On the solemn occasion of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s death anniversary, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge remembered the ‘Frontier Gandhi’ for his extraordinary role in India’s fight for freedom. In a heartfelt post on X, Kharge described Khan as a beacon of non-violence who braved jail terms repeatedly to uphold his ideals.
‘Bacha Khan, honored with Bharat Ratna, played a pivotal part in the independence struggle,’ Kharge wrote. He served diligently in the Congress Working Committee for years and was elected to the Constituent Assembly, shaping the nation’s foundational document.
Khan’s philosophy of non-violence, brotherhood, and human dignity continues to inspire generations across the subcontinent. Kharge urged reflection on these timeless principles that unite diverse peoples.
Hailing from Utmanzai in 1890, Khan championed literacy and education early on, founding schools for social upliftment by age 20. He joined the anti-Rowlatt Act protests, forging a bond with Gandhi that defined his path.
As a prominent Pashtun leader, he led the Khilafat Movement and in 1929 initiated the Khudai Khidmatgar (Red Shirts) non-violent campaign, integral to Congress efforts until partition. Enduring arrests and hardships from 1920 to 1947, his resolve never wavered.
Awarded Bharat Ratna in 1987 as the first non-Indian recipient, Khan died on January 20, 1988, in Peshawar, laid to rest in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad. His life exemplifies selfless service to humanity.