History of freedom movement: The Muslim Freedom Fighters in India

The Forgotten history of the sacrifice of Muslims

It is an open secret that the muslim Freedom Fighters and contribution of Muslims in National Movement are not sufficiently mentioned in Books and Media in India. Although some secular authors and columnist are doing justice but by and large it is not getting its due. This realisation is very deep rooted among the Muslims of India. 

The following is the background and some of the reason 

The divide and rule policy adopted by the British to consolidate and perpetuate their power in India, the circumstances that led to the partition of British India and the gruesome communal riots that erupted eventually broke the unity of Indian people, who otherwise fought united against the British. 

The wars with Pakistan, and communal disturbances did bring in mental barriers between Hindus and Muslims.

The communal fanatics from both sides and particularly the forces  that has less belief in secular ethos of India readily used this perturbing situation successfully to further widen the gulf.

History written with certain prejudices and improper perspectives and particularly the ` nationalistic ` way of history writing contributed towards the development of communal mindset. Literature produced with a communal bias played a destructive role in devastating a secular framework of thought. Popular perceptions are also carved with a parochial view. 

All these blamed Muslims and unfortunately the Muslims inevitably become a ` perceived enemy '. 

This resulted in consciously marginalizing the sacrifices of Muslims. It'll not be an overstatement to say that ` the politics of remembrance and (deliberate) forgetfulness' played havoc with the voluminous contribution that Muslims made. 

Hence we find only passing references being made that too only about selected ` nationalist ` personalities like Moulana Azad. As rightly said by Prof. Shan Muhammad of Alighar Muslim University in his Muslims and India's Freedom Movement, ` the result of all this has been the campaign of hatred and the press propaganda against the Muslims. 

After the attainment of Independence it was hoped that our intellectuals would say good-bye to the British historiography of infusing communal politics and sowing the seeds of dissension between the two communities in India and usher in the golden age of freedom. 

But it was hope, contrary to the expectations; the role of Indian Muslims in the national movement has not been given adequate coverage in the press or books. It has either been side tracked or referred to here and there by scholars. Instead of factual and secular historiography it has been communalized. The contribution of Muslim revolutionaries, poets and pose writers is not known today'. The ultimate result is the creation of a wide gap, a gap ever widening between Muslims and Hindus in India.

Taken from 

Retrieving the Forgotten History :

ROLE OF MUSLIMS IN INDIA'S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE 187-214http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/toc/fy1002/2008324065.html

Written by

Syed Naseer Ahamed 

(A historian and author of Several Books)

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