Homage

Khan Abdul Wali Khan: Passing of a Political Era

WHO in the Indian sub continent can forget that tall, simple and conscientious political figure of Badshah khan or Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan? He was ranked no less than Mahatma Gandhi in matters of moral courage or uprightness and commitment.  These are not empty adjectives to lace the personality of this freedom fighter, fondly called all across the continent as Sarhadi Gandhi [Gandhi of the Frontier], but these portray the person. What he contributed to the independence movement is one long legend, but what his brother   Dr khan Sahib and his son Khan Abdul Wali khan contributed to Pakistan and India is another marvelous tale. What a stoic, courageous family with no ifs and buts.

Khans and their Redshirts and others of their ilk fought for freedom and opposed the division of India on communal lines and in no way joined hands with the Muslim League and later after the creation of Pakistan never forgave the Congress in India for having thrown them to the wolves. During his last visit Sarhadi Gandhi when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister, he made every Indian leader look small when he walked to a big reception in New Delhi with his pair of shirt and salwar in a simple cotton jhola in his hands and a big smile on his wrinkled face. Without saying a word, he had sent a strong message of a simple, honest leader to his old poor countrymen.

When Ghaffar Khan died in January 1989, then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had attended his funeral. Ghaffar Khan was buried in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city according to his will.

The passing away of Khan Abdul Wali Khan in Peshawar at the age of 89 is an end of an era. It removes not from the NWFP [Frontier Province] or Pakistan, but from the Indian sub continent a politician who always played an important constructive role and made huge sacrifices. He was one of the last of the Redshirts or   Khudai Khidmatgar; the reformist non-violent social-political movement and established the elder Khan, where Wali Khan too started his political career. While politically active from his youth, he assumed role of national prominence in Pakistan after his father retired from active politics, and in the 1970 elections, his National Awami Party won the largest number of seats in his province.

Wali Khan not even once renounced his party's origins as a sister party of the All-India National Congress, nor did he ever pretend that his father and his followers   had opposed the Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement. His book, Facts Are Sacred in 1986 recounts the controversial Pakistan Movement and narrates forcefully that his father and uncle, pre-Independence NWFP Chief Minister Dr Khan Sahib, who had opposed the Muslim League which had been working hand in glove with the British against the Congress.  He made great effort and enormous sacrifices to establish democracy, both in theory and practice. In the process he suffered such pejoratives like anti-Pakistan, pro-India and his efforts to build mass support outside his native NWFP, though he evoked interest in the Punjab, he did not fully succeed.

It was 1977 he established himself as one of the leading figures as part of the anti-Peoples Party political spectrum. He was anti-Bhutto, so he initially welcomed the 1977 military take over, but he was one of the first to realise that Gen. Zia was not restoring democracy any time soon, and played a key role in the Movement to Restore Democracy. He could return to Parliament in 1988 only. In the 1970 elections, Wali Khan was elected to both the National Assembly and the NWFP provincial assembly from Charsadda. In 1988, Wali Khan became the leader of opposition when Benazir Bhutto was the prime minister. However, to everyone's surprise, a nominee of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in the 1990 elections defeated him.

Wali khan’s party remained a national force and played big role to establish democracy in the troubled torn Pakistan. The history of the 1970s and 1980s  record the significant contribution made by this tall Pushtoon, who never held any office or spent long years in cabinets. He fought many a battles, losing and winning many. He contested many a elections, won some and lost some. For him the cause was dearer than chasing offices, hankering after positions or making adjustments and entering into bargains. The Khans brought sense and sensibility to the Pushtoons and lent them a different name and fame apart from warring tribals, though fiercely independent.

Wali Khan was born Jan 11, 1917 in Utmanzai town of Charsadda district. He received his early education from Azad Islamia High School and later shifted to the Irish government's Deradun Public School.

Wali Khan was hardened by charges of treason. Far from being a "traitor," this passionate Pakhtoon leader retained a sensible and realistic national approach. He dismissed as "confederation people" those regional politicians who wanted to see Pakistan as a country as a lose federation.   It is worth recalling an incident that shows Wali Khan’s grit and disposition. In the National Assembly during a debate on the preparation of the 1973 Constitution, a Pakistan People's Party member made a vitriolic anti-opposition speech in which he repeatedly accused Wali Khan of being a traitor. Wali khan as leader of the opposition chose not to say a word in rebuttal. After the member had spent himself, Speaker Fazal Illahi Chaudhry quipped that Wali Khan deserved tamgha-e-juraat [medal for courage] for having listened to the tirade with such composure.

Both Indian and Pakistanis politicians could do justice to their calling learning something from this great son pf the sub continent who lies buried in Wali Bagh, his native town in Charsadda. His funeral prayers were offered at Bagh-e-Jinnah on January 29,2006 by famous religious scholar and veteran politician, Maulana Haq Sahib, in accordance with his wishes. Top ranking leaders from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan attended the last prayers

[Gobind Thukral]