhi> (%) the 9rontier -on(ress and its 7ailure in 6o%ili=ation o7 +eo+le to su++ort &i il diso%edien&e> (&) the altruisti& leadershi+ o7 !%dul "ha77ar :han and the :hudai :hid6at(arsB tan(i%le su+< +ort within the 6asses> (d) the atro&ities o7 the &olonial ad6inistration and the +redi&a6ent o7 the lo&al +o+ulation> (e) adheren&e to non< iolen&e) a uniCue +heno6enon 7or the $ashtoons> (7) the inter+lay o7 the reli(ion and +oliti&s> (() the &o6+le@ity o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ar-on(ress relations> and) (h) the role o7 &haris6ati& leadershi+1 ;he +resent resear&h will %e 7o&usin( on these and other si6ilar &ru&ial issues +re iously under alued1 #eywords 9reedo6 6o e6ent) 1930 &i il diso%edien&e) N,9$) $eshawar ?alley) $ashtoons) non< iolen&e) :issa :hani Da=aar 6assa&re /n 1930) the /ndian National -on(ress under the leadershi+ o7 Aahat6a "andhi laun&hed its &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent a(ainst the Dritish /ndian (o ern6ent
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de6andin( E-o6+lete /nde+enden&eB1 Fes+ondin( to the &all o7 "andhi) li8e other +arts o7 /ndia) the North,est 9rontier $ro in&eBs (N,9$) rena6ed as :hy%er$ashtoon8hwa) -on(ress6en also e6%ar8ed on the &i il diso%edien&e %ut in iew o7 their s6all nu6%er the lo&al authorities i(nored it1 ;o (i e a %oost to their 6o e6ent) the lo&al -on(ress leaders reCuested !%dul "ha77ar :han) the +ro6inent so&ial wor8er o7 the $ro in&e) 7a6ous 7or his altruis6) to su++ort the6 in the ne@t round o7 the intended &i il diso%edien&e in $eshawar to whi&h he a(reed1 ;he &olonial ad6inistration had no 7urther toleran&e 7or su&h a&ti ities1 ;hey de&ided not to allow the s&heduled a&ti ities o7 the lo&al +oliti&al wor8ers whi&h 6i(ht &ause distur%an&e to the +ea&e and tranCuillity o7 the +ro in&e1 .n the sele&ted day) that is) 23 !+ril 1930) %rutal 7or&e was used to dis+erse the de6on< strators1 ;he tra(i& 7irin( on the +ea&e7ul 6o% in the Gissa :hani Da=aar) $eshawar) resulted in the 8illin( o7 6ore than two hundred +eo+le in one sin(le day and &an %e ran8ed at +ar with the 6assa&re at the Jallianwala Da(h) !6ritsar) in !+ril 19191 /t was 7ollowed %y a rei(n o7 terror in the whole 9rontier $ro in&e1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ars and their su++orters were su%He&ted to the worst 8ind o7 hu6iliation1 !7ter $eshawar) si6ilar atro&ities were &o66itted at ;a88ar) Ut6an=ai and Dannu1 *es+ite the worst 8ind o7 re+ression %y the (o ern6ent) the $ashtoons re6ained non< iolent1 Under the &ir&u6stan&es they were &o6+elled to Hoin /N-) a 7riendshi+ whi&h &ontinued till the +artition o7 /ndia in !u(ust 19571 ,hile lot o7 resear&h has %een done on the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent in other +arts o7 /ndia) the 9rontier $ro in&e and in +arti&ular the $eshawar ?alley ha e %een ne(le&ted hitherto 7or un8nown reasons1 ?ery little resear&h has %een &ondu&ted on this +arti&ular re(ion1 ;he a%sen&e o7 written re&ord on this area and su%He&t has 6eant that the so&ial s&ientists) historians) analysts and other s&holars %elon(in( to arious dis&i+lines who ha e s+e&ial interest in South !sia) ha e %een de+ri ed o7 &ru&ial in7or6ation on a ery i6+ortant +hase o7 twentieth< &entury history1 ;he only a aila%le in7or6ation is the o77i&ial re&ord) written 7ro6 the &olonial +ers+e&ti e whi&h is not entirely relia%le1 !&&ordin( to the o77i&ial esti6ate) a%out thirty nine +eo+le lost their li es on 23 !+ril) a hi(hly &ontesta%le 7i(ure +ro ided %y the 9rontier ad6inistration and un7ortunately Cuoted %y 6any historians writin( on the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent) without 7urther &he&8in( its authenti&ity1 ;he +resent resear&h will 7o&us on this ne(le&ted as+e&t o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent) relyin( u+on the +ri6ary sour&es in&ludin( the +ersonal inter iews) &ondu&ted %y the author in arious +arts o7 $ashtoon8hwa and un+u%lished 6e6oirs and auto%io(ra+hies1 ,hile details will %e +ro ided o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent in the 9rontier +ro in&e in (eneral) s+e&ial attention will %e (i en to the $eshawar ?alley1 ,hy 1930 is an i6+ortant year in $ashtoon history and how it is re7le&ted in the lo&al +oetry will %e e aluated1 ;he +resent resear&h will also analy=e the $ashtoon +ers+e&ti e o7 the whole &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 *es+ite ad6onition 7ro6 arious &ir&les) what 6oti ated the6 to Hoin the 6o e6entI ,hat 8ind o7 6o%ili=ation te&hniCues were ado+ted %y the leaders to attra&t the &o66on 6an to Hoin in and with what resultsI ,hat Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118
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was their thin8in(I How were they treated %y the 9rontier authoritiesI ,hat 8ind o7 6ethods o7 torture were used a(ainst the6) so that rather than a%andonin( the stru((le) they showed +ertina&ity and instead 7lo&8ed into the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6entI ;hese and si6ilar Cuestions will &o6e under dis&ussion in the +resent resear&h arti&le1 How the $ashtoons inter+reted the whole s&enario) why did they not retaliate) were &o6+la&ent in di77i&ult situations and des+ite su77erin( the worst 8ind o7 hu6iliation were a%le to a en(e re+eated insults are so6e o7 the Cuestions / a6 &on&erned with1 ;he +resent arti&le will also in esti(ate the $ashtoonsB ado+tion o7 non< iolen&e as a &reed and their &o66it6ent to it whi&h earned the6 a (ood re+utation at an all</ndia le el1 ,hether !%dul "ha77ar :han e6ulated the non< iolen&e +rea&hed %y "andhi in other +arts o7 /ndia or de elo+ed his own +arti&ular ariety will also &o6e under dis&ussion1 ,hy the $ashtoons were in&lined to Hoin the -on(ress rather than the Ausli6 'ea(ue) their &o<reli(ionists in the 7reedo6 stru((le) will %e thorou(hly in esti(ated1 ,hat was the role o7 the +ro<Dritish landed aristo&ra&y) title holders and other loyalists durin( the whole i6%ro(lio and what were its re+er&ussionsI ,hat was the i6+a&t o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent on the re(ion and how it in7luen&ed the 7uture &ourse o7 South !sian +oliti&s will also %e analy=ed1 /n its histori& 7orty<7ourth session) held in 'ahore in *e&e6%er 1929) the /Nde6anded &o6+lete inde+enden&eJES(ara)B) instead o7 E*o6inion StatusB 7or /ndia1 Jawaharlal Nehru) the -on(ress $resident) 6ade it a%solutely &lear that they wanted E7ullest 7reedo6 o7 /ndiaB and Ewill not a&8nowled(e the ri(ht o7 the Dritish $arlia6ent to di&tate to us in any wayB11 /t e6+owered "andhi to +lan and de&ide on the nature and ti6in(s o7 the &i il diso%edien&e a(ainst the #6+ire to a&hie e the desired (oals12 "andhi was 7ully &on in&ed o7 the +ea&e7ul and non< iolent 6ass 6o e6ent13 /n the 'ahore -on(ress he was a%solutely &on in&ed o7 the attain6ent o7 inde+enden&e %y non< iolent 6eans1 He e@+ressed his iews to the +arti&i+ants in the 6ost darin( 6anner and stated that E'et 6e howe er tell you 6y &on i&tion that i7 the nation &arried out the non< iolent +ro(ra66e loyally) there need not %e any dou%t a%out the attain6ent o7 our (oalK1B5 He ela%orated 7urther and said that E/ ad6it and %elie e that &ool &oura(e is 6i(htier than the sword1 -ool &oura(e &an ery well i6+le6ent &i il diso%edien&e1 /7 one thin8s that &o6+lete inde+enden&e &annot %e a&hie ed throu(h +ea&e7ul 6eans) it i6+lies that he has no 7aith in &ool &oura(e1 ;he 6o6ent we a&Cuire &ool &oura(e)
Jawaharlal NehruBs $residential !ddress) 29 *e&e6%er 1929) 'ahore) "on*ress +residential Addresses ,ro' the Sil#er to the -olden .u%ilee (Aadras0 "1 !1 Natesan L -o1) 1935)) 8931 2 Judith A1 Drown) -andhi +risoner o/ Ho0e (New Ha ens0 Male Uni ersity $ress) 1989)) 2351 3 E111/n a +la&e li8e /ndiaB) re6ar8ed "andhi) Ewhere the 6i(htiest or(anisation is +led(ed to Nnon<O iolen&e) i7 you really %elie e in your own &reed) that is to say) i7 you %elie e in yoursel es) i7 you %elie e in your nation) then it is &i il diso%edien&e that is wanted>B1 S+ee&h at the 55th Session o7 -on(ress) 'ahore) 31 *e&e6%er 1929) !he "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi 2344 (5cto%er 1929 ,e%ruary 1930)) (!h6eda%ad0 Na aHi an ;rust) 1970)) 3331 5 'ahore) 29 *e&e6%er 1929) "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi) 2344) 3321
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&o6+lete inde+enden&e will %e ours1B3 "andhi started +re+arin( +eo+le 7or the intended &i il diso%edien&e &a6+ai(n1 ,hile 7or6ally in itin( his &ountry6en to Hoin the6 in the (reat stru((le 7or the li%eration o7 the &ountry 7ro6 the 7orei(n yo8e) the -on(ress $resident) Jawaharlal Nehru) 6ade it &lear 7ro6 the %e(innin( that they should %e +re+ared 7or Ethe rewards that are in store 7or you are su77erin( and +rison and it 6i(ht %e death1 Dut you shall also ha e the satis7a&tion that you ha e done your little %it 7or /ndiaKB4 *ire&t &on7rontation %etween the -on(ress and "o ern6ent see6ed ine ita%le1 "andhi de&ided that he would hi6sel7 +er7or6 the 7irst a&t o7 &i il diso%edien&e and would lead sele&ted satya(rahis 7ro6 !h6eda%ad to *andi in Do6%ay to %rea&h the Salt 'aw17 .n 2 Aar&h 1930) "andhi in7or6ed 'ord /rwin) the ?i&eroy) o7 his iews %y ter6in( the Dritish rule in /ndia as a &urse1 De&ause) a&&ordin( to "andhi) E/t has i6+o erished the du6% 6illions %y a syste6 o7 +ro(ressi e e@+loitation and %y a ruinously e@+ensi e 6ilitary and &i il ad6inistration whi&h the &ountry &an ne er a77ordB18 He ela%orated on the 6iseries o7 the tenants and &onsidered it %ene7i&ial 7or a 7ew %i( =a6indars and not the tenants1 He de6anded a 7ull re ision o7 the whole re enue syste6) whi&h) a&&ordin( to "andhi) was desi(ned to &rush the +oor1 He showed indi(nation o er the salt ta@ whi&h he re(arded as an e@tra %urden u+on the +oor1 He in7or6ed the ?i&eroy that on 11 Aar&h he would %e +ro&eedin( alon( with the in6ates o7 the !shra6 to %rea8 the Salt 'aw1 He re(arded the salt ta@ to %e the E6ost iniCuitous o7 all 7ro6 the +oor 6anBs stand+ointB19 .n 12 Aar&h 1930) "andhi alon( with se enty ei(ht satya(rahis set out 7ro6 Sa%ar6ati !shra6) !h6eda%ad) towards *andi) a Do6%ay &oastline a%out 250 6iles away) whi&h they &o ered in a%out 7our wee8s1 ;he (rou+ o7 se enty nine satya(rahis) in&ludin( "andhi) &o6+rised +eo+le 7ro6 arious so&ial %a&8< (rounds in&ludin( s&holars) Hournalists) untou&ha%les) Ausli6s and wea ers and %elon(ed to di77erent a(e (rou+s1 ;he oldest one was a 41<year<old leader and the youn(est one was a %oy o7 si@teen1 ;he histori& 6ar&h to *andi was a uniCue e@+eri6ent) whi&h attra&ted 6any +eo+le1 ;hrou(hout the way "andhi +rea&hed non< iolen&e and in7or6ed the &urious illa(ers o7 the 6eanin( o7 SwaraH110 .n 4 !+ril they rea&hed *andi and i66ediately %ro8e the Salt 'aw E%y +i&8in( u+ a lu6+ o7 salt 6i@ed with 6udB111 .n this o&&asion in an inter iew to the 9ree $ress o7 /ndia) "andhi announ&ed that
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4%id1) 3311 NehruBs $residential !ddress) "on*ress +residential Addresses) 9021 7 D1F1 Nanda) &ahat'a -andhi: A 6io*ra0hy (*elhi0 .@7ord Uni ersity $ress) 1938)) 2911 8 "andhi to 'ord /rwin) 2 Aar&h 1930) "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi, 23444) 31 9 4%id1) 71 10 Judith A1 Drown) -andhi7+risoner o/ Ho0e) 2371 Aore details &an %e seen in ;ho6as ,e%er) 5n the Salt &arch: !he Historio*ra0hy o/ &ahat'a -andhi8s &arch to $andi (New *elhi0 Fu+a L -o1) 2009)1 11 "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi, 23444) 1991
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Now that a te&hni&al or &ere6onial %rea&h o7 the salt law has %een &o66itted) it is now o+en to anyone who would ta8e the ris8 o7 +rose&ution under the salt law to 6anu7a&< ture salt where er he wishes and where er it is &on enient1 Ay ad i&e is that a wor8er should e erywhere 6anu7a&ture salt and where he 8nows how to +re+are &lean salt should 6a8e use o7 it and instru&t illa(ers to do li8ewise) tellin( the illa(ers at the sa6e ti6e that he runs the ris8 o7 %ein( +rose&utedK12
