A Complete List of Muslim Freedom Fighters of India

The Indian Independence Movement is one of the longest freedom struggles in the World History. It took nearly 90 years for the leaders of India to achieve independence from British Empire. Although various tribes and rulers of princely states did revolt from time to time against the British Empire their revolt was in a specific area and not for the nation as a whole. The first major revolt that was mobilized throughout the Indian mainland was the Revolt of 1857 when most of the northern part of India united under the banner of Bahadur Shah Jafar-II. Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 and a huge wave of nationalism and freedom began in 1905 (after Banga Bhanga Movement or The Partition of Bengal ). Indian National Congress demanded complete freedom from British rule in 1930 and finally, India achieved its independence in 1947. Almost every section of society participated in the freedom struggle and after independence, Indian Government honored the contribution of almost every individual.

Islam is the second largest religion in India and thousands of Muslims fought along with Hindus during these years but over a period of time, the names of Muslim Freedom Fighters have been omitted from the history as well as from the textbooks. Muslims are also blamed for the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan. After 70 years of Independence, if we ask three Muslim Freedom Fighters of India, then most of the people won’t be able to answer this question. Even the History Text Books covers only a few leaders like Ashfaqulla Khan, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and few others. When I searched Google there were hardly few websites that list the Muslim Freedom Fighters of India in detail and even the Wikipedia Page doesn’t display any result when searched for Muslim Freedom Fighters. Now the question arises why there is no specific data for this or is it true that the contribution of Muslims is very less in Indian Independence Movement? I started searching the various lists, websites, books related to Indian Independence movement and magazines and finally came up with the list of Muslim Freedom Fighters of India. I hope this article will break the myths about the contribution of Muslims in the freedom struggle of India and would enlighten those who even see the Independence Movement through the lens of Religion and Caste.

Which Muslim Freedom Fighters are Included in this List

While compiling the list I have included the Muslim Freedom Fighters of India from the year 1857 to 1947. The leaders prior to 1857 are not included as prior to 1857 the fight with British Empire was primarily for their own kingdom or specific area. For example, I have not Included Nawab Siraj Ud-Daulah as he fought for the province of Bengal and not India. Similarly, Tipu Sultan is also not included as he fought for the Mysore Province. One more reason why the rulers prior to 1857 are not included, as it would help us know the exact names of Freedom Fighters thereby making the article well within the era of Indian Independence Movement.

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List of Muslim Freedom Fighters of India

Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Quadri: Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Quadri was born in the year 1901 in Nawada district of Bihar and he was Unani Physician by profession. When Mahatma Gandhi announced the Salt March of 1930, he joined the Indian Independence Movement. Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Quadri was in the same Cell of Cuttack Jail where Gandhi was imprisoned. Syed Quadri with the help of his father treated the Frist President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad when we were ill due to respiratory issues. In the year 2007, Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan. He died on 30th December 2015, at the age of 114.

Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Quadri the Muslim Freedom Fighter of India

The government of India awarded Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Quadri the Padma Bhushan

Zakir Husain: Dr. Zakir Husain served as 3rd President of India and he was also the first Muslim President of India. He was born on 8th February 1897 and founded Jamia Millia Islamia University of Delhi. He was deeply influenced by the Gandhi’s doctrine of Non-Violence and believed that India’s struggle for freedom would only be successful when Indian Society is educated with value-based education. He acted as the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia for 22 years (1926-48) and made it one of the finest educational institute in India. He died on 3rd May 1969 while serving as President of India and he was the first president to die in office. He was awarded The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest National Honor.Muslim Freedom Fighter of India

