Allama Mashriqi
Encyclopedia : A : AL : ALL : Allama Mashriqi
Allama Mashriqi (Founder of the Khaksar Tehreek)
August 25, 1888 - August 27, 1963Allama Mashraqi’s life – a beacon for humanity" - Nasim Yousaf
Introduction
Allama Mashriqi (Inayatullah Khan) was born in a very well placed and respected family of India. He was born to a Rajput family in Amritsar in 1888 and died in Lahore on August 27, 1963. Mashriqi’s father, Khan Ata Mohammad Khan was a very well educated person and a man of means. Khan Ata inherited large property from his father. During the Mughal Empire, Khan Ata Mohammad Khan’s predecessors held prominent positions. Khan Ata was a highly regarded and well-connected person with the Muslim luminaries of the time such as Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Jamal Ud Din Afgahani, Shibli Noamani, and Mirza Ghalib.
Mashriqi’s father himself was a literary person and a great writer. He owned a bi-weekly, Vakil, from Amritsar. This publication was an avenue for discussing political issues and re-awakening the Muslims. The quality of this publication can be judged by the fact that Maulana Shibli Naomani requested Khan Ata Mohammad Khan to let Maulana Abul Kalam Azad work at Vakil, so that Maulana Azad could refine his literary knowledge under the guidance of Khan Ata Mohammad Khan. Abul Kalam Azad went on to work as an editor of Vakil. Hence, Mashriqi was raised in an environment that was surrounded by highly literate and educated people. Khan Ata Mohammad Khan noticed the genius in his son and he guided him accordingly.
Education
Allama Mashriqi, a born genius, liked reading from his childhood. As an extremely brilliant and confident boy, he was famous amongst his teachers and friends. He completed his Masters degree in Mathematics from the University of the Punjab at the age of 19 and broke all previous records. The Indian press was full of praise for him. As a brilliant student at the Punjab University, Mashriqi went on to Christ’s College of the Cambridge University (England) to distinguish himself in Mathematics and emerged as a renowned Mathematician and scholar. He again broke records and completed four Triposes with distinction in various subjects within five years. The British press media, impressed with Mashriqi’s educational accomplishments at Cambridge University, paid rich tributes to him. It is believed that his records at Cambridge University are yet to be broken. He completed his education in England in 1912 and returned to India.
Career
Upon his return, at the age of 25 he was appointed Vice Principal of Islamia College by Chief Commissioner, Sir George Roos-Keppel (at that time, Chief Commissioner was equivalent to Governor). He was made Principal of the same college in 1917. As a result of his outstanding abilities, he was appointed Under Secretary, Government of India in the Education Department. Sir George Anderson (1876-1943) had held this position prior to Mashriqi’s appointment. It is interesting to note that Sir George Anderson was much older to Mashriqi when he had held this position. Mashriqi was directly appointed Vice Principal of Islamia College and Under Secretary, when he was only 25 years and 29 years old, respectively. This speaks to his outstanding caliber, competence, and abilities. Furthermore, he was offered Ambassadorship of Afghanistan at age 32 and title of Sir at age 33, but he declined both. It is believed that he was the youngest Indian to be offered and to hold important positions. Mashriqi’s list of achievements does not end there.
Authored “Tazkirah”
Mashriqi emerged as a great scholar and a prolific writer. In 1924, at the age of 36, Mashriqi completed his book, Tazkirah. It is a commentary on the Holy Koran in the light of science. This monumental work was highly praised and was nominated for the Nobel Prize. At such an early age, few can achieve the distinction of producing a book that earns worldwide praise. His works include:
• Armughan-i-Hakeem. • Dahulbab • Isha’arat • Khitab-e-Misr • Maulvi Ka Ghalat Mazhab • Tazkirah Volume I • Tazkirah Volume II • Tazkirah Volume III
Mashraqi & Freedom of British India
In order to lift the masses and bring freedom to British India, he resigned from the Government service and laid the foundation of the Khaksar Tehreek (also know as Khaksar Movement) in 1930. Allama Mashriqi played a vital role in directing the Muslims towards the independence of British India. Mashraqi was arrested many times in his life. During the struggle movement, Mashriqi, his family, and a large number of Khaksars heavily suffered and many Khaksars lost their lives. He became one of the most prominent personalities and political leaders of British India, with great wisdom and political foresight. He was a truly brave and fervent freedom fighter. Mashriqi was courageous and a true warrior.
