We shall go over his Political life in this section and spend some time reflecting in the completely retired life before his death in the village Kotla.
Most of the young Muslims who got Islamic teachings in Deoband mastered the art of speaking at the turn of the (20th) century as the most important thing for all Indians was to see their country free from the British empire. Indian National Congress was the first political party established (1885) which attracted most of the intelligentsia of India. Education amongst the Muslims was not common Madrissa Deoband induced many Muslim young men for joining such freedom movements. Mahmood-ulHassan and Hakim Ajmal Khan were well known Muslim leaders so their students, many of them were fired up with the enthusiasm. I suspect therefore that Mianji became interested and joined the movements (Indian National Congress) and must have developed the oratory power from that school, partly because it was the need of that day. Muslim League was established in 1910 when Congress had already gotten established (from 1885). Mianji also joined, at the national level, Jameeat-ul-Ulama-e-Hind. He must have worked hard to reach popularity giving him the position of provincial chairmanship of these national bodies. He belonged to that group of Ulama who supported Congress and he took part in all those local and general elections of these parties. I remember slogans on the walls in Saugor written for he had at one time "yellow box" for voters, "Place your vote in the yellow box" (Peeli paitey main vote dalo) I am looking at and describing after four decades of his work. He had been jailed by the British Raj many times during his days of powerful speeches against the English and followed all the methods and philosophy of Gandhi. I am told one time Gandhi visited Saugor and my older brother (Bahijan Meraj) as a child had the priviledge of riding on Mr. Gandhi's shoulders, a gesture of friendliness toward the leader, "maulvi saheb". Since most of his previous adventures of fighting against the British must be similar. I shall describe the one I remember from my own experience.
I was about 9 years old. Aug. 1942 Gandhi started the famous "quit India" movement against the British. Gandhi had several non-violent methods of "agitation" (This word was used by Mianji, I clearly remember, some English words he must have picked up in his endeavors. He also knew Arabic but he was fluent in Urdu, Persian and Hindi languages) Any way the whole India was in "agitation" (unsuccessful) and one of the rallies that took place in our home town where Maulavi Saheb spoke as a leader of Congress party was witnessed by me which I vividly remember for obvious reasons.
Jamia Masjid is in a central location and there was a large ground on its side where many buses and other motor vehicles traveling to and from the city would stand (kind of a makeshift bus stand and in 2006 there was still some ground present during my visit) I could not see the stage because I could not even get to the Masjid so I was unable to see him or hear him. Crowds were gathered for his speech and he was known for fiery speeches eloquent, knowledgeable in Islam, Hinduism, Jainism and quoting other leaders freely he was able to excite the crowd's anger against the British. So after midday when many persons from the crowd attacked the Post office (government office) and put fire to it, brought down the lamp posts and wires, the main crowd was familiar with the results. The speaker will be arrested (the police Officer was well-known Sikh who we all considered our friend). He was there but the group of people had Maulavi saheb in the center of their circle so that no police could approach him. That continued till the evening. I had gotten home had my dinner and went to sleep when my mother woke us (all children)up. The police and Army came and our street was closed. Army announced curfew after 10 pm. Father was home and had already packed ready for the arrest. We were saying 'goodbye' to Mianji. Sure enough at 11 PM they knocked at our door.
Next day appeared just usual for us but we kept hearing news which jail he was taken to etc. but a few months later he was brought to Saugor for court appearance and the judge was to announce the punishment after the hearing. They allowed the family to meet with him (for a couple of hours) outside the courts under a tree, I remember because it felt like picnic for me, outing with family, good food etc. He was given 2 years of jail. I did not read papers so I got to know his whereabouts from others who kept a track of what city he went to. The movement continued unabated. I may remind you all that he being a "political Leader" the treatment in the jail was different according to the British law. They were well looked after and he being a physician always obliged the jailer and other officials so his respect while in the jail was only increased because after all they were Indians and all wanted to get rid of the British. In the society also our home suffering without father for two years had only increased his respect higher.