;he Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent tried to %elittle the i6+a&t o7 the &i il dis< o%edien&e 6o e6ent1 ;he *istri&t !d6inistration was (i en the res+onsi%ility o7 tourin( the illa(es throu(h whi&h the Salt Aar&h Satya(rahis had +assed Eto re+air the da6a(e and to i6+ro e the 6orale o7 the loyalistsB1 13 /n the last wee8 o7 Aar&h) re+orted Nanda) the %io(ra+her o7 "andhi) the -entral "o ern6ent issued the instru&tions to the +ro in&ial (o ern6ents to show 6a@i6u6 restraint and to a oid wholesale arrests1 ;hey were 7urther ad ised not to enter into dire&t &on7rontation with the +rotestin( -on(ress wor8ers and to arrest the leaders only1 ;his will surely dis&oura(e the -on(ress wor8ers and will also disor(ani=e the 6o e6ent1 /n so6e &ases i7 the "o ern6ent was &o6+elled under the &ir&u6< stan&es to use 7or&e) they should use the 6ini6u6 +ossi%le 7or&e %e&ause the use o7 %rutal 7or&e will &reate sy6+athy a6on( the (eneral +u%li& 7or the -on(ress or(ani=ation and the de6onstrators114 Dut the attitude o7 the "o ern6ent did
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/nter iew to the 9ree $ress o7 /ndia) 4 !+ril 1930) 4%id1 4%id1 15 Aessa(e to the Nation) 9 !+ril 1930) i%id1) 2131 13 Nanda) &ahat'a -andhi: A 6io*ra0hy) 2941
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not re6ain the sa6e1 ,ith the (rowth o7 the 6o e6ent) it &han(ed its +oli&y1 /n Aar&h and !+ril) the +ro6inent leaders o7 -on(ress in&ludin( Jawaharlal Nehru) Sardar ?alla%h%hai $atel) -1 FaHa(o+ala&hari) $andit Aadan Aohan Aala iya) J1A1 Sen "u+ta) D1"1 :her) :1A1 Aunshi) *e adas "andhi) Aahade *esai and ?ithal%hai $atel were arrested and +ut into arious +risons1 9inally) "andhi was also arrested on the ni(ht o7 523 Aay under the Do6%ay Fe(ulations PP? o7 1827 and +ut into Mera da +rison in $oona117 Unli8e the +re ious o&&asions the Ausli6sB res+onse to the &all o7 &i il dis< o%edien&e 6o e6ent was lu8ewar61 "andhi did not attra&t the sa6e nu6%er o7 Ausli6s to 7ollow hi6 whi&h he did +re iously1 He 7ailed to 6o%ili=e a %i( nu6< %er o7 Ausli6s to Hoin hi6 a(ainst the Dritish (o ern6ent1 ;he +arti&i+ation o7 the Ausli6s was insi(ni7i&ant1 #@&e+t in the N,9$) an o erwhel6in( Ausli6 6aHority +ro in&e) whi&h would %e dis&ussed later on se+arately) the /ndian Ausli6s as a whole see6ed to %e un6o ed %y the "andhian &all1 "andhi did not su&&eed in 6o%ili=in( the Ausli6s in Den(al and the $unHa%) the two Ausli6 6aHority +ro in&es) to Hoin hi6 a(ainst the Dritish /ndian (o ern6ent1 !&&ordin( to Drown) %y 6iddle o7 No e6%er (1930) out o7 a total o7 29)000 +risoners only 1)000 were Ausli6s118 Dut it is not &lear whether this nu6%er also in&ludes the Ausli6s %elon(in( to the N,9$ or whether this is the o erall nu6%er o7 the Ausli6s who were i6+risoned %y the &olonial ad6inistration 7or ta8in( +art in the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 Sin&e the ado+tion o7 the Nehru Fe+ort (!u(ust 1928)) 6any +ro6inent Ausli6s de elo+ed distrust o7 the -on(ress +oli&ies119 ;he situation 7urther a((ra ated when the -on(ress leadershi+ announ&ed that the issue o7 &o66u< nal settle6ent would %e sus+ended until the attain6ent o7 $urna SwaraH1 SwaraH) a&&ordin( to the +ro6inent -on(ress leaders was to %e a&hie ed %y the &i il dis< o%edien&e 6o e6ent) Ea 6o e6ent in whi&h the Ausli6s were not li8ely to 7i(ure +ro6inently) and e en i7 it were a&hie ed %y that 6ethod) it was unli8ely that it would result in a &o66unal settle6ent to their ad anta(eB1 20 ;his resulted e en< tually in the resi(nations o7 +ro6inent Ausli6s 7ro6 arious +ositions in the -on(ress1 ;hose who tendered resi(nations 7ro6 their +ositions in&luded A1!1 !nsari) -houdhri :haliCu==a6an and ;assaduC !h6ad :han Sherwani1 !nsari warned "andhi a &ou+le o7 6onths %e7ore the laun&hin( o7 the intended &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent that he was ta8in( a E(reat res+onsi%ilityB on hi6sel7 %y de&larin( war a(ainst the (o ern6ent1 He &o6+ared the situation with the
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Drown) -andhi: +risoner o/ Ho0e) 238> Nanda) &ahat'a -andhi: A 6io*ra0hy) 297> ,e%er) 5n the Salt &arch) 574851 18 Drown) -andhi +risoner o/ Ho0e) 2531 19 9or details) see *a id $a(e) +relude to +artition: !he 4ndian &usli's and the 4'0erial Syste' o/ "ontrol 1920 1932 (*elhi0 .@7ord Uni ersity $ress) 1982)) 148951
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4%id) 2371
!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent HinduAusli6 unity in 1920 and ter6ed it the E'owest water6ar8B in the Hindu< Ausli6 relations121 He in7or6ed the Aahat6a that
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111it is 6y &on i&tion that the &ountry is not at least ready 7or startin( a &a6+ai(n o7 &i il diso%edien&e in any sha+e or 7or6) and it would do an in&al&ula%le da6a(e should you de&ide to e6%ar8 on su&h a &a6+ai(n now or in the near 7uture122
-h1 :haliCu==a6an) another +ro6inent Ausli6 7ro6 U$) showed indi(nation o er "andhiBs re+ly and ter6ed it Edisa++ointin(B1 !&&ordin( to hi6)
U+til now we thou(ht HinduAusli6 unity was the +illar o er whi&h the su+erstru&ture o7 the &onstitution o7 7ree /ndia was to %e laid) %ut 7ro6 Aahat6aHiBs letter one &an in7er that while re&o(nisin( the utility o7 su&h a unity he does not &onsider it sine qua non 7or a 7i(ht 7or inde+enden&e1 /7 we a&&e+t the 7or6ula) laid down therein we indire&tly +ro&lai6 to the Ausli6 &o66unity to 7ind its &ha6+ions in +eo+le who %elie e that &o66unalis6 in /ndia is a 7a&t1 No one &an deny that in ti6e to &o6e nationalis6 would (row and en elo+ e ery one o7 its sonsJHindus and Ausli6s) %ut that would &ertainly reCuire a(es125
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A1!1 !nsari to A1:1 "andhi) 13 9e%ruary 1930) in Aushirul Hasan) ed1) &usli's and the "on*ress: Select "orres0ondence o/ $r9 &9 A9 Ansari 1912 193: (New *elhi0 Aanohar $u%li&ations) 1979)) 991 22 4%id1) 1001 23 A1:1 "andhi to A1 !1 !nsari) 14 9e%ruary 1930) 4%id9) 1011
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!7ter (oin( throu(h the iews) e@+ressed %y !nsari and :haliCu==a6an) one &an easily dedu&e why the Ausli6s in (eneral and their +ro6inent leaders in +arti&ular stayed away and showed a lu8ewar6 attitude to the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent laun&hed %y "andhi1 *urin( the &ourse o7 the 6o e6ent) Aaulana Shau8at !li) elder o7 the 7a6ous !li Drothers) ter6ed it a 6o e6ent not 7or SwaraH %ut 7or Hindu FaH and a(ainst the Aussal6ans24 and ad ised the6 to stay away 7ro6 it1 He &o6+lained why he was not &onsulted %y "andhi %e7ore e6%ar8in( on the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 "andhi re+lied that there was no sense in &onsultation with hi6 %e&ause he 8new that they had di77erent iews on su&h issues1 He also +ointed out to Shau8at !li that
-an you not see that) althou(h / 6ay a&t inde+endently o7 you) it 6i(ht not a6ount to desertionI Ay &ons&ien&e is &lear1 / ha e deserted neither you nor the Aussal6ans1 ,here is the desertion in 7i(htin( a(ainst the salt ta@ and other ineCuities and 7i(htin( 7or inde+enden&eI27
"andhi reiterated it ti6e and a(ain that the re+eal o7 salt ta@ will %ene7it e ery /ndian irres+e&ti e o7 their %elon(in( to any &aste) &o66unity or reli(ion1 "andhi 6ade an e6otional a++eal to the Ausli6s to su++ort the -on(ress in eradi&ation o7 salt ta@) %oy&ott o7 7orei(n &loth and +i&8etin( the liCuor sho+s1 He 6ade it a%undantly &lear that Ethis 6o e6ent o7 sel7<+uri7i&ation is not a 6ono+oly o7 any &o66unity) and wish that all +eo+le should heartily Hoin itB128 9ollowin( the histori& de&ision ta8en at the 'ahore -on(ress) 24 January 1930 was o%ser ed as the E/nde+enden&e *ayB throu(hout /ndia1 /n &on7or6ity
23 24
4%id9) 111121 E,hat /t is NotB) A1:1 "andhi) ;oun* 4ndia) 12 Aar&h 1930> "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi, 23444) 331 27 "andhi to Shau8at !li) 17 !+ril 1930) -andhi "ollected Wor1s, 23444) 2811 28 "andhiBs S+ee&h at Fander) 1 Aay 1930) "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi, 23444) 3731 "andhi 6ade the 7ollowin( &o6+assionate a++eal to the Ausli6s0
/ a++eal to Ausli6 7riends to reali=e that at +resent we ha e e6%ar8ed u+on a 6o e6ent o7 sel7<+uri7i&ation1 ;he ti6e has not yet &o6e to di ide the (ains a6on( oursel es1 ,hen that ti6e &o6es) we shall de&ide the share o7 ea&h1 /7 it is our 6is7ortune to 7i(ht then) we shall 7i(ht it out1 Dut +ersonally / %elie e that when that day &o6es) there will %e no need 7or us to 7i(ht1 ;here will %e no &ause then 7or 6utual distrust or 7ear1 !t +resent our 7i(ht is dire&ted 6ainly a(ainst the salt ta@1 Su&h a ta@ is 7or%idden in /sla61 Salt is a ne&essity 7or all1 ;he 6aHority o7 Hindus and Ausli6s are +oor +eo+le and the %urden o7 the ta@ 7alls on the61 /n Fander) howe er) we ha e 6il< lionaires and 6ulti<6illionaires1 ;hey &an see the 7a&ts i7 only they (o with 6e into illa(es1 .ur se&ond tas8 is to %anish 7orei(n &loth1 # eryone &an see 7ro6 the a&&ounts o7 the S+innersB !sso&iation that %e&ause o7 this 6o e6ent we +ay thousands o7 ru+ees to Ausli6 wo6en and wea ers1 ;he lar(e nu6%ers o7 wo6en in ?iHay+ur who earn a li in( throu(h this wor8 and %less 6e are all Ausli6s1 ;hese +oor wo6en ha e o7ten we+t when 6y wor8ers &ould not su++ly the6 enou(h sli ers1
93
with other +arts o7 /ndia) des+ite ha in( li6ited nu6%er o7 re(istered -on(ress wor8ers) the 9rontier $ro in&ial -on(ress -o66ittee also de&ided to o%ser e it in $eshawar1 Howe er) little interest was shown %y the lo&al +eo+le and %e&ause o7 the s6all nu6%er o7 the -on(ress wor8ers) the +ro in&ial authorities too8 no a&tion a(ainst the6129 ;he ne@t ste+ was non<+ay6ent o7 ta@es1 ;he lo&al &ha+ters were authori=ed %y the -entral or(ani=ation to do in an a++ro+riate and or(ani=ed 6anner Ewhere e er and whene er it &onsiders desira%leB130 ;he +ro6inent leaders o7 the +ro in&ial -on(ress and the re&ently 7or6ed NauHawan Dharat Sa%ha) !(ha Syed 'al Dadshah) Aaulana !%dur Fahi6 $o+al=ai) :han Air Hilali) *r1 -1-1 "hosh) "hula6 Fa%%ani Sethi) Fahi6 Da8hsh "ha=na i) Sano%ar Hussain) !%dur Fah6an Fiya) Foshan 'al and 'ala $aira :han) 6et in $eshawar to de ise the strate(y 7or the ne@t round o7 &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 /t was resol ed to start the %oy&ott o7 the 7orei(n &loth and +i&8etin( o7 liCuor sho+s si6ultaneously131 /t was also dis&ussed how to attra&t 6ore +eo+le to their intended &i il diso%edien&e1 ;hey de&ided to in ite !%dul "ha77ar :han and the :hudai :hid6at(ars to su++ort their 6o e6ent1 Aeanwhile) on 3 !+ril) a dele(ation o7 the lo&al traders dealin( with the liCuor %usiness 6et the -on(ress leaders and reCuested the6 to (rant the6 7i7teen days to dis+ose o7 the e@istin( sto&81 ;hey +ro6ised that in 7uture they would not trade in liCuor1 .n 7 !+ril) the lo&al -on(ress -o66ittee in7or6ed the liCuor &ontra&tors that their reCuest has %een a&&e+ted and the +i&8etin( has %een +ost+oned till 23 !+ril132 De7ore +ro&eedin( 7urther it is +ertinent to +ro ide so6e details o7 the lo&al -on(ress leadershi+1 Unli8e other +arts o7 the &ountry) in the 9rontier $ro in&e the &entre o7 +ower +oliti&s re6ained the rural areas1 ;he traditional 8inshi+ ties
;he third tas8 is eradi&ation o7 the drin8 e il1 /n whi&h reli(ion is drin8in( not 7or%iddenI /n the &ourse o7 6y li7e / ha e 6i@ed a (reat deal with Ausli6s and attended 6any dinners (i en %y Ausli6 hosts1 Ausli6s &annot %ut Hoin the 6o e6ent 7or %anishin( liCuor and other into@i&ants 7ro6 the &ountry1 !re those 6ill wor8ers not Ausli6s who +i&8et liCuor %ooths in !h6eda%ad and +lead with +ro+rietors and drin8<addi&ts) +atiently su%6it< tin( to assaults and a%usesI ;his is a "odBs wor81 He alone &an do it who is ready to sa&ri7i&e his li7e 7or it1 .nly he who is ready to di e into the sea &an %rin( u+ +earls 7ro6 it1 / only %e( 6y Ausli6 &lients and other Ausli6s to reali=e that this 6o e6ent 7or sel7<+uri7i&ation is not a 6ono+oly o7 any &o66unity) and wish that all +eo+le should heartily Hoin it1 ,e will see a7terwards how to share the (ains when the "o ern6ent as8s us what we want1 Ay +ro+he&y a%out that day) howe er) is that we shall then no lon(er thin8 it ne&essary to 7i(ht) that one %rother will in ite another to ta8e anythin( he wants1 ,e shall then ha e no%ility a6on( us and the %ar(ainin( s+irit will ha e disa++eared1 ,e ha e to do this wor8 in "odBs na6e) in the na6e o7 the +oor1 'et all the &o66unities hel+ in it and let the town o7 Fander) too) (i e all the hel+ it &an and %rin( (lory to its 7air na6e1 (4%id1) 37375)
