0 Educational Philosphy of Baacha Khan

Educational Philosphy of Baacha Khan

Ihsanullah

Pakhtuns were ruled indirectly by Mughals, Sikh and British. Usually invaders found prominent people with in pakhtuns and ruled through them. Most of the invaders tries to impose themselves over pkahtuns but can’t succeed. Of all those British was the wise one. They subjugate pakhtuns through Sikhs and ruled them indirectly. Fear from pakhtuns abilities, British planed to destroy them in every field of life particularly in education.

After capturing most of the Indian Sub-continent territory, British starts struggle for spreading Christianity. They introduced missionary activities. Through those missionary activities British aimed conversion of pakhtuns to Christianity to defend themselves in Indian Sub-continent. For that dirty purpose British used the sacred profession of doctors and teachers. They establish missionary hospitals and schools in different parts of the region. They penalized people like Dr. Penal, Dr. Edward Herbert, Dr. Clark and Dr. Pander for those missionary activities. These people used their professions for missionary activities. Herbert Edward (first British Commissioner of Peshawar) opens Edward Mission School at Peshawar in 1853. Sir Robert Croft was appointed its first Principal. Initially it was a primary school but later on given the status of Higher Secondary and then the famous Edward College.

To stop such activities some one has to come forward for the rescue of Islam and revival of pakhtuns. In such a critical situation a man with charismatic qualities appear on the hopeless scenario of the region and give a hope to the society. That man was Haji Abdul Wahid popularly known as Haji Sahib of Turangzai. He felt that both Sikhs and British want to destroy pakhtuns socially and economically. Pakhtuns were indulged in             un-Islamic activities which disturb their social life. To get rid of those un-Islamic activities, Haji Sahib starts a movement for the reformation of pakhtun society. During that movement he felt that for the success of this movement it is important to impart religious education in the innocent masses. For this purpose he opens a chain of Madaris (religious schools) through out the region to counteract missionary schools. Haji Sahib couldn’t establish those madaris himself but common pakhtuns established those madaris with their own funds and Haji Sahib only manages those madaris. The number of those madaris is ambiguous. The British record suggested it as 34 but other sources place them 72, 120 and 150 respectively. Haji Sahib himself inspects the schools every month. The system was going very well which annoyed the British. And they open a war against him and his schools. He was arrested in 1910 and sent to Jail. This forced him to leave the settled area and migrated to Mohmand Agency where he lived till his death (1937).

Migration of Haji Sahib disturbs his educational plane. Though his disciples reopen those schools but couldn’t maintain the discipline. It was near that the whole system might flop. In the meantime an admirer of Haji Sahib came forward and took the responsibility of educating pakhtuns. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was the name of that person and world knows him as Baacha Khan. He was a landlord but knows exactly that what pakhtuns would needed? He was a part of Haji Sahib social reforms movement but greatly impressed by his educational plane. In attachment with that educational plane, Baacha Khan and Maulvi Abdul Aziz open a madrasa-cum-school in 1910 at Utmanzai. The mullahs opposed the plane by declaring it as a missionary school but they have no real alternative. They oppose Baacha Khan and his colleagues on different occasion.

After establishing that school at Utmanzai, Baacha Khan indulged in family matters which disturb his educational plane. His busyness continued till 1920. During that spare of time, Baacha Khan visited the whole region frequently. In his visit he noted ignorance and illiteracy among pakhtuns. From those experiences he concluded that for the revival of pakhtun society a revolution is needed. And revolution needs leaders and scholars. Indeed education is prerequisite for producing such type of leaders and scholars. To educate pakhtuns, Baacha Khan kept the foundation of Azad Islamia School in 1921 at Utmanzai. Maqsud Jan Khan of Bannu became the first headmaster of that Azad School at Utmanzai. His elder brother Amir Mumtaz Khan joins the school as a teacher. Both these brother left Islamia College Peshawar during Khilafat movement studying in B.A. They were gifted by his father Amir Mukhtar Khan to the Azad School of Baacha Khan. When Maqsod Jan left the school to continue his education, his elder brother Amir Mumtaz Khan became the headmaster of this school. Lack of teaching staff compels Bacha Khan to teach himself in the school. His both sons Khan Abdul Ghani Khan and Khan Abdul Wali Khan were among the first students of that school.

The idea of Azad School became so popular among pakhtuns which is a pleasing moment for the founder but that shocked the British. They weren’t interested in the uplift of the pakhtuns. To stop Baacha Khan from such activities they used different tactics. They humiliate Khan Teachers, by giving greed of enough salary and offer them better posts in Govt. schools but can’t succeed to defame Khan’s educational plane. In 1921 they arrested Baacha Khan under 40 FCR when he was busy in making a football ground for school children and sentenced three years imprisonment. His imprisonment works in favour of schools and in no times the number of school branches raises rapidly. Most of those branches were open in Charsaddah, Mardan, Swabi and Nowshehra tehsils.

