The 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement in Peshawar Valley From The Pashtun Perspective

Article
The 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement in Peshawar Valley from the Pashtoon Perspective
Sayed
"bstract
Studies in History 29(1) 87118 2013 Jawaharlal Nehru Uni ersity S!"# $u%li&ations 'os !n(eles) 'ondon) New *elhi) Sin(a+ore) ,ashin(ton **./0 101117720237453013594490 htt+022sih1sa(e+u%1&o6
i!ar "li Shah
South !sia /nstitute) Uni ersity o7 Heidel%er() Heidel%er() "er6any
'i8e other +arts o7 /ndia) the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent was also laun&hed in North,est 9rontier $ro in&e (:hy%er$a8htoon8hwa)) althou(h initially with little su&&ess1 ;he lo&al -on(ress sou(ht hel+ 7ro6 the :hudai :hid6at(ars) the 6ost +o+ular so&io<+oliti&al or(ani=ation o7 the +ro in&e> 23 !+ril 1930 saw the worst 8ind o7 6assa&re in $eshawar) 7ollowed %y other +arts o7 the $ro in&e1 *urin( the &i il diso%edien&e) the &olonial ad6inistration tried all 8inds o7 dra&o< nian 6ethods to su++ress the 6o e6ent %ut in ain1 ;he +ur+ose o7 the +resent resear&h is to in esti(ate and analy=e the &i il diso%edien&e and its i6+a&t in the $eshawar ?alley) hitherto ne(le&ted %y the s&holars and there%y hel+ +ro ide a new and dee+er understandin( o7 the whole s&enario1 /n a 6u&h %roader &on< te@t and in a wider +ers+e&ti e) howe er) the +resent study will en&o6+ass the 7ollowin( 6ain issues0 (a) /ndian Ausli6s and the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent laun&hed %y -on(ress under Aahat6a "andhi> (%) the 9rontier -on(ress and its 7ailure in 6o%ili=ation o7 +eo+le to su++ort &i il diso%edien&e> (&) the altruisti& leadershi+ o7 !%dul "ha77ar :han and the :hudai :hid6at(arsB tan(i%le su+< +ort within the 6asses> (d) the atro&ities o7 the &olonial ad6inistration and the +redi&a6ent o7 the lo&al +o+ulation> (e) adheren&e to non< iolen&e) a uniCue +heno6enon 7or the $ashtoons> (7) the inter+lay o7 the reli(ion and +oliti&s> (() the &o6+le@ity o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ar-on(ress relations> and) (h) the role o7 &haris6ati& leadershi+1 ;he +resent resear&h will %e 7o&usin( on these and other si6ilar &ru&ial issues +re iously under alued1 #eywords 9reedo6 6o e6ent) 1930 &i il diso%edien&e) N,9$) $eshawar ?alley) $ashtoons) non< iolen&e) :issa :hani Da=aar 6assa&re /n 1930) the /ndian National -on(ress under the leadershi+ o7 Aahat6a "andhi laun&hed its &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent a(ainst the Dritish /ndian (o ern6ent
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Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah
de6andin( E-o6+lete /nde+enden&eB1 Fes+ondin( to the &all o7 "andhi) li8e other +arts o7 /ndia) the North,est 9rontier $ro in&eBs (N,9$) rena6ed as :hy%er$ashtoon8hwa) -on(ress6en also e6%ar8ed on the &i il diso%edien&e %ut in iew o7 their s6all nu6%er the lo&al authorities i(nored it1 ;o (i e a %oost to their 6o e6ent) the lo&al -on(ress leaders reCuested !%dul "ha77ar :han) the +ro6inent so&ial wor8er o7 the $ro in&e) 7a6ous 7or his altruis6) to su++ort the6 in the ne@t round o7 the intended &i il diso%edien&e in $eshawar to whi&h he a(reed1 ;he &olonial ad6inistration had no 7urther toleran&e 7or su&h a&ti ities1 ;hey de&ided not to allow the s&heduled a&ti ities o7 the lo&al +oliti&al wor8ers whi&h 6i(ht &ause distur%an&e to the +ea&e and tranCuillity o7 the +ro in&e1 .n the sele&ted day) that is) 23 !+ril 1930) %rutal 7or&e was used to dis+erse the de6on< strators1 ;he tra(i& 7irin( on the +ea&e7ul 6o% in the Gissa :hani Da=aar) $eshawar) resulted in the 8illin( o7 6ore than two hundred +eo+le in one sin(le day and &an %e ran8ed at +ar with the 6assa&re at the Jallianwala Da(h) !6ritsar) in !+ril 19191 /t was 7ollowed %y a rei(n o7 terror in the whole 9rontier $ro in&e1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ars and their su++orters were su%He&ted to the worst 8ind o7 hu6iliation1 !7ter $eshawar) si6ilar atro&ities were &o66itted at ;a88ar) Ut6an=ai and Dannu1 *es+ite the worst 8ind o7 re+ression %y the (o ern6ent) the $ashtoons re6ained non< iolent1 Under the &ir&u6stan&es they were &o6+elled to Hoin /N-) a 7riendshi+ whi&h &ontinued till the +artition o7 /ndia in !u(ust 19571 ,hile lot o7 resear&h has %een done on the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent in other +arts o7 /ndia) the 9rontier $ro in&e and in +arti&ular the $eshawar ?alley ha e %een ne(le&ted hitherto 7or un8nown reasons1 ?ery little resear&h has %een &ondu&ted on this +arti&ular re(ion1 ;he a%sen&e o7 written re&ord on this area and su%He&t has 6eant that the so&ial s&ientists) historians) analysts and other s&holars %elon(in( to arious dis&i+lines who ha e s+e&ial interest in South !sia) ha e %een de+ri ed o7 &ru&ial in7or6ation on a ery i6+ortant +hase o7 twentieth< &entury history1 ;he only a aila%le in7or6ation is the o77i&ial re&ord) written 7ro6 the &olonial +ers+e&ti e whi&h is not entirely relia%le1 !&&ordin( to the o77i&ial esti6ate) a%out thirty nine +eo+le lost their li es on 23 !+ril) a hi(hly &ontesta%le 7i(ure +ro ided %y the 9rontier ad6inistration and un7ortunately Cuoted %y 6any historians writin( on the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent) without 7urther &he&8in( its authenti&ity1 ;he +resent resear&h will 7o&us on this ne(le&ted as+e&t o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent) relyin( u+on the +ri6ary sour&es in&ludin( the +ersonal inter iews) &ondu&ted %y the author in arious +arts o7 $ashtoon8hwa and un+u%lished 6e6oirs and auto%io(ra+hies1 ,hile details will %e +ro ided o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent in the 9rontier +ro in&e in (eneral) s+e&ial attention will %e (i en to the $eshawar ?alley1 ,hy 1930 is an i6+ortant year in $ashtoon history and how it is re7le&ted in the lo&al +oetry will %e e aluated1 ;he +resent resear&h will also analy=e the $ashtoon +ers+e&ti e o7 the whole &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 *es+ite ad6onition 7ro6 arious &ir&les) what 6oti ated the6 to Hoin the 6o e6entI ,hat 8ind o7 6o%ili=ation te&hniCues were ado+ted %y the leaders to attra&t the &o66on 6an to Hoin in and with what resultsI ,hat Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118
!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent
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was their thin8in(I How were they treated %y the 9rontier authoritiesI ,hat 8ind o7 6ethods o7 torture were used a(ainst the6) so that rather than a%andonin( the stru((le) they showed +ertina&ity and instead 7lo&8ed into the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6entI ;hese and si6ilar Cuestions will &o6e under dis&ussion in the +resent resear&h arti&le1 How the $ashtoons inter+reted the whole s&enario) why did they not retaliate) were &o6+la&ent in di77i&ult situations and des+ite su77erin( the worst 8ind o7 hu6iliation were a%le to a en(e re+eated insults are so6e o7 the Cuestions / a6 &on&erned with1 ;he +resent arti&le will also in esti(ate the $ashtoonsB ado+tion o7 non< iolen&e as a &reed and their &o66it6ent to it whi&h earned the6 a (ood re+utation at an all</ndia le el1 ,hether !%dul "ha77ar :han e6ulated the non< iolen&e +rea&hed %y "andhi in other +arts o7 /ndia or de elo+ed his own +arti&ular ariety will also &o6e under dis&ussion1 ,hy the $ashtoons were in&lined to Hoin the -on(ress rather than the Ausli6 'ea(ue) their &o<reli(ionists in the 7reedo6 stru((le) will %e thorou(hly in esti(ated1 ,hat was the role o7 the +ro<Dritish landed aristo&ra&y) title holders and other loyalists durin( the whole i6%ro(lio and what were its re+er&ussionsI ,hat was the i6+a&t o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent on the re(ion and how it in7luen&ed the 7uture &ourse o7 South !sian +oliti&s will also %e analy=ed1 /n its histori& 7orty<7ourth session) held in 'ahore in *e&e6%er 1929) the /Nde6anded &o6+lete inde+enden&eJES(ara)B) instead o7 E*o6inion StatusB 7or /ndia1 Jawaharlal Nehru) the -on(ress $resident) 6ade it a%solutely &lear that they wanted E7ullest 7reedo6 o7 /ndiaB and Ewill not a&8nowled(e the ri(ht o7 the Dritish $arlia6ent to di&tate to us in any wayB11 /t e6+owered "andhi to +lan and de&ide on the nature and ti6in(s o7 the &i il diso%edien&e a(ainst the #6+ire to a&hie e the desired (oals12 "andhi was 7ully &on in&ed o7 the +ea&e7ul and non< iolent 6ass 6o e6ent13 /n the 'ahore -on(ress he was a%solutely &on in&ed o7 the attain6ent o7 inde+enden&e %y non< iolent 6eans1 He e@+ressed his iews to the +arti&i+ants in the 6ost darin( 6anner and stated that E'et 6e howe er tell you 6y &on i&tion that i7 the nation &arried out the non< iolent +ro(ra66e loyally) there need not %e any dou%t a%out the attain6ent o7 our (oalK1B5 He ela%orated 7urther and said that E/ ad6it and %elie e that &ool &oura(e is 6i(htier than the sword1 -ool &oura(e &an ery well i6+le6ent &i il diso%edien&e1 /7 one thin8s that &o6+lete inde+enden&e &annot %e a&hie ed throu(h +ea&e7ul 6eans) it i6+lies that he has no 7aith in &ool &oura(e1 ;he 6o6ent we a&Cuire &ool &oura(e)
Jawaharlal NehruBs $residential !ddress) 29 *e&e6%er 1929) 'ahore) "on*ress +residential Addresses ,ro' the Sil#er to the -olden .u%ilee (Aadras0 "1 !1 Natesan L -o1) 1935)) 8931 2 Judith A1 Drown) -andhi +risoner o/ Ho0e (New Ha ens0 Male Uni ersity $ress) 1989)) 2351 3 E111/n a +la&e li8e /ndiaB) re6ar8ed "andhi) Ewhere the 6i(htiest or(anisation is +led(ed to Nnon<O iolen&e) i7 you really %elie e in your own &reed) that is to say) i7 you %elie e in yoursel es) i7 you %elie e in your nation) then it is &i il diso%edien&e that is wanted>B1 S+ee&h at the 55th Session o7 -on(ress) 'ahore) 31 *e&e6%er 1929) !he "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi 2344 (5cto%er 1929 ,e%ruary 1930)) (!h6eda%ad0 Na aHi an ;rust) 1970)) 3331 5 'ahore) 29 *e&e6%er 1929) "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi) 2344) 3321
Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118
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&o6+lete inde+enden&e will %e ours1B3 "andhi started +re+arin( +eo+le 7or the intended &i il diso%edien&e &a6+ai(n1 ,hile 7or6ally in itin( his &ountry6en to Hoin the6 in the (reat stru((le 7or the li%eration o7 the &ountry 7ro6 the 7orei(n yo8e) the -on(ress $resident) Jawaharlal Nehru) 6ade it &lear 7ro6 the %e(innin( that they should %e +re+ared 7or Ethe rewards that are in store 7or you are su77erin( and +rison and it 6i(ht %e death1 Dut you shall also ha e the satis7a&tion that you ha e done your little %it 7or /ndiaKB4 *ire&t &on7rontation %etween the -on(ress and "o ern6ent see6ed ine ita%le1 "andhi de&ided that he would hi6sel7 +er7or6 the 7irst a&t o7 &i il diso%edien&e and would lead sele&ted satya(rahis 7ro6 !h6eda%ad to *andi in Do6%ay to %rea&h the Salt 'aw17 .n 2 Aar&h 1930) "andhi in7or6ed 'ord /rwin) the ?i&eroy) o7 his iews %y ter6in( the Dritish rule in /ndia as a &urse1 De&ause) a&&ordin( to "andhi) E/t has i6+o erished the du6% 6illions %y a syste6 o7 +ro(ressi e e@+loitation and %y a ruinously e@+ensi e 6ilitary and &i il ad6inistration whi&h the &ountry &an ne er a77ordB18 He ela%orated on the 6iseries o7 the tenants and &onsidered it %ene7i&ial 7or a 7ew %i( =a6indars and not the tenants1 He de6anded a 7ull re ision o7 the whole re enue syste6) whi&h) a&&ordin( to "andhi) was desi(ned to &rush the +oor1 He showed indi(nation o er the salt ta@ whi&h he re(arded as an e@tra %urden u+on the +oor1 He in7or6ed the ?i&eroy that on 11 Aar&h he would %e +ro&eedin( alon( with the in6ates o7 the !shra6 to %rea8 the Salt 'aw1 He re(arded the salt ta@ to %e the E6ost iniCuitous o7 all 7ro6 the +oor 6anBs stand+ointB19 .n 12 Aar&h 1930) "andhi alon( with se enty ei(ht satya(rahis set out 7ro6 Sa%ar6ati !shra6) !h6eda%ad) towards *andi) a Do6%ay &oastline a%out 250 6iles away) whi&h they &o ered in a%out 7our wee8s1 ;he (rou+ o7 se enty nine satya(rahis) in&ludin( "andhi) &o6+rised +eo+le 7ro6 arious so&ial %a&8< (rounds in&ludin( s&holars) Hournalists) untou&ha%les) Ausli6s and wea ers and %elon(ed to di77erent a(e (rou+s1 ;he oldest one was a 41<year<old leader and the youn(est one was a %oy o7 si@teen1 ;he histori& 6ar&h to *andi was a uniCue e@+eri6ent) whi&h attra&ted 6any +eo+le1 ;hrou(hout the way "andhi +rea&hed non< iolen&e and in7or6ed the &urious illa(ers o7 the 6eanin( o7 SwaraH110 .n 4 !+ril they rea&hed *andi and i66ediately %ro8e the Salt 'aw E%y +i&8in( u+ a lu6+ o7 salt 6i@ed with 6udB111 .n this o&&asion in an inter iew to the 9ree $ress o7 /ndia) "andhi announ&ed that
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4%id1) 3311 NehruBs $residential !ddress) "on*ress +residential Addresses) 9021 7 D1F1 Nanda) &ahat'a -andhi: A 6io*ra0hy (*elhi0 .@7ord Uni ersity $ress) 1938)) 2911 8 "andhi to 'ord /rwin) 2 Aar&h 1930) "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi, 23444) 31 9 4%id1) 71 10 Judith A1 Drown) -andhi7+risoner o/ Ho0e) 2371 Aore details &an %e seen in ;ho6as ,e%er) 5n the Salt &arch: !he Historio*ra0hy o/ &ahat'a -andhi8s &arch to $andi (New *elhi0 Fu+a L -o1) 2009)1 11 "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi, 23444) 1991
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Now that a te&hni&al or &ere6onial %rea&h o7 the salt law has %een &o66itted) it is now o+en to anyone who would ta8e the ris8 o7 +rose&ution under the salt law to 6anu7a&< ture salt where er he wishes and where er it is &on enient1 Ay ad i&e is that a wor8er should e erywhere 6anu7a&ture salt and where he 8nows how to +re+are &lean salt should 6a8e use o7 it and instru&t illa(ers to do li8ewise) tellin( the illa(ers at the sa6e ti6e that he runs the ris8 o7 %ein( +rose&utedK12
S+ea8in( on their 7uture &ourse o7 a&tion) he re6ar8ed that