Peer Ali Khan: Peer Ali Khan was one of the most important Muslim Freedom Fighter of India who took part in the rebellion of 1857 but the stories of his bravery are forgotten and he is omitted from the history books. Peer Ali Khan was born in Azamgarh District of Uttar Pradesh and at the age of seven he ran away from his home and reached Patna where he met Zamindar Nawab Mir Abdullah. Peer Ali was falsely arrested by British and he was very angry on this incident. He decided to attack the British Regiment and to execute his plan he managed to get 50 guns and distributed it among his group. The attack was unsuccessful as British came to know about this and British hanged few of his friends without any trials. This incident further increased the hatred and he planned a bigger attack which included the attack on Administrative Headquarter of Gulzar Bagh. On the day of attack i.e. 3rd July, Peer Ali Khan along with his 200 supporters raised the flag of revolution and attacked the building. British Superintendent Dr. Llyoal ordered his men to open fire at the mob. The cross-firing resulted in the death of many protesters as well as of Dr. Llyoal. A search operation was ordered and many revolutionaries were arrested, tortured and hanged without any trial. Most of the followers of Peer Ali Khan were hanged but he survived the tortures and didn’t reveal any information. He was hanged till death on 7th of July on the charges of Murder of Dr. Llyoal. One of the famous sayings of Peer Ali Khan was

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                                   There are some occasions on which it is good to give up life and that if I sacrificed; thousands of others, every day will fill their place.

Bakht Khan: Bakht Khan was another important Muslim Freedom Fighter of India who took part in the rebellion of 1857. Bakht Khan was born in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh (then United Province) in the year 1797. At the time of rebellion, he was serving as Subedar in the Army of East India Company. He was a shrewd military commander and knew about the military formations and artilleries. When the rebellion started the rebellion forces declared Bahadur Shah Jafar-II as the King of India but they lacked fighting skills. Bakht Khan took the command of rebel forces and under his leadership, the position of rebel forces improved drastically. Bakht Khan lacked Arms and Ammunitions as well as a steady supply of food and other important things required for carrying out rebellion. When Bahadur Shah Jafar surrendered to British Baktht Khan fled to Lucknow and joined the rebel forces of Lucknow and Shahjahanpur. When the rebellion failed, British started man hunting the rebel readers and Bakht Khan was one of their prime targets. He was wounded and succumbed to death on 13th of May 1859.

Allah Bux Soomro: Full name of Allah Bux Soomro was Allah Bux Muhammad Umar Soomro and he was born in the year 1900 in the Sindh province of India (Now in Pakistan). Allah Bux Soomro founded the Sind Ittehad Party and he served as the Chief Minister of Sindh for two terms. One from March 23rd, 1938 to April 18th, 1940 and second form March 7th, 1941 to October 14th, 1942. He was against the two-nation theory proposed by the Muslim League and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Due to his stand for one nation, in 1940, a no-confidence motion was passed against Allah Bux Soomro and Indian National Congress joined hands with the Muslim League and voted in favor of the motion. When Mahatma Gandhi started Quit India Movement, Allah Bux Soomro renounced his Knighthood title and Khan Bahadur title which the British government gave him and joined the Quit India Movement. As a Chief Minister of Sindh, he tried to start reforms for the betterment of people. He reduced the salary of ministers to Rs.500 per month and prohibited the practice of nominating members to local bodies. He also tried to bring reforms in religion and it was the prime reason for his assassination. On 14th May 1943, while traveling in his hometown, Allah Bux Soomro was assassinated by four people.