Azad Schools was affiliated with Jamia Millia, Delhi, on December 1, 1923. Jamia Millia conducts its examinations and a number of students after passing matriculation in Azad Schools joined Jamia Millia for further education. The schools mainly followed the Jamia syllabus with necessary modification required by the local environment. Pashto was adopted as medium of instruction but certain subjects were thoughts in English. The curriculum also included teaching of the Holy Quran, Hadith, Fiqah, Arabic language and Islamic history to impart religious education in the Pakhtuns.

Successful experience of Azad Schools boosts Baacha Khan Confidence. He starts thinking about the establishment of a society for the reformation of pakhtuns. In 1921 he established the society with the name of ‘Anjuman-e-Islah Afaghina’ (Society for the reformation of Afghans). The society aimed to encourage the economic, social and educational uplift of pakhtuns. He stressed upon the pakhtuns to take on professions for earning money despite using their valid time in useless activities. To set an example, Baacha Khan himself open a shop at Gur Mandi (sugar cane market) and start working by himself in his own fields. The establishment of this association also aimed that it would take the responsibility of supervision of Azad schools chain and work for the opening of other schools.

During his tours he observed that Pakhtuns were not even conscious that Pashto was their language, and wherever they went, they adopt the local language and forget their mother tongue. They don’t teach their language to others and did not care to read and write in Pashto. For propagation of Pashto language, Baacha Khan started ‘Pakhtun’ journal in May 1928. He was the editor of the journal. Yearly subscription of the journal was Rs. 4 rupees. To attract the attention of the students, its yearly subscription was reduced to two and half rupees. Journal is of medium size having forty pages. Initially the journal was published in Rawalpidi, then in Amritser and finally at Peshawar. The journal contained well written articles on different subjects like politics, Pashto literature, Pashto poetry, Islamic history, gender issues, Indian affairs, social problems of pakhtun society, Afghan affairs and etc. In no time Pakhtun journal became a mouth piece of the pakhtuns. People not only in pakhtunkhawa but abroad also demanded for the journal. Its circulation was reached from 500 to 3000 which show how famous is this journal among pakhtuns. The main reason of its famousness was that there is no Pashto journal in the region till 1928. Other reason was its topics which mostly cover all fields of the region.

British were first feared from the Azad Schools and then from Pakhtun magazine of Baacha Khan. That’s why he was continuously involved in one or other matter and banned the journal. After release Baacha Khan starts republishing that magazine. This was even continued after the creation Pakistan but they all don’t shake Baacha Khan from his educational plane. He continued his struggle of educating Pakhtun till his death. His mission was carried on by his disciples even after his death.

In 2007 Baacha Khan Trust (BKT) reorganizes chains of Baacha Khan Azad Schools under Baacha Khan Trust Education Foundation (BKTEF) label. Muhammad Raza was appointed its Managing Director. He works hard for its propagation and in no time he spread a chain of those schools through out Pakhtunkhawa and FATA. Round about 14 branches were open. Among those Mathra Branch is the pioneer which was opened on 1^st September 2007 at a place donated by Muhammad Hashim Babar, former Awami National Party leader. This was followed 13 more branches which were open in different parts of the region. Among those 2 branches were open in Peshawar, (Mathra and Nautia), Malakand (Totakan and Dargai) and Karak District. A branch in Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Dir upper, Landi Kotal, Chitral, Thal and Kohat were also opened later on.

BKTEF was under supervision of board of directors which comprise 11 members. Presently Dr. Khadim Hussain is working as its Managing Director. With promotion of primary education BKTEF also working for Youth leadership and Culture Development. Beside this it also worked in civil society and environmental projects as well. BKTEF follow Oxford syllabus with necessary modification according to the environment. The schools mainly focused on development of Pashto in addition with I.T and religious knowledge. Medium of instruction is Pashto and English. BKTEF used to give free of cost education. Foundations provide books, uniforms free of cost and its fee structure is nominal. 

Establishment of BKTEF is a great achievement of BKT. The system not only educates pakhtuns but it also promotes Non-violence philosophy of Baacha Khan. In current context Pakhtuns need this philosophy badly to shake off the label of violent and terrorist. BKTEF play its part by promoting primary education and other projects like community development and youth leadership. Beside these projects foundation should start a project focusing non-violence philosophy and find specialists in this field to deliver lectures on it and aware masses of its importance.     

The foundation achieves their goals but needs more improvement. Foundation can improve it further if they follow the disciplines of Baacha Khan for which he struggle in his entire life. Those disciplines are to live simply, be punctual, trust worthy, avoid useless activities and work hard. If they follow these very principles then a time wills come when this system wills rules over all other education system that was followed in the region.