29
ESu66ary o7 $oliti&al Situation in the N<,9$B) "4$ <e0orts) S+e&ial Dran&h $eshawar) 1 9e%ruary 1930) 1331 30 "on*ress +residential Addresses) 9001 31 !%dul :haliC :haleeC) $a A=adi .an* sa Auradeli sa 3eedali ($ashto) ($eshawar0 /dara /shaat i Sarhad) 1972)) 471
32
<e0ort (With >#idence) o/ the +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee (!llaha%ad0 1930)) 471
94
ser ed as the %est tool 7or the +o+ularity o7 a &ertain indi idual in a +arti&ular lo&ality1 'i8e 6any other tri%al so&ieties o7 the world) the traditional $ashtoon so&iety 7o&used on the leadershi+ Cualities o7 the indi iduals 8ee+in( in iew their su++ort %ase and their %elon(in( to well<esta%lished tri%es1 ;he stren(th o7 the leader 6ostly de+ended u+on the nu6%er o7 his su++orters1 !lthou(h no one &an deny the role o7 &haris6a o7 an indi idual) the tri%al lin8s ser ed as the 6ost i6+ortant 7a&tor in the whole +ro&ess1 Hen&e the 7ailure o7 the $eshawar<%ased ur%an -on(ress +oliti&ians to attra&t lar(e &rowds to their +oliti&al (atherin(s1 *es+ite their e@&ellent leadershi+ Cualities) e en the %est o7 the ur%an lead< ers &ould not &on in&e the 6aHority rural +o+ulation to su++ort the6 in the intended -on(ress &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent and hen&e they de+ended u+on !%dul "ha77ar :han to +ro ide the6 the reCuired stren(th and su++ort 7or the 7orth&o6in( &i il diso%edien&e to %e laun&hed in $eshawar1 ;he annual 6eetin( o7 the !=ad S&hool) Ut6an=ai was held on 1920 !+ril 1930) attended %y 6e6%ers o7 :hudai :hid6at(ar and its a77iliated or(ani=ations and %y a lar(e nu6%er o7 +eo+le1 De7ore +ro idin( 7urther details o7 the a++eal o7 the lo&al -on(ress wor8ers and its a&&e+tan&e %y the :hudai :hid6at(ars) it is a++ro+riate to (i e a %rie7 a&&ount o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars and their relation with the lo&al -on(ress1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ars e6er(ed as a +ower7ul +oliti&al 7or&e in the 1920s1 !%dul "ha77ar :han (18901988)) a so&ial wor8er 7ro6 one o7 the in7luential :han 7a6ilies o7 Ut6an=ai (-harsadda)) had started ta8in( 8een interest in the re7or6 6o e6ent o7 HaHi 9a=li ,ahid) +o+ularly 8nown as the HaHi Sahi% o7 ;uran(=ai1 ;hey &on&entrated on reli(ious and so&ial re7or6s1 ;hey were deadly a(ainst illitera&y and ai6ed at +ro idin( edu&ation) %oth 6odern and reli< (ious to the $ashtoons1 9or this +ur+ose 6any A=ad &adrassas were esta%lished in arious +arts o7 the $eshawar ?alley1 Howe er) the Dritish &ould not tolerate these ste+s and soon HaHi Sahi% was 7or&ed to lea e the settled areas and with his de+arture to the tri%al areas) all su&h &adaris &eased to e@ist1 !%dul "ha77ar :han a&ti ely +arti&i+ated in %oth :hila7at and HiHrat 6o e6ents133 !7ter the %it< ter e@+erien&e o7 the HiHrat 6o e6ent) he &on&entrated on $ashtoon +oliti&s1 He 6et li8e<6inded +eo+le and dis&ussed with the6 the 6isera%le &ondition o7 the $ashtoon so&iety1 !%dul "ha77ar :han tried his %est to &on in&e the6 that they should wor8 to(ether 7ro6 a sin(le +lat7or6 7or the re7or6ation o7 the $ashtoon so&iety) to whi&h they a(reed1 ;heir &o6%ined e77orts resulted in the 7or6ation o7 An)u'an?i?4slah?al? A/a*hana (So&iety 7or the Fe7or6ation o7 the !7(hans)1 .n 1 !+ril 1921) the 7or6al 7or6ation o7 the An)u'an was announ&ed and !%dul "ha77ar :han %e&a6e its +resident1 ;he 6ain o%He&ti es o7 the An)u'an in&luded the eradi&ation o7 so&ial e ils) +ro6otion o7 edu&ation and unity a6on(st
33
9or details see Sayed ,iCar !li Shah) EN<,9$ and the :hila7at and HiHrat Ao e6entsB) "entral Asia) no1 20 (1987)) 12151> A1 Naee6 Gureshi) +an?4sla' in 6ritish 4ndia: !he +olitics o/ the @hila/at &o#e'ent 1918 192A (:ara&hi0 .@7ord Uni ersity $ress) 2009)1
97
the $ashtoons and en&oura(e6ent o7 $ashto lan(ua(e and literature135 Side %y side with the An)u'an) they de&ided to 7o&us u+on the edu&ational a&ti ities and re i ed the old networ8 o7 the !=ad Aadaris1 /n !+ril 1921) the 7irst %ran&h o7 !=ad S&hool was o+ened in Ut6an=ai) 7ollowed %y other %ran&hes in di77erent +arts o7 the $ro in&e133 Sin&e the details o7 the !=ad S&hools and its i6+a&t u+on the $ashtoons is out o7 the s&o+e o7 the +resent resear&h) / will &on7ine 6ysel7 to the 7or6ation o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ar or(ani=ation 7or6ed %y !%dul "ha77ar :han) su++orted %y the sa6e (rou+ o7 $ashtoon intelli(entsia who were o&al in the re7or6ation o7 the $ashtoon so&iety sin&e 19211 !&tually they started with the settin( u+ o7 Bal'o .ir*a (Mouth 'ea(ue) on the +attern o7 other si6ilar or(ani=ations li8e the Moun( ;ur8s) Moun( !7(hans) et& %ut later on to a&&o66odate the older +eo+le in No e6%er 1929 they 7or6ed the :hudai :hid6at(ar (Ser ants o7 "od) 6o e< 6ent1 Desides +ro6otion o7 $ashto) their 6ain o%He&ti es in&luded the attain6ent o7 inde+enden&e 7or Hindustan 7ro6 &olonial rule) throu(h +ea&e7ul 6eans) +ro< 6otion o7 har6ony %etween Hindus and Ausli6s and the +oliti&al awa8enin( o7 the $ashtoon youth134 ,ithin a short s+an o7 ti6e it %e&a6e ery +o+ular +arti&u< larly in the rural areas) whi&h were ne(le&ted %y other or(ani=ations in the +ast1 /ts insisten&e u+on the $ashtoon identity and ado+tion o7 non< iolen&e attra&ted 6any +eo+le to its 7old1 ;here were so6e other 7a&tors) (i en %elow) whi&h &ontri%uted to its +o+ularity1
?arious se&tions o7 the $ashtoon so&iety inter+reted the :hudai :hid6at(ar +ro(ra66e in their own way1 ;o the $ashtoon intelli(entsia) it was a 6o e6ent 7or the re i al o7 $ashtoon &ulture with its distin&t identity1 ;o the s6aller :hans) it was a 6o e6ent that de6anded +oliti&al re7or6s 7or the +ro in&e that would en7ran&hise the6 and (i e the6 a (reater role in (o ernan&e1 /ts anti<&olonial stand suited the 6aHority o7 the anti< esta%lish6ent ule6a) who always re(arded Dritish rule in the su%&ontinent as a E&urseB1 9or the +easants and other +oor &lasses it was a(ainst their e&ono6i& o++ressors) Dritish i6+erialis6 and its a(entsJthe +ro<Dritish Nawa%s) :han Dahadurs and the %i( :hans137
!s +er the de&ision o7 the $eshawar -on(ress -o66ittee) !(ha 'al Dadshah) !li "ul :han) :ari6 Da8hsh Sethi) !(ha Jan Aoha66ad and 'ala Us6an also went to Ut6an=ai to +arti&i+ate in it138 ;hey were in ited %y the or(ani=ers o7 the 6eetin( to s+ea8 to the audien&e1 ;hey 6ade a 7er ent a++eal to the +arti&i+ants o7 the 6eetin( and ur(ed the6 to su++ort the6 a(ainst the Dritish i6+erialis6 and Hoin in the intended &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent to %e &o66en&ed on 23 !+ril1
35
Sayed ,iCar !li Shah) >thnicity 4sla' and Cationalis': &usli' +olitics in the Corth?West ,rontier +ro#ince 1937 19A7 (:ara&hi0 .@7ord Uni ersity $ress) 1999)) 22231 33 4%id9) 231 34 4%id9) 241 37 4%id9) 27281
38
!h6ad) @hudai @hid'at*ar !ehree1 4 ($ashto) ($eshawar0 Uni ersity Doo8 !(en&y) 1991)) 1811
98
;he :hudai :hid6at(ars and other olunteers +resent on the o&&asion +led(ed their +arti&i+ation to %olster the &i il diso%edien&e a(ainst the FaH139
9ull details &an %e seen in :haleeC, $a A=adi .an*) 4344> !h6ad) @hudai @hid'at*ar !ehree1) 181193> and !%dul !8%ar :han !8%ar) $a 6arri Sa*hir +a1 au Hind +ashto A=aadi 1e da +a1htano 6ar1ha ($ashto)) ($eshawar0 Uni ersity $u%lishers) 2009)) 95981
50
99
re(istered their +rotest %y &onde6nin( the (o ern6ent a&t and announ&ed that they would sti&8 to the de&ision o7 +i&8etin( 7ro6 23 !+ril1 ;o a oid +u%li& +rotest and +i&8etin() the "o ern6ent de&ided to arrest the +ro6inent lo&al leaders1 !lthou(h the "o ern6ent did not ta8e any a&tion a(ainst the lo&al -on(ress leaders) they were 8e+t under stri&t sur eillan&e sin&e "andhi laun&hed his Salt Satya(raha1 ;he authorities were aware o7 the &lose asso&iation o7 so6e o7 the -on(ress wor8ers with !%dul "ha77ar :han and were a %it +ertur%ed o er the :hudai :hid6at(arsB +led(e o7 7ull su++ort to the +lanned +i&8etin( o7 the liCuor sho+s1 .la7 -aroe) a Dritish o77i&er then +osted in $eshawar) re+orted that to a ert unrest in the rural areas o7 the +ro in&e) the authorities 7urther resol ed to also arrest all +ro6inent leaders o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ar or(ani=ation151 .n the ni(ht %etween 22 and 23 !+ril) nine52 +ro6inent -on(ress and Sa%ha leaders were arrested and ta8en to Dala Hissar 9ort1 ;wo 6e6%ers o7 the re&ently 7or6ed ,ar -oun&il) !llah Da8hsh DarCi and "hula6 Fa%%ani Sethi) es&a+ed arrest durin( ni(ht and de&ided to surrender +ea&e7ully to the authorities in the 6ornin(1 .n 23 !+ril) around 9 oB&lo&8) the a7ore6entioned leaders were arrested 7ro6 the -on(ress o77i&e and were ta8en to the :a%uli !hana (+oli&e station)1 Aeanwhile) the news o7 the arrest o7 the national wor8ers s+read in the &ity1 $eo+le in lar(e nu6%ers (athered in 7ront o7 the -on(ress o77i&e and started rais< in( slo(ans o7 E'on( 'i e Fe olutionB and E&ahat'a -andhi 1i .eyB1 ;hey were e@&ited and an(ry to see their leaders in +oli&e &ustody1 ;he leaders ad ised the6 to re6ain &al6 and 6o e towards the :a%uli ;hana1 .n its way) a tyre o7 the lorry &arryin( the +risoners (ot +un&tured1 No one &an say +re&isely whether it was %y an a&&ident or so6eone 7ro6 the &rowd did it intentionally1 !lauddin Shah) the su%<ins+e&tor o7 +oli&e) was a%out to &all another lorry when the arrested leaders reCuested that they would surrender to the authorities in the :a%uli ;hana o7 their own a&&ord and they should %e let loose1 ;he su%< ins+e&tor) who was o%ser < in( the situation &losely) sensin( the (ra ity o7 the situation and the 6ood o7 the &rowd) rou(hly esti6ated a%out ei(ht hundred) i66ediately a(reed to the +ro+osal and le7t the s&ene1 ;he &har(ed %ut unar6ed and +ea&e7ul +ro&ession rea&hed the :a%uli ;hana and &ontinued raisin( slo(ans in su++ort o7 their leaders and "andhi1 ;he su%<ins+e&tor a++ealed to the &rowd to dis+erse +ea&e7ully1 ;he leaders went inside the ;hana and the &rowd started dis+ersin( %ut still raisin( the slo(ans o7 E-andhi 1i .ey8 and E4nqila% Binda 6ad)B53 while all o7 a sudden an ar6oured &ar &a6e runnin( at a (reat s+eed and without %lowin( horn or raisin( any other 8ind o7 alar6) rushed into the &rowd) in 7ront o7 the ;hana) and &rushed twel e to 7ourteen +eo+le under its wheels1 Se en +eo+le were 8illed on the s+ot while
51
.la7 -aroe) ES+rin( o7 #n&hant6entB (un+u%lished 6anus&ri+t)) -aroe $a+ers) Ass1 #UF1) as Cuoted in Shah) >thnicity, 4sla' and Cationalis') 321 52 ;he arrested +ersons in&luded Syed 'al Dadshah) Aaulana !%dur Fahi6 $o+al=ai) !&hraH Fa6 "hu6andi) !li "ul :han) :han Air Hilali) Fahi6 Da8hsh "ha=na i) !%dur Fah6an Fiya) 'ala $aira :han and !%dur Fashid SiddiCui1
53
100
