Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Ihsanullah
1889/90: Khan Abdul Ghaffar
Khan was born in the house of Behram Khan at Utmanzai, Charsaada.
1896: He was admitted in village mosque.
1898: Admitted in Municipal Board High School
Peshawar.
1901: Admitted in Edward Mission
High School, Kohati Gate Peshawar.
1906: Refused
Commission Guides- the most prestigious army corps in the royal British
defence.
1908: Joined the
Islamic School at Aligarh.
1909: Decided
against studying in England.
1910: Open a school with
the assistance of Maulvi Abdul Aziz at his hometown Utmanzai.
1911: Joined the
reform movement of Haji Sahib of Turangzai.
1912: Married to
Meharqanda, daughter of Yar Muhammad Khan of Rajar.
1913: His first son
Abdul Ghani was born.
1913: Attended a meeting
of Muslim League in Agra.
1914: On the
invitation of Sheikh Mahmud-ul-Hasan went to Deoband with Maulvi Fazal
Rabi and Maulvi Fazal Mahmud Makhfi.
1914: Went to Bajaur
to perform Chilla (Meditation in
Seclusion).
1915: The British
authorities banned his mission of opening mosque schools.
1915: In December
his second son Abdul Wali Khan was born.
1918: His first wife
died in an epidemic.
1919: Started his
political career with protest against Rowalt Act.
1919: Arrested on
charges of sedition. Released on the surety of Rs.30, 000/.
1919: Married for
the second time with “Nambata”, cousin of his first wife and daughter of Sultan
Muhammad Khan.
1920: Went to Delhi to attend the
Khilafat Conference.
1920: Migrated to Kabul in Hijrat Movement.
1920: Provincial
Khilafat Committee was reconstituted and Abdul Gaffar Khan was appointed as its
president.
1920: Collected
funds in Frontier
Province for the Khilafat
cause. The fund should be reserved for running the educational institutions in
the province that has been closed in 1915 by the Government.
1921: Baacha Khan
kept the foundation of Azad
Islamia School
in 1921 at Utmanzai.
1921: He founded the
“Anjuman-i-Islah-ul-Afghania”
(Society for the reform of the Afghans).
1921: From his
second wife a daughter named Mehar Taja was born on 25th May, 1921.
1921: He was
arrested on 17th December and sentenced three years rigorous
imprisonment under 40 F.C.R (Frontier Crime Regulation). The charges registered
against him were that he took active part in Hijrat movement and the return
setup of Azad School.
1921: Refused the
Govt. offer in jail brought by his elder brother, Dr. Khan Sahib and some other
prominent Pakhtun leaders. The government offers that he was free to open the
Azad schools but should stop the country side visits, he would be release.
1922: When he was in
Jail his third son Abdul Ali Khan (the educationalist) was born from his second
wife on 20th August 1922 (Died on 19th February 1997).
1923: His mother
died when he was in Dera Ghazi Khan Jail.
1923: His elder
brother Dr. Khan Sahib got his doctorate from Saint
Thomas Hospital, London.
1924: He was release
from Jail.
1924: On release
from Jail, a Jirga at Utmanzai give
him the title “Fakhr-e-Afghan” (Pride
of Afghans).
1924: He visited
extensively the whole Frontier
Province to see the Azad
schools run by the Khudai Khidmatgars.
1926: He went to Calcutta to attend the
annual meeting of All Indian National Congress.
1926: His father
Behram Khan was died.
1926: Went to Mecca to perform Hajj
with his second wife and elder sister.
1926: After
performing Hajj, he with his wife visit to different places in Saudi Arabia, Palestine and etc. During his visit in Palestine his wife was
died in Baith-ul-Muqaddas.
1928: After return
from Hajj in May 1928, he starts the publication of monthly journal “Pukhtoon” in Pashto language.
1928: He established
a group of young people by the name of “Jawan-e-Subah
Sarhad” (Youth league of Frontier
Province). This league
was later on changed into the famous movement “Khudai Khidmatgar” (Servants of God).
1928: Went to Calcutta with his
colleagues to attend the Khilafat Conference. In Calcutta
he met with Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal and Ali brothers to
discuss the Frontier and Afghanistan
situation.
1928: On 11th
November he was appointed as vice president of Frontier Provincial committee.
1929: He went to Lahore to attend the annual meeting of the congress, which
demanded for the complete freedom of India.