He was sometime in Umraowti jail and some time in PachmaRi jail. (I have an article he wrote on Iqbal in this jail which is the only written thing from him, other than a book he had handwritten about Nabz or pulse) He was given meat well prepared by the jailers and their workers for the favorite prisoner, Maulavi Saheb. It was 1943 we were looking for his release from Jail. How did the family fare without him and the regular income. For some time Buddhoo Mian would run the clinic filling up his prescriptions from the dispensary so some income continued which as time passed it gradually decreased. I measure the financial strain from my breakfast. We were used to Paratha and Tea. At first the ghee started decreasing in the parathas; then it reduced to nil eventually and four five times a week meat reduced to vegetables and daal. We lived with these difficulties until he would be released. Ammanji (my mother) had the philosophy that she did not want her girls to be married in Perdesh (Lived for years in Central India but never felt it 'home'). So for that reason she had a two story house built in Kotla (ArabAli Khan) sometime in 1933 my birth year so we could have a house on return. My older sisters were getting of that age so migration was planned as soon as Mianji got out of Jail about 1943 Aug/September. He was greeted by crowds on release and garlanded "Maulavi Saheb Zindabad" before he got home. Jan or Feb 1944 the whole family transferred to Panjab by train (took 2and 1/2 days by train) and I traveled after finishing my 6th class exams in May '44. Maulavi Saheb became increasingly disappointed by many Congressmen's behavior and by 1945 he resigned from Congress on the basis that the principles of Congress are being trampled by some and 'Maha Sabha' element (BJP of today) was increasing as the partition of India got closer and his secretary Dr. Shukla replaced him as chairman. Shukla was the first premier of Maddh pradesh after Partition. He did offer Maulavi saheb a position, out of respect, in his cabinet but Mianji refused as he was planning to leave Central India permanently. He did not Join Muslim league but basically retired from Politics and by 1948 retired from practice of medicine too. He traveled on 26th July 1947 to Panjab and that was the last safe train after which most trains traveling from Indian side to Pakistan side were looted and Muslims massacred. On 14th of August he held a small gathering in the village Kotla and spoke to the villagers what that day meant (I had prepared the Pakistani flag myself) and what was Pakistan and that now Hindus and Sikhs living here are to be given your protection as you are the rulers the British are gone. Indian Government locked up our house until Mianji went back to Saugor, paid some money to the Government of India and took over the house where his sister (My Phoophijan) lived afterward until she died and then the house was donated to the local Jamia Masjid. Mianji came back from India for the last time (1948) along with Kakkaji and was arrested in Kotla by "Azad Kashmir Forces" as somebody complained that he was a past Congressman and now may be spying for India. He was taken by third day to Mirpur when he was presented to the Officer in charge and they realized their mistake and he was released as he told them that Nawab Siddiq Ali Khan (personal seceretary of Nawab Liaqat Ali Khan) knew him personally and would vouch for him, if you call. That was his last 'arrest 'and he passed the rest of his life seeing patients without charge sitting in the sitting room of our village home. Many persons interested in politics would come to chat with him of whom I remember two. One was a young man from Murarian who became Highcourt Judge later and the other was the retired headmaster from Ladian the father of Major Aziz Bhatti Shahid. His skills as hakim were quickly realized by the surrounding villages so he was kept busy by patients who came to see the "siana" and that was my father's practice/life until his death with a stroke on 31st July 1957, just before my final results of MBBS were out, Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon. During the two weeks before death Phoophijan and Shakir were able to come from India on his burial in Kotla ArbAli Khan. (There are other 'Kotlas" with different names, so I write full name here)
Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoree-bsc.blogspot.com/
Most of the young Muslims who got Islamic teachings in Deoband mastered the art of speaking at the turn of the (20th) century as the most important thing for all Indians was to see their country free from the British empire. Indian National Congress was the first political party established (1885) which attracted most of the intelligentsia of India. Education amongst the Muslims was not common Madrissa Deoband induced many Muslim young men for joining such freedom movements. Mahmood-ulHassan and Hakim Ajmal Khan were well known Muslim leaders so their students, many of them were fired up with the enthusiasm. I suspect therefore that Mianji became interested and joined the movements (Indian National Congress) and must have developed the oratory power from that school, partly because it was the need of that day. Muslim League was established in 1910 when Congress had already gotten established (from 1885). Mianji also joined, at the national level, Jameeat-ul-Ulama-e-Hind. He must have worked hard to reach popularity giving him the position of provincial chairmanship of these national bodies. He belonged to that group of Ulama who supported Congress and he took part in all those local and general elections of these parties. I remember slogans on the walls in Saugor written for he had at one time "yellow box" for voters, "Place your vote in the yellow box" (Peeli paitey main vote dalo) I am looking at and describing after four decades of his work. He had been jailed by the British Raj many times during his days of powerful speeches against the English and followed all the methods and philosophy of Gandhi. I am told one time Gandhi visited Saugor and my older brother (Bahijan Meraj) as a child had the priviledge of riding on Mr. Gandhi's shoulders, a gesture of friendliness toward the leader, "maulvi saheb". Since most of his previous adventures of fighting against the British must be similar. I shall describe the one I remember from my own experience.
I was about 9 years old. Aug. 1942 Gandhi started the famous "quit India" movement against the British. Gandhi had several non-violent methods of "agitation" (This word was used by Mianji, I clearly remember, some English words he must have picked up in his endeavors. He also knew Arabic but he was fluent in Urdu, Persian and Hindi languages) Any way the whole India was in "agitation" (unsuccessful) and one of the rallies that took place in our home town where Maulavi Saheb spoke as a leader of Congress party was witnessed by me which I vividly remember for obvious reasons.