the re6ainin( was le7t seriously inHured155 ;his was the 7irst o7 the 7our ar6oured &ars &alled %y H1!1 Aet&al7) the *e+uty -o66issioner o7 $eshawar) who was alar6ed at the +resen&e o7 a %i( &rowd in 7ront o7 the :a%uli ;hana1 He +ro%a%ly wron(ly +er&ei ed their +resen&e as an atta&8 on the ;hana and sent an S.S to the ar6y o77i&ials) stationed at the $eshawar &anton6ent to sa e the6 7ro6 the Ehos< tileB &rowd1 /t was su++lanted %y %ri&8%ats 7ro6 the e@as+erated &rowd inHurin( so6e o77i&ials in&ludin( the *e+uty -o66issioner1 So6eone 7ro6 the re7ra&tory &rowd set a%la=e the ar6oured &ar and this was ensued %y 7irin( u+on the +rotest< in( +eo+le1 !&&ordin( to so6e sour&es) the indis&ri6inate 7irin( started around 11 oB &lo&8 and went on till 3 +161 in the e enin(1 /nitially the shots were 7ired only 7ro6 the ar6oured &ar1 Dut later on when it was resu6ed it was on a 6ore e@ten< si e s&ale) 7or a lon(er duration and %oth troo+s and ar6oured &ars were used 7or 7irin(1 !&&ordin( to the "o ern6ent<a++ointed the Sulai6an< $an8rid(e53 inCuiry &o66ittee) thirty +eo+le were 8illed and thirty<three wounded) %ut this was not the 7inal 7i(ure a&&ordin( to the sa6e re+ort154 Howe er) the -on(ress /nCuiry -o66ittee)57 &haired %y ?ithal%hai $atel) +ut the 7i(ures %etween two hundred and three hundred 8illed and 6any 6ore wounded158 !nother re+ort entitled) !he ,rontier !ra*edy) +u%lished %y the :hila7at -o66ittee) $eshawar in 1930 while 6entionin( other atro&ities o7 the Dritish "o ern6ent on the lo&als) did not (i e the e@a&t nu6%er o7 +eo+le 8illed or wounded1 /t si6+ly re7erred to the indis&ri6i< nate 7irin( o7 the Dritish troo+s on unar6ed +eo+le in the Gissa :hani Da=aar and whi&h le7t the whole %a=aar Estrewn with dead %odiesB1 !&&ordin( to the sa6e re+ort)
9irin( was &ontinued 7or hours a7ter the +eo+le had dis+ersed) in the %y<roads) lanes) su%<lanes) %al&onies and roo7s1 !ny%ody and e ery%ody were to %e shot at si(ht1 Su&h was this terri%le day o7 23 !+rilJa red day in the -alendar o7 the $athansJa day o7 wholesale slau(hterB159
;he olunteers were not allowed to &olle&t the dead %odies1 ;he :hila7at ?olunteers were 7ired u+on and si@ o7 the6 were shot dead1 !&&ordin( to eye<witness
55 53
4%id9) 141 ;wo Hud(es Shah Auha66ad Sulai6an o7 the Hi(h -ourt) !llaha%ad and H1F1 $an8rid(e o7 the Hi(h -ourt) 9ort ,illia6) Den(al were de+uted %y the "o ern6ent to +ro%e into the $eshawar riots1 54 Ste+hen !lan Fitten%er() >thnicity, Cationalis' and the +a1htuns: !he 4nde0endence &o#e'ent in 4ndia8s Corth?West ,rontier +ro#ince (*urha60 -arolina !&ade6i& $ress) 1988)) 791 57 ;he $eshawar #nCuiry -o66ittee with ?ithal%hai $atel Dar<at<'aw) as -hair6an and Au7ti :i7ayatullah ($resident Ja6iatul Ule6a)) Sardar Sardul Sin(h -a eeshar ($resident) $unHa% $ro in&ial -on(ress -o66ittee)) and 'ala *uni&hand) Dar<at<'aw) ('ahore) as 6e6%ers) was a++ointed %y the ,or8in( -o66ittee o7 the /N- to inCuire into the tra(i& e ents o7 $eshawar on 23 !+ril 19301 ;hey were not allowed to enter the 9rontier1 ;hey started holdin( 6eetin(s at Fawal+indi1 /ts 337 +a(es Fe+ort was +u%lished on 23 June 19301 58 +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 891
59
:hila7at -o66ittee $eshawar) !he ,rontier !ra*edy ('ahore0 Fi+on $rintin( $ress) 1930)) 131
101
a&&ounts30) &losed 'orries were sent and 6any dead %odies were +la&ed in the6 %y Dritish soldiers who se&retly trans+orted it to un8nown +la&es1 !7ter &onsultin( 6any sour&es) a &are7ul esti6ate su((ests the total nu6%er o7 the dead around two hundred and thirty131 Howe er) this 7i(ure does not in&lude the &asualties o7 the se&ond 7irin( in $eshawar on 31 Aay 8illin( ele en +eo+le and the deaths in other +arts o7 the +ro in&e in&ludin( ;a88ar (Aardan)) Ut6an=ai (-harsadda) and S+in ;an(i (Dannu)1 !+art 7ro6 the 6assa&re o7 the unar6ed +eo+le in the :issa :hani Da=aar) the day witnessed so6e other noteworthy in&idents whi&h reCuire 7urther hi(hli(htin( as it +ro ed to %e a 6ilestone in the 7reedo6 6o e6ent o7 South !sia %ut un7ortu< nately re6ained un8nown 7or de&ades and due to the sheer i(noran&e o7 s&holars wor8in( u+on the area) does not enHoy a deser in( and a++ro+riate +la&e in South !sian history1
30
Syed !6ir Dadshah) $resident o7 the Qa6indarBs !sso&iation) $eshawar) (a e the 7ollowin( state6ent0
111;he +eo+le were dis6ayed and were tryin( to re6o e the dead and the wounded when an o 77i&er ordered a %ayonet &har(e a(ainst the61 ;o sa e the6sel es) the +eo+le tried to re6o e the dead and wounded %ehind the &o er o7 the wooden %o@es that they had %rou(ht 7ro6 the sho+s and used these %o@es and wooden +lan8s as a shield a(ainst the %ayonet &har(e1 ;hey &ontinued raisin( national slo(ans des+ite this o77i&ial iolen&e whi&h they %ore +ea&e7ully and +atiently1 ;he :issa :hani Da=aar a++eared a erita%le 7ield o7 slau(hter1 / with 6y &o6rades) Aoha66ad !8ra6 :han and others) 7ully witnessed the or(y o7 this wholesale slau(hter 7ro6 the u++er storey o7 the house o7 !%dul Fau7) +leader1 # erythin( was &lear to our iew1 # ery one si(hted in the street and %y<lanes o7 the :issa :hani was indis&ri6inately 7ired at and the soldiers 6o ed on1 # eryone who a++eared in the %al&onies or roo7s was shot at1 ;here7ore we &losed the doors o7 our u++er 7lats and so did the others) and lay hidin( inside1 !t e ery %y<lane were +osted three or 7our Dritish soldiers 7or 7irin( at the +eo+le1 ;he 7irin( &ontinued 7ro6 1013 to 3 +161 and 7ro6 5 to 3 +161 o&&asional 7irin( was heard1 ;he 7irin( at the roo7s and %al&onies was resorted to in order to se&retly re6o e the dead %odies1 ! lar(e nu6%er o7 dead %odies were ta8en in &losed lorries and dis+osed o7 at so6e un8nown +la&e1 / was +ee+in( throu(h a hole on hearin( the noise o7 the 'orries1 / saw the dead %odies %ein( +a&8ed in lorries1 / had seen three su&h lorries1 ( +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 3031)
Aoha66ad !8ra6 :han (witness no1 50)) a 6e6%er o7 the Qa6indarBs !sso&iation) $eshawar &orro%orated the a%o e 7a&ts1 He alon( with !6ir Dadshah and Sano%ar Hussain went u+ to the %al< &ony o7 !%dul Fau7 +leader and saw E(eneral slau(hterB1 He stated that the
Dritish soldiers +ro&eeded to 7ire on the %al&onies and the streets1 ,e &losed the doors %ut witnessed all the s&ene throu(h a hole1 !t a%out 2030 +161 the noise o7 the lorries was heard1 9ro6 a hole we saw the &losed lorries and the Dritish soldiers at di77erent +la&es who were &olle&tin( the dead %odies and were +la&in( the6 in the lorries1 !7ter this / went on the 3rd storey and when / Hust had a +ee+ / saw that the road was %ein( 7looded with water %y a 7ire %ri(ade and %lood 6ar8s were %ein( washed away1 ,hile / was o%ser in( this) a %ullet +assed Hust a%o e 6y head and / &a6e down1 ;he 7irin( was (oin( on till 5 +161 Detween 5 and 3 7irin( went on at inter als1 (4%id1) 3132)
31
Aali8 Shad Aoha66ad) E*eed wa ShuneedB / (Urdu)) ($eshawar0 un+u%lished 6e6oirs)) 1531
102
.ne o7 the re6ar8a%le e+isodes o7 the 23 !+ril was the re7usal o7 "arhwalis to 7ire u+on the unar6ed +eo+le1 'i8e 6any other 6o6entous e ents) this re6ar8< a%le 7eature o7 the :issa :hani Da=aar 6assa&re) re(arded as E ery (ra e and 6ore distur%in( in&identB32 also went unnoti&ed1 !7ter de&idin( to dis+erse the 6o% %y usin( all a aila%le 7or&e) the Dritish -o66andin( .77i&er ordered the "ur8as in the 2218 "arhwal Fe(i6ent to 7ire1 Dut to the utter sur+rise and a%erration o7 the authorities) the "arhwalis) 8nown 7or their loyalty to the FaH) de7ied the authority) re7used to 7ire and ar(ued that they would not 7ire u+on the unar6ed &i ilians1 ;hey %luntly told their o77i&ers that they were re&ruited to +ro< te&t their +eo+le 7ro6 7orei(n in aders1 ;hey would de7initely (uard the 7rontiers o7 /ndia a(ainst a 7orei(n a((ression %ut would not 7ire e en a sin(le shot a(ainst their own unar6ed &ountry6en1 33 ;his in7uriated the Dritish o77i&ial to the e@tent that he i66ediately 7ired u+on the Ja6adar (a +etty o77i&ial) o7 the "arhwali re(i6ent1 ;he %ullet 6issed its tar(et and hit his horse whi&h died on the s+ot1 ;he "arhwalis were disar6ed) arrested and sent to !%%otta%ad135 'ater on) se < enteen o7 the6 were &ourt<6artialled in Do6%ay and senten&ed to arious ter6s o7 harsh i6+rison6ent) aryin( 7ro6 ten to twenty yearsB duration133 -hander Sin(h) the (rou+ leader) was senten&ed to trans+ortation o7 li7e> Narain Sin(h) 7or 7i7teen years and the rest) 7i7teen in nu6%er) were (i en three to ten yearsB Fi(orous /6+rison6ent134 "arhwalisB re7usal to 7ire on the unar6ed &ountry6en was eulo(ised %y the lo&al +eo+le who (athered in -how8 Mad(ar under the aus< +i&es o7 NauHawan Dharat Sa%ha1 S+ea8ers +aid (lowin( tri%utes to the "arhwalis 7or showin( resilien&e and &oura(e to re7use to 7ire u+on the unar6ed +eo+le and throu(h arious resolutions e@+ressed their solidarity with the6137
32
AanoranHan Jha) "i#il $iso%edience and A/ter: !he A'erican <eaction to +olitical $e#elo0'ents in 4ndia $urin* 1930 193: (*elhi0 Aeena8ashi $ra8ashan) 1973)) 731 33 *1"1 ;endul8ar) A%dul -ha//ar @han: ,aith is 6attle (Do6%ay NAu6%aiO0 $o+ular $ra8ashan) 1947)) 701 35 +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 124) 1351 33 :haleeC) $a A=adi .an*) 491 34 S1F1 Da8hshi) A%dul -ha//ar @han (New *elhi0 !n6ol $u%li&ations) 1991)) 1021
37
9ari(h Do8hari) 6acha @han (Urdu)) ($eshawar0 Naya Aa8ta%a) n1d1)) 121221
103
Cuestion that &ontinues to %other s&holars wor8in( on the area is rationale %ehind the lar(e nu6%er o7 &asualties in the 6assa&re at :issa :hani Da=aar whi&h has so 6any entry and e@it +oints1 ;here &ould %e 6ulti+le reasons 7or this1 ;he ar6oured &ars started 7irin( u+on the +eo+le suddenly) without e en 7irin( the warnin( shots1 Usually in su&h situations) the a&&e+ted nor6 is that troo+s initially 7ire warnin( shots and only i7 they see a +ersistent stu%%ornness in the +eo+le) whi&h +oses a serious threat to the authorities should 6ini6u6 7ire %e used to dis+erse the +eo+le1 /n this +arti&ular &ase) no warnin( shots were 7ired and the +eo+le were tar(eted dire&tly1 Aany dead %odies were 7ound ha in( 6ore than one %ullet wound1 ;his was in itsel7 a &lear 7a&t that the troo+s were not interested in the 6ere dis+ersal o7 the 6o%) %ut were dire&ted to 8ill as 6any as +ossi%le1 /n so6e &ases) the inHured who were una%le to 6o e) were also 8illed) while the 7ir< in( went on indis&ri6inately 7or hours1 ;he +rotestin( +eo+le in the 6ain %a=aar were the dire&t tar(et o7 the %ullets 7ired %y the troo+s %e&ause Eshoot on si(htB orders were issued %y the o77i&ials1 Aany +eo+le who a++eared on the %al&onies o7 their houses were also 7ired u+on and 8illed1 # en %e((ars were not s+ared) two o7 the6 %ein( 7ound a6on( the dead1 ;wo wo6en) who 6ost +ro%a%ly had &li6%ed on to the roo7 to+s o7 their houses out o7 &uriosity to see what ha++ened in the 6ain %a=aar) also +erished1 'o&al leaders ad ised the +rotestin( +eo+le to dis+erse +ea&e7ully1 Ha8i6 !%dul Jalil Nad i) a +ro6inent national wor8er) +re< &i+itatin( iolen&e) addressed the (atherin( and reCuested the6 to lea e that +la&e i66ediately %e&ause he sensed the &han(ed attitude o7 the &olonialists who were not willin( to e@&use the +eo+le 7or de7yin( Dritish authority1 He 8new the nature o7 /se Aon(er) the $oli&e .77i&ial) who was seen (i in( instru&tions to the troo+s %y +ointin( out his 7in(ers towards the 6o%1 Dut as was e@+e&ted %y 6any) the &har(ed +eo+le re7used to listen to the ad i&e o7 Ha8i6 !%dul Jalil) slo(ans were raised a(ainst hi6 and so6e o7 the6 e en a&&used hi6 o7 %ein( a Dritish a(ent1 Ha8i6 !%dul Jalil %e&a6e disa++ointed with the attitude o7 the +eo+le and he le7t the +la&e i66ediately1 /n the a%sen&e o7 sin&ere leaders) the +rotestin( +eo+le were 6asters o7 their own destiny and they were not (i in( heed to any ad i&e1 /n addition to that) 6any were 8illed while retrie in( the dead %odies 7ro6 the 6ain %a=aar1 ;hey were not e en allowed to res&ue the inHured ones and hel+ the wounded in +ro idin( the6 6edi&al &are1 ! +o+ular +er&e+tion de elo+ed that the Dritish "o ern6ent dis+osed o7 the dead %odies in three ways0 that they se&retly threw the6 in the ri ers> that they were %uried in a dit&h at an un8nown +la&e> and) that they were %urnt to ashes138 *r :han Sahi% (d1 9 Aay 1938)) elder %rother o7 !%dul "ha77ar :han and a retired -a+tain 7ro6 the /ndian Aedi&al Ser i&es) +layed a ital role in treatin( the inHured who were denied 6edi&al treat6ent in the lo&al "o ern6ent hos+itals1 Sin&e his early retire6ent 7ro6 the /AS) *r :han Sahi% was doin( his +ri ate
38
State6ent o7 /llah Du@ Air) ;i6%er Aer&hant) $eshawar) +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 1531
105