1929: He
went to Lucknow
to attend the Congress meeting. He met Ghandi and Nehru for the first time.
1929: He celebrated
the victory of Kabul
by Nadir Khan over Bacha-i-Saqao in Hashtnagar along Khudai Khidmatgars.
1929: He visited India to mobilize the support for the Pakhtun
stands over the Afghanistan
issue.
1929: He reorganized
the formal “Jawan-e-Subah Sarhad”
(Youth league of Frontier
Province) “Khudai Khidmatgar” (Servants of God). It
was a social reform organization. With the passage of time harsh attitude of
British turn it into political organization.
1929: He resigned
from the president ship of Khilafat Committee because the body became
anti-Congress.
1929: On 18th
and 19th April the first official meeting of Khudai Khidmatgar
was convened at Utmanzai. About 200 red shirts attend the meeting.
1929: In September,
he founded the political wing of Khudai Khidmatgar “Zalmo Jirga” (Youth league). Later on it was called the “Afghan Jirga” (Afghan league).
1930: On April 23rd
Abdul Gaffar Khan addressed a mass meeting at Utmanzai exhorting people to
participate in civil disobedience movement.
1930: In April, “Pakhtoon”
Magazine was banned.
1930: On 23rd
April Baacha Khan was arrested at Nahqi under F.C.R (Frontier Crime Regulation)
and imprisoned for three years with his colleagues.
1930: In response of
Baacha Khan arrest, massacre of Kissa Khwani Bazaar take place on 23rd
April.
1930: On 2nd
May, the people of Frontier strike against the Government.
1930: On May 13th
the army besieged Utmanzai to force the people to leave the Khudadi
Khidmatgar movement.
1930: On 28th
May, massacre of Takkar take place.
1930: During
imprisonment Bacha Khan promised that he and his Khudai Khidmatgars join the
Congress if they can help them in their release from Jail.
1931: After one year
imprisonment Bacha Kahn released with other Khudai Khidmatgars form Dera Gahzi
Khan Jail under Ghandi-Irwin Pact.
1931: In March he
went to Karachi
with 100 Khudai Khidmatgars to attend the Congress meeting in which he was
invited formally for the first time.
1931: In April Bacha
Khan went to Delhi
to attend the Congress session.
1931: On 9th
June Bacha Khan proceed with Ghandi to Bombay
to attend the Working committee meeting.
1931: In July Devdas
Ghandi, Mahatma Ghandi son reached to Peshawar
to study the frontier situation carefully. He stayed with Bacha Khan at his
home town Utmanzai.
1931: To limit the
influence of Khudai Khidmatgar movement Govt. start the Khaksar movement.
Inayatullah Mashriqi, head master of Govt. high school Peshawar was appointed its first president.
1931: On 30th
July Chief Commissioner of frontier
Province Sir Stuart Pears
interviewed Bacha Khan.
1931: On 13th
August Bacha Khan went to Bombay
to attend the All Indian National Congress meeting. It was decided that a new
committee was open in the province by the name of Frontier Congress Committee
or Frontier Province Jirga.
1931: On 25th
August Bacha Khan went with Ghandi and Nehru to Simla for meeting with Viceroy.
1931: His movement
was banned and arrested on 24th December from his home town Utmanzai
and awarded three years rigorous imprisonment.
1934: On 17th
August Baacha Khan undertook one week fast in sympathy with Ghandi fast.
1934: On 27th
August Baacha Khan was released after three year imprisonment but his entry in
Punjab and Frontier
Province was still
banned.
1934: On 30th
September Baacha Khan addressed in a public meeting at Calcutta on the Hindu Muslim unity.
1934: In Bombay he addressed a
meeting which was classified as seditious. Due to that addressed he was rearrested
on 7th December from Wardah, United Province.
1936: In August he
was released but his entry in the N.W.F.P and Punjab
was still banned. He went again to Wardah and stayed there with Ghandi.
1937: In February
general election 1937 result was declared in which Congress cum Khudai
Khidmatgar secure 19 seats win out of 50 seats.
1937: In March
Baacha Khan with Ghandi proceed to Delhi
to attend the All Indian National Congress Committee meeting.
1937: The bane on
Baacha Khan entry in Frontier and Punjab was
lifted on 26th August.
1937: Baacha Khan left
for Frontier on 15th October after 6 years exile. He was received by
Wali Khan in Utmanzai.
