The Angels
of Freedom
Bismil - Ashfaq
"Ashfaqk and
Bismil not only
created an
example of
communal
harmony and
unity but also
paved a revolutionary
stairway
in the
Indian
Freedom
Movements..."
Both of these were the residents of Shahjahanpur and were involved with few other people in the Kakori Treasury loot incident. Both of them were awarded with the capital punishment to be hanged till death by the neck. When Kakori plan was still under discussion, Ashfaqulla opposed the plan by saying that this would make the British government hunt them like wild hogs and that it would be hard to continue their party activities. Which was true, but when the plan was accepted by all, Asfaqkulla joined them. 'Be open to express yourself but whatever has been decided by the mandate, one has to follow the decision with honesty.' This was the principle of the sangathan.
"...they
replenished
the revolutionary
fighters with
much needed
vigor and
economic
power by
looting the
government
treasury."
As it used to happen with the
British Government supporting
it once Hindu-
Muslim communal riots broke out in
Shahjahanpur. Both Asfaqkulla Khan
and Pandit Ramprasad dressed as per
their religious customes so that they
could be identified easily, and stood
together and addressed the masses
that the government is behind these
communal riots as the want to continue
ruling the country. Hindus and
Muslims both should understand it
and should not be against each other
as they both belonged to India and to
prove themselves worthy of their
Indian lineage, both the communities
have to thrive here only so it is better
to live in harmony rather to live with
hatred and animosity. This joint statement
made a great impact and the
riots terminated that day itself.
Asfaqkulla was an emotional poet and
used to write with alias name 'Hasrat'.
Ramprasaad was also a highly regarded
poet. Both of them had a good
physique and had very good aim too.
Asfaqk loved to hunt wild animals but
Ramprasaad never shot at any animal
or a bird even.
They had a deal amongst them that
they would call each other by their
names only. Once awhile Asfaqk was
ill and in the state of unconsciousness
kept on uttering 'RAM…' many a
times to which his family reacted
aversely, thinking why does their
stout Muslim son is saying 'RAM' a
God of Hindus instead of 'Allah'. But
soon they came to know that he is taking
his friend 'Ramprasaad's' name.
Ramprasaad was called upon to the
much sought after relief of Asfaqk.
Asfaqk was a taut and strong Pathan.
He was the one who brokered the iron
safe in few strokes the Kakori loot
incident when others failed to hamper
it even a little. Even being a Muslim,
he was able to assimilate/blend in
between Hindus and after the Kakori
incident stayed in the hostels of
Banaras Hindu University and also
stayed for some time at one of his
friends place in Rajasthan, Mr.
Arjunlal Sethi's.
He went to Bihar from Rajasthan and
worked as a clerk at an office and also
got promoted because of his poetry.
While staying at one of his Muslim
friend's house in Delhi, he got captured
as his friend turned him in for
the money offered on him by the
British government. A one sided case
was under solicitation against all the
conspirers of the Kakori Treasury loot
incident, wherein Asfaqkulla was
awarded capital punishment and
Sacchindranath Bakshi was awarded
with life imprisonment. Asfaqk
refused to say 'sorry' in order to plead
for forgiveness except for saying the
same in front of 'Allah'. He was
hanged till death by the neck in the
Faizabaad Jail on 19th of December
1927.
This country would have been saved
from partition if only 25 percent of
Muslims would have been like
Asfaqkulla Khan. All the communal
tension would have subsided and terminated
by now if all the Muslims
would follow Asfaqkulla Khan's mental
philosophical ideology. The country
would be served better with the
kind of brotherhood that eveloved in
between Asfaqkulla and Ramprasad.
In the similar fashion Ramprasaad
'Bismil' was also awarded capital punishment
by having being hung from
the neck till death at the Gorakhpur
Jail (Uttarpradesh) on 19th of
December 1927. His parents were
allowed to meet him before his punishment
was to be delivered. One of
the party members, Shiv Verma wanted
to meet 'Bismil' and approached his
father Shri Murlidhar ji to verify him
as their relative so that he could meet
the condition to meet 'Bismil' raised
by the British government. But a follower of truth all his life, 'Bismils'
father refused to lie and act as suggested.
Then Shiv Verma approached
Bismil's mother who saw it altogether
in a different light, she said, 'all members
of the party are 'Bismils' brothers
only so if someone would ask his relation
with him, he could quote himself
as 'Bismils' cousin and my nephew
and agreed to accompany him.
Bismils father 'Murlidhar' did not took
his wife to meet Bismil for the last
time in order to avoid her emotional
outpour being a mother and he was
confident about his own solidarity.
But when he saw his son in the lifeless
cell ready to gallop up to the gloat, he
started crying. Then 'Bismil' himself
pacified his father by saying, 'What
are you doing, father? I was thinking
that you would console mother but
you yourself are losing your resolve!'
Then his mother came in accompanying
Shiv Verma.
On seeing his mother
'Bismils' eyes got filled with tears and
his throat got bloated. His mother
reminded him of his valor by addressing
to him, 'Ram, tears in your eyes,
Son! I was thinking that you would
walk up to the noose with pride. You
are offering self as a sacrifice for the
independence of your mother nation!
Then why this cowardice is taking
over your mind?'
Bismil got his resolve back in seconds
and hugged his mother and said,
'Mother you are taking me wrong. I
am least worried about death. I m perfectly
fine and enjoying it now. These
tears are out of love for you, Mother!
The body is acting on his duties but
the mind has not lost its resolve, you
would not find any such mistake on
me for which you would repent lately.'
Mata ke bandhan todunga,
Rakhta tha nit dhyaan yahi|
Janmunga fir bhi Bharat mein,
Hota ur me maan yahi|
Athwa maatrumaan par mar jaunga,
Tha mujh ko abhimaan yahi|
Chaah raha tha jiwan me mein,
Faansi ka vardaan yahi|
'I always tried to somehow break the
chains on my mother nation, always
thought of rebirth in this country or
else I would offer myself, my life for
the pride of my nations, I had wished
always for this blessing of gallows all
my life!' said Bismil.
I have the same expectations of you,
Ram, said his mother. Signaling
towards Shiv Verma she introduced
him as 'Bismils' cousin. Bismil has
already recognized Shiv Verma and
discussed few of the party things with him.
Next day early on 19th of December,
1927 Ramprasaad 'Bismil' was
hanged on the gallows. He offered his
prayers and morning havan as was his
routine before heading to the gallows.
On being asked for his last wish, he
wished, 'May the British government
ruin'
Vishwani dev savitdurritaani paraasuv
| Yadbhadram tann aasuv ||
"O' Lord of the world take all the
obsolete from us and fill us with the
best that is there to be had" by saying
this he climbed the gallows.
His last words were -
Maalik, teri raja rahe aur tu hi tu rahe,
Baaki n mein rahun, n meri aarju rahe|
Jab tak ki tan me jaan, ragon me lahu
rahe,
Tera hi jikr ya teri hi justaju rahe|
"O' lord, you are the supreme and may
all your wishes come true. All my
wishes, and me, may get entwined in
you. May I think of you and praise
you till I have blood running in my
veins and life in my body."
All the sky turned red, blood red! Not
the bells rang in any Temple neither
did the 'Ajaan' calls were made in
Mosques that unfateful day, how
could it had happened? As on that day
Mother India lost two of its worthy
sons. Filling all the Indians with a call
for freedom these two angels have
already taken a flight!
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