6edi&al +ra&ti&e in a rented house at Aohalla 9a=lul HaC Sahi%=ada in -harhi :oo%an Da=aar) $eshawar1 ,hile the youn(er %rother was 7ully in ol ed in so&io< +oliti&al a&ti ities) *r :han Sahi% 8e+t hi6sel7 aloo7 7ro6 the +u%li& li7e1 !7ter his return 7ro6 #n(land) he li ed in $eshawar alon( with his #n(lish wi7e) whi&h was his se&ond 6arria(e and isitin( 7a6ily in Ut6an=ai o&&asionally1 .n the day o7 the o&&urren&e) he was in7or6ed o7 the 7irin() de+redations and a %i( nu6%er o7 deaths in the :issa :hani %a=aar1 He rushed 7ro6 his &lini& and tried to rea&h the +la&e as early as +ossi%le1 !lthou(h he was sto++ed 7ro6 +ro&eedin( 7urther %y the troo+s initially) sin&e) he hi6sel7 was a retired &o66issioned ar6y o77i&ial and had 7riends %oth in the ar6y and &i il ad6inistration) he 6ana(ed to rea&h the trou%led s+ot1 He i66ediately started res&uin( the wounded to the near%y :hila7at o77i&e139 He 6ade a 7utile atte6+t to &arry the inHured to the near%y "o ern6ent 'ady Feadin( Hos+ital) lo&ated only a 7ew hundred 6etres away) %ut was +re ented %y the troo+s 6o in( 7urther in that dire&tion140 ;he :hila7at o77i&e was de&lared as a 7a&ility 7or 6edi&al treat6ent and *r :han Sahi% hi6sel7 treated the 7irin( inHured1 /n the late e enin() a7ter he&ti& e77orts) he su&&eeded in &on in&in( lo&al authorities that to sa e their li es so6e o7 the seriously inHured +atients should %e shi7ted to the 'ady Feadin( Hos+ital 7or e6er(en&y treat< 6ent141 ;his 7a&ility) a&&ordin( to the +esha(ar 4nquiry "o''ittee) also &ould %e se&ured a7ter E(reat di77i&ulty and with the hel+ o7 *r :han Sahi%B1 42 Aany dead %odies were %rou(ht to the :hila7at o77i&e where under the dire&t su+er ision o7 *r :han Sahi% they were handed o er to their relati es1 Aany unidenti7ied and un&lai6ed %odies were %uried in the Auni&i+al -o66itteeBs (ra eyard) lo&ated in Ma8atoot "ate1 Aany inHured +re7erred the treat6ent o7 *r :han Sahi% o er the "o ern6ent do&tors143 *r :han Sahi% rendered (reat ser i&es durin( the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent in the $eshawar ?alley and treated all the national wor8< ers and the olunteers who were denied the 6edi&al 7a&ility %y the "o ern6ent hos+itals1 His re&titude earned hi6 a re+utation as a national wor8er45 and durin( the ne@t 7ew 6onths the "o ern6ent Ere&o6+ensedB hi6 %y a&&usin( hi6 o7 Edis< tur%in( the +ea&e and tranCuillity o7 the re(ionB and i6+risoned hi6 alon( with other :hudai :hid6at(ars1 !s +ointed out earlier) the day %e&a6e a turnin( +oint in the nationalist history o7 the +ro in&e1 !lthou(h the e ents initially were &on7ined to only one +la&e %ut its re+er&ussions were tre6endous1 ;he lo&als de&ided to &han(e the na6e o7 the %a=aar to 6a=aar i Shahidan and :a%uli "ate was &alled @hooni $ar(a=a %ut a7ter 7ew days the old na6es +re ailed1 Aany +oets re6e6%ered the horri%le
39 40
!%dur Feh6an) $eshawar -ity) ,itness No1 54) +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 2101 Shad) *eed wa Shuneed) 153541 41 :haleeC) $a A=adi .an*) 481 42 +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 91 43 Aoha66ad Salee6) $eshawar) ,itness No1 34) +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 1811 45 FaH6ohan "andhi) -ha//ar @han: Con#iolent 6adshah o/ the +a1htuns (New *elhi0 $en(uin Doo8s) 2005)) 871
103
e ents o7 23 !+ril in their own +arti&ular styles1 How +eo+le saw the 6assa&reI How they 7elt itI ! (li6+se is (i en %elow0 !&&ordin( to !%dul Aali8 9ida)
$asey toye 1arhi hecha nadi da char*ano (eeney 3a1a toye 1arhi dee An*re= da 'a=loo'ano (eeney Ba1a lee1aley de Santees A0ril harcha 0a (eeno "he 0a de (ra= %ande (erhia (e da 1h(arano (eeney Dissa @hana qasa%1hana (ah 0a na=ar da 1halqo "he ye %a=aar 1e %ahedalay da 1h(arano (eeney143 (No one has e er +our 7orth the %lood o7 &hi&8ens 6er&ilessly in that 6anner 'i8e the #n(lish shed the %lood o7 inno&ent +eo+le on that day ;hatBs why e eryone has written Santees (1930) !+ril in red letters .n that day the %lood o7 the +oor +eo+le was easily a aila%le :issa :hana (i) %e&a6e a slau(hter house in the eyes o7 the (eneral 6asses De&ause the %lood o7 +oor inno&ent +eo+le was seen s+lit2s&attered e erywhere)1 !%dul :haliC :haleeC la6ents that Ae as'anaE Walay na sholey ranas1orF Ae a/ta%aE Walay na ye la *ha'a torF 3oyo *hronooE Walay re= au 'are= na sh(ayF Wano %ootoE Walay na s(a=ey 0a horF B'1ayE +rhaq la dhera dharda (alay na ch(ayF Stha da 0asa so'ra (eer dey so'ra shor144 (. s8yR ,hy you did not 7allI . sunR ,hy you did not turn %la&8 in (rie7I . hi(h 6ountainsR ,hy you did not s&atter in dust and +arti&lesI . treesR ,hy you are not %urnt in 7la6esI . earthR ,hy you are not torn to +ie&es in the an(uishI -an you hear the 6oanin( o7 a(ony and su77erin( at your %a&8I)1
Qa7ar !li :han also &o66ended the intre+idity and darin( o7 the +eo+le o7 $ashtoon8hwa in these words0
&ul1ul'oth 1o 1hatir 'ey na laney (alay -oolian taney hoye seeno 0ay 1aney (alay Da%ar tha1 sa%ar 1o sehthey hoye )aney (alay Sa%ar 1a 'o)i=a dunya 1o de1aney (alay147 (;hey were not %ein( a7raid o7 the !n(el o7 the *eath ;hey 7a&ed %ullets aliantly on their &hests ;hey +re7erred death o er (i in( u+ their serenity ;hey showed the 6ira&le o7 their +erse eran&e to the entire world)1
43 44
!%dul Aali8 9ida) $ee(an ($ashto) ($eshawar0 *arul ;asnee7) 1937)) 1201 !%dul :haliC :haleeC) Ba au Ba'a Ba'ana ($ashto) ($eshawar0 /dara e /shaat Sarhad) 1975)) 44471
47
Aaulana Qa7ar !li :han) Ha%siyat (Urdu) ('ahore0 !li<9aisal Nashiran wa ;aHiran :uta%) nd)) 1221
104
;he :hudai :hid6at(ar leaders !%dul "ha77ar :han) Aian !h6ad Shah) Sar7ara= :han and Shah Nawa= :han were arrested at NahaCi) in the su%ur%s o7 $eshawar1 ;hey were on their way to $eshawar to +arti&i+ate in the +i&8etin( s&heduled 7or that day1 ;hey were i66ediately ta8en %a&8 to -harsadda and +ut into the lo&al +rison1 ;he +eo+le o7 the -harsadda and the surroundin( areas were 7urious on the arrest o7 their leaders1 ;hey (athered in 7ront o7 the +rison in a ery lar(e nu6%er) raisin( slo(ans in su++ort o7 the arrested leaders and a(ainst the raH148 Sensin( the (ra ity o7 situation) the Hail authorities reCuested !%dul "ha77ar :han to restrain the 7urious2&har(ed +eo+le 7ro6 stor6in( the +rison1 !%dul "ha77ar :han a++eared in +erson on a 6ounted +la&e and a++ealed to the +rotestin( &rowd not to iolate the law and re6inded the6 o7 the +led(e49 ta8en %e7ore enrol6ent in the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent that they will not resort to iolen&e e en in (ra e situations li8e this1 70 His adroit handlin( o7 the situation sa ed it 7ro6 7urther deterioration1 Aian Ja77ar Shah and other +ro6inent :hudai :hid6at(ars who were not yet arrested %y the authorities also reCuested the +eo< +le to re6ain non< iolent and a++ealed to the6 to dis+erse +ea&e7ully1 AaHority o7 the +eo+le) althou(h unwillin() had le7t the +la&e with a hea y heart1 !%dul "ha77ar :han and other arrested leaders were ta8en to Fisal+ur) tried su66arily %y a &ourt and senten&ed to three yearsB i6+rison6ent171
48 49
!8%ar) $a +u1htano 6ar1ha) 991091 ;he olunteers had to ta8e the 7ollowin( +led(e (re+rodu&ed here 7ro6 Shah) >thnicity, 4sla' and Cationalis') 55) at the ti6e o7 (ettin( enrolled into the :hudai :hid6at(ar or(ani=ation0
E/ &all on "od as a witness) and sole6nly de&lare on oath that / will a%ide %y the 7ollowin( +rin&i+les0 11 ,ith sin&erity and 7aith) / o77er 6y na6e 7or :hudai :hid6at(arshi+1 21 / will sa&ri7i&e 6y wealth) &o67ort and sel7 in the ser i&e o7 6y nation and 7or the li%eration o7 6y &ountry1 31 / will ne er ha e E0ara )a'%a8 (+arty 7eelin()) en6ity with or wil7ully o++ose any %ody> and / shall hel+ the o++ressed a(ainst the o++ressor1 51 / will not %e&o6e a 6e6%er o7 any other ri al +arty nor will / (i e se&urity or a+olo(i=e durin( the 7i(ht1 31 / will always o%ey e ery law7ul order o7 e ery o77i&er o7 6ine1 41 / will always a%ide %y the +rin&i+le o7 non< iolen&e1 71 / will ser e all hu6an %ein(s ali8e) and 6y (oal will %e the attain6ent o7 the 7reedo6 o7 6y &ountry and 6y reli(ion1 81 / will always +er7or6 (ood and no%le deeds1 91 !ll 6y e77orts will %e dire&ted to see8in( the will o7 "od and not towards 6ere show or %e&o6in( an o77i&e<holder1
70 71
!h6ad) @hudai @hid'at*ar !ehree1) 200011 !t the "uHarat S+e&ial Jail they were &on7ined with other +ro6inent -on(ress and nationalist lead< ers in&ludin( Aaulana !%ul :ala6 !=ad) Jawaharlal Nehru) *r A1!1 !nsari) Syed !taullah Shah Du8hari) Aaulana Qa7ar !li :han) *r Sai7uddin :it&hlew) *r A1 !la6) Aaulana Hussain !h6ad Aadani) Darrister !si7 !li) Aaul i :i7ayatullah) Aaulana !h6ad Saeed and :1 Santana61 !%dul "ha77ar, Ba'a Bh(and au .addo .ehad) ($ashto) (:a%ul0 "o ern6ent $ress) 1983)) 37380> !8%ar) $a +u1htano 6ar1ha) 1021
107
$eshawar) whi&h was %oth in sho&8 and 7ear) was +ut under the ar6y1 !r6ed troo+s were seen on +atrollin( duties to 8ee+ the situation under &ontrol1 !s Fitten%er( &orre&tly ar(ues) thou(h the riots were li6ited to one +arti&ular lo&ality their re+er&ussions were tre6endous1 9or all +ra&ti&al +ur+oses) the ad6inistration was +araly=ed in three out o7 7i e tahsils o7 $eshawar distri&t172 ;he "o ern6ent was 6ore sensiti e to the re7usal o7 the "arhwalis to 7ollow the orders o7 their o77i&ers1 ;hey wanted to sto+ the re&urren&e o7 su&h in&idents at all &osts sin&e it would ha e a ne(ati e e77e&t on the 6orale o7 the /ndian troo+s in (eneral1 ;his led to another drasti& de&ision in the late e enin(1 $ani&8in( at the +ossi%ility o7 serious Cuestions %ein( raised re(ardin( the relia%ility o7 all /ndian troo+s 7ollowin( the :issa :hani in&ident) they suddenly de&ided to withdraw all soldiers 7ro6 the &ity173 .nly at a 7ew sele&ted s+ots) were so6e +oli&e6en isi%le1 ,ithin three days) the lo&als resu6ed their routine %ut were a6a=ed to see hardly any +oli&e6en on duty1 ;his was &riti&ised %y the lo&als and +er&ei ed as tanta6ount to lea in( the +eo+le o7 $eshawar to the 6er&y o7 +lunderers and da&oits1 ;he lo&al -on(ress and other trau6ati& olunteers de&ided to e@e&ute the +oli&e duties and hel+ed the &iti=ens to re(ain their &on7iden&e1 ;hey were seen +er< 7or6in( the tra77i& +oli&e duties) &ontrollin( tra77i& to a oid untoward a&&idents175 Aeanwhile) the &i il ad6inistration also went throu(h so6e swee+in( &han(es1 Sir Nor6an Dolton) the -hie7 -o66issioner) was i66ediately re&alled and re+la&ed %y Sir -ourtney 'ati6er) the then Fe enue -o66issioner) as the a&t< in( -hie7 -o66issioner173 !l6ost all sour&es a(ree that Dolton had a ner ous %rea8down and le7t the +ro in&e on 28 !+ril1 Sir # elyn Howell) the 9orei(n Se&retary o7 the Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent was also dire&ted %y 'ord /rwin to (o to $eshawar to hel+ the lo&al ad6inistration to restore nor6al&y to the +ro < in&e1 ;he tra(i& news o7 the 7irin( in :issa :hani and 6assa&re at a le el ne er i6a(ined %e7ore in7uriated the $ashtoon tri%es6en1 ;he &o66otion in the tri%al areas rea&hed su&h an e@tent that the !7ridis) settled around $eshawar) raided the &ity to a en(e the 8illin( o7 23 !+ril1 Howe er) they were re+ulsed %y the Dritish troo+s174 HaHi Sahi% o7 ;uran(=ai) another anti<Dritish reli(ious 7i(ure) anta(oni=ed %y the atro&ities on inno&ent +eo+le) re&ri6inated the &olonialists 7or o++ressin( %la6eless $ashtoons) and or(ani=ed his dis&i+les in Aoh6and area) threatenin( the ed(es o7 $eshawar1 ;he Dritish were alar6ed at the 6o e6ent o7 HaHi Sahi%Bs lash1ar77 and in retri%ution started aerial %o6%ard6ent o7 the Aoh6and area to de7use the threat and sto+ their ad an&es towards -harsadda178
72 73
Fitten%er() >thnicity, Cationalis' and the +a1htuns) 791 4%id1) 79801 75 Shad) $eed (a Shuneed) 1581 73 !he ,rontier !ra*edy) 321 74 9ull details &an %e seen in Shad) $eed (a Shuneed) 1922011 77 'iterally) a tri%al ar6ed (atherin( 7or %attle1 78 Noor Aoha66ad Nowsher i) &u)ahid i Sarhad: .an*na'a da -ha=i Sahi% da !uran*=o ($ashto) ($eshawar0 Aian Drothers Doo8 Sellers) n1d1)) 45751
