Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani Biography 
Acatalyst of Muslim nationalism, Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, a proponent of anti-imperialist, non-communal and left-leaning politics was a popular political leader in the pre-independent India. He remained equally popular in India, Pakistan as well as Bangladesh. He was hugely popular among peasants and as he was leaned towards left, he was fondly called “The Red Maulana".He played a very critical role in the 1969 movement which led to the collapse of the Ayub regime. His contributions to the masses of north eastern parts of Indian continent can be compared with his efforts to Mahatma Gandhi’s Indian freedom struggle movement. Like Gandhi, he too didn’t accept any political positions in the state.
Abdu Hamid Khan Bhashani was born in Dhangara village in Sirajganj of present-day Bangladesh in 1880. It was a part of Bengal Presidency of British India then. He received his early education from madrassa. At the age of 12, he moved to Tangail. After studies he became a religious mentor. Though he enrolled in the Islamic Center in the United provinces, he left his studies in the middle to join politico-religious movement advocating militancy for Islam. Later he became one of the prominent leaders of Khalifate movement in 1919.
Before he joined this movement he stood for peasant rights against local zamindars which eventually resulted from his expel from the provinces. In 1904, at the age of 24, he moved to Assam. He was touched by the problems of peasants there. He organized them and protested in the form of rallies. Known as All Bengal Kissan Sammelon, it resulted in the abolition of usury system. He also played a crucial role in the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Agartala conspiracy case against Pakistan.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 16, 2014