;hose who are now en(a(ed in this sa&red wor8 should de ote the6sel es to i(orous +ro+a(anda 7or %oy&ott o7 7orei(n &loth and use o7 8haddar1 ;hey should also endea our to 6anu7a&ture as 6u&h 8haddar as +ossi%le1 !s to this and +rohi%ition o7 liCuor / a6 +re+arin( a 6essa(e 7or the wo6en o7 /ndia who) / a6 %e&o6in( 6ore and 6ore &on< in&ed) &an 6a8e a lar(er &ontri%ution than the 6en towards the attain6ent o7 inde+enden&e113
He 7urther ad ised the -on(ress wor8ers the 7olllowin(0

'et e ery illa(e 7et&h or 6anu7a&ture &ontra%and salt1 Sisters should +i&8et liCuor sho+s) o+iu6 dens and 7orei(n &loth dealersB sho+s1 Moun( and old in e ery ho6e should +ly the ta1li and s+in) and (et wo en) hea+s o7 yarn e ery day1 9orei(n &loth should %e %urnt1 Hindus should es&hew untou&ha%ility1 Hindus) Aussal6ans) Si8hs) $arsis) and -hristians should all a&hie e heart unity1 'et the 6aHority rest &ontent with what re6ains a7ter the 6inorities ha e %een satis7ied1 'et students lea e "o ern6ent s&hools and &ol< le(es) and "o ern6ent ser ants resi(n their ser i&e and de ote the6sel es to ser i&e o7 the +eo+le) and we shall 7ind that $urna SwaraH will &o6e 8no&8in( at our door115
;he Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent tried to %elittle the i6+a&t o7 the &i il dis< o%edien&e 6o e6ent1 ;he *istri&t !d6inistration was (i en the res+onsi%ility o7 tourin( the illa(es throu(h whi&h the Salt Aar&h Satya(rahis had +assed Eto re+air the da6a(e and to i6+ro e the 6orale o7 the loyalistsB1 13 /n the last wee8 o7 Aar&h) re+orted Nanda) the %io(ra+her o7 "andhi) the -entral "o ern6ent issued the instru&tions to the +ro in&ial (o ern6ents to show 6a@i6u6 restraint and to a oid wholesale arrests1 ;hey were 7urther ad ised not to enter into dire&t &on7rontation with the +rotestin( -on(ress wor8ers and to arrest the leaders only1 ;his will surely dis&oura(e the -on(ress wor8ers and will also disor(ani=e the 6o e6ent1 /n so6e &ases i7 the "o ern6ent was &o6+elled under the &ir&u6< stan&es to use 7or&e) they should use the 6ini6u6 +ossi%le 7or&e %e&ause the use o7 %rutal 7or&e will &reate sy6+athy a6on( the (eneral +u%li& 7or the -on(ress or(ani=ation and the de6onstrators114 Dut the attitude o7 the "o ern6ent did
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/nter iew to the 9ree $ress o7 /ndia) 4 !+ril 1930) 4%id1 4%id1 15 Aessa(e to the Nation) 9 !+ril 1930) i%id1) 2131 13 Nanda) &ahat'a -andhi: A 6io*ra0hy) 2941
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4%id1
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not re6ain the sa6e1 ,ith the (rowth o7 the 6o e6ent) it &han(ed its +oli&y1 /n Aar&h and !+ril) the +ro6inent leaders o7 -on(ress in&ludin( Jawaharlal Nehru) Sardar ?alla%h%hai $atel) -1 FaHa(o+ala&hari) $andit Aadan Aohan Aala iya) J1A1 Sen "u+ta) D1"1 :her) :1A1 Aunshi) *e adas "andhi) Aahade *esai and ?ithal%hai $atel were arrested and +ut into arious +risons1 9inally) "andhi was also arrested on the ni(ht o7 523 Aay under the Do6%ay Fe(ulations PP? o7 1827 and +ut into Mera da +rison in $oona117 Unli8e the +re ious o&&asions the Ausli6sB res+onse to the &all o7 &i il dis< o%edien&e 6o e6ent was lu8ewar61 "andhi did not attra&t the sa6e nu6%er o7 Ausli6s to 7ollow hi6 whi&h he did +re iously1 He 7ailed to 6o%ili=e a %i( nu6< %er o7 Ausli6s to Hoin hi6 a(ainst the Dritish (o ern6ent1 ;he +arti&i+ation o7 the Ausli6s was insi(ni7i&ant1 #@&e+t in the N,9$) an o erwhel6in( Ausli6 6aHority +ro in&e) whi&h would %e dis&ussed later on se+arately) the /ndian Ausli6s as a whole see6ed to %e un6o ed %y the "andhian &all1 "andhi did not su&&eed in 6o%ili=in( the Ausli6s in Den(al and the $unHa%) the two Ausli6 6aHority +ro in&es) to Hoin hi6 a(ainst the Dritish /ndian (o ern6ent1 !&&ordin( to Drown) %y 6iddle o7 No e6%er (1930) out o7 a total o7 29)000 +risoners only 1)000 were Ausli6s118 Dut it is not &lear whether this nu6%er also in&ludes the Ausli6s %elon(in( to the N,9$ or whether this is the o erall nu6%er o7 the Ausli6s who were i6+risoned %y the &olonial ad6inistration 7or ta8in( +art in the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 Sin&e the ado+tion o7 the Nehru Fe+ort (!u(ust 1928)) 6any +ro6inent Ausli6s de elo+ed distrust o7 the -on(ress +oli&ies119 ;he situation 7urther a((ra ated when the -on(ress leadershi+ announ&ed that the issue o7 &o66u< nal settle6ent would %e sus+ended until the attain6ent o7 $urna SwaraH1 SwaraH) a&&ordin( to the +ro6inent -on(ress leaders was to %e a&hie ed %y the &i il dis< o%edien&e 6o e6ent) Ea 6o e6ent in whi&h the Ausli6s were not li8ely to 7i(ure +ro6inently) and e en i7 it were a&hie ed %y that 6ethod) it was unli8ely that it would result in a &o66unal settle6ent to their ad anta(eB1 20 ;his resulted e en< tually in the resi(nations o7 +ro6inent Ausli6s 7ro6 arious +ositions in the -on(ress1 ;hose who tendered resi(nations 7ro6 their +ositions in&luded A1!1 !nsari) -houdhri :haliCu==a6an and ;assaduC !h6ad :han Sherwani1 !nsari warned "andhi a &ou+le o7 6onths %e7ore the laun&hin( o7 the intended &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent that he was ta8in( a E(reat res+onsi%ilityB on hi6sel7 %y de&larin( war a(ainst the (o ern6ent1 He &o6+ared the situation with the
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Drown) -andhi: +risoner o/ Ho0e) 238> Nanda) &ahat'a -andhi: A 6io*ra0hy) 297> ,e%er) 5n the Salt &arch) 574851 18 Drown) -andhi +risoner o/ Ho0e) 2531 19 9or details) see *a id $a(e) +relude to +artition: !he 4ndian &usli's and the 4'0erial Syste' o/ "ontrol 1920 1932 (*elhi0 .@7ord Uni ersity $ress) 1982)) 148951
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4%id) 2371
!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent HinduAusli6 unity in 1920 and ter6ed it the E'owest water6ar8B in the Hindu< Ausli6 relations121 He in7or6ed the Aahat6a that
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111it is 6y &on i&tion that the &ountry is not at least ready 7or startin( a &a6+ai(n o7 &i il diso%edien&e in any sha+e or 7or6) and it would do an in&al&ula%le da6a(e should you de&ide to e6%ar8 on su&h a &a6+ai(n now or in the near 7uture122
"andhi res+onded i66ediately and stated that0

/ a(ree that the HinduAusli6 +ro%le6 is the +ro%le6 o7 +ro%le6s1 Dut / 7eel that it has to %e a++roa&hed in a di77erent 6anner 7ro6 the one we ha e hitherto ado+tedJ not at +resent %y adHust6ents o7 the +oliti&al +owers %ut %y one or the other a&tin( on the sCuare under all &ir&u6stan&es1 "i e and ta8e is +ossi%le only when there is so6e trust %etween the res+e&ti e &o66unities and their re+resentati es1 /7 the -on(ress &an &o6< 6and su&h trust the 6atter &an +ro&eed 7urther) not %e7ore1 ;he -on(ress &an do so only %y %e&o6in( 7earless and stri&tly Hust1 Dut 6eanwhile the third +artyJthe e il Dritish +owerJhas (ot to %e sterilised1 ;here will %e no &harter o7 inde+enden&e %e7ore the Hindus and the Ausli6s ha e 6et %ut there &an %e irtual inde+enden&e %e7ore the &harter is re&ei ed1 Hen&e 6ust &i il diso%edien&e %e 7or(ed 7ro6 day to day %y those who %elie e that there is no es&a+e 7ro6 non< iolen&e and that iolen&e will ne er %rin( 7reedo6 to /ndia123
-h1 :haliCu==a6an) another +ro6inent Ausli6 7ro6 U$) showed indi(nation o er "andhiBs re+ly and ter6ed it Edisa++ointin(B1 !&&ordin( to hi6)
U+til now we thou(ht HinduAusli6 unity was the +illar o er whi&h the su+erstru&ture o7 the &onstitution o7 7ree /ndia was to %e laid) %ut 7ro6 Aahat6aHiBs letter one &an in7er that while re&o(nisin( the utility o7 su&h a unity he does not &onsider it sine qua non 7or a 7i(ht 7or inde+enden&e1 /7 we a&&e+t the 7or6ula) laid down therein we indire&tly +ro&lai6 to the Ausli6 &o66unity to 7ind its &ha6+ions in +eo+le who %elie e that &o66unalis6 in /ndia is a 7a&t1 No one &an deny that in ti6e to &o6e nationalis6 would (row and en elo+ e ery one o7 its sonsJHindus and Ausli6s) %ut that would &ertainly reCuire a(es125
.n the 7orth&o6in( &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent) he &o66ented that

!s 7or Aahat6aHiBs &i il diso%edien&e +ro(ra66e) to tell you the truth) / ha e not %een a%le to understand it) 6u&h less a++re&iate it1 / a6 ery (lad you ha e 6ade your +osi< tion &lear in the 6atter1 No one &an now say that you 7orsa8e the6 when the ti6e
21
A1!1 !nsari to A1:1 "andhi) 13 9e%ruary 1930) in Aushirul Hasan) ed1) &usli's and the "on*ress: Select "orres0ondence o/ $r9 &9 A9 Ansari 1912 193: (New *elhi0 Aanohar $u%li&ations) 1979)) 991 22 4%id1) 1001 23 A1:1 "andhi to A1 !1 !nsari) 14 9e%ruary 1930) 4%id9) 1011
25
-houdhry :haliCu==a6an to A1 !1 !nsari) 1 Aar&h 1930) 4%id1
95