73rd death anniversary of Allah Bux Soomro. Source: Thesindhtimes.com

73rd death anniversary of Allah Bux Soomro. Source: Thesindhtimes.com

Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah: Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah participated in the first War of Independence and he was considered a great warrior by many British officers. He was a man of “great abilities, of undaunted courage, of stern determination, and by far, the best soldier among the rebels”. Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was working as a Talookdar in Faizabad District but his property was confiscated by British after the Annexation of Awadh. After this incident, Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah decided to free his motherland from the foreign invaders and he formed a rebel force which constituted citizens who were ill-treated by British. He was a great writer and wrote revolutionary pamphlets and distributed them. British arrested him and charged with sedition and he was sentenced to be hanged. At the same time the revolution of 1857 broke out and he escaped the prison and joined Begum Hazrat Mahal, the wife of the imprisoned Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. With the support of Begum Hazrat Mahal, Ahmedullah created much terror of his fighting skills that Lord Canning had put a reward of 50,000 on his head. When British recaptured the City of Lucknow, he escaped from Lucknow and joined rebel forces of Shahjahanpur. The King of Pawayan offered asylum to Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah but when he reached Pawayan, the King refused to open the door and opened fire on Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah and shot him. Incidents like the killing of Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah by Indian Rulers was one of the main cause why the Great Rebellion of 1857 failed and it took us 90 years more to gain independence.

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Read Also: 10 Mistakes of Jawahar Lal Nehru and History of Kashmir Issue

Professor Abdul Bari: Abdul Bari was born in the year 1892 in the Jahanabad District of Bihar and he was working as a Professor in Bihar National College when he first met Mahatma Gandhi. He was deeply inspired by the doctrine of Non-Violence started by Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was working as principal of Bihar National College and along with him, he participated in the Non-Co-operation Movement of 1919. Abdul Bari headed many important posts in his lifetime and he was even very close to Netaji Shubash Chandra Bose. On the request of Netaji, Abdul Bari decided to lead the labor association in Jamshedpur. It was again on the advice of Netaji that he changed the name of Jamshedpur Labor Association to Tata Worker’s Union in 1937. He played an active role during the Quit India Movement and later became the President of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee. Abdul Bari was shot dead on 28th March 1947 while he was traveling from Jamshedpur to Patna for some official work instructed by Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. Rajendra Prasad recalled his contribution to the nation (both have worked together in 1921) through a message published in Mazdur Avaz on his first death anniversary.

Syed Allauddin Hyder (Maulvi Allauddin): Most of the Indian think that the First War of Independence was confined only to northern India but they are wrong. There were many freedom struggles in the southern part of India also and one such struggle took place in Hyderabad under the command of Maulvi Allauddin. Maulvi Allauddin was born in 1824 in Nalgonda district of present-day Telangana State. He worked as a preacher and Imam of Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad. He decided to attack the British Forces when British arrested Zamindar Cheeda Khan and locked him in the Residency building of Hyderabad. On 17th July 1857 after the Namaz, Maulvi Allauddin along with his friend Turrebaz Khan and 300 other freedom fighter attacked the British Residency Building. The attack failed as the minister Salar Jung betrayed the Maulvi and his friend and sided with the British. Maulvi Allauddin was arrested and tried under Indian Penal Code. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to Andaman Cellular jail (Also Known as Kala Paani). He was in jail for nearly 30 years and died there. He was the first prisoner to be sentenced and deported to Kala Paani.

In the year 2005 Voice of Telangana (VOT) approached the Lok Sabha Secretariat (L.S.S) and requested to install the statue of Maulvi Allauddin in the Parliament complex. LSS replied that further statues would not be considered due to lack of space in the Parliament complex. But an RTI query revealed that 14 statues and 16 portraits were installed between 2005 and 2009 in the Parliament Complex.muslim-freedom-fighters-of-india-in-1857

Turrebaz Khan: Turrebaz Khan was another Muslim Freedom Fighter of India, he along with Maulvi Allauddin participated in the attack on British Residency Building. Turrebaz Khan was born in Begum Bazar in Hyderabad and he joined the rebel forces when he heard that Zamindar Cheeda Khan was arrested by British. He along with some 300 fighters marched towards the British Residency Building but British were already informed and prepared. The rebel forces with Turrebaz Khan lacked formal training as well as arms and ammunition. The gunfire went all the night but Turrebaz Khan and other freedom fighters were no match for the trained soldiers of Madras Horse Artillery. Later Turrebaz Khan and Maulvi Allauddin both were captured and sentenced to life imprisonment at Andaman Cellular Jail. Turrebaz Khan tried to escape but he was shot by English Soldiers. When he died his dead body was dragged back to the main city and was hanged near the Residency building to set an example for other revolutionaries. The government of India honored the sacrifices of Turrebaz Khan by naming a road in his memory. The “Turrebaz Khan Road” is situated near University College for Women in Koti, Hyderabad.