1937: After return
to the Frontier, Baacha Khan set out an extensive tour of the N.W.F.P and Baluchistan to reorganize Khudai Khidmatgar movement.
1938: On 1st
May Ghandi reached to Frontier
Province on his 8 days
visit.
1938: Baacha Khan and
Ghandi left for Calcutta
to attend the Congress working committee meeting.
1938: Ghandi setout
his second visit of one month to Frontier
Province.
1938: Pukhtoon
magazine was restarted.
1940: Baacha Khan
left for Ramgarh, Bihar in March to attend the
annual session of All Indian National Congress.
1940: Baacha Khan
attends Congress Working Committee meeting in October. Full confidence was shown
by the member on him for leading the civil obedience movement in N.W.F.P.
1941: On 23rd
December Baacha Khan went to Bardoli to attend the working committee meeting.
1941: Baacha Khan
arranged the training camps for Khudai Khidmatgars throughout the Frontier Province.
1942: Baacha Khan
and Ghandi both resign from all Indian National Congress and its working
committee regarding its cooperation with Government in World War II.
1942: In July Baacha
Khan established “Markaz-i-Ala-i-Khudai
Khidmatgaran” (Main office of Khudai Khidmatgars) at Sardaryab, 14 miles
away from Peshawar.
1942: On 27th
October, Baacha Khan was arrested with 50 Khudai Khidmatgars when he was
delivering a speech in Mirwaiz Dheri, Mardan during Quite India Movement.
Baacha Khan was beat by the police. His two ribs were broken arrested and send
to Haripur Jail for two years.
1945: On 14th
March Dr. Khan Sahib accepts Lord Cunningham invitation to form Congress
ministry in Frontier
Province.
1945: On 17th
March Baacha Khan and all other political leaders were released under general
amnesty announced by Lord Wavell, Viceroy of India.
1945: Both Baacha
Khan and Ghandi rejoin Congress and its Working Committee again in Bombay.
1945: On 25th
June Baacha Khan and Dr. Khan Sahib attend Wavell Conference at Simla as a
Congress representative.
1946: Baacha Khan
was elected as a member of Central Legislative Assembly of India.
1946: In September
Baacha Khan left for Delhi
to discussed matters related to interim Govt. with Ghandi.
1947: On 22nd
April Baacha Khan addressed the first Asian relation Conference.
1947: In May “Zalmai Pakhtun” (Young Pakhtun) was
established by Baacha Khan under his own guidance headed by his elder son Ghani
Khan (Liwany pholsophy).
1947: On 21st
June “Pakhtunistan” demand was raised in “Bannu Resolution”.
1947: Baacha Khan
attends a meeting with Ghandi, Mountbatten and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Congress
entrusted the task of referendum in N.W.F.P to Baacha Khan but he boycotted
from referendum.
1947: On 22nd
August, after the creation of Pakistan,
Dr. Khan Ministry was illegally replaced with Qayum Khan.
1948: In early month
Baacha Khan went to Karachi
to attend the session of first constitution Assembly of Pakistan.
1948: On 23rd
February Baacha Khan took the oath of allegiance to Pakistan.
1948: On 5th
March Baacha Khan addressed to the first legislative Assembly of Pakistan in
Urdu.
1948: In March
Baacha Khan formed a political party “Jamiat-ul-Awam” in collaboration
of G.M Sayed, Abdul Majeed Sindhi, Sheikh Hishamuddin and Abdul Samad Khan
Achakzai. Baacha Khan was unanimously nominated as party president.
1948: In mid April Muhammad
Ali Jinnah visit NWFP. Baacha Khan welcomes him in frontier.
1948: On 13th
May Baacha Khan announced that his movement of Khudai Khidmatgar would extend
to all Provinces of Pakistan. His Khudai Khidmatgar movement would serve as a
volunteer corps to Jamiat-ul-Awam, recently established by him.
1948: In May Baacha
Khan returned to NWFP and starts his visit throughout the Province to wake up
the masses against the Government.
1948: After ending
the northern districts tour Baacha Khan was planning to start his visit in southern
district. Before starting his tour he was arrested on 15th June and imprisoned
him for three years.
1948: On 12th
August Babara incident take place. During that time Baacha Khan was in Jail.
1948: In mid September
NWFP Government declare Khudai Khidmatgar movement unlawful and their center at
Sardaryab was destroyed.