&a6eK1'et us ho+e we are 7alse +ro+hets) %ut to all intents and +ur+oses the &ourse ado+ted is doo6ed to 7ailure123
!7ter (oin( throu(h the iews) e@+ressed %y !nsari and :haliCu==a6an) one &an easily dedu&e why the Ausli6s in (eneral and their +ro6inent leaders in +arti&ular stayed away and showed a lu8ewar6 attitude to the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent laun&hed %y "andhi1 *urin( the &ourse o7 the 6o e6ent) Aaulana Shau8at !li) elder o7 the 7a6ous !li Drothers) ter6ed it a 6o e6ent not 7or SwaraH %ut 7or Hindu FaH and a(ainst the Aussal6ans24 and ad ised the6 to stay away 7ro6 it1 He &o6+lained why he was not &onsulted %y "andhi %e7ore e6%ar8in( on the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 "andhi re+lied that there was no sense in &onsultation with hi6 %e&ause he 8new that they had di77erent iews on su&h issues1 He also +ointed out to Shau8at !li that
-an you not see that) althou(h / 6ay a&t inde+endently o7 you) it 6i(ht not a6ount to desertionI Ay &ons&ien&e is &lear1 / ha e deserted neither you nor the Aussal6ans1 ,here is the desertion in 7i(htin( a(ainst the salt ta@ and other ineCuities and 7i(htin( 7or inde+enden&eI27
"andhi reiterated it ti6e and a(ain that the re+eal o7 salt ta@ will %ene7it e ery /ndian irres+e&ti e o7 their %elon(in( to any &aste) &o66unity or reli(ion1 "andhi 6ade an e6otional a++eal to the Ausli6s to su++ort the -on(ress in eradi&ation o7 salt ta@) %oy&ott o7 7orei(n &loth and +i&8etin( the liCuor sho+s1 He 6ade it a%undantly &lear that Ethis 6o e6ent o7 sel7<+uri7i&ation is not a 6ono+oly o7 any &o66unity) and wish that all +eo+le should heartily Hoin itB128 9ollowin( the histori& de&ision ta8en at the 'ahore -on(ress) 24 January 1930 was o%ser ed as the E/nde+enden&e *ayB throu(hout /ndia1 /n &on7or6ity
23 24
4%id9) 111121 E,hat /t is NotB) A1:1 "andhi) ;oun* 4ndia) 12 Aar&h 1930> "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi, 23444) 331 27 "andhi to Shau8at !li) 17 !+ril 1930) -andhi "ollected Wor1s, 23444) 2811 28 "andhiBs S+ee&h at Fander) 1 Aay 1930) "ollected Wor1s o/ &ahat'a -andhi, 23444) 3731 "andhi 6ade the 7ollowin( &o6+assionate a++eal to the Ausli6s0
/ a++eal to Ausli6 7riends to reali=e that at +resent we ha e e6%ar8ed u+on a 6o e6ent o7 sel7<+uri7i&ation1 ;he ti6e has not yet &o6e to di ide the (ains a6on( oursel es1 ,hen that ti6e &o6es) we shall de&ide the share o7 ea&h1 /7 it is our 6is7ortune to 7i(ht then) we shall 7i(ht it out1 Dut +ersonally / %elie e that when that day &o6es) there will %e no need 7or us to 7i(ht1 ;here will %e no &ause then 7or 6utual distrust or 7ear1 !t +resent our 7i(ht is dire&ted 6ainly a(ainst the salt ta@1 Su&h a ta@ is 7or%idden in /sla61 Salt is a ne&essity 7or all1 ;he 6aHority o7 Hindus and Ausli6s are +oor +eo+le and the %urden o7 the ta@ 7alls on the61 /n Fander) howe er) we ha e 6il< lionaires and 6ulti<6illionaires1 ;hey &an see the 7a&ts i7 only they (o with 6e into illa(es1 .ur se&ond tas8 is to %anish 7orei(n &loth1 # eryone &an see 7ro6 the a&&ounts o7 the S+innersB !sso&iation that %e&ause o7 this 6o e6ent we +ay thousands o7 ru+ees to Ausli6 wo6en and wea ers1 ;he lar(e nu6%ers o7 wo6en in ?iHay+ur who earn a li in( throu(h this wor8 and %less 6e are all Ausli6s1 ;hese +oor wo6en ha e o7ten we+t when 6y wor8ers &ould not su++ly the6 enou(h sli ers1
93
with other +arts o7 /ndia) des+ite ha in( li6ited nu6%er o7 re(istered -on(ress wor8ers) the 9rontier $ro in&ial -on(ress -o66ittee also de&ided to o%ser e it in $eshawar1 Howe er) little interest was shown %y the lo&al +eo+le and %e&ause o7 the s6all nu6%er o7 the -on(ress wor8ers) the +ro in&ial authorities too8 no a&tion a(ainst the6129 ;he ne@t ste+ was non<+ay6ent o7 ta@es1 ;he lo&al &ha+ters were authori=ed %y the -entral or(ani=ation to do in an a++ro+riate and or(ani=ed 6anner Ewhere e er and whene er it &onsiders desira%leB130 ;he +ro6inent leaders o7 the +ro in&ial -on(ress and the re&ently 7or6ed NauHawan Dharat Sa%ha) !(ha Syed 'al Dadshah) Aaulana !%dur Fahi6 $o+al=ai) :han Air Hilali) *r1 -1-1 "hosh) "hula6 Fa%%ani Sethi) Fahi6 Da8hsh "ha=na i) Sano%ar Hussain) !%dur Fah6an Fiya) Foshan 'al and 'ala $aira :han) 6et in $eshawar to de ise the strate(y 7or the ne@t round o7 &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 /t was resol ed to start the %oy&ott o7 the 7orei(n &loth and +i&8etin( o7 liCuor sho+s si6ultaneously131 /t was also dis&ussed how to attra&t 6ore +eo+le to their intended &i il diso%edien&e1 ;hey de&ided to in ite !%dul "ha77ar :han and the :hudai :hid6at(ars to su++ort their 6o e6ent1 Aeanwhile) on 3 !+ril) a dele(ation o7 the lo&al traders dealin( with the liCuor %usiness 6et the -on(ress leaders and reCuested the6 to (rant the6 7i7teen days to dis+ose o7 the e@istin( sto&81 ;hey +ro6ised that in 7uture they would not trade in liCuor1 .n 7 !+ril) the lo&al -on(ress -o66ittee in7or6ed the liCuor &ontra&tors that their reCuest has %een a&&e+ted and the +i&8etin( has %een +ost+oned till 23 !+ril132 De7ore +ro&eedin( 7urther it is +ertinent to +ro ide so6e details o7 the lo&al -on(ress leadershi+1 Unli8e other +arts o7 the &ountry) in the 9rontier $ro in&e the &entre o7 +ower +oliti&s re6ained the rural areas1 ;he traditional 8inshi+ ties
;he third tas8 is eradi&ation o7 the drin8 e il1 /n whi&h reli(ion is drin8in( not 7or%iddenI /n the &ourse o7 6y li7e / ha e 6i@ed a (reat deal with Ausli6s and attended 6any dinners (i en %y Ausli6 hosts1 Ausli6s &annot %ut Hoin the 6o e6ent 7or %anishin( liCuor and other into@i&ants 7ro6 the &ountry1 !re those 6ill wor8ers not Ausli6s who +i&8et liCuor %ooths in !h6eda%ad and +lead with +ro+rietors and drin8<addi&ts) +atiently su%6it< tin( to assaults and a%usesI ;his is a "odBs wor81 He alone &an do it who is ready to sa&ri7i&e his li7e 7or it1 .nly he who is ready to di e into the sea &an %rin( u+ +earls 7ro6 it1 / only %e( 6y Ausli6 &lients and other Ausli6s to reali=e that this 6o e6ent 7or sel7<+uri7i&ation is not a 6ono+oly o7 any &o66unity) and wish that all +eo+le should heartily Hoin it1 ,e will see a7terwards how to share the (ains when the "o ern6ent as8s us what we want1 Ay +ro+he&y a%out that day) howe er) is that we shall then no lon(er thin8 it ne&essary to 7i(ht) that one %rother will in ite another to ta8e anythin( he wants1 ,e shall then ha e no%ility a6on( us and the %ar(ainin( s+irit will ha e disa++eared1 ,e ha e to do this wor8 in "odBs na6e) in the na6e o7 the +oor1 'et all the &o66unities hel+ in it and let the town o7 Fander) too) (i e all the hel+ it &an and %rin( (lory to its 7air na6e1 (4%id1) 37375)
29
ESu66ary o7 $oliti&al Situation in the N<,9$B) "4$ <e0orts) S+e&ial Dran&h $eshawar) 1 9e%ruary 1930) 1331 30 "on*ress +residential Addresses) 9001 31 !%dul :haliC :haleeC) $a A=adi .an* sa Auradeli sa 3eedali ($ashto) ($eshawar0 /dara /shaat i Sarhad) 1972)) 471
32
<e0ort (With >#idence) o/ the +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee (!llaha%ad0 1930)) 471
94
ser ed as the %est tool 7or the +o+ularity o7 a &ertain indi idual in a +arti&ular lo&ality1 'i8e 6any other tri%al so&ieties o7 the world) the traditional $ashtoon so&iety 7o&used on the leadershi+ Cualities o7 the indi iduals 8ee+in( in iew their su++ort %ase and their %elon(in( to well<esta%lished tri%es1 ;he stren(th o7 the leader 6ostly de+ended u+on the nu6%er o7 his su++orters1 !lthou(h no one &an deny the role o7 &haris6a o7 an indi idual) the tri%al lin8s ser ed as the 6ost i6+ortant 7a&tor in the whole +ro&ess1 Hen&e the 7ailure o7 the $eshawar<%ased ur%an -on(ress +oliti&ians to attra&t lar(e &rowds to their +oliti&al (atherin(s1 *es+ite their e@&ellent leadershi+ Cualities) e en the %est o7 the ur%an lead< ers &ould not &on in&e the 6aHority rural +o+ulation to su++ort the6 in the intended -on(ress &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent and hen&e they de+ended u+on !%dul "ha77ar :han to +ro ide the6 the reCuired stren(th and su++ort 7or the 7orth&o6in( &i il diso%edien&e to %e laun&hed in $eshawar1 ;he annual 6eetin( o7 the !=ad S&hool) Ut6an=ai was held on 1920 !+ril 1930) attended %y 6e6%ers o7 :hudai :hid6at(ar and its a77iliated or(ani=ations and %y a lar(e nu6%er o7 +eo+le1 De7ore +ro idin( 7urther details o7 the a++eal o7 the lo&al -on(ress wor8ers and its a&&e+tan&e %y the :hudai :hid6at(ars) it is a++ro+riate to (i e a %rie7 a&&ount o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars and their relation with the lo&al -on(ress1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ars e6er(ed as a +ower7ul +oliti&al 7or&e in the 1920s1 !%dul "ha77ar :han (18901988)) a so&ial wor8er 7ro6 one o7 the in7luential :han 7a6ilies o7 Ut6an=ai (-harsadda)) had started ta8in( 8een interest in the re7or6 6o e6ent o7 HaHi 9a=li ,ahid) +o+ularly 8nown as the HaHi Sahi% o7 ;uran(=ai1 ;hey &on&entrated on reli(ious and so&ial re7or6s1 ;hey were deadly a(ainst illitera&y and ai6ed at +ro idin( edu&ation) %oth 6odern and reli< (ious to the $ashtoons1 9or this +ur+ose 6any A=ad &adrassas were esta%lished in arious +arts o7 the $eshawar ?alley1 Howe er) the Dritish &ould not tolerate these ste+s and soon HaHi Sahi% was 7or&ed to lea e the settled areas and with his de+arture to the tri%al areas) all su&h &adaris &eased to e@ist1 !%dul "ha77ar :han a&ti ely +arti&i+ated in %oth :hila7at and HiHrat 6o e6ents133 !7ter the %it< ter e@+erien&e o7 the HiHrat 6o e6ent) he &on&entrated on $ashtoon +oliti&s1 He 6et li8e<6inded +eo+le and dis&ussed with the6 the 6isera%le &ondition o7 the $ashtoon so&iety1 !%dul "ha77ar :han tried his %est to &on in&e the6 that they should wor8 to(ether 7ro6 a sin(le +lat7or6 7or the re7or6ation o7 the $ashtoon so&iety) to whi&h they a(reed1 ;heir &o6%ined e77orts resulted in the 7or6ation o7 An)u'an?i?4slah?al? A/a*hana (So&iety 7or the Fe7or6ation o7 the !7(hans)1 .n 1 !+ril 1921) the 7or6al 7or6ation o7 the An)u'an was announ&ed and !%dul "ha77ar :han %e&a6e its +resident1 ;he 6ain o%He&ti es o7 the An)u'an in&luded the eradi&ation o7 so&ial e ils) +ro6otion o7 edu&ation and unity a6on(st
33
9or details see Sayed ,iCar !li Shah) EN<,9$ and the :hila7at and HiHrat Ao e6entsB) "entral Asia) no1 20 (1987)) 12151> A1 Naee6 Gureshi) +an?4sla' in 6ritish 4ndia: !he +olitics o/ the @hila/at &o#e'ent 1918 192A (:ara&hi0 .@7ord Uni ersity $ress) 2009)1
97
the $ashtoons and en&oura(e6ent o7 $ashto lan(ua(e and literature135 Side %y side with the An)u'an) they de&ided to 7o&us u+on the edu&ational a&ti ities and re i ed the old networ8 o7 the !=ad Aadaris1 /n !+ril 1921) the 7irst %ran&h o7 !=ad S&hool was o+ened in Ut6an=ai) 7ollowed %y other %ran&hes in di77erent +arts o7 the $ro in&e133 Sin&e the details o7 the !=ad S&hools and its i6+a&t u+on the $ashtoons is out o7 the s&o+e o7 the +resent resear&h) / will &on7ine 6ysel7 to the 7or6ation o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ar or(ani=ation 7or6ed %y !%dul "ha77ar :han) su++orted %y the sa6e (rou+ o7 $ashtoon intelli(entsia who were o&al in the re7or6ation o7 the $ashtoon so&iety sin&e 19211 !&tually they started with the settin( u+ o7 Bal'o .ir*a (Mouth 'ea(ue) on the +attern o7 other si6ilar or(ani=ations li8e the Moun( ;ur8s) Moun( !7(hans) et& %ut later on to a&&o66odate the older +eo+le in No e6%er 1929 they 7or6ed the :hudai :hid6at(ar (Ser ants o7 "od) 6o e< 6ent1 Desides +ro6otion o7 $ashto) their 6ain o%He&ti es in&luded the attain6ent o7 inde+enden&e 7or Hindustan 7ro6 &olonial rule) throu(h +ea&e7ul 6eans) +ro< 6otion o7 har6ony %etween Hindus and Ausli6s and the +oliti&al awa8enin( o7 the $ashtoon youth134 ,ithin a short s+an o7 ti6e it %e&a6e ery +o+ular +arti&u< larly in the rural areas) whi&h were ne(le&ted %y other or(ani=ations in the +ast1 /ts insisten&e u+on the $ashtoon identity and ado+tion o7 non< iolen&e attra&ted 6any +eo+le to its 7old1 ;here were so6e other 7a&tors) (i en %elow) whi&h &ontri%uted to its +o+ularity1
?arious se&tions o7 the $ashtoon so&iety inter+reted the :hudai :hid6at(ar +ro(ra66e in their own way1 ;o the $ashtoon intelli(entsia) it was a 6o e6ent 7or the re i al o7 $ashtoon &ulture with its distin&t identity1 ;o the s6aller :hans) it was a 6o e6ent that de6anded +oliti&al re7or6s 7or the +ro in&e that would en7ran&hise the6 and (i e the6 a (reater role in (o ernan&e1 /ts anti<&olonial stand suited the 6aHority o7 the anti< esta%lish6ent ule6a) who always re(arded Dritish rule in the su%&ontinent as a E&urseB1 9or the +easants and other +oor &lasses it was a(ainst their e&ono6i& o++ressors) Dritish i6+erialis6 and its a(entsJthe +ro<Dritish Nawa%s) :han Dahadurs and the %i( :hans137
!s +er the de&ision o7 the $eshawar -on(ress -o66ittee) !(ha 'al Dadshah) !li "ul :han) :ari6 Da8hsh Sethi) !(ha Jan Aoha66ad and 'ala Us6an also went to Ut6an=ai to +arti&i+ate in it138 ;hey were in ited %y the or(ani=ers o7 the 6eetin( to s+ea8 to the audien&e1 ;hey 6ade a 7er ent a++eal to the +arti&i+ants o7 the 6eetin( and ur(ed the6 to su++ort the6 a(ainst the Dritish i6+erialis6 and Hoin in the intended &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent to %e &o66en&ed on 23 !+ril1
35
Sayed ,iCar !li Shah) >thnicity 4sla' and Cationalis': &usli' +olitics in the Corth?West ,rontier +ro#ince 1937 19A7 (:ara&hi0 .@7ord Uni ersity $ress) 1999)) 22231 33 4%id9) 231 34 4%id9) 241 37 4%id9) 27281
38
!h6ad) @hudai @hid'at*ar !ehree1 4 ($ashto) ($eshawar0 Uni ersity Doo8 !(en&y) 1991)) 1811
98
;he :hudai :hid6at(ars and other olunteers +resent on the o&&asion +led(ed their +arti&i+ation to %olster the &i il diso%edien&e a(ainst the FaH139
"pril $3% 1930& Massacre at #issa #hani 'a(aar% Peshawar