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Mahmud al-Hasan: Mahmud al-Hasan was a prominent Muslim face in the freedom struggle of India. He is notably known for the “Silk Letter Conspiracy” that aimed to fight the British Rule in India by gaining support from the Ottoman Empire of Asia. Mahmud al-Hassan was born in the year 1851 in Bareilly district of India and was the first student enrolled in newly opened Darul Uloom Deoband. Later he started teaching in the same and became its principal in the year 1890. It is said that as principal he was paid a monthly salary of 75 rupees, but he took home only 50 rupees and donated the rest to the institution. He even refused a raise in his salary saying that I cannot justify what I am receiving now so how can I accept a higher salary? He believed that “it is not possible to expel British from India without a war and to achieve this weapon are required. Since Indians lacked weapons foreign assistance was required in the war of Independence“. To achieve his purpose he sent many graduates of Darul Uloom Deoband in different countries to seek support and he himself went to Saudi Arabia to get support from Ottoman Rulers. In Saudi Arabia, British had already signed a treaty with the rulers of Saudi Arabia and he was taken into custody on 19 December 1916. He was court-martialed and then exiled to Malta on 15 February 1917. He spent more than 3 years in prison and after release reached India in 1920. In India, he issued a fatwa which was supported by 500 Ulama which stated that all cooperation with the British colonial authorities was haram and it the duty of all Indian Muslims to support and participate in Non-Cooperation Movement with Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress. He was given a title of “Shaykh al-Hind” by the Central Khilafat Committee and he died on 30 November 1920.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: The name of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad needs no introduction and he was one of the Muslim Freedom Fighters of India who server the country both before and after the Independence. He was born on 11th November 1888 and at the age of 16 years, he was involved in the revolutionary activities. In the year 1923, he became the youngest man to be elected as the Congress president and helped to organize the Flag Satyagraha in Nagpur and called for an independent India committed to secularism. During Khilafat Movement, he came in contact with Mahatma Gandhi and became a supporter of Gandhi’s ideas of non-violence and civil disobedience. He again served as Congress president from 1940 to 1945, during which the Quit India Movement was launched. As India’s First Education Minister, he started the establishment of a national education system with free primary education and modern institutions of higher education. He is also credited with the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology and is the founder of the University Grants Commission. Birth Anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is celebrated as National Education Day in India. He died on 22 February 1958 and in the year 1992, he was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. According to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad:

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“I am proud of being an Indian. I am part of the indivisible unity that is Indian nationality. I am indispensable to this noble edifice and without me this splendid structure is incomplete. I am an essential element, which has gone to build India. I can never surrender this claim.”

Image of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Source: Twitter.com

Image of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Source: Twitter.com

Maulana Mazharul Haque: Maulana Mazharul Haque was born on 22nd December 1886 in Patna district of Bihar. After completing his primary education he went to England to study law and after returning from there he started practicing Law in Patna. Maulana Mazharul Haque is notably known for his social works during the famine of 1897 and soon became the Vice Chairman of Bihar Congress Committee. He played a major role in the Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movements and in the Champaran Satyagraha. He also organized Home Rule Movement in Bihar and served as its president in 1916. He was sentenced to 3 months of imprisonment for participating in the Champaran Satyagraha and at the time of Non-Cooperation Movement he left his lucrative legal practice and joined the movement. In the year 1920, Maulana Mazharul Haque donated his 16 Bigha land for the construction of Sadaqat Ashram and Vidya Peeth. He also launched his weekly magazine “The Motherland” from Sadaqat Ashram and was jailed for his articles in this magazine. Later on, he also donated the house where he was born to start a Madrasa and middle school within the same compound. He retired from politics during the last years of his life and died in his home in January 1930. In April 1988, the Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University was founded at Patna to honor the contributions made by Maulana Mazharul Haque.