1950: In June his
three years imprisonment was expired but his imprisonment was extended for six
months many times under Bengal regulation
1818.
1952: In February
his colleague and best friend, the former education minister in Dr. Khan
ministry, Qazi Attaullah was died in Jail.
1952: In April
Baacha Khan went through a serious operation in Mayo Hospital Lahore.
1954: In January
Baaha Khan and imprisoned Khudai Khdamatgarans were released, but he was
confined to Rawalpindi Circuit house.
1954: In March
Baacha Khan was permitted to attend Bengal session of the Pakistan
parliament. He addressed to the parliament in Urdu in which he explain the
causes on the base of which he was imprisoned.
1954: In September
Baacha Khan opposed One-Unit system. On the issue of One-Unit he was disagree
with his elder brother Dr. Khan Sahib, Chief Minister of western Unit of
Pakistan.
1955: In July the
Govt. lift bane on the entry of Baacha Khan in Frontier.
1955: On 16th
September Baacha Khan ended his frontier tour and then started his campaign in Baluchistan invited by Abdus Samad Khan Achakzai.
1955: He was
arrested in a way to Baluchistan in September
with two other companions and send to Mach Jail but release on 26th September.
1956: On 16th
June Baacha Khan and Abdus Samad Khan Achakzai were rearrested at Shahi Bagh, Peshawar and Quetta
respectively. Baacha Khan was alleged to the safety and territorial integrity
of Pakistan,
while abdus Samad Khan was arrested under public safety Act.
1956: On 6th
September Baacha Khan trail was opened in Lahore High Court of under Justice
Shabir Ahmad.
1956: On September 6th
Baacha Khan submitted a 19 pages written statement to the court in which he
writes about his all career.
1957: On 24th January the court give him rigorous
punishment and to pay rupees 14,000/-. Baacha Khan refused and his property was
confiscated.
1957: Baacha Khan
was released.
1957: On 27th
January Baacha Khan joined Pakistan National Party, merger of six opposition
parties.
1957: The Chief
Minister of West Pakistan, Dr. Khan Sahib was
dismissed on 7th July.
1957: In July Baacha
Khan, G.M. Sayed and Mian Iftikharuddin formed National Awami Party.
1958: Baacha Khan
published a pamphlet titled Pukhtanu au One-Unit (Pakhtun and One-Unit)
against One-Unit scheme in West Pakistan.
1958: On 13th
September Baacha Khan was arrested at Quetta for
defying the district magistrate order of banning Baacha Khan entry in Baluchistan. He was arrested in Quetta
taken to Peshawar
and release there.
1958: On 11th
October Baacha Khan with eight prominent leaders of East
Pakistan was arrested under Pakistan Safety Act. Abdus Samad Khan
Achakzai was also arrested and sentenced fourteen years rigorous imprisonment.
1959: On 4th
April Baacha Khan was released. He started tour of frontier Province.
Baacha Khan and all other politician disqualified from elective body until 1966
under EBDO (Elective bodies disqualification order).
1961: On 12th
April Baacha Khan was arrested from D.I. Khan on his tour of southern side of Frontier Province under maintenance of Public
Order Ordinance.
1962: Amnesty
International, a non political organization declared him “Prisoner of the
year”.
1962: In December
Amnesty International demanded for the release of Baacha Khan because
government extended his imprisonment period for every six months.
1964: On 30th
January Baacha Khan was released from Haripur Jail when his health was
deteriorated alarmingly.
1964: On 27th
May Jawahir Lal Nehru was died. Baacha Khan send deeply grieved telegram to his
daughter.
1964: In September
Baacha Khan was allowed by the Government to go to Great Britain for treatment. In London he met with Mr.
Oleof Careo, the former governor general of NWFP.
1964: On 12th
December Baacha Khan went to Afghanistan
from United Kingdom.
1965: Baacha Khan
attends the inauguration ceremony of ‘Pakhtunistan day’ on 31st
August in Pakhtoonistan square at Kabul.
1969: In May, the
Indian awarded Baacha Khan with “Nehru peace award for 1969” for promotion
international goodwill and understanding.
1969: In June, the
Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indra Gandhi visited Kabul where she met with Baacha Khan and presented
him a copy of Holy Quran and some Indian Khadi (kadhar) cloths.
1969: Baacha Khan
went to India via Berut
(Lebnan) in September from Kabul.