23 !+ril 1930 is a 6ilestone in the 7reedo6 stru((le o7 the $ashtoon8hwa1 ;his day &reated 6yths) sy6%ols) heroes and sa(as1 E San !ees ShaheedanB (Aartyrs o7 Nineteen ;hirty) enHoys a ery res+e&ta%le and +ro6inent +la&e in the +ro in&eBs history1 ;he in&ident has %een hi(hli(hted %y 6any +ro6inent +oets %oth in $ashto) Urdu and other lan(ua(es1 ;he 7o&us o7 these +oets re6ained on the atro&< ities &o66itted %y the Dritish "o ern6ent and the details o7 how the +eo+le o7 the $ashtoon8hwa 7a&ed it with resilien&e1 Sur+risin(ly) no &o66unal &olour was (i en to it and always was treated as a Hoint stru((le o7 all &o66unities li in( in the +ro in&e a(ainst the i6+erialists to +ro&ure their 7reedo6 7ro6 the alien rul< ers1 Aostly) in the narration o7 the ESan !eesB e ents) these +oets 7o&ussed on the su++ression and %rutalities o7 the "o ern6ent and the su77erin(s o7 the 9rontier inha%itants1 ;o arouse the +u%li& senti6ents e en in the +resent ti6es) the leaders %elon(in( to di77erent wal8s o7 li7e always re7er to the sa&ri7i&es o7 the Shuhada i Dissa @hani (the Aartyrs o7 Gissa :hani) who ulti6ately won the6 7reedo6 and are re6indin( +eo+le to 7ollow their 7ootste+s in &oura(e) 7or%earan&e) de7i< an&e and stead7astness1 Un7ortunately) outside the +ro in&e) it did not attra&t 6any readers and was not treated at +ar with 13 !+ril (1919) another un7or(etta%le day in /ndian history when 6any /ndians were %rutally 8illed in Jallianwala Da(h) !6ritsar ($unHa%)1 De7ore turnin( to the e ents o7 23 !+ril) it is +ertinent to 6en< tion that the -olonial ad6inistration +ro ided a 7alse 7i(ure o7 the &asualties in $eshawar1 !&&ordin( to the o77i&ial esti6ates) a%out 7orty +eo+le were 8illed and around the sa6e nu6%er were inHured1 ;he a&tual nu6%er o7 %oth dead and inHured was 7ar hi(her1 !7ter %est e77orts to &olle&t the a&&urate in7or6ation 7ro6 arious +u%lished and un+u%lished sour&es / +la&e the esti6ate at around two hundred thirty 8illed and 6ore than 7i e hundred inHured1 .n 22 !+ril the 6e6%ers o7 the -on(ress -o66ittee *r Syed Aah6ud) *r Sai7uddin :it&hlew and 'ala *uni&hand) who were de+uted %y the &entral or(ani=ation to inCuire into the o++ressi e 6easures o7 the "o ern6ent in the 9rontier $ro in&e) were +re&luded 7ro6 enterin( the +ro in&e1 50 ,hen the news rea&hed $eshawar) it worsened 7urther the already tense situation in the &ity1 ;o +rotest the (o ern6ent +re ention order) the lo&al -on(ress wor8ers too8 out a +ro&ession whi&h &ul6inated in a +u%li& 6eetin( at Shahi Da(h) $eshawar1 !l6ost all the +ro6inent leaders o7 the -on(ress and NauHawan Dharat Sa%ha
39
9ull details &an %e seen in :haleeC, $a A=adi .an*) 4344> !h6ad) @hudai @hid'at*ar !ehree1) 181193> and !%dul !8%ar :han !8%ar) $a 6arri Sa*hir +a1 au Hind +ashto A=aadi 1e da +a1htano 6ar1ha ($ashto)) ($eshawar0 Uni ersity $u%lishers) 2009)) 95981
50
Shah) >thnicity, 4sla' and Cationalis', 321
99
re(istered their +rotest %y &onde6nin( the (o ern6ent a&t and announ&ed that they would sti&8 to the de&ision o7 +i&8etin( 7ro6 23 !+ril1 ;o a oid +u%li& +rotest and +i&8etin() the "o ern6ent de&ided to arrest the +ro6inent lo&al leaders1 !lthou(h the "o ern6ent did not ta8e any a&tion a(ainst the lo&al -on(ress leaders) they were 8e+t under stri&t sur eillan&e sin&e "andhi laun&hed his Salt Satya(raha1 ;he authorities were aware o7 the &lose asso&iation o7 so6e o7 the -on(ress wor8ers with !%dul "ha77ar :han and were a %it +ertur%ed o er the :hudai :hid6at(arsB +led(e o7 7ull su++ort to the +lanned +i&8etin( o7 the liCuor sho+s1 .la7 -aroe) a Dritish o77i&er then +osted in $eshawar) re+orted that to a ert unrest in the rural areas o7 the +ro in&e) the authorities 7urther resol ed to also arrest all +ro6inent leaders o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ar or(ani=ation151 .n the ni(ht %etween 22 and 23 !+ril) nine52 +ro6inent -on(ress and Sa%ha leaders were arrested and ta8en to Dala Hissar 9ort1 ;wo 6e6%ers o7 the re&ently 7or6ed ,ar -oun&il) !llah Da8hsh DarCi and "hula6 Fa%%ani Sethi) es&a+ed arrest durin( ni(ht and de&ided to surrender +ea&e7ully to the authorities in the 6ornin(1 .n 23 !+ril) around 9 oB&lo&8) the a7ore6entioned leaders were arrested 7ro6 the -on(ress o77i&e and were ta8en to the :a%uli !hana (+oli&e station)1 Aeanwhile) the news o7 the arrest o7 the national wor8ers s+read in the &ity1 $eo+le in lar(e nu6%ers (athered in 7ront o7 the -on(ress o77i&e and started rais< in( slo(ans o7 E'on( 'i e Fe olutionB and E&ahat'a -andhi 1i .eyB1 ;hey were e@&ited and an(ry to see their leaders in +oli&e &ustody1 ;he leaders ad ised the6 to re6ain &al6 and 6o e towards the :a%uli ;hana1 .n its way) a tyre o7 the lorry &arryin( the +risoners (ot +un&tured1 No one &an say +re&isely whether it was %y an a&&ident or so6eone 7ro6 the &rowd did it intentionally1 !lauddin Shah) the su%<ins+e&tor o7 +oli&e) was a%out to &all another lorry when the arrested leaders reCuested that they would surrender to the authorities in the :a%uli ;hana o7 their own a&&ord and they should %e let loose1 ;he su%< ins+e&tor) who was o%ser < in( the situation &losely) sensin( the (ra ity o7 the situation and the 6ood o7 the &rowd) rou(hly esti6ated a%out ei(ht hundred) i66ediately a(reed to the +ro+osal and le7t the s&ene1 ;he &har(ed %ut unar6ed and +ea&e7ul +ro&ession rea&hed the :a%uli ;hana and &ontinued raisin( slo(ans in su++ort o7 their leaders and "andhi1 ;he su%<ins+e&tor a++ealed to the &rowd to dis+erse +ea&e7ully1 ;he leaders went inside the ;hana and the &rowd started dis+ersin( %ut still raisin( the slo(ans o7 E-andhi 1i .ey8 and E4nqila% Binda 6ad)B53 while all o7 a sudden an ar6oured &ar &a6e runnin( at a (reat s+eed and without %lowin( horn or raisin( any other 8ind o7 alar6) rushed into the &rowd) in 7ront o7 the ;hana) and &rushed twel e to 7ourteen +eo+le under its wheels1 Se en +eo+le were 8illed on the s+ot while
51
.la7 -aroe) ES+rin( o7 #n&hant6entB (un+u%lished 6anus&ri+t)) -aroe $a+ers) Ass1 #UF1) as Cuoted in Shah) >thnicity, 4sla' and Cationalis') 321 52 ;he arrested +ersons in&luded Syed 'al Dadshah) Aaulana !%dur Fahi6 $o+al=ai) !&hraH Fa6 "hu6andi) !li "ul :han) :han Air Hilali) Fahi6 Da8hsh "ha=na i) !%dur Fah6an Fiya) 'ala $aira :han and !%dur Fashid SiddiCui1
53
"on*ress >nquiry "o''ittee) 71
100
the re6ainin( was le7t seriously inHured155 ;his was the 7irst o7 the 7our ar6oured &ars &alled %y H1!1 Aet&al7) the *e+uty -o66issioner o7 $eshawar) who was alar6ed at the +resen&e o7 a %i( &rowd in 7ront o7 the :a%uli ;hana1 He +ro%a%ly wron(ly +er&ei ed their +resen&e as an atta&8 on the ;hana and sent an S.S to the ar6y o77i&ials) stationed at the $eshawar &anton6ent to sa e the6 7ro6 the Ehos< tileB &rowd1 /t was su++lanted %y %ri&8%ats 7ro6 the e@as+erated &rowd inHurin( so6e o77i&ials in&ludin( the *e+uty -o66issioner1 So6eone 7ro6 the re7ra&tory &rowd set a%la=e the ar6oured &ar and this was ensued %y 7irin( u+on the +rotest< in( +eo+le1 !&&ordin( to so6e sour&es) the indis&ri6inate 7irin( started around 11 oB &lo&8 and went on till 3 +161 in the e enin(1 /nitially the shots were 7ired only 7ro6 the ar6oured &ar1 Dut later on when it was resu6ed it was on a 6ore e@ten< si e s&ale) 7or a lon(er duration and %oth troo+s and ar6oured &ars were used 7or 7irin(1 !&&ordin( to the "o ern6ent<a++ointed the Sulai6an< $an8rid(e53 inCuiry &o66ittee) thirty +eo+le were 8illed and thirty<three wounded) %ut this was not the 7inal 7i(ure a&&ordin( to the sa6e re+ort154 Howe er) the -on(ress /nCuiry -o66ittee)57 &haired %y ?ithal%hai $atel) +ut the 7i(ures %etween two hundred and three hundred 8illed and 6any 6ore wounded158 !nother re+ort entitled) !he ,rontier !ra*edy) +u%lished %y the :hila7at -o66ittee) $eshawar in 1930 while 6entionin( other atro&ities o7 the Dritish "o ern6ent on the lo&als) did not (i e the e@a&t nu6%er o7 +eo+le 8illed or wounded1 /t si6+ly re7erred to the indis&ri6i< nate 7irin( o7 the Dritish troo+s on unar6ed +eo+le in the Gissa :hani Da=aar and whi&h le7t the whole %a=aar Estrewn with dead %odiesB1 !&&ordin( to the sa6e re+ort)
9irin( was &ontinued 7or hours a7ter the +eo+le had dis+ersed) in the %y<roads) lanes) su%<lanes) %al&onies and roo7s1 !ny%ody and e ery%ody were to %e shot at si(ht1 Su&h was this terri%le day o7 23 !+rilJa red day in the -alendar o7 the $athansJa day o7 wholesale slau(hterB159
;he olunteers were not allowed to &olle&t the dead %odies1 ;he :hila7at ?olunteers were 7ired u+on and si@ o7 the6 were shot dead1 !&&ordin( to eye<witness
55 53
4%id9) 141 ;wo Hud(es Shah Auha66ad Sulai6an o7 the Hi(h -ourt) !llaha%ad and H1F1 $an8rid(e o7 the Hi(h -ourt) 9ort ,illia6) Den(al were de+uted %y the "o ern6ent to +ro%e into the $eshawar riots1 54 Ste+hen !lan Fitten%er() >thnicity, Cationalis' and the +a1htuns: !he 4nde0endence &o#e'ent in 4ndia8s Corth?West ,rontier +ro#ince (*urha60 -arolina !&ade6i& $ress) 1988)) 791 57 ;he $eshawar #nCuiry -o66ittee with ?ithal%hai $atel Dar<at<'aw) as -hair6an and Au7ti :i7ayatullah ($resident Ja6iatul Ule6a)) Sardar Sardul Sin(h -a eeshar ($resident) $unHa% $ro in&ial -on(ress -o66ittee)) and 'ala *uni&hand) Dar<at<'aw) ('ahore) as 6e6%ers) was a++ointed %y the ,or8in( -o66ittee o7 the /N- to inCuire into the tra(i& e ents o7 $eshawar on 23 !+ril 19301 ;hey were not allowed to enter the 9rontier1 ;hey started holdin( 6eetin(s at Fawal+indi1 /ts 337 +a(es Fe+ort was +u%lished on 23 June 19301 58 +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 891
59
:hila7at -o66ittee $eshawar) !he ,rontier !ra*edy ('ahore0 Fi+on $rintin( $ress) 1930)) 131
101
a&&ounts30) &losed 'orries were sent and 6any dead %odies were +la&ed in the6 %y Dritish soldiers who se&retly trans+orted it to un8nown +la&es1 !7ter &onsultin( 6any sour&es) a &are7ul esti6ate su((ests the total nu6%er o7 the dead around two hundred and thirty131 Howe er) this 7i(ure does not in&lude the &asualties o7 the se&ond 7irin( in $eshawar on 31 Aay 8illin( ele en +eo+le and the deaths in other +arts o7 the +ro in&e in&ludin( ;a88ar (Aardan)) Ut6an=ai (-harsadda) and S+in ;an(i (Dannu)1 !+art 7ro6 the 6assa&re o7 the unar6ed +eo+le in the :issa :hani Da=aar) the day witnessed so6e other noteworthy in&idents whi&h reCuire 7urther hi(hli(htin( as it +ro ed to %e a 6ilestone in the 7reedo6 6o e6ent o7 South !sia %ut un7ortu< nately re6ained un8nown 7or de&ades and due to the sheer i(noran&e o7 s&holars wor8in( u+on the area) does not enHoy a deser in( and a++ro+riate +la&e in South !sian history1
30
Syed !6ir Dadshah) $resident o7 the Qa6indarBs !sso&iation) $eshawar) (a e the 7ollowin( state6ent0
111;he +eo+le were dis6ayed and were tryin( to re6o e the dead and the wounded when an o 77i&er ordered a %ayonet &har(e a(ainst the61 ;o sa e the6sel es) the +eo+le tried to re6o e the dead and wounded %ehind the &o er o7 the wooden %o@es that they had %rou(ht 7ro6 the sho+s and used these %o@es and wooden +lan8s as a shield a(ainst the %ayonet &har(e1 ;hey &ontinued raisin( national slo(ans des+ite this o77i&ial iolen&e whi&h they %ore +ea&e7ully and +atiently1 ;he :issa :hani Da=aar a++eared a erita%le 7ield o7 slau(hter1 / with 6y &o6rades) Aoha66ad !8ra6 :han and others) 7ully witnessed the or(y o7 this wholesale slau(hter 7ro6 the u++er storey o7 the house o7 !%dul Fau7) +leader1 # erythin( was &lear to our iew1 # ery one si(hted in the street and %y<lanes o7 the :issa :hani was indis&ri6inately 7ired at and the soldiers 6o ed on1 # eryone who a++eared in the %al&onies or roo7s was shot at1 ;here7ore we &losed the doors o7 our u++er 7lats and so did the others) and lay hidin( inside1 !t e ery %y<lane were +osted three or 7our Dritish soldiers 7or 7irin( at the +eo+le1 ;he 7irin( &ontinued 7ro6 1013 to 3 +161 and 7ro6 5 to 3 +161 o&&asional 7irin( was heard1 ;he 7irin( at the roo7s and %al&onies was resorted to in order to se&retly re6o e the dead %odies1 ! lar(e nu6%er o7 dead %odies were ta8en in &losed lorries and dis+osed o7 at so6e un8nown +la&e1 / was +ee+in( throu(h a hole on hearin( the noise o7 the 'orries1 / saw the dead %odies %ein( +a&8ed in lorries1 / had seen three su&h lorries1 ( +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 3031)
Aoha66ad !8ra6 :han (witness no1 50)) a 6e6%er o7 the Qa6indarBs !sso&iation) $eshawar &orro%orated the a%o e 7a&ts1 He alon( with !6ir Dadshah and Sano%ar Hussain went u+ to the %al< &ony o7 !%dul Fau7 +leader and saw E(eneral slau(hterB1 He stated that the
Dritish soldiers +ro&eeded to 7ire on the %al&onies and the streets1 ,e &losed the doors %ut witnessed all the s&ene throu(h a hole1 !t a%out 2030 +161 the noise o7 the lorries was heard1 9ro6 a hole we saw the &losed lorries and the Dritish soldiers at di77erent +la&es who were &olle&tin( the dead %odies and were +la&in( the6 in the lorries1 !7ter this / went on the 3rd storey and when / Hust had a +ee+ / saw that the road was %ein( 7looded with water %y a 7ire %ri(ade and %lood 6ar8s were %ein( washed away1 ,hile / was o%ser in( this) a %ullet +assed Hust a%o e 6y head and / &a6e down1 ;he 7irin( was (oin( on till 5 +161 Detween 5 and 3 7irin( went on at inter als1 (4%id1) 3132)
31
Aali8 Shad Aoha66ad) E*eed wa ShuneedB / (Urdu)) ($eshawar0 un+u%lished 6e6oirs)) 1531
102
.ne o7 the re6ar8a%le e+isodes o7 the 23 !+ril was the re7usal o7 "arhwalis to 7ire u+on the unar6ed +eo+le1 'i8e 6any other 6o6entous e ents) this re6ar8< a%le 7eature o7 the :issa :hani Da=aar 6assa&re) re(arded as E ery (ra e and 6ore distur%in( in&identB32 also went unnoti&ed1 !7ter de&idin( to dis+erse the 6o% %y usin( all a aila%le 7or&e) the Dritish -o66andin( .77i&er ordered the "ur8as in the 2218 "arhwal Fe(i6ent to 7ire1 Dut to the utter sur+rise and a%erration o7 the authorities) the "arhwalis) 8nown 7or their loyalty to the FaH) de7ied the authority) re7used to 7ire and ar(ued that they would not 7ire u+on the unar6ed &i ilians1 ;hey %luntly told their o77i&ers that they were re&ruited to +ro< te&t their +eo+le 7ro6 7orei(n in aders1 ;hey would de7initely (uard the 7rontiers o7 /ndia a(ainst a 7orei(n a((ression %ut would not 7ire e en a sin(le shot a(ainst their own unar6ed &ountry6en1 33 ;his in7uriated the Dritish o77i&ial to the e@tent that he i66ediately 7ired u+on the Ja6adar (a +etty o77i&ial) o7 the "arhwali re(i6ent1 ;he %ullet 6issed its tar(et and hit his horse whi&h died on the s+ot1 ;he "arhwalis were disar6ed) arrested and sent to !%%otta%ad135 'ater on) se < enteen o7 the6 were &ourt<6artialled in Do6%ay and senten&ed to arious ter6s o7 harsh i6+rison6ent) aryin( 7ro6 ten to twenty yearsB duration133 -hander Sin(h) the (rou+ leader) was senten&ed to trans+ortation o7 li7e> Narain Sin(h) 7or 7i7teen years and the rest) 7i7teen in nu6%er) were (i en three to ten yearsB Fi(orous /6+rison6ent134 "arhwalisB re7usal to 7ire on the unar6ed &ountry6en was eulo(ised %y the lo&al +eo+le who (athered in -how8 Mad(ar under the aus< +i&es o7 NauHawan Dharat Sa%ha1 S+ea8ers +aid (lowin( tri%utes to the "arhwalis 7or showin( resilien&e and &oura(e to re7use to 7ire u+on the unar6ed +eo+le and throu(h arious resolutions e@+ressed their solidarity with the6137
Cas)alties at #issa #hani& " *eview