Postal Stamp issued in the name of Maulana Mazharul Haque

Postal Stamp issued in the name of Maulana Mazharul Haque

Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi: Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi was born on 3rd March 1900 in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. He was enrolled at North Brooke Zila School but he was expelled from school for opposing Rowlatt Act and participating in revolutionary activities. After completing his education he joined the Non-Cooperation Movement and actively participated in almost all the freedom movement. He was jailed many times including once for “Dihuli Conspiracy Case”. He continued to fight for the Independence of India even when his wife died in 1923 and his son in the year 1942. Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi opposed Jinnah’s Two-nation theory and the creation of Pakistan and to counter this he founded the All-India Jamhur Muslim League. The supporter of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Muslim League used to mock at him by saying Ajazi-Ghaddar-e-Qaum. The Muslim League workers even spit on his house and use every method to harass him mentally. After India achieved independence in 1947 he devoted his life to the upliftment of Education as well as the Urdu Language in India. He died on 26 September 1966 at his residence in Muzaffarpur city. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad said, “Dr. Ajazi was in forefront of India’s struggle for independence, the story of his life is a unique and interesting story of an important era of the country“. The road which leads to his residence was named “Dr. Ajazi Marg” by Muzaffarpur Municipal board in his honor.

Left: Sketch of Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi and Right: Childhood Image of Asif Ali

Left: Sketch of Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi and Right: Childhood Image of Asif Ali

Asaf Ali: Asaf Ali was born on 11th May 1888 and was very famous Lawyer. He was famous for fighting cases related to Indian Independence Activists and in most of the cases he was successful in acquitting the freedom fighters of India. He fought the case of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt when they threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly. When “Quit India Movement” was launched he participated in it and was jailed in Ahmednagar Fort jail along with Jawaharlal Nehru. Asif Ali also acted as convener of the Indian National Army defense team and fought the case of freedom fighters who were tried for treason. After the Independence of India, he was appointed as the Governor of Odisha but he resigned due to health reasons. He died on 1 April 1953 in Bern (Switzerland) while serving as India’s minister to Switzerland. In the year 1989 postal stamp was issued in his name to honor his contributions.

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Saifuddin Kitchlew: Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew was born on 15th January 1888 and he is most notably known for the “Jallianwala Bagh Massacre”. Saifuddin Kitchlew completed his studies in Europe and then returned to India to practice Law. He was appointed as Municipal Commissioner of Amritsar when the infamous Rowlatt Act was passed by British Government. He soon left his law practice and took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement. He was arrested with Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Satyapal for leading a protest in Punjab and to protest the arrest of the trio, a public meeting gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh where Gen. Reginald Dyer and his troops fired mercilessly upon the unarmed civilian crowd. He was also the founding leader of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha (Indian Youth Congress). Dr. Saifudin Kitchlew spends nearly fourteen years in Jail for his revolutionary activities. He strongly opposed the Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan and partition of India. He died on 9th October 1963 and Indian Post released a special commemorative stamp featuring him on his 100 Birth Anniversary.

RIght: Postal Stamp Released by Indian Post for Dr. Saifudin Kitchlew. Right: Image of Abbas Ali during his last days.

RIght: Postal Stamp Released by Indian Post for Dr. Saifudin Kitchlew. Right: Image of Abbas Ali during his last days.

