Maulana Mazharul Haque: A Stalwart Nationalist and A Firm Believer in Communal Harmony

Maulana Mazharul Haque, a legal luminary, a statesman, an educationalist, a journalist, a poet, as well as, a philosopher.

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Maulana Mazharul Haque, who strongly believed in sacrificing personal interests for achieving common interests, was born on 22 December 1866 in Bahpura village of Patna district in Bihar. He went to England in 1888 to study Law, where he met Mahatma Gandhi. Maulana Mazharul Haque started the ‘Anjuman-e-Islamia’ in England, which became the central place for the Indian students there.

He returned to India in 1891 and joined the Judicial Services, but resigned from his job in 1896 and started practice as an advocate in Chapra. As Maulana Mazharul Haque was very active in social welfare activities and maintained close relations with the people, he got elected to several public representative posts. In 1906, he established the All India Muslim League and served as its secretary. He put his efforts into keeping it away from communalism.


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Maulana Mazharul Haque And National Politics


Mazharul Haque migrated to Patna in 1908. He participated actively in the Indian Independence Movement and played a key role in the politics of Bihar for about two decades. He also played an important role in the Lucknow pact between the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League in 1916.

During the Home Rule Movement, which was started by Annie Besant in 1916, he played a key role as its Bihar unit president. He responded to the call given by Mahatma Gandhi for the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement in 1919, joined the movement, and worked hard to strengthen friendly relationships between Hindus and Muslims.


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Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Mazharul Haque established an ashram called ‘Sadaqat Ashram’ (Abode of Truth) near Patna and lived a very simple life like Faqir. During the communal riots in Bihar state in 1917 and 1924, he toured across the state and appealed to the Muslim community to avoid such activities which hurt the religious feelings of the Hindu fraternity. He spent his life actively bridging the gap between the two communities, aptly earning the title ‘Prophet of Hindu-Muslim Unity’.

He declared his retirement from active politics in the year 1926. But the leaders of the Indian National Congress like Abul Kalam Azad never abandoned him. Maulana Mazharul Haque certainly left an indelible impression with his distinctive style on Indian politics in general and on Bihar people in particular. He breathed his last on 2 January 1930.


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Syed Naseer Ahamed

Syed Naseer Ahamad is a Telugu writer and journalist who has written several books on the role of Muslims in the struggle for the freedom of India. Many of his books have been translated into other languages. He can be contacted at [email protected] and cellphone number 91-9440241727.

Writing since 1998 exclusively on THE ROLE OF MUSLIMS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE FREEDOM OF INDIA.

Syed Naseer Ahamed http://M.Com ., LL.B., D.J. Flat No. C-2, Sree Ram's Arcade, Amaravathi Road UNDAVALLI - 522501 Tadepalli Mandalam, Guntur, AP