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.n 5 Aay) $eshawar was re<o&&u+ied %y the troo+s1 -on(ress -o66ittees and all its a77iliated %odies in&ludin( the lo&al &ha+ter o7 the NauHawan Dharat Sa%ha were de&lared unlaw7ul1 ;he o77i&es were raided) +a+ers) &ash 7urniture) et&1 either sei=ed or %urnt1 /t was 7ollowed %y a (eneral &ra&8down on the +oliti&al wor8ers1 Ar 'ati6er too8 i6+etuous de&isions to %rin( $eshawar under &ontrol and was su&&ess7ul at least 7or the ti6e %ein( %e&ause all 8ind o7 +oliti&al a&ti ities sei=ed1 Howe er) the situation was not the sa6e in other +arts o7 the $eshawar ?alley) in +arti&ular in three tahsils whi&h were du%%ed the &entres o7 :hudai :hid6at(ar a&ti ities1 ;he arrest o7 the leaders +ro o8ed the +eo+le in (eneral and it raised the nu6< %er o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars to thousands1 ;he whole outloo8 o7 the 6aHority o7 $ashtoons &han(ed1 /n the 7a&e o7 Dritish atro&ities and 6altreat6ent o7 the lo&als) the +ertina&ity o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars and their adheren&e to non< iolen&e) 6ore +eo+le were allured to the nationalist 6o e6ent1 ;hey started enrollin( the6sel es in the :hudai :hid6at(ar or(ani=ation en 'asse and althou(h no a&&urate 7i(ures are a aila%le a&&ordin( to a &are7ul esti6ate the enrol6ent rea&hed 6ore than one hundred thousand) a 7i(ure uni6a(ina%le 7ew 6onths +re iously179 !&&ordin( to Fitten%er() E-i il diso%edien&e +lun(ed 6u&h o7 $eshawar ?alley into tur6oil1 ?olunteers +araded daily in 6ilitary 7or6ation> 6eetin(s drew audi< en&es as lar(e as 10)000 +eo+le> and liCuor and 7orei(n &loth stores were su%He&ted to &onstant +i&8etin(B180 Soon the area was de&lared as unruly and di77i&ult to &ontrol1 Sir Steuart $ears) the new -hie7 -o66issioner) in7or6ed 'ord /rwin) the ?i&eroy that E$eshawar *istri&t itsel7) as 7ar as the -harsadda) Aardan and Swa%i tahsils were &on&erned) was %ein( o errun %y %ands o7 Ered shirtsB holdin(s 6eetin(s e erywhere and 6o in( a&ross &ountry to di77erent &entres e erydayKB181 ;he "o ern6ent res+onded %y &rushin( the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent with an iron 7ist1 # ery 8ind o7 %rutal 6ethod was ado+ted to su++ress the 6o e< 6ent1 Aany illa(es) in&ludin( Ut6an=ai) the ho6e town o7 !%dul "ha77ar :han were %esie(ed and the inha%itants tortured1 ;heir ho6es were sear&hed) +eo+le %eaten) the (rain stores were +lundered and (rains li8e wheat) oat) lentils et& were s&attered on the (round and 8erosene oil +oured o er the6 to 6a8e the6 ined< i%le1 Standin( &ro+s were destroyed while %edsheets and other &lothin( were torn to +ie&es and &ro&8ery %ro8en1 /t was re+orted that &attle were +re ented 7ro6 (oin( outside 7or (ra=in( while hu)ras82 were %urnt and li%raries destroyed1 Aany
79 80
:haleeC) $a A=adi .an*) 70> Fitten%er() >thnicity, Cationalis' and the +a1htuns) 821 Fitten%er() >thnicity, Cationalis' and the +a1htuns) 801 81 4%id1 82 /n $ashtoon areas the ter6 hu)ra re7ers to a se+arate +la&e2house) with a %i( &ourt yard ha in( two) three or 6ore roo6s) 6eant 7or the 6ale 6e6%ers o7 the &o66unity where the wo6en are stri&tly +rohi%ited1 Usually it is a &entral +la&e in the illa(e where 6en (ather in the e enin(s to dis&uss the daily a77airs) +oliti&s) drin8 tea and s6o8e the chilu' or hoo1ah1 /n olden ti6es +eo+le used to enHoy listenin( stories and +oetry also in hu)ras1 ;he un6arried 6e6%ers o7 the illa(e &o66unity usually sle+t in the hu)ra1 # ery &lan) tri%e and 7a6ily has their own hu)ra1 /n &onte6+orary ti6es it 7un&tion
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deaths 7ro6 star ation were re+orted 7ro6 these illa(es1 ;he illa(ers inhu< 6anly treated> the san&tity o7 the 7our walls iolated and in 6any &ases they were stri++ed na8ed and su%He&ted to all 8inds o7 hu6iliation183 .n one su&h o&&asion) *r :han Sahi% issued the 7ollowin( 6edi&al &erti7i&ate hi(hli(htin( the Dritish atro&ities in $ashtoon8hwa0
;his is to &erti7y that / ad6itted ei(hty +atients to a s+e&ial hos+ital whi&h was arran(ed %y +u%li& su%s&ri+tion at $eshawar1 ;hese were the @hudai @hid'at*ars 7ro6 -harsadda ;ahsil who were %eaten %y the +oli&e at +i&8etin( at a liCuor sho+ in -harsadda1 Se eral o7 the6 were ery &ruelly treated> 6ost o7 the6 had 6ore than thirty 6ar8s on their %ody &aused %y lathis1 ;he 6aHority o7 the6 &ould not lie strai(ht in %ed) their %utto&8s %ein( a 6ass o7 %leedin( red 7lesh1 / was sur+rised %y those &ases s+e&ially) who su77ered 7ro6 swellin( o7 the testi&les whi&h were sCuee=ed and twisted %y a Dritish .77i&er a&&ordin( to the state6ents o7 the +atients1 /n 6y o+inion these +oor +eo+le were treated e en 6ore &ruelly than the wild %easts185
.ne o7 the noteworthy 7eatures o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent was the o%ser an&e o7 non< iolen&e %y the $ashtoons durin( the whole s+an o7 the 6o e< 6ent1 ;o all 8ind o7 %rutalities) the $ashtoons did not retaliate and %ore all the atro&ities with 7or%earan&e and +atien&e1 ;hey ado+ted non< iolen&e as a &reed and re6ained loyal to it durin( the whole ti6e1 !&&ordin( to !he ,rontier !ra*edy)
;he "o ern6ent) on one hand) did its worst to 6a8e the +eo+le lea e the +ath o7 non< iolen&e1 /n all sorts o7 ways) they were (oaded) +erse&uted) insulted) so6ehow to 6a8e the6 resort to iolen&e1 ;his would (i e the "o ern6ent so6e se6%lan&e o7 Husti7i&a< tion to resort to still 6ore %loodshed1 ;he +eo+le on the other hand) %ore all this &al6ly and Cuietly without raisin( a 7in(er in retaliation1 ;hey %ased their %reasts to Dritish %ul< lets and laid down their own li es rather than resort to iolen&e1 ;heir +ro+erty was looted1 ;o the $athan nothin( is as dear as the san&tity o7 his 7our walls whi&h are a sy6< %ol 7or the honour o7 the wo6en 7ol81 ;his san&tity was iolated in order to +o8e hi6 at his 6ost sensiti e +oint1 Ne ertheless he was true to Non< iolen&e1 Aany were stri++ed star8 na8edJanother (reat +ersonal insult to a $athan1 Aany were rou(hly handled in their +ri ate +artsJa %rutality +erha+s un8nown to the history o7 re+ression and an in(enuity o7 the 9rontier o77i&ial1 Dut not a hand went u+ in a&ti e resistan&e183
is also a8in to a (uest house where isitors are +ro ided 7ree 7ood and lod(in(1 /t &ontinues to +lay an i6+ortant role in &o66unity li7e) +arti&ularly in initiatin( the youth into $ashtoon nor6s and alues1 83 9urther details o7 the atro&ities +er+etuated on the inha%itants o7 $ashtoon8hwa &an %e seen in !he ,rontier !ra*edy) 3933> !h6ad) @hudai @hid'at*ar !ehree1) 201543> Shah) >thnicity, 4sla' and Cationalis') 3233> and) Au8uli8a DanerHee) !he +athan Gnar'ed: 500osition H &e'ory in the Corth West ,rontier (.@7ord0 Ja6es -urrey) 2000)) 111201 85 !he ,rontier !ra*edy) 331 83 4%id9) 14171 E.7 all the re6ar8a%le ha++enin(s in /ndia in re&ent ti6es)B &o66ented Da8hshi)
nothin( is 6ore astonishin( than the way in whi&h !%dul "ha77ar :han 6ade his tur%ulent and Cuarrelso6e +eo+le a&&e+t +ea&e7ul 6ethods o7 +oliti&al a&tion) in ol in( enor6ous su77erin(1 ;hat su77erin( was indeed terri%le and has le7t a trail o7 %itter 6e6ories> and yet their dis&i+line and sel7<&ontrol were su&h that no a&t o7
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;he :issa :hani 6assa&re (23 !+ril) was 7ollowed %y another %rutal 7irin( in&ident in $eshawar on 31 Aay 19301 ! +ea&e7ul 7uneral +ro&ession o7 the two &hildren shot dead %y an #n(lish soldier was not allowed to +ro&eed to the &re< 6ation (round1 *es+ite reCuests 7ro6 Ha8i6 !%dul Jalil Nad i and other noted &iti=ens o7 $eshawar then a&&o6+anyin( the +ro&ession) they were not +er6itted to +ro&eed towards "or8hatry1 ;he thirty si@ Dritish soldiers under the &o6< 6and o7 .la7 -aroe) who &a6e 7ro6 the o++osite dire&tion) i1e1 7ro6 the -lo&8 ;ower side) o+ened 7ire u+on the +ro&ession without any +ro o&ation resultin( in the death o7 twel e +eo+le and inHury to 6ore than twenty two +eo+le184 .n 24 Aay) the +ro6inent :hudai :hid6at(ars o7 Dai=ai area) Aardan were arrested in ;a88ar and $athay) two illa(es &onsidered to %e a stron(hold o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars1 $ro6inent a6on( the6 in&luded Sha6ro= :han) Shah=ada Da&ha) Aali8 Aasi6 :han) :han Dahadur and a 7ew others1 'o&al +eo+le de&ided to a&&o6+any their leaders in a +ro&ession to Aardan Hail1 Near "uHar "arhi) a stron( &ontin(ent o7 troo+s sto++ed the +eo+le 7ro6 +ro&eedin( 7urther1 Ar Hay) !ssistant -o66issioner o7 Aardan) started ne(otiations 7or a +ea&e7ul dis+ersal o7 the +ro&ession1 Aeanwhile) Ar Aur+hy) a notorious +oli&e ins+e&tor) initiated the lathi &har(e and used a%usi e lan(ua(e a(ainst the +eo+le) o77ensi ely &as< ti(atin( their leaders1 He was 8no&8ed down %y an anony6ous +erson and shot dead1 .n (ettin( in7or6ation o7 Aur+hyBs death) the +oli&e resorted to iolen&e and used e ery 8ind o7 7or&e under their dis+osal to dis+erse the 6o%1 /t was 7ollowed %y a sie(e o7 "uHar "arhi1 ;he ne@t 7ew days were li8e a ni(ht6are 7or the lo&al +o+ulation1 ;o a en(e the 6urder o7 Aur+hy) they were su%He&ted %y the troo+s to the worst indi(nities1 ;he whole illa(e was 7ined and the se&urity 7or&es let loose to deal with the Ere%ellious +o+ulationB on their own E7reeB will1 /t was 7ollowed %y a (eneral 6assa&re at ;a88ar) the illa(e the i6+erialists had tar< (eted 7ro6 the %e(innin(1 ;he 7or&i%le entry o7 the troo+s and their indis&ri6inate 7irin( u+on the unar6ed inno&ent +eo+le without any +rior warnin( resulted in the death o7 a%out twenty +eo+le> 6any 6ore were wounded1 ;he hu)ras o7 Aali8 Aasi6 :han and Aali8 !6in Jan) two noted :hudai :hid6at(ars were %urnt to ashes187 ;he story o7 re+ression in Dai=ai area did not &ul6inate there> it went on un&he&8ed in other illa(es o7 Swa%i and Aardan in&ludin( Mar Hussain) Aar(hu=) Aainey) :ota) Aaneray) ;ordher) Jal%ai) Sawal *her and 'und :hwarh1 /n addi< tion to the $eshawar ?alley) the re&rudes&en&e o7 iolen&e and the rei(n o7 terror was also e@tended to other +arts o7 the +ro in&e su&h as :ohat) Dannu and *era
iolen&e was &o66itted %y the $athans a(ainst the "o ern6ent 7or&es or other o++osed to the61 ,hen it is re6e6%ered that a $athan lo es his (un 6ore than his %rother) is really e@&ited) and has lon( had a re+utation 7or 8illin( at the sli(htest +ro o&ation) this sel7<dis&i+line a++ears li8e short o7 6ira&ulous1 Da8hshi) A%dul -ha//ar @han) 129301
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Shad) $eed (a Shuneed) 191> State6ent o7 'a&ha6an *as (,itness No1 33)) +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 250511