Abbas Ali: Abbas Ali was born on 3 January 1920 in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. From his school days, he was inspired by the freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandra Shekhar Azad. To contribute to the freedom struggle of India he joined Naujawan Bharat Sabha, an organization founded by Bhagat Singh. After completing his education he joined the British Indian Army in 1939 and when Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose called for revolt he left the British Army and joined the Indian National Army (INA) or “Azad Hind Fauj“. After the fall of INA, he was arrested, court-martialed and sentenced to death. India achieved its independence in 1947 and he was released by the Indian government. Later on, he joined the Socialist Party led by Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia and remained associated. He was arrested more than 50 times throughout his life and was in jail for 19 months during the emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. He died on 11 October 2014 due to heart failure.

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Moulvi Muhammad Baqir: Moulvi Muhammad Baqir was one of the heroes of 1857 war of freedom. He was executed by the British troops on the charges of being a ‘rebel’. He was the first journalist to be executed for his role in the rebellion of 1857. He was born in the year 1780 and he stared his Urdu newspaper by the name Dehli Urdu Akhbar. When the revolt of 1857 broke out Moulvi Muhammad Baqir actively participated in it and started printing news in favor of rebel forces. He through his newspaper tried to pass the information necessary for the fight to continue. For his participation in was he was dubbed as ‘Ghadar’ by the British. He was very loyal to Bahadur Shah Zafar who as anointed as the Emperor of India and he even renamed the name of his newspaper as Akhbar-uz-Zafar. Once the British forces reclaimed the territory captured by forces, mass arrests started and Moulvi Muhammad Baqir was arrested on Sept 14, 1857. He was produced before Captain Hudson, who ordered his execution. But before he would be executed he was shot to death outside Delhi Gate. Some scholars have written that Moulvi Muhammad Baqir was blown up with a cannon popularized by a Russian Painter which is incorrect.

A famous painting of Vasily Vereshchagin showing how British Forces suppressed the revolt of 1857

A famous painting of Vasily Vereshchagin showing how British Forces suppressed the revolt of 1857

Khan Abdul Ghaffar: Khan Abdul Ghaffar is one of the most important Muslim freedom fighters of India and he was also known as “Frontier Gandhi“. Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan was also known as Bacha Khaan meaning “king of chiefs”. He started the famous Khudai Khidmatgar (“Servants of God”) movement in 1929 and it was very successful freedom movement. British were so infuriate by the success of the movement that they began a harsh crackdown and according to some historians, the atrocities committed on Khudai Khidmatgar were one of the most severe repression that Indian independence Movement ever witnessed. He also opposed the All-India Muslim League’s demand for the partition of India and when Indian National Congress acceptance of the partition without consulting him, he felt very sad and told the Congress “you have thrown us to the wolves”. After the partition of India, he went to Pakistan and started fighting for a separate Baloch province. He was jailed many times from 1948 to 1988 and most of the time was under house arrest. When he died in 1988, tens of thousands of mourners attended his funeral. At the same time heavy fighting was going on between Soviet forces and Afghan Rebel forces but both stopped their fight and paid tribute to the great leader.

Historic Image of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and Mahatma Gandhi

Historic Image of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and Mahatma Gandhi

Vakkom Majeed: Vakkom Majeed was born on 20 December 1909 in a prominent aristocratic Muslim family of Travancore. He was inspired by the social and political activates of his uncle Vakkom Moulavi as well as of Narayan Guru. He joined politics and subsequently participated in Indian Independence Movement in his early school days. He was the flag-bearer of Indian Independence Movement in the state of Kerala and early architect of the Indian National Congress in Travancore. He participated in the Quit India movement in 1942 and was arrested and remained in jail for several months. He opposed the Muslim League and Jinnah’s theory of two-nations as well as opposed the idea of “Independent Travancore” as a state. Indian National Army hero Vakkom Kadir was sentenced to death by the British. At that time Vakkom Majeed visited him in the Madras Central jail and delivered Kadir’s letter to his father. Vakkom Majeed believed that only a secular and nationalist India could keep the heart and soul of the masses together. For his services to nation and participation in Independence Movement, he was awarded “Tamrapatra” in the year 1972 on the eve of Silver Jubilee celebration of Indian Independence by then the Prime Minister of India. He died on 10th July 2000.

