In the heart of the 19th century, a legend was born – Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. His journey, spanning nearly a century, was marked by unwavering dedication, resilience, and an unyielding commitment to justice. Gandhi affectionately called him Badshah Khan, His People called him Baccha khan. For the rest of the world he was Frontier Gandhi, a testament to his towering presence in the struggle for independence.
Born in 1890 and passing away in 1988, He spent more than 25 years in British Indian and Pakistani jails. His legacy is a testament to his unwavering commitment and heroic endeavours.
Baccha Khan’s early years were imbued with the spirit of a changing India, setting the stage for his indomitable spirit. As he grew, so did the flames of his resolve for a united, independent, and secular India.

The Khudai Khidmatgar

In the 1920s, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan established the Khudai Khidmatgar, known as the “Red Shirts” or Surkh Posh. He instilled in his followers a deep understanding of the enduring power of patience and righteousness, which, in his conviction, had the potential to conquer any worldly force. This movement became his source of inspiration, a testament to his unwavering faith in the supremacy of patience and righteousness. In these virtues, he perceived a strength mightier than any military or governing authority could muster.

This organisation, boasting over 100,000 members, bravely confronted British-controlled forces through strikes, political mobilisation, and non-violent resistance. Their extraordinary efforts reshaped the political landscape of the North West Frontier Province, showcasing their unyielding determination.

He told its members:

I am going to give you such a weapon that the police and the army will not be able to stand against it. It is the weapon of the Prophet, but you are not aware of it. That weapon is patience and righteousness. No power on earth can stand against it.

Opposition to Partition

Ghaffar Khan vehemently opposed the Partition of India, a lots of fellow Muslims criticise him for that and some even get violent. His unwavering commitment to unity transcended religious boundaries, and he paid a personal price for it. Labeled Anti-Muslim, Muslim League sympathisers brutally attacked him in 1946 which left him hospitalised and wounded.
When Congress accepted the partition, That was when Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan famously said [to Nehru & Congress working committee], 

“you’ve thrown us to the wolves” 

Challenges in Independent Pakistan

After the creation of Pakistan, the Pakistan government targeted Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, for his stance against partition. Soon after the independence, they put him in house arrest without charge from 1948 to 1954. He came out of the prison in 1954 and gave an speech on the floor of the constituent assembly and condemn the massacre of his supporters at Babra Sharif.

“I had to go to prison many a time in the days of the Britishers. Although we were at loggerheads with them, yet their treatment was to some extent tolerant and polite. But the treatment which was meted out to me in this Islamic state of ours was such that I would not even like to mention it to you.”

Government of Pakistan Re-arrested him in 1956 for his opposition to the One Unit scheme, he released from prison in 1957 for a brief period only to be re-arrested in 1958 till 1964. Upon being released he went into exile in Kabul. 

International Recognition

Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s unyielding commitment to his beliefs earned him global recognition. In 1962, he was named an “Amnesty International Prisoner of the Year,” symbolizing the plight of countless individuals imprisoned for their convictions.

His example symbolizes the suffering of upward of a million people all over the world who are in prison for their conscience.

Amnesty

Return to India

In 1969, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan returned to India to commemorate Gandhi’s centenary. His visit was marked by a warm reception from leaders like Indira Gandhi and Jayaprakash Narayan. Despite his advanced age, he remained an inspiring figure. On airport he de-board the plane with his famous potli and a, which contains his clothes, Indira Reaches out to him and offered to carry his potli, Badshah Khan smiled and said “this is the only thing left, do you want to take it too”
In his address to a joint session of Parliament, he was brutal in his assessment:

“I here to see the country of Gandhi, show me the socialism, how many poor lives have changed for good? Where is love? I am not here to listen, I have come to see.

“You are forgetting Gandhi the way you forgot the Buddha.”

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in his address to a joint session of Parliament,

Unwavering Principles

At the time of his visit in 1969, India was in grips of communal riots, Badshah Khan fasted for three days and appeal for peace, goes to meet different communities. Throughout his life, Ghaffar Khan remained steadfast in his convictions, He delivered the Nehru memorial lecture on November 14, 1969, without once mentioning Nehru’s name. He never forgave Nehru, Patel or Rajaji for agreeing to the Partition of India. He felt betrayed.

Legacy and Recognition

“My Life and Struggle,” his autobiography, published in 1969, provides a firsthand account of his remarkable journey. In 1985, he again come to India and participated in the centenary celebrations of the Indian National Congress. In 1987, he was honoured with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s life is a testament to the power of unwavering principles and non-violent resistance. His legacy continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the indomitable spirit of those who strive for a better world. He passed away in 1988, leaving behind a profound and enduring legacy, he was buried in Jalalabad according to his wishes.”