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/s6ail :han in southern $ashtoon8hwa1 Howe er) the worst 8ind o7 atro&ities was +er+etuated in Dannu where on 25 !u(ust a +rotest 6eetin( o7 unar6ed and non< iolent +eo+le 7ro6 Hathi :hel led %y the lo&al ,a=iri tri%al leaders was 7ired u+on in S+in ;an(i> 6ore than se enty +eo+le were 8illed and the nu6%er o7 wounded was in hundreds188 ;he lo&al authorities did their %est to 8ee+ the nu6%er o7 dead and wounded &on&ealed1 ?isits to and 7ro6 the +ro in&e were under the stri&t i(< ilan&e o7 the "o ern6ent1 /t was ru6oured that the 9rontier authorities were %ent u+on de&larin( the :hudai :hid6at(ars as a(ents o7 the Dolshe i8s in Fussia) who were (i en the tas8 %y the &o66unists to &reate anar&hy and dissension in /ndia to desta%ili=e the Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent1 /n the a%sen&e o7 7rontline leaders) the &o66and +assed on to the se&ond tier o7 leadershi+1 /nterestin(ly) des+ite a++rehensions 7ro6 the authorities) none o7 the6 was 7ound in ol ed in +rea&hin( or +ra&tisin( iolen&e1 ;he +rotesters al6ost in all &ases re6ained non< iolent1 !%dul "ha77ar :hanBs +rea&hin( o7 non< iolen&e +rior to their +arti&i+ation in the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent had its i6+a&t u+on the inha%itants o7 the 9rontier $ro in&e1 *es+ite the worst 8ind o7 atro&ities &o66itted %y the authorities and all 8ind o7 +ro o&ation) the $ashtoons did not retaliate1 ;hey 8new that layin( down their own li es rather than ta8< in( so6eone elseBs is the real test o7 their 7or%earan&e and &oura(e1 ;hey were ready to sa&ri7i&e e erythin( they +ossessed 7or the sa8e o7 the li%eration o7 the &ountry 7ro6 7orei(n yo8e1 So6e s&holars wor8in( on the area 6isunderstood the nature o7 the leadershi+ durin( the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 ;he +resen&e o7 a lar(e nu6%er o7 s6aller +otentates or :hans stru((le to (et their leader< shi+ re&o(ni=ed throu(h the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent has %een traditionally iewed as +art o7 their insatia%le desire to (et 6ore %ene7its 7ro6 the (o ern6ent to &ounter the in7luen&e o7 the %i( :hans1 ,hile this 6i(ht %e true 7or so6e +arti&ular &ases) it &annot %e i6+le6ented as a (eneral rule1 /7 one loo8s at the arious sta(es o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent) it is e ident that there were 6any +ersons at the 7ore7ront o7 the 6o e6ent who %elon(ed to the +ro7essional &lasses1 !%dul "ha77ar :han e6+hasi=ed 7ro6 the %e(innin( u+on the +arti&i+a< tion o7 these +ro7essionals) 8nown as Dasa%*ars89 in the lo&al so&iety) and (a e the6 i6+ortant +ositions in the or(ani=ation1 ;hey had roots within the 6asses who de&ided en 'asse to Hoin the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent whi&h +ro ided it with a %oost1 ;he Dritish "o ern6ent) on its +art) utili=ed the ser i&es o7 a 7ew %i( landlords) title holders and Ja(irdars to su++ress the 6o e6ent1 ;he authori< ties tried to &on in&e the %i( :hans) the traditional allies o7 the #6+ire) to &ontrol these +eo+le) who 6ostly %elon(ed to E6enialB &astes1 /7 not &he&8ed) a&&ord< in( to the "o ern6ent &ir&ulars) these +eo+le would de+ri e the Etraditional
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Shah) >thnicity, 4sla' and Cationalis') +1 331 *eri in( 7ro6 qasa% 6eanin( &ra7t) the ter6 literally re7ers to o&&u+ational (rou+s su&h as %ar%ers and &ar+enters1
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leadersB) that is) the %i( :hans) o7 their in7luen&e in the 9rontier1 ;hese %i( :hans) on their +art) ado+ted all 8inds o7 dra&onian 6ethods to torture these +eo+le %ut su&h ta&ti&s e entually &a6e to nau(ht1 ;he o++ression +re ailin( under Dritish rule 7urther +ro ided a %oost to the 6o e6ent enhan&in( the +resti(e o7 these +eo+le in the eyes o7 the 6asses1 /t also resulted in (reater sy6+athy 7or the :hudai :hid6at(ars and the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 So6e o77i&ials o7 the FaH 6isunderstood $ashtoon +sy&holo(y1 /n se eral +la&es) the FaH o77i&ialBs 6istreat6ent and rou(h handlin( o7 the situation +ro ided 6ore 6e6%ers to the :hudai :hid6at(ar or(ani=ation1 /n Ut6an=ai) a7ter the iolent &ra&8down u+on the :hudai :hid6at(ars) whose %elon(in(s had %een destroyed and o77i&es sealed) a &olonial o77i&ial +u%li&ly &lai6ed that they were 7inished and &hallen(ed the audien&e to show their sy6+athy with the6 or 7a&e his wrath1 .n hearin( these re6ar8s re(ardin( the :hudai :hid6at(ars) !%%as :han) a &ousin o7 !%dul "ha77ar :han who was not on (ood ter6s with hi6) turned u+ alon( with a lar(e nu6%er o7 his ser ants and tenants and de&lared o+enly his su++ort 7or the leader and the :hudai :hid6at(ars1 ;hou(h this &an %e inter+reted as an a&t o7 a sin(le indi idual it o77ers us a (li6+se into the 6ani7estation o7 the as+irations o7 the (eneral +u%li& re(ardin( !%dul "ha77ar :han and his &ause1
+n Search of ,riends
!%dul "ha77ar :han and the 7rontline leaders o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars were i6+risoned in the "uHarat S+e&ial Jail1 Aian Ja77ar Shah :a8a :hel and Aian !%dullah Shah o7 Ga=i :hel) -harsadda) two +ro6inent leaders) were still out o7 +rison1 ;hey went to "uHarat Jail in dis(uise) 6et !%dul "ha77ar :han and a++rised hi6 o7 the (ra ity o7 the situation in the $ro in&e1 !&&ordin( to so6e relia%le sour&es) they also &on eyed to hi6 the 6essa(e o7 Sir Sahi%=ada !%dul Gaiyu6 :han) a +ro6inent $ashtoon elder) enHoyin( &on7iden&e and res+e&t in (o ern6ent &ir&les) who had se&retly ad ised the6 to a77iliate the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent with an all</ndia or(ani=ation %e&ause the lo&al Dritish ad6inistration was %ent u+on de&larin( the6 as Dolshe i8 a(ents in /ndia1 ;his asso&iation) a&&ordin( to Sir Sahi%=ada) would sa e the6 7ro6 7urther annihilation at Dritish hands190 ;hey dis&ussed the 6atter and on the ad i&e o7 !%dul "ha77ar :han) the two a7ore6entioned leaders 6et Aali8 'al :han) a +ro6inent leader o7 "uHranwala who6 Ja77ar Shah 8new sin&e the days o7 the :hila7at 6o e6ent1 ;hrou(h hi6 he &onta&ted other +ro6inent Ausli6 leaders in&ludin( Aali8 9ero= :han Noon) a Ausli6 'ea(uer and Aian 9a=li Hussain o7 Ausli6 -on7eren&e) a 6e6%er o7 the ?i&eroyBs #@e&uti e -oun&il1 ;he +resent author had the honour o7 as8in(
90
Aian !tauddin) Ae6oirs ($ashto)) (Nowshera0 un+u%lished 6e6oirs)) 18> :haleeC) $a A=adi .an*) 89901
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!%dul "ha77ar :han +ersonally a%out the na6es o7 Ausli6 leaders who6 the :hudai :hid6at(ars 6et and was ery 8indly +ro ided with these na6es1 Ja77ar Shah narrated the whole ordeal o7 the 9rontier +eo+le and reCuested the6 to +ro ide hel+ and su++ort in this +arti&ular &onne&tion1 Howe er) to their utter sur+rise) the Ausli6 leaders showed their ina%ility to hel+ the 9rontier +eo+le a(ainst the FaH1 Sin&e a 6aHority o7 the6 were EloyalistsB) it was al6ost i6+os< si%le 7or the6 to su++ort the $ashtoonsB &ause a(ainst the Dritish i6+erialis6 in South !sia191 Howe er) 7or Fitten%er( their denial o7 su++ort was %e&ause these +arties were wea8 and 7ra(6ented1 Aoreo er) they had their s+e&ial reser ations on the de&laration o7 i66ediate inde+enden&e and also were o++osed to the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent laun&hed %y -on(ress under "andhi192 $ro%a%ly they were also a7raid that any ste+ wea8enin( the Dritish authority in South !sia would indire&tly %olster the -on(ress &ause1 ;he deHe&ted leaders &a6e %a&8 to "uHarat and in7or6ed !%dul "ha77ar :han o7 the re7usal o7 the Ausli6 leaders in +ro idin( hel+ and su++ort at that &riti&al Hun&ture1 ;he whole 6atter was dis&ussed in detail and it was de&ided to a++roa&h the -on(ress whi&h was also on the war+ath with the Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent1 ;he en oys went around the &ountry) 6et -on(ress leaders and sou(ht their hel+ in this re(ard1 E!s a drownin( 6an tries to &at&h hold o7 any strawB &o66ented !%dul "ha77ar :han) EJ%ein( thwarted %y the Ausli6 'ea(ueJwe reCuested the two &ollea(ues to see8 hel+ 7ro6 the National -on(ress1 ,hen they 6et the -on(ress leaders) they readily a(reed to hel+ us in e ery way) +ro ided we Hoined the6 in the stru((le 7or /ndiaBs 7reedo6B193 !s %oth had the sa6e a(enda) so without relu&tan&e the -on(ress leaders i66ediately res+onded +ositi ely to the reCuest o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars and de&lared the6 as +art o7 the -on(ress national 6o e6ent95 and allowed the6 to retain their se+arate identity193 Jawaharlal Nehru) while +ayin( s+e&ial tri%utes to the 9rontier &o6rades) 6entioned +arti&ularly the (reat sa&ri7i&es rendered %y the6 in the &ause o7 the /ndian 7reedo6 stru((le1 He stated that he Eha e read with a6a=e6ent and ad6i< ration the re&ord o7 their doin( and their su77erin(s111B and the $ashtoons who Eare 8nown to %e %ra e 7i(hters %ut they ha e shown that e en in our non< iolent stru((le they &an ta8e the lead and set an e@a6+le whi&h is not easy to e6ulateB194 He 7urther stated that)
91 92
!%dul "ha77ar) Ba'a Bh(and au .addo .ehad) 384871 Fitten%er() >thnicity, Cationalis' and the +a1htuns) 831 93 ;endul8ar) A%dul -ha//ar @han) 731 95 !%dul "ha77ar) Ba'a Bh(and au .addo .ehad) 38789> :haleeC) $a A=adi .an*) 8990> !8%ar) $a +u1htano 6ar1ha, 109101 93 Aian !tauddin) Ae6oirs) 18191 94 Jawaharlal NehruBs Aessa(e to the North,est 9rontier $ro in&e) 14 .&to%er 1930) Aussoorie) S1 "o+al) ed1) Selected Wor1s o/ .a(aharlal Cehru ?ol1 9our ('ondon0 .rient 'on(6an 'td) 1973)) 5011
115
;here used to %e in +ast years tal8 o7 +retty re7or6s in the 9rontier $ro in&e1 ;oday we are not 7i(htin( 7or re7or6s %ut 7or inde+enden&e1 .ur &o6rades o7 the 9rontier ha e shown in the 7ire o7 su77erin( what 6etal they are 6ade o71 .ut o7 our &o66on su77er< in( we shall 7ashion 7ree /ndia) in whi&h all o7 us) in&ludin( the 9rontier $ro in&e) will %e eCual sharers1 ;he 6en and wo6en o7 the 9rontier $ro in&e ha e +ur&hased %y their %lood and su77erin( a 7ull ri(ht to this 7reedo61 9or the %ra e no (i7t &an %e too 6u&h) and those who 8now how to die 8now also how to li e as 7ree 6en1 Aen and wo6en o7 the 9rontier) you ha e written a (olden +a(e in /ndian historyR ;hat will %e an ins+iration 7or us and we shall re6e6%er it in the lon( days to &o6e1 /ndia &annot 7or(et those who hel+ed to 6a8e her 7ree197
!%dul "ha77ar :han was &asti(ated %y so6e o7 his &lose asso&iates and 7riends 7or 6er(in( the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent into -on(ress1 ;o the6 the $ashtoons would lose their identity and the Hindu<do6inated -on(ress would least &are 7or their wel7are1 ;hey had the %itter e@+erien&es o7 always su++ortin( the +oliti&al and so&ial or(ani=ations o7 /ndia %ut those +eo+le did not &are 7or the $ashtoons and ne er uttered e en a sin(le word in their 7a our when they were in &risis1 ;hey always +re7erred their own interests and ne er su++orted the $ashtoons +re iously1 !%dul "ha77ar :han was not a+olo(eti&1 Fes+ondin( to these re&ri6inations) he 6ade it &lear in an a&ri6onious way that they needed su++ort and hel+ 7ro6 any or(ani=ation at an all</ndia le el1 ;heir 7irst &hoi&e was o% iously their &o<reli(ionists the Ausli6 leaders %ut to their &ha(rin they disa+< +ointed the inha%itants o7 the 9rontier1 ;hey 6ade the sa6e 8ind o7 reCuest to the -on(ress +arty who wel&o6ed the $ashtoons to their 7old1 Sin&e %oth were stru(< (lin( in the sa6e dire&tion and the 6ain o%He&ti e was the sa6e) that is) (ettin( rid o7 the Dritish i6+erialis6) %oth would su++le6ent ea&h other in the 7reedo6 stru((le198 He &ited e@a6+les 7ro6 the li7e o7 the Holy $ro+het o7 /sla6 who entered into &ertain +a&ts and a(ree6ents with the Jews and other non<Ausli6 tri%es in Aedina to thwart the threat o7 the Guraish199 !&&ordin( to hi6 he did no har6 to the $ashtoon 6o e6ent %y a77iliatin( it with the -on(ress) as they would sa7e(uard the ri(hts o7 the 9rontier +eo+le in 7uture1 ;he 6er(er was %ene7i&ial 7or %oth0 -on(ress (ot its 7ir6 7ootin( in an o er< whel6in( Ausli6 6aHority +ro in&e and re7uted all 7uture alle(ations a(ainst it %y its o++onents in ter6in( -on(ress as a Hindu %ody1 ;hey &ited e@a6+les o7 the 9rontier $ro in&e with its solid su++ort 7or the -on(ress +oliti&s throu(hout the re6ainin( years until the $artition o7 /ndia1 -on(ress &lai6ed to %e a re+resen< tati e or(ani=ation o7 all /ndians irres+e&ti e o7 their %elon(in( to any reli(ion) &aste or &reed1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ars on their +art were sa ed 7ro6 7urther "o ern6ent re+ression1 !s 6entioned earlier) it was ru6oured that the 9rontier ad6inistration would soon de&lare the :hudai :hid6at(ars as the a(ents o7
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4%id1) 501021 !%dul "ha77ar :han) +u1htun) 1 !u(ust 1938) 19231 !%dul "ha77ar :han) +u1htun) JuneJuly 1931) 3101