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Left: Image of Vakkom Majeed. Right: Image of Muzaffar Ahmed

Left: Image of Vakkom Majeed. Right: Image of Muzaffar Ahmed

Muzaffar Ahmed: Muzaffar Ahmed was born on 5 August 1889 in Musapur village in Chittagong District of Bengal Province (present-day Bangladesh). When he was 21 years old he with the help of Kazi Nazrul Islam (National Poet of Bangladesh) started a new magazine called Navayug to spread the feeling of nationalism among the Indian youth. He was one of the founders of Communist Party of India. In the year 1924, he was sentenced to four years in prison for his involvement in the Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case. Due to a health issue, he was released in the year 1925 but in the same year, he organized Labor Swaraj Party in Bengal with other freedom fighters of Bengal. He was again in jail for 7 years from 1929 to 1936 for his involvement in Meerut Conspiracy Case. After the independence of India Communist Party of India was banned by the Government of India several times and every time Muzaffar Ahmed was imprisoned. He died at the age of 84 in the year 1973 in Kolkata. The headquarters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in West Bengal is named after Muzaffar Ahmed.

Mohammed Abdur Rahman: Mohammad Abdur Rahman was born in the year 1898 in Thrissur District of Kerala. He completed his schooling at Veniyambadi and Calicut and later was enrolled in Aligarh Muslim University but he discontinued his studies and joined The Non-Co-Operation Movement and Khilafat Movement in Malabar. After the disastrous Moplah Riots of 1921, Mohammad Abdur Rahman worked towards establishing peace in riot-affected areas but he was arrested and sentenced to two years imprisonment. He also participated in the Salt Satyagraha and was sentenced to nine months rigorous imprisonment in Kannur Central Jail. He published a newspaper by the name Al-Ameen in Calicut from 1929–1939 and the newspaper aimed to strengthen the freedom movement and nurture nationalism among the Muslims of Malabar. He became the President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and finally the member of All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 1939. He opposed the Two-Nation Theory of the Muslim League and mobilized the Muslim Masses against the Two Nation Theory. He was harassed by the Muslim League Party in Malabar as he created awareness among Muslims against the division of India. He was a strong admirer of Subhas Chandra Bose and later on joined the Forward Block formed by Subhas Chandra Bose. During the Second World War he was again in jail from 1940 to 1945 and once he was released from jail he started participating in Independence activities. He died on 23 November 1945 after addressing a public meeting at Kodiyathur.

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There were many more Muslim Freedom Fighters of India who participated in the freedom movement of India but due to insufficient data, we were unable to include all the names. The above list portrays a fraction of Muslim Freedom Fighters who were involved in the Independence Movement. Also, many websites display the name of Muhammad Ali-Jinnah and other pro-Pakistani leaders as the freedom fighter of India which according to us is not a right way to pay tribute to those leaders who gave their lives to see a united India. Also, it is our humble request to spread this article to all your friends so that we are able to break the myth that Muslims didn’t participate in the freedom movement of India. If any of our readers know about any Muslim Freedom fighters of India whose name is not included in this list then please provide us the data via mail or comments and we would love to expand this article further.

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37 Responses

  1. Mathilda says:

    Thank you, nice read.

  2. Md Gufran khan says:

    Thanks bhai,,we must search more information about Muslim freedom fighters….

  3. Ameen says:

    We should learn about muslim freedom fighters and today no one talk about Muslims all media news and print media all r only blaming Muslims no talk that muslim r good

  4. Shad says:

    Thanks for the great article dear….
    peoples should be know about a valuable contribution of Muslims in freedom of nation .

  5. ayesha ather says:

    Thank You for very useful information about ‘muslim freedom fighters’, it is very important for today’s generation .