Jamia Masjid is in a central location and there was a large ground on its side where many buses and other motor vehicles traveling to and from the city would stand (kind of a makeshift bus stand and in 2006 there was still some ground present during my visit) I could not see the stage because I could not even get to the Masjid so I was unable to see him or hear him. Crowds were gathered for his speech and he was known for fiery speeches eloquent, knowledgeable in Islam, Hinduism, Jainism and quoting other leaders freely he was able to excite the crowd's anger against the British. So after midday when many persons from the crowd attacked the Post office (government office) and put fire to it, brought down the lamp posts and wires, the main crowd was familiar with the results. The speaker will be arrested (the police Officer was well-known Sikh who we all considered our friend). He was there but the group of people had Maulavi saheb in the center of their circle so that no police could approach him. That continued till the evening. I had gotten home had my dinner and went to sleep when my mother woke us (all children)up. The police and Army came and our street was closed. Army announced curfew after 10 pm. Father was home and had already packed ready for the arrest. We were saying 'goodbye' to Mianji. Sure enough at 11 PM they knocked at our door.
Next day appeared just usual for us but we kept hearing news which jail he was taken to etc. but a few months later he was brought to Saugor for court appearance and the judge was to announce the punishment after the hearing. They allowed the family to meet with him (for a couple of hours) outside the courts under a tree, I remember because it felt like picnic for me, outing with family, good food etc. He was given 2 years of jail. I did not read papers so I got to know his whereabouts from others who kept a track of what city he went to. The movement continued unabated. I may remind you all that he being a "political Leader" the treatment in the jail was different according to the British law. They were well looked after and he being a physician always obliged the jailer and other officials so his respect while in the jail was only increased because after all they were Indians and all wanted to get rid of the British. In the society also our home suffering without father for two years had only increased his respect higher.
He was sometime in Umraowti jail and some time in PachmaRi jail. (I have an article he wrote on Iqbal in this jail which is the only written thing from him, other than a book he had handwritten about Nabz or pulse) He was given meat well prepared by the jailers and their workers for the favorite prisoner, Maulavi Saheb. It was 1943 we were looking for his release from Jail. How did the family fare without him and the regular income. For some time Buddhoo Mian would run the clinic filling up his prescriptions from the dispensary so some income continued which as time passed it gradually decreased. I measure the financial strain from my breakfast. We were used to Paratha and Tea. At first the ghee started decreasing in the parathas; then it reduced to nil eventually and four five times a week meat reduced to vegetables and daal. We lived with these difficulties until he would be released. Ammanji (my mother) had the philosophy that she did not want her girls to be married in Perdesh (Lived for years in Central India but never felt it 'home'). So for that reason she had a two story house built in Kotla (ArabAli Khan) sometime in 1933 my birth year so we could have a house on return. My older sisters were getting of that age so migration was planned as soon as Mianji got out of Jail about 1943 Aug/September. He was greeted by crowds on release and garlanded "Maulavi Saheb Zindabad" before he got home. Jan or Feb 1944 the whole family transferred to Panjab by train (took 2and 1/2 days by train) and I traveled after finishing my 6th class exams in May '44. Maulavi Saheb became increasingly disappointed by many Congressmen's behavior and by 1945 he resigned from Congress on the basis that the principles of Congress are being trampled by some and 'Maha Sabha' element (BJP of today) was increasing as the partition of India got closer and his secretary Dr. Shukla replaced him as chairman. Shukla was the first premier of Maddh pradesh after Partition. He did offer Maulavi saheb a position, out of respect, in his cabinet but Mianji refused as he was planning to leave Central India permanently. He did not Join Muslim league but basically retired from Politics and by 1948 retired from practice of medicine too. He traveled on 26th July 1947 to Panjab and that was the last safe train after which most trains traveling from Indian side to Pakistan side were looted and Muslims massacred. On 14th of August he held a small gathering in the village Kotla and spoke to the villagers what that day meant (I had prepared the Pakistani flag myself) and what was Pakistan and that now Hindus and Sikhs living here are to be given your protection as you are the rulers the British are gone. Indian Government locked up our house until Mianji went back to Saugor, paid some money to the Government of India and took over the house where his sister (My Phoophijan) lived afterward until she died and then the house was donated to the local Jamia Masjid. Mianji came back from India for the last time (1948) along with Kakkaji and was arrested in Kotla by "Azad Kashmir Forces" as somebody complained that he was a past Congressman and now may be spying for India. He was taken by third day to Mirpur when he was presented to the Officer in charge and they realized their mistake and he was released as he told them that Nawab Siddiq Ali Khan (personal seceretary of Nawab Liaqat Ali Khan) knew him personally and would vouch for him, if you call. That was his last 'arrest 'and he passed the rest of his life seeing patients without charge sitting in the sitting room of our village home. Many persons interested in politics would come to chat with him of whom I remember two. One was a young man from Murarian who became Highcourt Judge later and the other was the retired headmaster from Ladian the father of Major Aziz Bhatti Shahid. His skills as hakim were quickly realized by the surrounding villages so he was kept busy by patients who came to see the "siana" and that was my father's practice/life until his death with a stroke on 31st July 1957, just before my final results of MBBS were out, Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon. During the two weeks before death Phoophijan and Shakir were able to come from India on his burial in Kotla ArbAli Khan. (There are other 'Kotlas" with different names, so I write full name here)
Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoree-bsc.blogspot.com/
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