Khaksar Movement's Role in India's Freedom Struggle and Colonial Response (1930-1947)
By Muzafar Ahmad Dar
Summary
The Khaksar Movement, founded in 1931 by Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi in pre-partitioned Punjab, began as a socio-religious organization promoting social reform and equality, later evolving into a semi-militaristic, semi-political force aimed at India's liberation from British rule. The movement emphasized non-communalism, brotherhood, and discipline, with volunteers wearing khaki uniforms and carrying shovels as symbols of societal leveling. Mashriqi, a former education department official, sought to mobilize Muslims into a disciplined force and appealed to the Indian National Congress and Muslim League to unite against colonial rule. The Khaksar Movement gained significant popularity, particularly in northern India, with a membership reaching five million by 1946, partly due to the weekly newspaper *Al-Islah*, which Mashriqi used to propagate his ideology. The movement's militant activities, including military parades and confrontations with authorities, led to frequent clashes with the British government, which declared it unlawful in Punjab and Delhi. Despite this, the movement expanded into regions like Bengal and Bihar. Mashriqi criticized the Congress and Muslim League for their passive methods and communal divisions, arguing that the Cripps Mission was a British propaganda tool to delay independence. He advocated for a united front among Indian parties, emphasizing social service and military preparedness. The Khaksar Movement's 14-point decree promoted an egalitarian, tolerant society, and its volunteers engaged in social work while preparing to fight colonial rule. The movement's activities, including the issuance of symbolic currency promising post-independence payment, underscored its commitment to independence. However, its confrontational stance and refusal to align with major political parties limited its long-term influence, despite its initial success in mobilizing support.
Conclusion
The Khaksar Movement, founded by Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi in 1931, emerged as a unique socio-religious and semi-militarized force within India's freedom struggle, blending principles of non-communalism, brotherhood, and disciplined activism. Despite its initial focus on social reform, the movement gradually adopted a militant approach, directly challenging British colonial rule through military parades, public agitation, and symbolic acts like issuing "independence currency." Its emphasis on unity across religious and caste divides, coupled with a mass membership of five million by 1946, amplified its influence, though it faced severe colonial repression and was declared unlawful. The movement's rigid ideology and confrontational tactics limited its collaboration with mainstream political parties like the Congress and the Muslim League, highlighting the complexities of mobilizing grassroots resistance. While its efforts to unite Hindus and Muslims and its critique of colonial policies reflected broader anti-imperialist sentiments, the Khaks