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the Dolshe i8s who were de+uted %y the -o66unists to stir the re%ellion in /ndia1 # en so6e indi iduals in the $oliti&al *e+art6ent were %usy in &olle&t< in( e iden&es a(ainst the :hudai :hid6at(ars in this +arti&ular &onne&tion1 ;he +e&uliarly strate(i& lo&ation o7 the 9rontier $ro in&e +ro ided the 9rontier ad6inistration e@tra +owers to deal with the lo&als in their own way1 ?arious re(ulations were i6+le6ented in the +ro in&e to 8ee+ the inha%itants under the ti(ht &ontrol o7 the Dritish authorities1 ;o thwart the Ee ilB desi(ns o7 the ;sarist Fussia in the /ndian dire&tion was the 6aHor +oli&y &onsideration o7 the Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent1 ;his +ro ided un&he&8ed +ower to the ad6inistration and they were 7ully &on7ident that whate er they do with the :hudai :hid6at(ars on the +rete@t o7 %ein( Dolshe i8 a(ents) they will (et the reCuired su++ort 7ro6 the "o ern6ent %oth at ho6e and in 'ondon1 !7ter the 6er(er o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars with the -on(ress) it was now al6ost i6+ossi%le 7or the 9rontier o77i&ials to de&lare the6 Dolshe i8 a(ents1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ar leaders 6ade it &lear that the 6ain o%He&ti e o7 the -on(ress was identi&al to theirs0 (ettin( rid o7 Dritish i6+erialis6 7ro6 South !sia1 ;hey denied their lin8s with 7orei(n +ow< ers in&ludin( the Fussians1 Aoreo er) %y 6er(in( their 6o e6ent in -on(ress) the :hudai :hid6at(ars) hitherto a +ro in&ial or(ani=ation) a&hie ed +o+ularity and 7a6e at a national le el1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ar leader) !%dul "ha77ar :han) &a6e &loser to the -on(ress leadershi+ and enHoyed the &on7iden&e o7 all in&lud< in( Aahat6a "andhi1 ;he sin&erity o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars to "andhian non< iolen&e whi&h they a&&e+ted as a &reed earned the6 su&h re eren&e and eneration that their leader under !%dul "ha77ar :han was a77e&tionately &alled %y the 6aHority o7 /ndians as 9rontier "andhi) a title enHoyed %y none other1
Concl)sion
/n 1930) the /N- de6anded &o6+lete inde+enden&e 7or /ndia and laun&hed the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent under "andhi to a&hie e their desired (oal1 ;he res+onse was tre6endous in 6any +arts o7 /ndia1 /n the N,9$ ($ashtoon8hwa)) due to arious reasons) howe er) it did not allure +u%li& or (o ern6ent attention1 ;he lo&al -on(ress6en reCuested !%dul "ha77ar :han) the +o+ular leader o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars) to hel+ the6 or(ani=e an anti< Dritish 6o e6ent in the $ro in&e) to whi&h he a(reed1 .n 23 !+ril 1930) the unar6ed +rotesters were 7ired u+on in the :issa :hani Da=aar) $eshawar) 8illin( a%out two hundred and thirty +eo+le on that 7ate7ul day1 Un7ortunately) this tra(i& e ent did not indu&e the s&holars on the le el it deser es and it went unnoti&ed in the histori& narrations2 a&&ounts o7 6odern South !sia1 $ashtoons) the 6aHority +o+ulation o7 the area) +layed an i6+ortant role in the history o7 South !sia1 ;he strate(i& lo&ation o7 their area 6ade the6 ulnera%le to 6any in asions 7ro6 the North1 ;hey too8 +ride in their 6artial Cualities and had 6ore li8in( 7or swords6anshi+ and the li8e +ro7essions1 ;he &olonial (o ern6ent o7 Dritish /ndia e@+loited the situation and intentionally 8e+t the area unde elo+ed1 Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118
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;he re7or6s introdu&ed in other +arts o7 /ndia were denied to the area on &lu6sy +rete@ts1 Howe er) so6e lo&als showed their deter6ination to re&u+erate and to resist the i6+erialistBs desi(ns with all a aila%le sour&es1 /nterestin(ly) while 6any de&ided to &hallen(e the FaH throu(h 7or&e) !%dul "ha77ar :han de&ided to %rin( the reCuired &han(e throu(h edu&ation and so&ial re7or6s) o7 &ourse) throu(h inno&uous non< iolent 6eans1 His altruisti& e77orts had a tre6endous e77e&t on the lo&al +o+ulation1 His e6+hasis on the rural areas 7or a &han(e had drasti& i6+a&t on the +eo+le o7 the 9rontier $ro in&e1 He was &a6+ai(nin( 7or the +uri7i&ation o7 the $ashtoon so&iety 7ro6 all e ils throu(h non< iolent 6eans1 His a%horren&e o7 i6+erialis6 and s+e&ial e6+hasis on the ado+tion o7 non< iolen&e has 6ade hi6 +o+ular1 He tried to &on in&e his +eo+le to a%andon iolen&e %e&ause iolen&e %reeds 6ore iolen&e1 /n 7ollowin( non< iolen&e there was no de7eat1 He &on in&ed the6 to a&&e+t non< iolen&e as a &reed) whi&h they did and showed their resilien&e and stead7astness e en durin( the worst 8ind o7 +ro o&ation %y the (o ern6ent1 /t %e&a6e one o7 the 6ost re6ar8a%le 7eatures o7 the 1930s &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent in $ashtoon8hwa) a 7a&t a&8nowled(ed e en %y the &olonial ad6inistration1 ;o (et the real 7a&ts) -on(ress 7or6ed &o66ittees and sent arious indi iduals to the 9rontier $ro in&e who &on7ir6ed the adheren&e o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars to non< iolen&e and whi&h was ter6ed a E6ira&leB %y the +ro6inent ;ur8ish writer) :halida #di% :hanu6) who isited /ndia in 19351 23 !+ril 1930 witnessed one o7 the worst 6assa&res in the history o7 South !sia1 Unar6ed +eo+le in $eshawar were 7ired u+on indis&ri6inately) 7ollowed %y a (eneral &ra&8down on -on(ress wor8ers) :hila7at olunteers and :hudai :hid6at(ars1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ar leaders were the 6ost a77e&ted +eo+le0 they had to %ear the worst 8ind o7 hu6iliation1 *es+ite the +ro o&ation 7ro6 the -olonial ad6inistration) they re6ained non< iolent) a 7a&t &on7ir6ed %y 6any &onte6+orary sour&es1 ;he re+ression o7 the (o ern6ent &ontinued una%ated 7or 6any 6onths and the :hudai :hid6at(ars were &o6+elled under the &ir&u6stan&es to sear&h 7or their allies on an all</ndia le el1 /nterestin(ly) the Ausli6 'ea(ue) their &o<reli(ionists) did not o77er any assistan&e nor a(reed to raise their oi&e in su++ort o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars) 7or o% ious reasons1 ;he /N-) already on the war+ath with the (o ern6ent) e@tended their 7ull su++ort and 7riendshi+ %e&ause %oth were stru((lin( to (et rid o7 Dritish i6+erialis6 7ro6 South !sia1 Sin&e their 6ain o%He&ti es were identi&al they had no hesitation to a&&e+t the 6utual 7riendshi+1 ,hile it +ro ided a 7ir6 %ase to the /N- in an o erwhel6in( Ausli6 6aHority +ro in&e) it hel+ed the :hudai :hid6at(ars in (ainin( +o+ularity on an all</ndia le el1 !%dul "ha77ar :han was s&olded %y so6e o7 his &ollea(ues 7or this asso&iation1 ;hey were +ertur%ed o er losin( their identity %y 6er(in( the $ashtoon 6o e6ent into the Hindu<do6inated -on(ress1 !%dul "ha77ar :han re(arded it as an inno&uous ste+ whi&h had 7urther stren(thened their 6o e6ent1 !%dul "ha77ar :han) 7or the sa8e o7 the lar(er &ause o7 the /ndian inde+enden&e and o++osition to Dritish i6+erialis6) had to 6er(e the $ashtoon national Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118
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6o e6ent with the EHindu<do6inatedB or(ani=ation1 ;hus he had to a(ree to 7orsa8e the territorial nationalis6 and wor8 to(ether with the 7or&es who %elie ed in /ndian nationalis61 *es+ite %ein( an o erwhel6in( Ausli6<6aHority +ro in&e) the 7or&es o7 &o6< 6unalis6) whi&h were ery stron( in other +arts o7 /ndia) did not su&&eed in the 9rontier $ro in&e1 ;he slo(an o7 E/sla6 in dan(erBwas e@+loited %y arious +oliti&al 7or&es in the rest o7 the &ountry %ut in $ashtoon8hwa it did not 7ind its su++orters to distur% the &o66unal har6ony1 ;he traditional alues o7 the $ashtoon so&iety) whi&h were utili=ed %y the :hudai :hid6at(ar leadershi+) +re ented the use o7 iolen&e a(ainst the non<Ausli6s who inha%it their area1 ;his was the 6ain rea< son %ehind the re(ion not witnessin( &o66unal iolen&e and stri7e e en durin( $artition in 1957) then +re alent in 6any other +arts o7 /ndia and +arti&ularly in the nei(h%ourin( $unHa%1 *urin( the whole s+an o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e< 6ent in the 9rontier $ro in&e) no one raised the &o66unal issue and i&ti6s o7 the &olonialist %rutality in&luded %oth Ausli6s and non<Ausli6s1 .n the (rueso6e in&ident o7 23 !+ril 1930) Dha(at Sin(h) leader o7 the NauHawan Dharat Sa%ha) then %ehind %ars in 'ahore Hail) was one o7 the 7irst +ersons 7ro6 outside the +ro in&e who raised a oi&e a(ainst the %ar%arities +er< +etuated on the +eo+le o7 $eshawar %y the &olonial ad6inistration1 ;he 7irin( in&ident o7 23 !+ril also in&luded 6any non<Ausli6s) lo&al Hindus and Si8hs) who laid down their li es alon( with their &o6rades1 Aostly they were &re6ated in the +la&es reser ed 7or their &re6ation %ut in so6e &ases they were %uried in Ausli6 (ra eyards1 ;heir na6es were in&luded in the lon( list o7 the 7irin( i&< ti6s and interestin(ly to date they are re6e6%ered as Shuhada?i?@issa @hani)100 a title usually reser ed 7or the Ausli6s) alon( with their 7ellow &ountry6en and there is no reli(ious or &aste dis&ri6ination a(ainst the61 !nother noteworthy 7eature o7 the 1930 &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent was the +arti&i+ation o7 the rural +o+ulation on a ery lar(e s&ale1 Unli8e the other +arts o7 /ndia) the leadershi+ o7 the nationalist +oliti&s &a6e 7ro6 the rural areas1 /n the 9rontier $ro in&e) on the &all o7 their leaders) the illa(e +o+ulation whole< heartedly su++orted the +rotest 6o e6ent and too8 a&ti e +art in the +i&8etin( o7 liCuor sho+s1 ;he arrest o7 the leaders +ro ided a %oost to the or(ani=ation1 /n 7a&t) a7ter e ery %rutal a&t o7 the 9rontier ad6inistration) the lo&al +o+ulation Hoined the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent in lar(e nu6%ers as a rea&tion to the use o7 dra&onian 6ethods a(ainst the61 ;hey re6ained undeterred %y the "o ern6ent atro&ities and always too8 it as a &hallen(e to the $ashtoon alues1 ;he use o7 7or&e did not +re ent the +eo+le 7ro6 Hoinin( the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e< 6ent1 Father it +ro ided a %oost to the 6o e6ent1 !s noted earlier) the :hudai :hid6at(ars had roots in the &o66on 6asses and it hel+ed the6 to &ontinue their +rotest till the 7inal day o7 the sus+ension o7 hostilities %etween -on(ress and the Dritish /ndian (o ern6ent1 !%dul "ha77ar :han was the only +ro6inent leader
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who re6ained in +rison and was 7a&in( arious (o ern6ent restri&tions in&ludin( a %an on his entry into the $unHa% and his ho6e +ro in&e) the 9rontier $ro in&e) while other -on(ress leaders were %usy in ne(otiations with the /ndian authorities 7or the 7orth&o6in( re7or6s and the i6+le6entation o7 the "o ern6ent o7 /ndia !&t) 1933) thus ena%lin( the6 to +arti&i+ate in the ele&toral +oliti&s o7 /ndia) at least 7or the ti6e %ein(1 Jud(ed %y the later &ir&u6stan&es) the 7riendshi+ %etween the :hudai :hid6at(ars and the -on(ress +ro ed a su%tle and ti6ely ste+ in the ri(ht dire&< tion1 ;hrou(hout the 7reedo6 stru((le this allian&e &ontinued) o7 &ourse) a(ainst the wishes o7 the &olonial ad6inistration1 *urin( the 7inal years o7 the FaH) the -on(ress denied the &har(es o7 its +oliti&al o++onents who a&&used it as a Hindu or(ani=ation) %ent u+on the +rote&tion o7 the ri(ht o7 the Hindus only1 -on(ress leaders were +ers+i&uous that %ein( a national or(ani=ation it enHoys the &on< 7iden&e o7 all &o66unities in /ndia) +arti&ularly the Hindus and Ausli6s ali8e and &ited the su++ort 7ro6 the N,9$) one o7 the Ausli6 6aHority +ro in&es whi&h su++orted the -on(ress till the +artition o7 su%&ontinent in !u(ust 19571 !lthou(h what -on(ress did with the :hudai :hid6at(ars on the e e o7 the +arti< tion o7 /ndia is a sad story to tell %ut is out o7 the s&o+e o7 the +resent resear&h1 /t was 6erely this &lose asso&iation o7 $ashtoons with the -on(ress that in $a8istan till re&ent +ast they were not a&&e+ted as E+atrioti& $a8istanisB and were always a&&used o7 %ein( traitors to $a8istan1 ;his was the 6ain reason why the :issa :hani 6assa&re and other si6ilar atro&ities %ein( &o66itted %y the Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent in the $eshawar ?alley durin( 1930 was intentionally not in&luded in the history %oo8s and the sa&ri7i&es rendered %y the -on(ress wor8ers) the :hila7at olunteers and the :hudai :hid6at(ars went unnoti&ed 7or de&ades1 /t is the duty o7 the s&holars wor8in( on South !sia in (eneral and the 7reedo6 6o e< 6ent in +arti&ular to (i e +ro+er attention to this and other si6ilar e ents thus +ro idin( an un%iased and o%He&ti e a&&ount o7 history to the &o6in( (enerations1