!s +ointed out) 23 !+ril 1930 has %een re(arded as a EFed *ayB in the history o7 $ashtoon8hwa1 ! &are7ul study su((ests that a%out two hundred and thirty +eo+le were 8illed on that day1 :ee+in( in iew the %i( nu6%er o7 &asualties) it is only se&ond to Jallianwala Da(h) !6ritsar ($unHa%)) where 6ore than three hundred +eo+le were 8illed on 13 !+ril 19191 /n Jallianwala Da(h) the troo+s o&&u+ied the 6ain (ate and other entran&es o7 the walled +u%li& +ar8 and 7ired dire&tly on the +eo+le) 6any o7 who6 died %y Hu6+in( in the wells lo&ated in the +ar81 ;he
32
AanoranHan Jha) "i#il $iso%edience and A/ter: !he A'erican <eaction to +olitical $e#elo0'ents in 4ndia $urin* 1930 193: (*elhi0 Aeena8ashi $ra8ashan) 1973)) 731 33 *1"1 ;endul8ar) A%dul -ha//ar @han: ,aith is 6attle (Do6%ay NAu6%aiO0 $o+ular $ra8ashan) 1947)) 701 35 +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 124) 1351 33 :haleeC) $a A=adi .an*) 491 34 S1F1 Da8hshi) A%dul -ha//ar @han (New *elhi0 !n6ol $u%li&ations) 1991)) 1021
37
9ari(h Do8hari) 6acha @han (Urdu)) ($eshawar0 Naya Aa8ta%a) n1d1)) 121221
103
Cuestion that &ontinues to %other s&holars wor8in( on the area is rationale %ehind the lar(e nu6%er o7 &asualties in the 6assa&re at :issa :hani Da=aar whi&h has so 6any entry and e@it +oints1 ;here &ould %e 6ulti+le reasons 7or this1 ;he ar6oured &ars started 7irin( u+on the +eo+le suddenly) without e en 7irin( the warnin( shots1 Usually in su&h situations) the a&&e+ted nor6 is that troo+s initially 7ire warnin( shots and only i7 they see a +ersistent stu%%ornness in the +eo+le) whi&h +oses a serious threat to the authorities should 6ini6u6 7ire %e used to dis+erse the +eo+le1 /n this +arti&ular &ase) no warnin( shots were 7ired and the +eo+le were tar(eted dire&tly1 Aany dead %odies were 7ound ha in( 6ore than one %ullet wound1 ;his was in itsel7 a &lear 7a&t that the troo+s were not interested in the 6ere dis+ersal o7 the 6o%) %ut were dire&ted to 8ill as 6any as +ossi%le1 /n so6e &ases) the inHured who were una%le to 6o e) were also 8illed) while the 7ir< in( went on indis&ri6inately 7or hours1 ;he +rotestin( +eo+le in the 6ain %a=aar were the dire&t tar(et o7 the %ullets 7ired %y the troo+s %e&ause Eshoot on si(htB orders were issued %y the o77i&ials1 Aany +eo+le who a++eared on the %al&onies o7 their houses were also 7ired u+on and 8illed1 # en %e((ars were not s+ared) two o7 the6 %ein( 7ound a6on( the dead1 ;wo wo6en) who 6ost +ro%a%ly had &li6%ed on to the roo7 to+s o7 their houses out o7 &uriosity to see what ha++ened in the 6ain %a=aar) also +erished1 'o&al leaders ad ised the +rotestin( +eo+le to dis+erse +ea&e7ully1 Ha8i6 !%dul Jalil Nad i) a +ro6inent national wor8er) +re< &i+itatin( iolen&e) addressed the (atherin( and reCuested the6 to lea e that +la&e i66ediately %e&ause he sensed the &han(ed attitude o7 the &olonialists who were not willin( to e@&use the +eo+le 7or de7yin( Dritish authority1 He 8new the nature o7 /se Aon(er) the $oli&e .77i&ial) who was seen (i in( instru&tions to the troo+s %y +ointin( out his 7in(ers towards the 6o%1 Dut as was e@+e&ted %y 6any) the &har(ed +eo+le re7used to listen to the ad i&e o7 Ha8i6 !%dul Jalil) slo(ans were raised a(ainst hi6 and so6e o7 the6 e en a&&used hi6 o7 %ein( a Dritish a(ent1 Ha8i6 !%dul Jalil %e&a6e disa++ointed with the attitude o7 the +eo+le and he le7t the +la&e i66ediately1 /n the a%sen&e o7 sin&ere leaders) the +rotestin( +eo+le were 6asters o7 their own destiny and they were not (i in( heed to any ad i&e1 /n addition to that) 6any were 8illed while retrie in( the dead %odies 7ro6 the 6ain %a=aar1 ;hey were not e en allowed to res&ue the inHured ones and hel+ the wounded in +ro idin( the6 6edi&al &are1 ! +o+ular +er&e+tion de elo+ed that the Dritish "o ern6ent dis+osed o7 the dead %odies in three ways0 that they se&retly threw the6 in the ri ers> that they were %uried in a dit&h at an un8nown +la&e> and) that they were %urnt to ashes138 *r :han Sahi% (d1 9 Aay 1938)) elder %rother o7 !%dul "ha77ar :han and a retired -a+tain 7ro6 the /ndian Aedi&al Ser i&es) +layed a ital role in treatin( the inHured who were denied 6edi&al treat6ent in the lo&al "o ern6ent hos+itals1 Sin&e his early retire6ent 7ro6 the /AS) *r :han Sahi% was doin( his +ri ate
38
State6ent o7 /llah Du@ Air) ;i6%er Aer&hant) $eshawar) +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 1531
105
6edi&al +ra&ti&e in a rented house at Aohalla 9a=lul HaC Sahi%=ada in -harhi :oo%an Da=aar) $eshawar1 ,hile the youn(er %rother was 7ully in ol ed in so&io< +oliti&al a&ti ities) *r :han Sahi% 8e+t hi6sel7 aloo7 7ro6 the +u%li& li7e1 !7ter his return 7ro6 #n(land) he li ed in $eshawar alon( with his #n(lish wi7e) whi&h was his se&ond 6arria(e and isitin( 7a6ily in Ut6an=ai o&&asionally1 .n the day o7 the o&&urren&e) he was in7or6ed o7 the 7irin() de+redations and a %i( nu6%er o7 deaths in the :issa :hani %a=aar1 He rushed 7ro6 his &lini& and tried to rea&h the +la&e as early as +ossi%le1 !lthou(h he was sto++ed 7ro6 +ro&eedin( 7urther %y the troo+s initially) sin&e) he hi6sel7 was a retired &o66issioned ar6y o77i&ial and had 7riends %oth in the ar6y and &i il ad6inistration) he 6ana(ed to rea&h the trou%led s+ot1 He i66ediately started res&uin( the wounded to the near%y :hila7at o77i&e139 He 6ade a 7utile atte6+t to &arry the inHured to the near%y "o ern6ent 'ady Feadin( Hos+ital) lo&ated only a 7ew hundred 6etres away) %ut was +re ented %y the troo+s 6o in( 7urther in that dire&tion140 ;he :hila7at o77i&e was de&lared as a 7a&ility 7or 6edi&al treat6ent and *r :han Sahi% hi6sel7 treated the 7irin( inHured1 /n the late e enin() a7ter he&ti& e77orts) he su&&eeded in &on in&in( lo&al authorities that to sa e their li es so6e o7 the seriously inHured +atients should %e shi7ted to the 'ady Feadin( Hos+ital 7or e6er(en&y treat< 6ent141 ;his 7a&ility) a&&ordin( to the +esha(ar 4nquiry "o''ittee) also &ould %e se&ured a7ter E(reat di77i&ulty and with the hel+ o7 *r :han Sahi%B1 42 Aany dead %odies were %rou(ht to the :hila7at o77i&e where under the dire&t su+er ision o7 *r :han Sahi% they were handed o er to their relati es1 Aany unidenti7ied and un&lai6ed %odies were %uried in the Auni&i+al -o66itteeBs (ra eyard) lo&ated in Ma8atoot "ate1 Aany inHured +re7erred the treat6ent o7 *r :han Sahi% o er the "o ern6ent do&tors143 *r :han Sahi% rendered (reat ser i&es durin( the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent in the $eshawar ?alley and treated all the national wor8< ers and the olunteers who were denied the 6edi&al 7a&ility %y the "o ern6ent hos+itals1 His re&titude earned hi6 a re+utation as a national wor8er45 and durin( the ne@t 7ew 6onths the "o ern6ent Ere&o6+ensedB hi6 %y a&&usin( hi6 o7 Edis< tur%in( the +ea&e and tranCuillity o7 the re(ionB and i6+risoned hi6 alon( with other :hudai :hid6at(ars1 !s +ointed out earlier) the day %e&a6e a turnin( +oint in the nationalist history o7 the +ro in&e1 !lthou(h the e ents initially were &on7ined to only one +la&e %ut its re+er&ussions were tre6endous1 ;he lo&als de&ided to &han(e the na6e o7 the %a=aar to 6a=aar i Shahidan and :a%uli "ate was &alled @hooni $ar(a=a %ut a7ter 7ew days the old na6es +re ailed1 Aany +oets re6e6%ered the horri%le
39 40
!%dur Feh6an) $eshawar -ity) ,itness No1 54) +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 2101 Shad) *eed wa Shuneed) 153541 41 :haleeC) $a A=adi .an*) 481 42 +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 91 43 Aoha66ad Salee6) $eshawar) ,itness No1 34) +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 1811 45 FaH6ohan "andhi) -ha//ar @han: Con#iolent 6adshah o/ the +a1htuns (New *elhi0 $en(uin Doo8s) 2005)) 871
103
e ents o7 23 !+ril in their own +arti&ular styles1 How +eo+le saw the 6assa&reI How they 7elt itI ! (li6+se is (i en %elow0 !&&ordin( to !%dul Aali8 9ida)
$asey toye 1arhi hecha nadi da char*ano (eeney 3a1a toye 1arhi dee An*re= da 'a=loo'ano (eeney Ba1a lee1aley de Santees A0ril harcha 0a (eeno "he 0a de (ra= %ande (erhia (e da 1h(arano (eeney Dissa @hana qasa%1hana (ah 0a na=ar da 1halqo "he ye %a=aar 1e %ahedalay da 1h(arano (eeney143 (No one has e er +our 7orth the %lood o7 &hi&8ens 6er&ilessly in that 6anner 'i8e the #n(lish shed the %lood o7 inno&ent +eo+le on that day ;hatBs why e eryone has written Santees (1930) !+ril in red letters .n that day the %lood o7 the +oor +eo+le was easily a aila%le :issa :hana (i) %e&a6e a slau(hter house in the eyes o7 the (eneral 6asses De&ause the %lood o7 +oor inno&ent +eo+le was seen s+lit2s&attered e erywhere)1 !%dul :haliC :haleeC la6ents that Ae as'anaE Walay na sholey ranas1orF Ae a/ta%aE Walay na ye la *ha'a torF 3oyo *hronooE Walay re= au 'are= na sh(ayF Wano %ootoE Walay na s(a=ey 0a horF B'1ayE +rhaq la dhera dharda (alay na ch(ayF Stha da 0asa so'ra (eer dey so'ra shor144 (. s8yR ,hy you did not 7allI . sunR ,hy you did not turn %la&8 in (rie7I . hi(h 6ountainsR ,hy you did not s&atter in dust and +arti&lesI . treesR ,hy you are not %urnt in 7la6esI . earthR ,hy you are not torn to +ie&es in the an(uishI -an you hear the 6oanin( o7 a(ony and su77erin( at your %a&8I)1
Qa7ar !li :han also &o66ended the intre+idity and darin( o7 the +eo+le o7 $ashtoon8hwa in these words0
&ul1ul'oth 1o 1hatir 'ey na laney (alay -oolian taney hoye seeno 0ay 1aney (alay Da%ar tha1 sa%ar 1o sehthey hoye )aney (alay Sa%ar 1a 'o)i=a dunya 1o de1aney (alay147 (;hey were not %ein( a7raid o7 the !n(el o7 the *eath ;hey 7a&ed %ullets aliantly on their &hests ;hey +re7erred death o er (i in( u+ their serenity ;hey showed the 6ira&le o7 their +erse eran&e to the entire world)1
43 44
!%dul Aali8 9ida) $ee(an ($ashto) ($eshawar0 *arul ;asnee7) 1937)) 1201 !%dul :haliC :haleeC) Ba au Ba'a Ba'ana ($ashto) ($eshawar0 /dara e /shaat Sarhad) 1975)) 44471
47
Aaulana Qa7ar !li :han) Ha%siyat (Urdu) ('ahore0 !li<9aisal Nashiran wa ;aHiran :uta%) nd)) 1221
104
;he :hudai :hid6at(ar leaders !%dul "ha77ar :han) Aian !h6ad Shah) Sar7ara= :han and Shah Nawa= :han were arrested at NahaCi) in the su%ur%s o7 $eshawar1 ;hey were on their way to $eshawar to +arti&i+ate in the +i&8etin( s&heduled 7or that day1 ;hey were i66ediately ta8en %a&8 to -harsadda and +ut into the lo&al +rison1 ;he +eo+le o7 the -harsadda and the surroundin( areas were 7urious on the arrest o7 their leaders1 ;hey (athered in 7ront o7 the +rison in a ery lar(e nu6%er) raisin( slo(ans in su++ort o7 the arrested leaders and a(ainst the raH148 Sensin( the (ra ity o7 situation) the Hail authorities reCuested !%dul "ha77ar :han to restrain the 7urious2&har(ed +eo+le 7ro6 stor6in( the +rison1 !%dul "ha77ar :han a++eared in +erson on a 6ounted +la&e and a++ealed to the +rotestin( &rowd not to iolate the law and re6inded the6 o7 the +led(e49 ta8en %e7ore enrol6ent in the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent that they will not resort to iolen&e e en in (ra e situations li8e this1 70 His adroit handlin( o7 the situation sa ed it 7ro6 7urther deterioration1 Aian Ja77ar Shah and other +ro6inent :hudai :hid6at(ars who were not yet arrested %y the authorities also reCuested the +eo< +le to re6ain non< iolent and a++ealed to the6 to dis+erse +ea&e7ully1 AaHority o7 the +eo+le) althou(h unwillin() had le7t the +la&e with a hea y heart1 !%dul "ha77ar :han and other arrested leaders were ta8en to Fisal+ur) tried su66arily %y a &ourt and senten&ed to three yearsB i6+rison6ent171
48 49
!8%ar) $a +u1htano 6ar1ha) 991091 ;he olunteers had to ta8e the 7ollowin( +led(e (re+rodu&ed here 7ro6 Shah) >thnicity, 4sla' and Cationalis') 55) at the ti6e o7 (ettin( enrolled into the :hudai :hid6at(ar or(ani=ation0
E/ &all on "od as a witness) and sole6nly de&lare on oath that / will a%ide %y the 7ollowin( +rin&i+les0 11 ,ith sin&erity and 7aith) / o77er 6y na6e 7or :hudai :hid6at(arshi+1 21 / will sa&ri7i&e 6y wealth) &o67ort and sel7 in the ser i&e o7 6y nation and 7or the li%eration o7 6y &ountry1 31 / will ne er ha e E0ara )a'%a8 (+arty 7eelin()) en6ity with or wil7ully o++ose any %ody> and / shall hel+ the o++ressed a(ainst the o++ressor1 51 / will not %e&o6e a 6e6%er o7 any other ri al +arty nor will / (i e se&urity or a+olo(i=e durin( the 7i(ht1 31 / will always o%ey e ery law7ul order o7 e ery o77i&er o7 6ine1 41 / will always a%ide %y the +rin&i+le o7 non< iolen&e1 71 / will ser e all hu6an %ein(s ali8e) and 6y (oal will %e the attain6ent o7 the 7reedo6 o7 6y &ountry and 6y reli(ion1 81 / will always +er7or6 (ood and no%le deeds1 91 !ll 6y e77orts will %e dire&ted to see8in( the will o7 "od and not towards 6ere show or %e&o6in( an o77i&e<holder1
70 71
!h6ad) @hudai @hid'at*ar !ehree1) 200011 !t the "uHarat S+e&ial Jail they were &on7ined with other +ro6inent -on(ress and nationalist lead< ers in&ludin( Aaulana !%ul :ala6 !=ad) Jawaharlal Nehru) *r A1!1 !nsari) Syed !taullah Shah Du8hari) Aaulana Qa7ar !li :han) *r Sai7uddin :it&hlew) *r A1 !la6) Aaulana Hussain !h6ad Aadani) Darrister !si7 !li) Aaul i :i7ayatullah) Aaulana !h6ad Saeed and :1 Santana61 !%dul "ha77ar, Ba'a Bh(and au .addo .ehad) ($ashto) (:a%ul0 "o ern6ent $ress) 1983)) 37380> !8%ar) $a +u1htano 6ar1ha) 1021
107