Indeed! Mashriqi emerged as a fine organizer, reformer, leader, an excellent orator, a great philosopher, a thinker, and a visionary. His life story and that of the Khaksar Movement is extremely exhilarating and impressive. It guides and inspires readers, instilling a spirit of patriotism and love for the common man. It also influences leaders to adopt simplicity, provide selfless service to the nation, and lift the masses. This short piece of introduction does not justify the superb and manifold personality of Mashriqi, a great visionary and freedom fighter.
Death
Mashriqi died on August 27, 1963 in Lahore (Pakistan). Well over one hundred thousand people attended his funeral. On Mashriqi’s death, newspapers throughout the country were filled with news about Allama Mashriqi and the Khaksar Tehrik. People from all walks of life expressed their heartfelt condolences. Some of the tributes that were published upon his death are included here:
Tributes
President Ayub Khan’s message to Mashriqi’s wife: “I am very much grieved to learn that your husband has passed away. He was a great scholar and organiser who had given up a brilliant academic future to serve the people, as he thought right. He was also a man with courage of his conviction. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Please accept my heart-felt sympathy in your bereavement” (Pakistan Times August 29, 1963).
Former Governor General and Prime Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Nazimuddin: “ . . . a very interesting figure who took prominent part in the politics of the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent . . . I pray to Allah that his soul may rest in peace and grant patience and courage to his children to bear the loss” (The Pakistan Times August 29, 1963).
Governor of West Pakistan, Malik Amir Muhammad Khan’s message to Mashriqi’s wife: “I am deeply distressed to hear of the sad demise of your illustrious husband. Please accept and convey to other members of the family, my heartfelt condolences in your irreparable loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace” (The Pakistan Times August 29, 1963).
President of Jama’at-i-Islami, Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi “With the death of Allama Mashriqi a chapter in the history of the Indo-Pakistan Muslims has come to an end . . . It is undoubtedly true that Allama Mashriqi displayed at that time great organisational capacity in building up the Khaksar Movement throughout the length and breadth of Indian sub-continent” (Civil & Military Gazette August 28, 1963).
The Pakistan Times wrote, “Maulana Maududi said at a time Allama Mashriqi’s movement had brought into its fold the whole Muslim nation and had greatly aroused the Muslims to fight for their freedom. That he said, was the outcome of his ability as a great organiser. He prayed for the eternal peace of his soul and offered sympathy with the bereaved family” (The Pakistan Times August 29, 1963).
Books
His grandson, Mr.Nasim Yousaf, has authored many books that depicts Mashriqi and political struggle: • "Allama Mashriqi & Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan: Two Legends of Pakistan" • "Pakistan's Freedom and Allama Mashriqi: Statements, Letters, Chronology of Khaksar Tehrik (Movement), Period: Mashriqi's Birth to 1947" • "Pakistan's Birth & Allama Mashraqi: Chronology & Statements, Period: 1947- 1963"
About the books and the author:
For author’s introduction/works visit the following web sites:http://www.nasimyousaf.8m.com
http://www.nasimyousaf.info
More books about Allama Mashriqi are available on the following URL:
http://www.allama-mashriqi.8m.com/books.html
References
1) Allama Mashriqi & Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan: Two Legends of Pakistan--ISBN 1401090974 Author Nasim Yousaf2) Pakistan's Birth & Allama Mashraqi: Chronology & Statements, Period 1947-1963 ISBN 0976033348 Author Nasim Yousaf
3) Pakistan's Freedom & Allama Mashriqi: Statements, Letters, Chronology of Khaksar Tehrik (Movement), Period Mashriqi's birth to 1947--ISBN 0976033305 Author Nasim Yousaf
4) Al-Mashriqi: The Disowned Genius. Author: Syed Shabbir Hussain
5) Khaksar Tehrik Ki Jiddo Juhad Volume 1. Author Khaksar Sher Zaman
6) Khaksar Tehrik Ki Jiddo Juhad Volume 1I. Author Khaksar Sher Zaman
7) Khaksar Tehrik Ki Jiddo Juhad Volume 1II. Author Khaksar Sher Zaman
8) Al-Mashraqi author: Dr. Muhammad Azmatullah Bhatti
9) Al-Mashriqi Author Rasheed Nisar
10) Angrez Sir Sikandar aur Khaksar Tehreek: Author Muhammad Ali Faraq
External links
- http://www.allamamashriqi.info
- http://www.allama-mashriqi.8m.com
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.