The Khaksar Tehrik

1
The Khaksar Tehrik
in Pictures
2

• Presentation for the
• New York Conference for Asian Studies
• October 2007
• By Nasim Yousaf
• Author and Researcher

3
Allama Mashriqi
Founder of the Khaksar Movement
4
Nasim Yousaf (sitting center) with Mashriqi
(standing)
5
In 1930, Mashriqi resigned from Government
service and laid the foundation for the
Khaksar Tehrik (Khaksar Movement).
6
His movement was not the result of a landslide.
It was constructed painstakingly. Each entrant
had to be persuaded - Muhammad Saeeds
(journalist) book, Lahore A Memoir
7
Mashriqi (front row, right) led the first batch
of Khaksars he made no distinction between
himself and his fellow Khaksars.
8

• With the first batch of Khaksars,
• the foundation for the freedom
• of British India was laid.

9

• Additional batches of Khaksars were formed all
• across India to deliver Mashriqis message.

10

• Mashriqis message emphasized a
• soldierly life, equality, brotherhood, and
• a focus on self purification.

11
Mashriqi, Delivering a Speech
12
Here, a Khaksar delivers a lecture to fellow
Khaksars.
13

• The Khaksar Tehrik was dedicated to
• the service of mankind.

14
Khaksars Performing Social Service
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• "Long Live The Ideals of the Khaksars...Peace,
• Amity, Brotherhood, Service - Irrespective of
• Caste or Creed, One God, One Humanity, One
• Practical Religion, -- Yes, One Religion, Which
• Means Goodness In Action"

- The Radiance (Aligarh), 1943
16

• 1934
• The Khaksar Urdu
• weekly, Al-Islah, was
• launched.

17

• Khaksar camps were held regularly
• to impart the Khaksar program.

18
A View of a Khaksar Camp
19
Khaksars Holding Mock Wars
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Khaksar Leaders at a Khaksar Camp
In picture Sher Zaman, Pir Baksh and Dr. Nazar
Muhammad
21
Khaksar parades instilled the spirit among the
public to rise for freedom.
22
Khaksars marched in military formation for miles
on the streets of India.
23
The Khaksar Tehrik was a well-disciplined
organization.
Mashriqi (on the right) with his children.
24

• By the late 1930s, the Khaksar
• Movement had spread to every corner
• of India and had millions of followers
• and supporters. The Tehrik also had
• branches in foreign countries.

25

• The Government felt threatened by the
• formidable discipline of this grassroots
• Movement. Consequently, the Punjab
• Government imposed restrictions on
• the Movement in February, 1940.

26

• On March 19, 1940, police opened fire
• against Khaksars protesting the ban,
• and indiscriminately killed or injured
• many innocent Khaksars.

27
Serious Clash Between Khaksars And Police
The Tribune (Lahore), March 20, 1940
28
Allama Mashriqi was arrested on March 19, 1940
following the Khaksar tragedy.
The Tribune (Lahore), March 21, 1940
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Police also injured Mashriqis son, Ehsanullah
Khan Aslam, on March 19, 1940. He later succumbed
to his injuries and died on May 31, 1940.
30

• With the Governments actions, the
• Khaksars long, tough, and most
• unparalleled fight against British rule in
• India began.

31
Muslim Leagues Historic Session March, 1940
Khaksars were tear gassed (left) while the League
session was in progress (right).
32
In 1941, the Government of British India banned
the Khaksar Tehrik throughout the entire India.
33

• In January of 1942,
• Mashriqi was released
• from jail, but his
• movements were
• restricted.
• In December of 1942,
• the restrictions on
• Mashriqi were
• removed, and he was
• once again able to
• address the public.

34
A Crowd Listening to Mashriqis Speech
35
Jinnah-Gandhi Meeting

• Mashriqi put in sincere efforts to bring about
• the famous Jinnah-Gandhi meeting in order for
• the two to settle their political issues and undo
• the Divide and Rule policy of the British
• historians have thus far neglected this effort.

36

• Following the failure of the Jinnah-Gandhi
• meeting, Mashriqi presented The Constitution
• of Free India, 1946. A.C. to keep India united.

37

• In 1946, Mashriqi took steps to bring about a
• forcible end to British rule and called the Azad
• Hind Fauj Conference. Major General S.D. Khan,
• Col. Ihsan Qadir, and others also came to meet
• Mashriqi.

38
Major General S.D. Khan of the Indian National
Army, with Mashriqi.
39
Transfer of Power Announced

• Mashriqi and others efforts toward
• independence did not go unnoticed. By
• 1947, circumstances in India had reached a
• boiling point, and the British had no choice
• but to announce a transfer of power.

40

• In March of 1947, Mashriqi asked 300,000
• Khaksars to assemble in Delhi by June 30
• of the same year. This was to ensure that
• the British would follow through on the
• transfer of power, and that India would
• remain undivided.

41

• Despite stern measures to prevent the
• Khaksar rally, 70,000 to 80,000
• Khaksars (according to media reports)
• assembled in Delhi at the end of June,
• 1947. But it seemed that nothing could
• now stop the division of India.

42

• In 1947, Pakistan and India emerged
• on the world map as separate
• countries, and the nation was divided
• into three parts.

43
Mashriqis dream of an independent, united India
did not materialize. It is important to note,
however, that British India would not have been
able to seek freedom without the efforts of
people like Mashriqi.
44
Allama Mashriqi Died in 1963
Dawn (Karachi), August 28, 1963
45
Mashriqis Funeral
Nasim Yousaf (right side in circle) with
Mashriqis body.
46

• Well over 100,000 people attended
• Mashriqis funeral. With his death, a
• chapter in the history of the Indian
• subcontinent came to a close.