$eshawar) whi&h was %oth in sho&8 and 7ear) was +ut under the ar6y1 !r6ed troo+s were seen on +atrollin( duties to 8ee+ the situation under &ontrol1 !s Fitten%er( &orre&tly ar(ues) thou(h the riots were li6ited to one +arti&ular lo&ality their re+er&ussions were tre6endous1 9or all +ra&ti&al +ur+oses) the ad6inistration was +araly=ed in three out o7 7i e tahsils o7 $eshawar distri&t172 ;he "o ern6ent was 6ore sensiti e to the re7usal o7 the "arhwalis to 7ollow the orders o7 their o77i&ers1 ;hey wanted to sto+ the re&urren&e o7 su&h in&idents at all &osts sin&e it would ha e a ne(ati e e77e&t on the 6orale o7 the /ndian troo+s in (eneral1 ;his led to another drasti& de&ision in the late e enin(1 $ani&8in( at the +ossi%ility o7 serious Cuestions %ein( raised re(ardin( the relia%ility o7 all /ndian troo+s 7ollowin( the :issa :hani in&ident) they suddenly de&ided to withdraw all soldiers 7ro6 the &ity173 .nly at a 7ew sele&ted s+ots) were so6e +oli&e6en isi%le1 ,ithin three days) the lo&als resu6ed their routine %ut were a6a=ed to see hardly any +oli&e6en on duty1 ;his was &riti&ised %y the lo&als and +er&ei ed as tanta6ount to lea in( the +eo+le o7 $eshawar to the 6er&y o7 +lunderers and da&oits1 ;he lo&al -on(ress and other trau6ati& olunteers de&ided to e@e&ute the +oli&e duties and hel+ed the &iti=ens to re(ain their &on7iden&e1 ;hey were seen +er< 7or6in( the tra77i& +oli&e duties) &ontrollin( tra77i& to a oid untoward a&&idents175 Aeanwhile) the &i il ad6inistration also went throu(h so6e swee+in( &han(es1 Sir Nor6an Dolton) the -hie7 -o66issioner) was i66ediately re&alled and re+la&ed %y Sir -ourtney 'ati6er) the then Fe enue -o66issioner) as the a&t< in( -hie7 -o66issioner173 !l6ost all sour&es a(ree that Dolton had a ner ous %rea8down and le7t the +ro in&e on 28 !+ril1 Sir # elyn Howell) the 9orei(n Se&retary o7 the Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent was also dire&ted %y 'ord /rwin to (o to $eshawar to hel+ the lo&al ad6inistration to restore nor6al&y to the +ro < in&e1 ;he tra(i& news o7 the 7irin( in :issa :hani and 6assa&re at a le el ne er i6a(ined %e7ore in7uriated the $ashtoon tri%es6en1 ;he &o66otion in the tri%al areas rea&hed su&h an e@tent that the !7ridis) settled around $eshawar) raided the &ity to a en(e the 8illin( o7 23 !+ril1 Howe er) they were re+ulsed %y the Dritish troo+s174 HaHi Sahi% o7 ;uran(=ai) another anti<Dritish reli(ious 7i(ure) anta(oni=ed %y the atro&ities on inno&ent +eo+le) re&ri6inated the &olonialists 7or o++ressin( %la6eless $ashtoons) and or(ani=ed his dis&i+les in Aoh6and area) threatenin( the ed(es o7 $eshawar1 ;he Dritish were alar6ed at the 6o e6ent o7 HaHi Sahi%Bs lash1ar77 and in retri%ution started aerial %o6%ard6ent o7 the Aoh6and area to de7use the threat and sto+ their ad an&es towards -harsadda178
72 73
Fitten%er() >thnicity, Cationalis' and the +a1htuns) 791 4%id1) 79801 75 Shad) $eed (a Shuneed) 1581 73 !he ,rontier !ra*edy) 321 74 9ull details &an %e seen in Shad) $eed (a Shuneed) 1922011 77 'iterally) a tri%al ar6ed (atherin( 7or %attle1 78 Noor Aoha66ad Nowsher i) &u)ahid i Sarhad: .an*na'a da -ha=i Sahi% da !uran*=o ($ashto) ($eshawar0 Aian Drothers Doo8 Sellers) n1d1)) 45751
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.n 5 Aay) $eshawar was re<o&&u+ied %y the troo+s1 -on(ress -o66ittees and all its a77iliated %odies in&ludin( the lo&al &ha+ter o7 the NauHawan Dharat Sa%ha were de&lared unlaw7ul1 ;he o77i&es were raided) +a+ers) &ash 7urniture) et&1 either sei=ed or %urnt1 /t was 7ollowed %y a (eneral &ra&8down on the +oliti&al wor8ers1 Ar 'ati6er too8 i6+etuous de&isions to %rin( $eshawar under &ontrol and was su&&ess7ul at least 7or the ti6e %ein( %e&ause all 8ind o7 +oliti&al a&ti ities sei=ed1 Howe er) the situation was not the sa6e in other +arts o7 the $eshawar ?alley) in +arti&ular in three tahsils whi&h were du%%ed the &entres o7 :hudai :hid6at(ar a&ti ities1 ;he arrest o7 the leaders +ro o8ed the +eo+le in (eneral and it raised the nu6< %er o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars to thousands1 ;he whole outloo8 o7 the 6aHority o7 $ashtoons &han(ed1 /n the 7a&e o7 Dritish atro&ities and 6altreat6ent o7 the lo&als) the +ertina&ity o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars and their adheren&e to non< iolen&e) 6ore +eo+le were allured to the nationalist 6o e6ent1 ;hey started enrollin( the6sel es in the :hudai :hid6at(ar or(ani=ation en 'asse and althou(h no a&&urate 7i(ures are a aila%le a&&ordin( to a &are7ul esti6ate the enrol6ent rea&hed 6ore than one hundred thousand) a 7i(ure uni6a(ina%le 7ew 6onths +re iously179 !&&ordin( to Fitten%er() E-i il diso%edien&e +lun(ed 6u&h o7 $eshawar ?alley into tur6oil1 ?olunteers +araded daily in 6ilitary 7or6ation> 6eetin(s drew audi< en&es as lar(e as 10)000 +eo+le> and liCuor and 7orei(n &loth stores were su%He&ted to &onstant +i&8etin(B180 Soon the area was de&lared as unruly and di77i&ult to &ontrol1 Sir Steuart $ears) the new -hie7 -o66issioner) in7or6ed 'ord /rwin) the ?i&eroy that E$eshawar *istri&t itsel7) as 7ar as the -harsadda) Aardan and Swa%i tahsils were &on&erned) was %ein( o errun %y %ands o7 Ered shirtsB holdin(s 6eetin(s e erywhere and 6o in( a&ross &ountry to di77erent &entres e erydayKB181 ;he "o ern6ent res+onded %y &rushin( the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent with an iron 7ist1 # ery 8ind o7 %rutal 6ethod was ado+ted to su++ress the 6o e< 6ent1 Aany illa(es) in&ludin( Ut6an=ai) the ho6e town o7 !%dul "ha77ar :han were %esie(ed and the inha%itants tortured1 ;heir ho6es were sear&hed) +eo+le %eaten) the (rain stores were +lundered and (rains li8e wheat) oat) lentils et& were s&attered on the (round and 8erosene oil +oured o er the6 to 6a8e the6 ined< i%le1 Standin( &ro+s were destroyed while %edsheets and other &lothin( were torn to +ie&es and &ro&8ery %ro8en1 /t was re+orted that &attle were +re ented 7ro6 (oin( outside 7or (ra=in( while hu)ras82 were %urnt and li%raries destroyed1 Aany
79 80
:haleeC) $a A=adi .an*) 70> Fitten%er() >thnicity, Cationalis' and the +a1htuns) 821 Fitten%er() >thnicity, Cationalis' and the +a1htuns) 801 81 4%id1 82 /n $ashtoon areas the ter6 hu)ra re7ers to a se+arate +la&e2house) with a %i( &ourt yard ha in( two) three or 6ore roo6s) 6eant 7or the 6ale 6e6%ers o7 the &o66unity where the wo6en are stri&tly +rohi%ited1 Usually it is a &entral +la&e in the illa(e where 6en (ather in the e enin(s to dis&uss the daily a77airs) +oliti&s) drin8 tea and s6o8e the chilu' or hoo1ah1 /n olden ti6es +eo+le used to enHoy listenin( stories and +oetry also in hu)ras1 ;he un6arried 6e6%ers o7 the illa(e &o66unity usually sle+t in the hu)ra1 # ery &lan) tri%e and 7a6ily has their own hu)ra1 /n &onte6+orary ti6es it 7un&tion
109
deaths 7ro6 star ation were re+orted 7ro6 these illa(es1 ;he illa(ers inhu< 6anly treated> the san&tity o7 the 7our walls iolated and in 6any &ases they were stri++ed na8ed and su%He&ted to all 8inds o7 hu6iliation183 .n one su&h o&&asion) *r :han Sahi% issued the 7ollowin( 6edi&al &erti7i&ate hi(hli(htin( the Dritish atro&ities in $ashtoon8hwa0
;his is to &erti7y that / ad6itted ei(hty +atients to a s+e&ial hos+ital whi&h was arran(ed %y +u%li& su%s&ri+tion at $eshawar1 ;hese were the @hudai @hid'at*ars 7ro6 -harsadda ;ahsil who were %eaten %y the +oli&e at +i&8etin( at a liCuor sho+ in -harsadda1 Se eral o7 the6 were ery &ruelly treated> 6ost o7 the6 had 6ore than thirty 6ar8s on their %ody &aused %y lathis1 ;he 6aHority o7 the6 &ould not lie strai(ht in %ed) their %utto&8s %ein( a 6ass o7 %leedin( red 7lesh1 / was sur+rised %y those &ases s+e&ially) who su77ered 7ro6 swellin( o7 the testi&les whi&h were sCuee=ed and twisted %y a Dritish .77i&er a&&ordin( to the state6ents o7 the +atients1 /n 6y o+inion these +oor +eo+le were treated e en 6ore &ruelly than the wild %easts185
.ne o7 the noteworthy 7eatures o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent was the o%ser an&e o7 non< iolen&e %y the $ashtoons durin( the whole s+an o7 the 6o e< 6ent1 ;o all 8ind o7 %rutalities) the $ashtoons did not retaliate and %ore all the atro&ities with 7or%earan&e and +atien&e1 ;hey ado+ted non< iolen&e as a &reed and re6ained loyal to it durin( the whole ti6e1 !&&ordin( to !he ,rontier !ra*edy)
;he "o ern6ent) on one hand) did its worst to 6a8e the +eo+le lea e the +ath o7 non< iolen&e1 /n all sorts o7 ways) they were (oaded) +erse&uted) insulted) so6ehow to 6a8e the6 resort to iolen&e1 ;his would (i e the "o ern6ent so6e se6%lan&e o7 Husti7i&a< tion to resort to still 6ore %loodshed1 ;he +eo+le on the other hand) %ore all this &al6ly and Cuietly without raisin( a 7in(er in retaliation1 ;hey %ased their %reasts to Dritish %ul< lets and laid down their own li es rather than resort to iolen&e1 ;heir +ro+erty was looted1 ;o the $athan nothin( is as dear as the san&tity o7 his 7our walls whi&h are a sy6< %ol 7or the honour o7 the wo6en 7ol81 ;his san&tity was iolated in order to +o8e hi6 at his 6ost sensiti e +oint1 Ne ertheless he was true to Non< iolen&e1 Aany were stri++ed star8 na8edJanother (reat +ersonal insult to a $athan1 Aany were rou(hly handled in their +ri ate +artsJa %rutality +erha+s un8nown to the history o7 re+ression and an in(enuity o7 the 9rontier o77i&ial1 Dut not a hand went u+ in a&ti e resistan&e183
is also a8in to a (uest house where isitors are +ro ided 7ree 7ood and lod(in(1 /t &ontinues to +lay an i6+ortant role in &o66unity li7e) +arti&ularly in initiatin( the youth into $ashtoon nor6s and alues1 83 9urther details o7 the atro&ities +er+etuated on the inha%itants o7 $ashtoon8hwa &an %e seen in !he ,rontier !ra*edy) 3933> !h6ad) @hudai @hid'at*ar !ehree1) 201543> Shah) >thnicity, 4sla' and Cationalis') 3233> and) Au8uli8a DanerHee) !he +athan Gnar'ed: 500osition H &e'ory in the Corth West ,rontier (.@7ord0 Ja6es -urrey) 2000)) 111201 85 !he ,rontier !ra*edy) 331 83 4%id9) 14171 E.7 all the re6ar8a%le ha++enin(s in /ndia in re&ent ti6es)B &o66ented Da8hshi)
nothin( is 6ore astonishin( than the way in whi&h !%dul "ha77ar :han 6ade his tur%ulent and Cuarrelso6e +eo+le a&&e+t +ea&e7ul 6ethods o7 +oliti&al a&tion) in ol in( enor6ous su77erin(1 ;hat su77erin( was indeed terri%le and has le7t a trail o7 %itter 6e6ories> and yet their dis&i+line and sel7<&ontrol were su&h that no a&t o7
110
;he :issa :hani 6assa&re (23 !+ril) was 7ollowed %y another %rutal 7irin( in&ident in $eshawar on 31 Aay 19301 ! +ea&e7ul 7uneral +ro&ession o7 the two &hildren shot dead %y an #n(lish soldier was not allowed to +ro&eed to the &re< 6ation (round1 *es+ite reCuests 7ro6 Ha8i6 !%dul Jalil Nad i and other noted &iti=ens o7 $eshawar then a&&o6+anyin( the +ro&ession) they were not +er6itted to +ro&eed towards "or8hatry1 ;he thirty si@ Dritish soldiers under the &o6< 6and o7 .la7 -aroe) who &a6e 7ro6 the o++osite dire&tion) i1e1 7ro6 the -lo&8 ;ower side) o+ened 7ire u+on the +ro&ession without any +ro o&ation resultin( in the death o7 twel e +eo+le and inHury to 6ore than twenty two +eo+le184 .n 24 Aay) the +ro6inent :hudai :hid6at(ars o7 Dai=ai area) Aardan were arrested in ;a88ar and $athay) two illa(es &onsidered to %e a stron(hold o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars1 $ro6inent a6on( the6 in&luded Sha6ro= :han) Shah=ada Da&ha) Aali8 Aasi6 :han) :han Dahadur and a 7ew others1 'o&al +eo+le de&ided to a&&o6+any their leaders in a +ro&ession to Aardan Hail1 Near "uHar "arhi) a stron( &ontin(ent o7 troo+s sto++ed the +eo+le 7ro6 +ro&eedin( 7urther1 Ar Hay) !ssistant -o66issioner o7 Aardan) started ne(otiations 7or a +ea&e7ul dis+ersal o7 the +ro&ession1 Aeanwhile) Ar Aur+hy) a notorious +oli&e ins+e&tor) initiated the lathi &har(e and used a%usi e lan(ua(e a(ainst the +eo+le) o77ensi ely &as< ti(atin( their leaders1 He was 8no&8ed down %y an anony6ous +erson and shot dead1 .n (ettin( in7or6ation o7 Aur+hyBs death) the +oli&e resorted to iolen&e and used e ery 8ind o7 7or&e under their dis+osal to dis+erse the 6o%1 /t was 7ollowed %y a sie(e o7 "uHar "arhi1 ;he ne@t 7ew days were li8e a ni(ht6are 7or the lo&al +o+ulation1 ;o a en(e the 6urder o7 Aur+hy) they were su%He&ted %y the troo+s to the worst indi(nities1 ;he whole illa(e was 7ined and the se&urity 7or&es let loose to deal with the Ere%ellious +o+ulationB on their own E7reeB will1 /t was 7ollowed %y a (eneral 6assa&re at ;a88ar) the illa(e the i6+erialists had tar< (eted 7ro6 the %e(innin(1 ;he 7or&i%le entry o7 the troo+s and their indis&ri6inate 7irin( u+on the unar6ed inno&ent +eo+le without any +rior warnin( resulted in the death o7 a%out twenty +eo+le> 6any 6ore were wounded1 ;he hu)ras o7 Aali8 Aasi6 :han and Aali8 !6in Jan) two noted :hudai :hid6at(ars were %urnt to ashes187 ;he story o7 re+ression in Dai=ai area did not &ul6inate there> it went on un&he&8ed in other illa(es o7 Swa%i and Aardan in&ludin( Mar Hussain) Aar(hu=) Aainey) :ota) Aaneray) ;ordher) Jal%ai) Sawal *her and 'und :hwarh1 /n addi< tion to the $eshawar ?alley) the re&rudes&en&e o7 iolen&e and the rei(n o7 terror was also e@tended to other +arts o7 the +ro in&e su&h as :ohat) Dannu and *era
iolen&e was &o66itted %y the $athans a(ainst the "o ern6ent 7or&es or other o++osed to the61 ,hen it is re6e6%ered that a $athan lo es his (un 6ore than his %rother) is really e@&ited) and has lon( had a re+utation 7or 8illin( at the sli(htest +ro o&ation) this sel7<dis&i+line a++ears li8e short o7 6ira&ulous1 Da8hshi) A%dul -ha//ar @han) 129301
84
Shad) $eed (a Shuneed) 191> State6ent o7 'a&ha6an *as (,itness No1 33)) +esha(ar >nquiry "o''ittee) 250511