1970: In February
Baacha Khan came back to Afghanistan
from India.
1972: On 24 December
Baacha Khan was brought back to Pakistan
after eight years exile by a Jirga. The Jirga comprised Abdul Wali Khan, Ajmal
Khattak, Muhammad Afzal Khan, Maulana gul Badshah and Maulana Abdul Bari.
1975: On 2nd
April a case was registered against Baacha Khan and he was detained on 13th
April sent to Khanpur rest house.
1976: On 27th
August Baacha Khan was released.
1977: On 1st
October general Zia-ul-Haq met with Baacha Khan on his tour to Peshawar.
1978: On 2nd
March Baacha Khan left Pakistan
for Afghanistan to compose
his autobiography in Pushto “Zama
Zhwand aau Jadd-o-Juhad” (My life and struggle).
1980: On 26th
March Baacha Khan left Kabul for India
for his medical check up.
1980: On July 18th
Baacha Khan return to Kabul from India.
1980: On 31st
August Baacha Khan left Kabul for USSR
for his treatment.
1980: On 11th
October Baacha Khan return to Kabul.
1981: On 13th
February Baacha Khan fell ill.
1981: On 19th
August Baacha Khan was called by Afghan President Babrak Karmal to discuss
different matters.
1981: On 6th
November left Kabul for India.
1982: Returned to Kabul from India
on 1st January.
1982: On 3rd March
Baacha Khan got injuries when he fell down from his bed in his room at
Jalalabad, admitted in Hospital at Kabul.
1982: On 28th
April Baacha Khan returned to Pakistan.
1983: Started a
campaign against the proposed construction of Kalabagh Dam.
1983: Baacha Khan
visit throughout the Frontier
Province to mobilize the
public opinion against the Government in the regarding construction of Kalabagh
Dam.
1984: Baacha Khan was
kept under house arrest due to his anti-Kalabagh Dam opinion.
1984: On 1st
April Baacha Khan went to Kabul
for Medical treatment.
1984: On may 6th
Baacha Khan return to Pakistan
from Kabul.
1984: On 19th
July Baacha Khan left for Kabul
accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Wali Khan and Muhammad Azam Khan of Mardan.
1984: On 29th
September Baacha Khan returned to Pakistan.
1985: All Indian
National Congress invite Baacha Khan for the centenary celebration. Baacha Khan
left Peshawar for India on 26th December
accompanied by Wali Khan and his grandson Zulfiqar Ali Khan.
1986: On 4th
January Baacha Khan returned to Peshawar.
1986: Baacha Khan
addressed for the last time in Pakhtoonkhuwa on 19th April in World
Pushto Conference.
1987: In May Baacha
Khan fell ill seriously and admitted in the Lady reading Hospital Peshawar.
1987: On 4th
June due to paralytic attack Baacha Khan was transferred to All India Medical
Institute of Medical Science by the invitation of Indian government. Baacha
Khan stayed there up to August 16th.
1987: In India
Baacha Khan was awarded by greatest Indian Award “Baharat Raten”.
1987: Baacha Khan
was brought back to Pakistan
in August and admitted in Lady
Reading Hospital
for treatment.
1988: From August to
20th January Baacha Khan was remained in Coma. He breathed his last on 20th
January at 6:35 A.M.
1988: His
Namaz-i-Janaza was held on Thursday 21st January at 3:00 PM at Jinnah Park Peshawar.
1988: On 22nd
January Baacha Khan was buried at Jalalabad in his own house according to his
will.
Bibliography
- Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Zama Jwand aw Jadujuhad,
Peshawar,
Baacha Khan Research Centre, 2012.
- Asma Begum, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan as a Social
Reformer, M.A Thesis submitted to Pakistan Study Centre, University of
Peshawar.
- Farid Ahmed, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, A Profile, M.A
Thesis submitted to Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar.
- Eknath Eswaran, Badshah Khan, A Man to match his
Mountain, New Delhi, Penguin Books Limited, 1999.
- D.G. Tendulkar, Faith is a Battle, Bombay, Gandhi Peace
Foundation, 1967.
- Rai Bahadur Diwan Chand, The Evolution of North
West Frontier Province, Peshawar, Saeed Book Bank.
- Farigh Bukhari, Tehreek-e-Azadi aur Baacha Khan,
Fiction House, 1991.