  6. Mohd zaid khan says:

    Very nice

  7. Ruksar says:

    Thanks for remainding us about the great sacrifice of our Muslims.

  8. Saleem Venghat says:

    It is very good article and I appreciate the persons behind of this great effort. Thank you

  9. Saajan says:

    It is a very worthy article for the Muslims community in India because now a days the Indian history says there r no any Muslims participated against to the British rule to get a freedom from the east India company.

  10. aftab ahemd says:

    Mashallaha

  11. sarkar p says:

    Kindly include Kaji Najrul Islam,the famous Bengali poet,who inspired lakhs of Bengalies to fight for freedom through his poems,many of which were banned by British

  12. Mumtaz says:

    Thanku so much…… we should know about muslim freedom fighter.

  13. Khalid Bagwan says:

    Thank you so much. Because this is
    Very important & essential information about our muslim freedom fighters for our boys.

  14. mohammed amanullah says:

    thank you!!! for your help.

  15. daniyal says:

    this information help in my activity thanks

  16. sk sabir says:

    The history of india in incerese my knowledge of the role muslim freedom fighter

  17. Syed afser ali says:

    Bhai sb or buhut se freedom fighter hein
    Molana hifzur rahman seoharvi, bijnor
    Hafiz Ibrahim sb nagina bijnor

  18. maqsood khan says:

    Thanks a lot coz I got a good info & u done a good work plz keep it up for us.

  19. Anas Ahmad says:

    Thanks for giving the knowledge of Muslim freedom fighters.

  20. Afroz Shabbir says:

    You have done a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious job buddy by compiling this information. Good keep up the good work.

  21. Sayan chanda says:

    Hey brothers we r indian 1st.. there is no such things muslims hindus

    • Abhijit Mukhopadhyay says:

      Sorry Sayan we can not wish away the realities of life. There were religious identities and there would be in future only let us hope that national identities get preference over private identities.

  22. ArifAhmed says:

    I know the indian fruad history..
    also know the many muslims give their life for indian freedom….but dont know their name…..thanks for this information

  23. Sadaf says:

    I’ve been searching for Indian muslim freedom fighters. And I am completely satisfied with this article. Thanks a lot.

  24. ABDUL QADIR says:

    Yes, prepared data nicely but some names left like Maulana Sokat Ali, Maulana Liyakat Ali….

  25. Iqbal says:

    If govt doesn’t reveals the list of muslim freedom fighters in school books and obviously they won’t but atleast such informations could have been thought to pupils in madrasas and masjids so that history shldnt remain without contributions of muslim warriors.

  26. Sheikh Tahir Husain says:

    I liked this article however I was searching for the list of freedom fighters in India, this list is mentioned on India Gate, new Delhi.

    Is there a way I can get this list?

    • Knowledge Of India says:

      Hello Sheikh,
      Before posting the article on site, I did a lot of research as the info is hardly available in any domain. Regarding your query, I am not aware if you would be allowed there or not? In case allowed photography will be strictly prohibited.

  27. Abdul Gaffar says:

    Plz add a link to share on WhatsApp…

  28. abdul qadir says:

    Great Information about MUSLIM FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND Their ROLE IN INDIAN FREEDOM sacrifice of these freedom fighters should include in educational courses.

  29. Soyal says:

    Good job bhai. Lekin list ab bhi adhuri hai

  30. रजिया सुल्ताना says:

    आपका बहुत बहुत शुक्रिया में इस जानकारी की तलाश में काफी समय से भी । मुझे क्या इन स्वतंत्रा सेनानियों की फोटो भी उपलब्ध हो सकती है

  31. Shakir Malik says:

    Good i agree with you i like it

  32. Mohammad says:

    It is incomplete list of muslim freedom fighters, you will find huge numbers of name list of freedom martyrs if you study just after the fall of mughal emperors and this list goes to millions of muslim who sacrificed there lives while fighting britishers…i hope you will study and bring there names on light

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