User:Kidwhy/sandbox/Shafiq Ur Rehman Kidwai

Shafiq Ur Rehman Kidwai

Shafiq ur Rahman Kidwai was born in village Baragaon in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, India in 1901. His father Hasan ur Rahman Kidwai was a scholar and belonged to a local zamindar family. His early education in Urdu and Arabic was done at home and later, he attended school in Barabanki.

At the time, M.A.O. College, now known as Aligarh Muslim University, was famous for higher studies. Shafiq Sahib, as he came to be addressed by those around him, was sent to Aligarh during early 1920. Mahatma Gandhi visited Aligarh while Shafiq sahib was enrolled in the B.A. course. Addressing the students, Gandhi appealed to them to join the freedom movement and shun all foreign goods and fabrics. Shafiq sahib was influenced by this appeal of Gandhi and took the lead in switching to wear khadi only. He made a bonfire of all his silk clothes and foreign material and participated actively in the movement against the British rule. His political activities attracted the attention of the College authorities who charged him with inciting students. He was rusticated from the College and arrested. Upset with his son, Hasan ur Rahman refused to allow his son would not be allowed to enter his house and no one in the extended family was to maintain any contact with him

Though hurt by this, Shafiq sahib decided not to compromise his commitment to the freedom movement. He continued to write to his father frequently telling him what he was doing and his reasons for continuing to do so. He poured his feelings and thoughts in several such unreciprocated letters. Many years later, Maulana Mohammed Ali visited Baragaon to meet Mr.Hasan ur Rahman Kidwai and requested him to pardon Shafiq sahib. REFERENCE?

Shafiq sahib’s dedication and sincerity to the cause of freedom movement was noticed by Gandhi who wrote in YOUNG INDIA dated November 3, 1921: “ Two students – Messers Mahmud Hussain and Shafiq ur Rahman Kidwai are students of the National University. They were posted in the Andhra District by Maulana Mohammad Ali. They were there doing great work in a most unassuming manner. They have already gone to jail whilst their chief is still on his trail... The circumstances in which they went to jail are graphically described in a letter written on their way to prison, which I give below …”

In conclusion, Gandhi noted: “ I do not know whom to congratulate most, the brave young men, the Magistrate and the police, or their Principal who has molded the character of these young men. As for the Government which sends such innocent men to prison, I can only say it is digging its own grave in a way no Non-Cooperator can….”

The National University that Gandhi refers to later became established as Jamia Millia Islamia. Shafiq sahab was one of its founders, along with were Maulana Azad, Dr.M.A.Ansari, Dr.Zakir Husain, Prof. Muhammad. Mujeeb and many others.

Shafiq sahib along with a few colleagues was entrusted with the task of collection of funds for Jamia Millia Islamia. Besides this responsibility, he took it upon himself of the responsibility of teaching and started Adult Education work. He started the Idara Taleem o Taraqqi in Jamia Millia and conducted experiments and workshops in teaching illiterate adults in the backward areas of the walled city For the upliftment of the women and children, he started the stated Balak Mata Centers in the walled city to teach handicrafts, health and nutrition to young girls and women and to inculcate sound values in their children.

In 1950, he was invited by UNESCO to head their mission project in Indonesia. He was still there when the election were declared for the first Assembly of the Delhi State in 1952. He was asked by Pandit Nehru, Dr.Zakir Husain and other colleagues in and outside Jamia Millia to come forward and contest the elections. He pleaded with Pandit Nehru to be excused but was told that his contesting was a decision of the Congress party and he had to concede. He did complete the formalities of filing his nomination papers but left Delhi and rejoined his UNESCO assignment. He was under the illusion that his absence from Delhi and not campaigning for the elections might come to his rescue. However, he won the election inabsentia and that too with thumping majority. He was soon made a cabinet minister.

Dr. C.Rajagopalachari, the first Governor General of Independent India, was with Shafiq sahib in Vellore Jail in 1922. He congratulated Shafiq sahib on his appointment as Minister of Education, and wrote on 17.3.1952:

“ My dear Shafiq,

My benedictions to you. May God help you in all your work now as ever. I looked up my old jail diary and found the entry I wanted : 11-3-22 Saturday.

“ Of Shafiq ur Rahman of Aligarh what shall I say? I count it as a privilege to know such a man. I have not known a better bred young man or a more self-restrained, a more truly God-fearing, finer or nobler soul. He and---are the best type of Indian Musalman citizens whom the young men of all communities in our colleges and schools might well take for models.”

What I wrote thirty years and six days ago holds as true and good today and is my present unaltered opinion as then. God bless you. As a minister in the new administration, you may be enabled to do much or little: But I am tremendously exhilarated that you are one of Delhi’s ministers. I am glad beyond means.

There is another entry of 18-3-22 when I was about to leave prison: “ I am very glad that the superintendent’s promise to look after Shafiq’s health has borne fruit. He will get two eggs and a pint of milk besides wheat chapattis”

Well, I leave you to the new superintendents. My best wishes.

Yours affectionately,

C.Rajagoplachari

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