BAHCA KHAN

Famous speeches of bacha khan.

HIS VIEWS
 NON VIOLENCE MOVEMENT
 I am going to give you such a weapon that the police and the army will not be able to stand
against it. It is the weapon of the Prophet, but you are not aware of it. That weapon is
forgiveness and righteousness. No power on earth can stand against it.” — Bacha Khan
 CONGRESS AND MUSLIM
LEAGUE
 Liaqat Ali Khan, during Bacha Khan’s
1948 speech in the constituent assembly,
asked him about his position on
Pashtunistan. His categorical reply was
that it was a demand to give ethnic identity
to the land of the Pashtoons like Punjab,
Sindh or Baluchistan, inhabited
predominantly by those people.
 PAKISTAN EXISTENCE
 1947: Bacha Khan and Khudai Khidmatgar leaders issued the Bannu Resolution, demanding
Pashtunistan, an independent state for Pashtuns.
 They sought inclusion of all Pashtun territories within British India, separate from the
emerging state of Pakistan.
 British authorities rejected this demand.
 During the NWFP referendum on joining India or Pakistan, Bacha Khan and Abdul Jabbar
Khan boycotted, protesting the absence of an option for Pashtun independence or alignment
with Afghanistan.
 Their boycott highlighted the limited choices presented, aiming to secure self-determination
for the Pashtun people.
 KHUDAI KHIDMATGARS
 Founded by Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Bacha Khan) in early 20th-century British India.
 Comprised mainly of Pashtuns in the North-West Frontier Province.
 Known as the "Servants of God" or "Khudai Khidmatgar."
 Advocated for independence and social reform through nonviolent means.
 Symbolized their commitment to nonviolence by wearing distinctive red uniforms.
 Organized protests, strikes, and civil disobedience against British rule.
 Inspired by Gandhi's principles of nonviolence in their pursuit of freedom.
 Faced repression from British authorities but persisted in their peaceful struggle for
independence and social justice.
 KISSA KHWANI MASSACRE
 April 23, 1930: Bacha Khan was arrested during protests in Peshawar's Kissa Khwani Bazaar
linked to the Salt Satyagraha.
 British authorities ordered troops to fire machine guns on the unarmed Khudai Khidmatgar
crowd, resulting in an estimated 200–250 deaths.
 Despite facing gunfire, the Khudai Khidmatgar adhered to their nonviolent training under
Bacha Khan's leadership.
 Two platoons of The Garhwal Rifles regiment, led by Chandra Singh Garhwali, refused to
shoot at the nonviolent protesters.
 These soldiers were court-martialed and received various punishments, including life
imprisonment, for disobeying orders to fire on the unarmed demonstrators.
 BABBRA MASSACRE 1948
CHARSADA
 Babrra Massacre (1948):
 Nonviolent Khudai Khidmatgar protested
arrests and a new ordinance in Charsadda,
Pakistan.
 Chief Minister ordered police to open fire
on unarmed demonstrators at Babrra
ground.
 Officially reported 150 deaths, 200
injuries, but Khudai Khidmatgar claimed
over 600 killed, 1500 wounded.
 Aftermath:
 Government banned Khudai Khidmatgar,
arrested supporters, destroyed their centers.
 Incident lacked impartial investigation;
Pakistan celebrated its first anniversary soon
after.
 Impact:
 Highlighted violence against peaceful dissent,
a dark chapter in Pakistan's early history.
 Former PM likened the massacre to the
infamous Jallianwala Bagh tragedy,
condemning the brutality
 YEARS IN PRISON
 Bacha Khan's Imprisonment Duration: He spent a total of around 37 years in prison. This
included periods under both British colonial rule and post-independence Pakistani
governments.
 Comparison with Other Leaders:
 Nelson Mandela: Served 27 years in prison.
 Gandhi: Incarcerated for approximately 5 years during his activism.
 Nehru: Spent about 9 years in prison during the struggle for independence.
KISSA
KHAWANI