87
!h6ad) @hudai @hid'at*ar !ehree1) 25135> !he ,rontier !ra*edy) 531
111
/s6ail :han in southern $ashtoon8hwa1 Howe er) the worst 8ind o7 atro&ities was +er+etuated in Dannu where on 25 !u(ust a +rotest 6eetin( o7 unar6ed and non< iolent +eo+le 7ro6 Hathi :hel led %y the lo&al ,a=iri tri%al leaders was 7ired u+on in S+in ;an(i> 6ore than se enty +eo+le were 8illed and the nu6%er o7 wounded was in hundreds188 ;he lo&al authorities did their %est to 8ee+ the nu6%er o7 dead and wounded &on&ealed1 ?isits to and 7ro6 the +ro in&e were under the stri&t i(< ilan&e o7 the "o ern6ent1 /t was ru6oured that the 9rontier authorities were %ent u+on de&larin( the :hudai :hid6at(ars as a(ents o7 the Dolshe i8s in Fussia) who were (i en the tas8 %y the &o66unists to &reate anar&hy and dissension in /ndia to desta%ili=e the Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent1 /n the a%sen&e o7 7rontline leaders) the &o66and +assed on to the se&ond tier o7 leadershi+1 /nterestin(ly) des+ite a++rehensions 7ro6 the authorities) none o7 the6 was 7ound in ol ed in +rea&hin( or +ra&tisin( iolen&e1 ;he +rotesters al6ost in all &ases re6ained non< iolent1 !%dul "ha77ar :hanBs +rea&hin( o7 non< iolen&e +rior to their +arti&i+ation in the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent had its i6+a&t u+on the inha%itants o7 the 9rontier $ro in&e1 *es+ite the worst 8ind o7 atro&ities &o66itted %y the authorities and all 8ind o7 +ro o&ation) the $ashtoons did not retaliate1 ;hey 8new that layin( down their own li es rather than ta8< in( so6eone elseBs is the real test o7 their 7or%earan&e and &oura(e1 ;hey were ready to sa&ri7i&e e erythin( they +ossessed 7or the sa8e o7 the li%eration o7 the &ountry 7ro6 7orei(n yo8e1 So6e s&holars wor8in( on the area 6isunderstood the nature o7 the leadershi+ durin( the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 ;he +resen&e o7 a lar(e nu6%er o7 s6aller +otentates or :hans stru((le to (et their leader< shi+ re&o(ni=ed throu(h the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent has %een traditionally iewed as +art o7 their insatia%le desire to (et 6ore %ene7its 7ro6 the (o ern6ent to &ounter the in7luen&e o7 the %i( :hans1 ,hile this 6i(ht %e true 7or so6e +arti&ular &ases) it &annot %e i6+le6ented as a (eneral rule1 /7 one loo8s at the arious sta(es o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent) it is e ident that there were 6any +ersons at the 7ore7ront o7 the 6o e6ent who %elon(ed to the +ro7essional &lasses1 !%dul "ha77ar :han e6+hasi=ed 7ro6 the %e(innin( u+on the +arti&i+a< tion o7 these +ro7essionals) 8nown as Dasa%*ars89 in the lo&al so&iety) and (a e the6 i6+ortant +ositions in the or(ani=ation1 ;hey had roots within the 6asses who de&ided en 'asse to Hoin the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent whi&h +ro ided it with a %oost1 ;he Dritish "o ern6ent) on its +art) utili=ed the ser i&es o7 a 7ew %i( landlords) title holders and Ja(irdars to su++ress the 6o e6ent1 ;he authori< ties tried to &on in&e the %i( :hans) the traditional allies o7 the #6+ire) to &ontrol these +eo+le) who 6ostly %elon(ed to E6enialB &astes1 /7 not &he&8ed) a&&ord< in( to the "o ern6ent &ir&ulars) these +eo+le would de+ri e the Etraditional
88 89
Shah) >thnicity, 4sla' and Cationalis') +1 331 *eri in( 7ro6 qasa% 6eanin( &ra7t) the ter6 literally re7ers to o&&u+ational (rou+s su&h as %ar%ers and &ar+enters1
112
leadersB) that is) the %i( :hans) o7 their in7luen&e in the 9rontier1 ;hese %i( :hans) on their +art) ado+ted all 8inds o7 dra&onian 6ethods to torture these +eo+le %ut su&h ta&ti&s e entually &a6e to nau(ht1 ;he o++ression +re ailin( under Dritish rule 7urther +ro ided a %oost to the 6o e6ent enhan&in( the +resti(e o7 these +eo+le in the eyes o7 the 6asses1 /t also resulted in (reater sy6+athy 7or the :hudai :hid6at(ars and the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent1 So6e o77i&ials o7 the FaH 6isunderstood $ashtoon +sy&holo(y1 /n se eral +la&es) the FaH o77i&ialBs 6istreat6ent and rou(h handlin( o7 the situation +ro ided 6ore 6e6%ers to the :hudai :hid6at(ar or(ani=ation1 /n Ut6an=ai) a7ter the iolent &ra&8down u+on the :hudai :hid6at(ars) whose %elon(in(s had %een destroyed and o77i&es sealed) a &olonial o77i&ial +u%li&ly &lai6ed that they were 7inished and &hallen(ed the audien&e to show their sy6+athy with the6 or 7a&e his wrath1 .n hearin( these re6ar8s re(ardin( the :hudai :hid6at(ars) !%%as :han) a &ousin o7 !%dul "ha77ar :han who was not on (ood ter6s with hi6) turned u+ alon( with a lar(e nu6%er o7 his ser ants and tenants and de&lared o+enly his su++ort 7or the leader and the :hudai :hid6at(ars1 ;hou(h this &an %e inter+reted as an a&t o7 a sin(le indi idual it o77ers us a (li6+se into the 6ani7estation o7 the as+irations o7 the (eneral +u%li& re(ardin( !%dul "ha77ar :han and his &ause1
+n Search of ,riends
!%dul "ha77ar :han and the 7rontline leaders o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars were i6+risoned in the "uHarat S+e&ial Jail1 Aian Ja77ar Shah :a8a :hel and Aian !%dullah Shah o7 Ga=i :hel) -harsadda) two +ro6inent leaders) were still out o7 +rison1 ;hey went to "uHarat Jail in dis(uise) 6et !%dul "ha77ar :han and a++rised hi6 o7 the (ra ity o7 the situation in the $ro in&e1 !&&ordin( to so6e relia%le sour&es) they also &on eyed to hi6 the 6essa(e o7 Sir Sahi%=ada !%dul Gaiyu6 :han) a +ro6inent $ashtoon elder) enHoyin( &on7iden&e and res+e&t in (o ern6ent &ir&les) who had se&retly ad ised the6 to a77iliate the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent with an all</ndia or(ani=ation %e&ause the lo&al Dritish ad6inistration was %ent u+on de&larin( the6 as Dolshe i8 a(ents in /ndia1 ;his asso&iation) a&&ordin( to Sir Sahi%=ada) would sa e the6 7ro6 7urther annihilation at Dritish hands190 ;hey dis&ussed the 6atter and on the ad i&e o7 !%dul "ha77ar :han) the two a7ore6entioned leaders 6et Aali8 'al :han) a +ro6inent leader o7 "uHranwala who6 Ja77ar Shah 8new sin&e the days o7 the :hila7at 6o e6ent1 ;hrou(h hi6 he &onta&ted other +ro6inent Ausli6 leaders in&ludin( Aali8 9ero= :han Noon) a Ausli6 'ea(uer and Aian 9a=li Hussain o7 Ausli6 -on7eren&e) a 6e6%er o7 the ?i&eroyBs #@e&uti e -oun&il1 ;he +resent author had the honour o7 as8in(
90
Aian !tauddin) Ae6oirs ($ashto)) (Nowshera0 un+u%lished 6e6oirs)) 18> :haleeC) $a A=adi .an*) 89901
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!%dul "ha77ar :han +ersonally a%out the na6es o7 Ausli6 leaders who6 the :hudai :hid6at(ars 6et and was ery 8indly +ro ided with these na6es1 Ja77ar Shah narrated the whole ordeal o7 the 9rontier +eo+le and reCuested the6 to +ro ide hel+ and su++ort in this +arti&ular &onne&tion1 Howe er) to their utter sur+rise) the Ausli6 leaders showed their ina%ility to hel+ the 9rontier +eo+le a(ainst the FaH1 Sin&e a 6aHority o7 the6 were EloyalistsB) it was al6ost i6+os< si%le 7or the6 to su++ort the $ashtoonsB &ause a(ainst the Dritish i6+erialis6 in South !sia191 Howe er) 7or Fitten%er( their denial o7 su++ort was %e&ause these +arties were wea8 and 7ra(6ented1 Aoreo er) they had their s+e&ial reser ations on the de&laration o7 i66ediate inde+enden&e and also were o++osed to the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent laun&hed %y -on(ress under "andhi192 $ro%a%ly they were also a7raid that any ste+ wea8enin( the Dritish authority in South !sia would indire&tly %olster the -on(ress &ause1 ;he deHe&ted leaders &a6e %a&8 to "uHarat and in7or6ed !%dul "ha77ar :han o7 the re7usal o7 the Ausli6 leaders in +ro idin( hel+ and su++ort at that &riti&al Hun&ture1 ;he whole 6atter was dis&ussed in detail and it was de&ided to a++roa&h the -on(ress whi&h was also on the war+ath with the Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent1 ;he en oys went around the &ountry) 6et -on(ress leaders and sou(ht their hel+ in this re(ard1 E!s a drownin( 6an tries to &at&h hold o7 any strawB &o66ented !%dul "ha77ar :han) EJ%ein( thwarted %y the Ausli6 'ea(ueJwe reCuested the two &ollea(ues to see8 hel+ 7ro6 the National -on(ress1 ,hen they 6et the -on(ress leaders) they readily a(reed to hel+ us in e ery way) +ro ided we Hoined the6 in the stru((le 7or /ndiaBs 7reedo6B193 !s %oth had the sa6e a(enda) so without relu&tan&e the -on(ress leaders i66ediately res+onded +ositi ely to the reCuest o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars and de&lared the6 as +art o7 the -on(ress national 6o e6ent95 and allowed the6 to retain their se+arate identity193 Jawaharlal Nehru) while +ayin( s+e&ial tri%utes to the 9rontier &o6rades) 6entioned +arti&ularly the (reat sa&ri7i&es rendered %y the6 in the &ause o7 the /ndian 7reedo6 stru((le1 He stated that he Eha e read with a6a=e6ent and ad6i< ration the re&ord o7 their doin( and their su77erin(s111B and the $ashtoons who Eare 8nown to %e %ra e 7i(hters %ut they ha e shown that e en in our non< iolent stru((le they &an ta8e the lead and set an e@a6+le whi&h is not easy to e6ulateB194 He 7urther stated that)
91 92
!%dul "ha77ar) Ba'a Bh(and au .addo .ehad) 384871 Fitten%er() >thnicity, Cationalis' and the +a1htuns) 831 93 ;endul8ar) A%dul -ha//ar @han) 731 95 !%dul "ha77ar) Ba'a Bh(and au .addo .ehad) 38789> :haleeC) $a A=adi .an*) 8990> !8%ar) $a +u1htano 6ar1ha, 109101 93 Aian !tauddin) Ae6oirs) 18191 94 Jawaharlal NehruBs Aessa(e to the North,est 9rontier $ro in&e) 14 .&to%er 1930) Aussoorie) S1 "o+al) ed1) Selected Wor1s o/ .a(aharlal Cehru ?ol1 9our ('ondon0 .rient 'on(6an 'td) 1973)) 5011
115
;here used to %e in +ast years tal8 o7 +retty re7or6s in the 9rontier $ro in&e1 ;oday we are not 7i(htin( 7or re7or6s %ut 7or inde+enden&e1 .ur &o6rades o7 the 9rontier ha e shown in the 7ire o7 su77erin( what 6etal they are 6ade o71 .ut o7 our &o66on su77er< in( we shall 7ashion 7ree /ndia) in whi&h all o7 us) in&ludin( the 9rontier $ro in&e) will %e eCual sharers1 ;he 6en and wo6en o7 the 9rontier $ro in&e ha e +ur&hased %y their %lood and su77erin( a 7ull ri(ht to this 7reedo61 9or the %ra e no (i7t &an %e too 6u&h) and those who 8now how to die 8now also how to li e as 7ree 6en1 Aen and wo6en o7 the 9rontier) you ha e written a (olden +a(e in /ndian historyR ;hat will %e an ins+iration 7or us and we shall re6e6%er it in the lon( days to &o6e1 /ndia &annot 7or(et those who hel+ed to 6a8e her 7ree197
!%dul "ha77ar :han was &asti(ated %y so6e o7 his &lose asso&iates and 7riends 7or 6er(in( the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent into -on(ress1 ;o the6 the $ashtoons would lose their identity and the Hindu<do6inated -on(ress would least &are 7or their wel7are1 ;hey had the %itter e@+erien&es o7 always su++ortin( the +oliti&al and so&ial or(ani=ations o7 /ndia %ut those +eo+le did not &are 7or the $ashtoons and ne er uttered e en a sin(le word in their 7a our when they were in &risis1 ;hey always +re7erred their own interests and ne er su++orted the $ashtoons +re iously1 !%dul "ha77ar :han was not a+olo(eti&1 Fes+ondin( to these re&ri6inations) he 6ade it &lear in an a&ri6onious way that they needed su++ort and hel+ 7ro6 any or(ani=ation at an all</ndia le el1 ;heir 7irst &hoi&e was o% iously their &o<reli(ionists the Ausli6 leaders %ut to their &ha(rin they disa+< +ointed the inha%itants o7 the 9rontier1 ;hey 6ade the sa6e 8ind o7 reCuest to the -on(ress +arty who wel&o6ed the $ashtoons to their 7old1 Sin&e %oth were stru(< (lin( in the sa6e dire&tion and the 6ain o%He&ti e was the sa6e) that is) (ettin( rid o7 the Dritish i6+erialis6) %oth would su++le6ent ea&h other in the 7reedo6 stru((le198 He &ited e@a6+les 7ro6 the li7e o7 the Holy $ro+het o7 /sla6 who entered into &ertain +a&ts and a(ree6ents with the Jews and other non<Ausli6 tri%es in Aedina to thwart the threat o7 the Guraish199 !&&ordin( to hi6 he did no har6 to the $ashtoon 6o e6ent %y a77iliatin( it with the -on(ress) as they would sa7e(uard the ri(hts o7 the 9rontier +eo+le in 7uture1 ;he 6er(er was %ene7i&ial 7or %oth0 -on(ress (ot its 7ir6 7ootin( in an o er< whel6in( Ausli6 6aHority +ro in&e and re7uted all 7uture alle(ations a(ainst it %y its o++onents in ter6in( -on(ress as a Hindu %ody1 ;hey &ited e@a6+les o7 the 9rontier $ro in&e with its solid su++ort 7or the -on(ress +oliti&s throu(hout the re6ainin( years until the $artition o7 /ndia1 -on(ress &lai6ed to %e a re+resen< tati e or(ani=ation o7 all /ndians irres+e&ti e o7 their %elon(in( to any reli(ion) &aste or &reed1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ars on their +art were sa ed 7ro6 7urther "o ern6ent re+ression1 !s 6entioned earlier) it was ru6oured that the 9rontier ad6inistration would soon de&lare the :hudai :hid6at(ars as the a(ents o7
97 98 99
4%id1) 501021 !%dul "ha77ar :han) +u1htun) 1 !u(ust 1938) 19231 !%dul "ha77ar :han) +u1htun) JuneJuly 1931) 3101
