Remembering Martyr #AshfaqullaKhan as a legend for the very famous Kakori train robbery. He was a missionary with clear thinking, courage, and patriotism who stood against the British empire in India for India’s struggle for Independence.
Ashfaqulla Khan was inspired by patriotic personality of Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil. In 1924, under the guidance and leadership of Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan and his companions decided to establish their separate revolutionary organisation to fight against British rule in India. The Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) was formed in 1924 that focussed on the armed revolutions against the British Raj in India.
Ashfaqulla Khan and Ram Prasad Bismil worked and lived together during the struggle for India’s freedom despite their different religions.
A night before hanging Ashfaqulla Khan recited these lines written by him to Ram Prasad Bismil.
“किये थे काम हमने भी जो कुछ भी हमसे बन पाए,
ये बातें तब की हैं आज़ाद थे और था शबाब अपना;
मगर अब तो जो कुछ भी हैं उम्मीदें बस वो तुमसे हैं,
जबां तुम हो, लबे-बाम आ चुका है आफताब अपना।
जाऊंगा खाली हाथ मगर ये दर्द साथ ही जायेगा,
जाने किस दिन हिन्दोस्तान आज़ाद वतन कहलायेगा? बिस्मिल हिन्दू हैं कहते हैं “फिर आऊंगा, फिर आऊंगा,फिर आकर के ऐ भारत मां तुझको आज़ाद कराऊंगा”।
जी करता है मैं भी कह दूँ पर मजहब से बंध जाता हूँ,
मैं मुसलमान हूं पुनर्जन्म की बात नहीं कर पाता हूं;
हां खुदा अगर मिल गया कहीं अपनी झोली फैला दूंगा,
और जन्नत के बदले उससे एक पुनर्जन्म ही माँगूंगा।”
Such were our legends, great freedom fighters.
To honour the sacrifices of Shaheed Ashfaqulla Khan in India’s struggle for independence, the government of Uttar Pradesh declared the construction of a 121-acre zoological garden named after Khan in January 2020. The cost of the project was Rs. 234 crores, which was granted by the state government.