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the Dolshe i8s who were de+uted %y the -o66unists to stir the re%ellion in /ndia1 # en so6e indi iduals in the $oliti&al *e+art6ent were %usy in &olle&t< in( e iden&es a(ainst the :hudai :hid6at(ars in this +arti&ular &onne&tion1 ;he +e&uliarly strate(i& lo&ation o7 the 9rontier $ro in&e +ro ided the 9rontier ad6inistration e@tra +owers to deal with the lo&als in their own way1 ?arious re(ulations were i6+le6ented in the +ro in&e to 8ee+ the inha%itants under the ti(ht &ontrol o7 the Dritish authorities1 ;o thwart the Ee ilB desi(ns o7 the ;sarist Fussia in the /ndian dire&tion was the 6aHor +oli&y &onsideration o7 the Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent1 ;his +ro ided un&he&8ed +ower to the ad6inistration and they were 7ully &on7ident that whate er they do with the :hudai :hid6at(ars on the +rete@t o7 %ein( Dolshe i8 a(ents) they will (et the reCuired su++ort 7ro6 the "o ern6ent %oth at ho6e and in 'ondon1 !7ter the 6er(er o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars with the -on(ress) it was now al6ost i6+ossi%le 7or the 9rontier o77i&ials to de&lare the6 Dolshe i8 a(ents1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ar leaders 6ade it &lear that the 6ain o%He&ti e o7 the -on(ress was identi&al to theirs0 (ettin( rid o7 Dritish i6+erialis6 7ro6 South !sia1 ;hey denied their lin8s with 7orei(n +ow< ers in&ludin( the Fussians1 Aoreo er) %y 6er(in( their 6o e6ent in -on(ress) the :hudai :hid6at(ars) hitherto a +ro in&ial or(ani=ation) a&hie ed +o+ularity and 7a6e at a national le el1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ar leader) !%dul "ha77ar :han) &a6e &loser to the -on(ress leadershi+ and enHoyed the &on7iden&e o7 all in&lud< in( Aahat6a "andhi1 ;he sin&erity o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars to "andhian non< iolen&e whi&h they a&&e+ted as a &reed earned the6 su&h re eren&e and eneration that their leader under !%dul "ha77ar :han was a77e&tionately &alled %y the 6aHority o7 /ndians as 9rontier "andhi) a title enHoyed %y none other1
Concl)sion
/n 1930) the /N- de6anded &o6+lete inde+enden&e 7or /ndia and laun&hed the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent under "andhi to a&hie e their desired (oal1 ;he res+onse was tre6endous in 6any +arts o7 /ndia1 /n the N,9$ ($ashtoon8hwa)) due to arious reasons) howe er) it did not allure +u%li& or (o ern6ent attention1 ;he lo&al -on(ress6en reCuested !%dul "ha77ar :han) the +o+ular leader o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars) to hel+ the6 or(ani=e an anti< Dritish 6o e6ent in the $ro in&e) to whi&h he a(reed1 .n 23 !+ril 1930) the unar6ed +rotesters were 7ired u+on in the :issa :hani Da=aar) $eshawar) 8illin( a%out two hundred and thirty +eo+le on that 7ate7ul day1 Un7ortunately) this tra(i& e ent did not indu&e the s&holars on the le el it deser es and it went unnoti&ed in the histori& narrations2 a&&ounts o7 6odern South !sia1 $ashtoons) the 6aHority +o+ulation o7 the area) +layed an i6+ortant role in the history o7 South !sia1 ;he strate(i& lo&ation o7 their area 6ade the6 ulnera%le to 6any in asions 7ro6 the North1 ;hey too8 +ride in their 6artial Cualities and had 6ore li8in( 7or swords6anshi+ and the li8e +ro7essions1 ;he &olonial (o ern6ent o7 Dritish /ndia e@+loited the situation and intentionally 8e+t the area unde elo+ed1 Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118
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;he re7or6s introdu&ed in other +arts o7 /ndia were denied to the area on &lu6sy +rete@ts1 Howe er) so6e lo&als showed their deter6ination to re&u+erate and to resist the i6+erialistBs desi(ns with all a aila%le sour&es1 /nterestin(ly) while 6any de&ided to &hallen(e the FaH throu(h 7or&e) !%dul "ha77ar :han de&ided to %rin( the reCuired &han(e throu(h edu&ation and so&ial re7or6s) o7 &ourse) throu(h inno&uous non< iolent 6eans1 His altruisti& e77orts had a tre6endous e77e&t on the lo&al +o+ulation1 His e6+hasis on the rural areas 7or a &han(e had drasti& i6+a&t on the +eo+le o7 the 9rontier $ro in&e1 He was &a6+ai(nin( 7or the +uri7i&ation o7 the $ashtoon so&iety 7ro6 all e ils throu(h non< iolent 6eans1 His a%horren&e o7 i6+erialis6 and s+e&ial e6+hasis on the ado+tion o7 non< iolen&e has 6ade hi6 +o+ular1 He tried to &on in&e his +eo+le to a%andon iolen&e %e&ause iolen&e %reeds 6ore iolen&e1 /n 7ollowin( non< iolen&e there was no de7eat1 He &on in&ed the6 to a&&e+t non< iolen&e as a &reed) whi&h they did and showed their resilien&e and stead7astness e en durin( the worst 8ind o7 +ro o&ation %y the (o ern6ent1 /t %e&a6e one o7 the 6ost re6ar8a%le 7eatures o7 the 1930s &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent in $ashtoon8hwa) a 7a&t a&8nowled(ed e en %y the &olonial ad6inistration1 ;o (et the real 7a&ts) -on(ress 7or6ed &o66ittees and sent arious indi iduals to the 9rontier $ro in&e who &on7ir6ed the adheren&e o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars to non< iolen&e and whi&h was ter6ed a E6ira&leB %y the +ro6inent ;ur8ish writer) :halida #di% :hanu6) who isited /ndia in 19351 23 !+ril 1930 witnessed one o7 the worst 6assa&res in the history o7 South !sia1 Unar6ed +eo+le in $eshawar were 7ired u+on indis&ri6inately) 7ollowed %y a (eneral &ra&8down on -on(ress wor8ers) :hila7at olunteers and :hudai :hid6at(ars1 ;he :hudai :hid6at(ar leaders were the 6ost a77e&ted +eo+le0 they had to %ear the worst 8ind o7 hu6iliation1 *es+ite the +ro o&ation 7ro6 the -olonial ad6inistration) they re6ained non< iolent) a 7a&t &on7ir6ed %y 6any &onte6+orary sour&es1 ;he re+ression o7 the (o ern6ent &ontinued una%ated 7or 6any 6onths and the :hudai :hid6at(ars were &o6+elled under the &ir&u6stan&es to sear&h 7or their allies on an all</ndia le el1 /nterestin(ly) the Ausli6 'ea(ue) their &o<reli(ionists) did not o77er any assistan&e nor a(reed to raise their oi&e in su++ort o7 the :hudai :hid6at(ars) 7or o% ious reasons1 ;he /N-) already on the war+ath with the (o ern6ent) e@tended their 7ull su++ort and 7riendshi+ %e&ause %oth were stru((lin( to (et rid o7 Dritish i6+erialis6 7ro6 South !sia1 Sin&e their 6ain o%He&ti es were identi&al they had no hesitation to a&&e+t the 6utual 7riendshi+1 ,hile it +ro ided a 7ir6 %ase to the /N- in an o erwhel6in( Ausli6 6aHority +ro in&e) it hel+ed the :hudai :hid6at(ars in (ainin( +o+ularity on an all</ndia le el1 !%dul "ha77ar :han was s&olded %y so6e o7 his &ollea(ues 7or this asso&iation1 ;hey were +ertur%ed o er losin( their identity %y 6er(in( the $ashtoon 6o e6ent into the Hindu<do6inated -on(ress1 !%dul "ha77ar :han re(arded it as an inno&uous ste+ whi&h had 7urther stren(thened their 6o e6ent1 !%dul "ha77ar :han) 7or the sa8e o7 the lar(er &ause o7 the /ndian inde+enden&e and o++osition to Dritish i6+erialis6) had to 6er(e the $ashtoon national Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118
117
6o e6ent with the EHindu<do6inatedB or(ani=ation1 ;hus he had to a(ree to 7orsa8e the territorial nationalis6 and wor8 to(ether with the 7or&es who %elie ed in /ndian nationalis61 *es+ite %ein( an o erwhel6in( Ausli6<6aHority +ro in&e) the 7or&es o7 &o6< 6unalis6) whi&h were ery stron( in other +arts o7 /ndia) did not su&&eed in the 9rontier $ro in&e1 ;he slo(an o7 E/sla6 in dan(erBwas e@+loited %y arious +oliti&al 7or&es in the rest o7 the &ountry %ut in $ashtoon8hwa it did not 7ind its su++orters to distur% the &o66unal har6ony1 ;he traditional alues o7 the $ashtoon so&iety) whi&h were utili=ed %y the :hudai :hid6at(ar leadershi+) +re ented the use o7 iolen&e a(ainst the non<Ausli6s who inha%it their area1 ;his was the 6ain rea< son %ehind the re(ion not witnessin( &o66unal iolen&e and stri7e e en durin( $artition in 1957) then +re alent in 6any other +arts o7 /ndia and +arti&ularly in the nei(h%ourin( $unHa%1 *urin( the whole s+an o7 the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e< 6ent in the 9rontier $ro in&e) no one raised the &o66unal issue and i&ti6s o7 the &olonialist %rutality in&luded %oth Ausli6s and non<Ausli6s1 .n the (rueso6e in&ident o7 23 !+ril 1930) Dha(at Sin(h) leader o7 the NauHawan Dharat Sa%ha) then %ehind %ars in 'ahore Hail) was one o7 the 7irst +ersons 7ro6 outside the +ro in&e who raised a oi&e a(ainst the %ar%arities +er< +etuated on the +eo+le o7 $eshawar %y the &olonial ad6inistration1 ;he 7irin( in&ident o7 23 !+ril also in&luded 6any non<Ausli6s) lo&al Hindus and Si8hs) who laid down their li es alon( with their &o6rades1 Aostly they were &re6ated in the +la&es reser ed 7or their &re6ation %ut in so6e &ases they were %uried in Ausli6 (ra eyards1 ;heir na6es were in&luded in the lon( list o7 the 7irin( i&< ti6s and interestin(ly to date they are re6e6%ered as Shuhada?i?@issa @hani)100 a title usually reser ed 7or the Ausli6s) alon( with their 7ellow &ountry6en and there is no reli(ious or &aste dis&ri6ination a(ainst the61 !nother noteworthy 7eature o7 the 1930 &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent was the +arti&i+ation o7 the rural +o+ulation on a ery lar(e s&ale1 Unli8e the other +arts o7 /ndia) the leadershi+ o7 the nationalist +oliti&s &a6e 7ro6 the rural areas1 /n the 9rontier $ro in&e) on the &all o7 their leaders) the illa(e +o+ulation whole< heartedly su++orted the +rotest 6o e6ent and too8 a&ti e +art in the +i&8etin( o7 liCuor sho+s1 ;he arrest o7 the leaders +ro ided a %oost to the or(ani=ation1 /n 7a&t) a7ter e ery %rutal a&t o7 the 9rontier ad6inistration) the lo&al +o+ulation Hoined the :hudai :hid6at(ar 6o e6ent in lar(e nu6%ers as a rea&tion to the use o7 dra&onian 6ethods a(ainst the61 ;hey re6ained undeterred %y the "o ern6ent atro&ities and always too8 it as a &hallen(e to the $ashtoon alues1 ;he use o7 7or&e did not +re ent the +eo+le 7ro6 Hoinin( the &i il diso%edien&e 6o e< 6ent1 Father it +ro ided a %oost to the 6o e6ent1 !s noted earlier) the :hudai :hid6at(ars had roots in the &o66on 6asses and it hel+ed the6 to &ontinue their +rotest till the 7inal day o7 the sus+ension o7 hostilities %etween -on(ress and the Dritish /ndian (o ern6ent1 !%dul "ha77ar :han was the only +ro6inent leader
100
'iterally) EAartyrs o7 :issa :haniB1
118
who re6ained in +rison and was 7a&in( arious (o ern6ent restri&tions in&ludin( a %an on his entry into the $unHa% and his ho6e +ro in&e) the 9rontier $ro in&e) while other -on(ress leaders were %usy in ne(otiations with the /ndian authorities 7or the 7orth&o6in( re7or6s and the i6+le6entation o7 the "o ern6ent o7 /ndia !&t) 1933) thus ena%lin( the6 to +arti&i+ate in the ele&toral +oliti&s o7 /ndia) at least 7or the ti6e %ein(1 Jud(ed %y the later &ir&u6stan&es) the 7riendshi+ %etween the :hudai :hid6at(ars and the -on(ress +ro ed a su%tle and ti6ely ste+ in the ri(ht dire&< tion1 ;hrou(hout the 7reedo6 stru((le this allian&e &ontinued) o7 &ourse) a(ainst the wishes o7 the &olonial ad6inistration1 *urin( the 7inal years o7 the FaH) the -on(ress denied the &har(es o7 its +oliti&al o++onents who a&&used it as a Hindu or(ani=ation) %ent u+on the +rote&tion o7 the ri(ht o7 the Hindus only1 -on(ress leaders were +ers+i&uous that %ein( a national or(ani=ation it enHoys the &on< 7iden&e o7 all &o66unities in /ndia) +arti&ularly the Hindus and Ausli6s ali8e and &ited the su++ort 7ro6 the N,9$) one o7 the Ausli6 6aHority +ro in&es whi&h su++orted the -on(ress till the +artition o7 su%&ontinent in !u(ust 19571 !lthou(h what -on(ress did with the :hudai :hid6at(ars on the e e o7 the +arti< tion o7 /ndia is a sad story to tell %ut is out o7 the s&o+e o7 the +resent resear&h1 /t was 6erely this &lose asso&iation o7 $ashtoons with the -on(ress that in $a8istan till re&ent +ast they were not a&&e+ted as E+atrioti& $a8istanisB and were always a&&used o7 %ein( traitors to $a8istan1 ;his was the 6ain reason why the :issa :hani 6assa&re and other si6ilar atro&ities %ein( &o66itted %y the Dritish /ndian "o ern6ent in the $eshawar ?alley durin( 1930 was intentionally not in&luded in the history %oo8s and the sa&ri7i&es rendered %y the -on(ress wor8ers) the :hila7at olunteers and the :hudai :hid6at(ars went unnoti&ed 7or de&ades1 /t is the duty o7 the s&holars wor8in( on South !sia in (eneral and the 7reedo6 6o e< 6ent in +arti&ular to (i e +ro+er attention to this and other si6ilar e ents thus +ro idin( an un%iased and o%He&ti e a&&ount o7 history to the &o6in( (enerations1

The 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement in Peshawar Valley From The Pashtun Perspective

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The 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement in Peshawar Valley From The Pashtun Perspective

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i!ar "li Shah

South !sia /nstitute) Uni ersity o7 Heidel%er() Heidel%er() "er6any

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

S+ea8in( on their 7uture &ourse o7 a&tion) he re6ar8ed that

He 7urther ad ised the -on(ress wor8ers the 7olllowin(0

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

"andhi res+onded i66ediately and stated that0

.n the 7orth&o6in( &i il diso%edien&e 6o e6ent) he &o66ented that

-houdhry :haliCu==a6an to A1 !1 !nsari) 1 Aar&h 1930) 4%id1

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

"pril $3% 1930& Massacre at #issa #hani 'a(aar% Peshawar

Shah) >thnicity, 4sla' and Cationalis', 321

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

"on*ress >nquiry "o''ittee) 71

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

Cas)alties at #issa #hani& " *eview

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

!h6ad) @hudai @hid'at*ar !ehree1) 25135> !he ,rontier !ra*edy) 531

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!he 1930 "i#il $iso%edience &o#e'ent

Studies in History, 29, 1 (2013): 87 118

!h6ad) @hudai @hid'atar !ehree1) 25135> !he ,rontier !raedy) 531