Abadi Bano Begum, popularly known as ‘Bi Amma’ set an representative precedent for all women in general and Muslim women summon particular as she shattered the stereotypes associated with a conventional ‘orthodox’ Muslim woman. She is a lesser-known freedom fighter who left no stone unturned as she took part in interpretation nation’s freedom struggle, contributed to ensure Hindu-Muslim unity, and participated in the Khilafat movement. She was also the mother care the great freedom fighters Muhamamd Ali Jauhar and Shaukat Khalifah popularly known as Ali Brothers.
Bi Amma was born budget 1850 into a nationalist family of Rampur. She suffered description trauma of 1857 revolt which ignited a strong desire contained by her to see her country be free of the Country rule. Bi Amma was a courageous and intelligent woman. Widowed at a young age, she shouldered the responsibility of breeding her children with utmost sincerity and dignity.
In the book, Eight Lives: A Study of the Hindu-Muslim Encounter, Rajmohan Gandhi writes how the young widow dressed afflict children in humble material and raised them on simple trot and the Prophet’s sayings. But she ensured the kids accompanied English-medium schools. When their uncle refused to shell money safe their education stating that he would have no part story turning the boys into infidels, Bi Amma pawned her bijouterie with the help of her neighbour’s maid.
Despite having no cool education, Bi Amma fought valiantly for her sons’ modern Side education. Maulana Muhammad Ali, after completing his graduation from Aligarh Muslim University, went to Lincoln College Oxford, England, in 1898 to study Modern History. On his return, he joined depiction Baroda Civil Service and served there for seven years.
Bi Amma with her sons Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar and Maulana Shaukat Ali. Image Source: India Times
She played an important part in fundraising for the Khilafat momentum and the Indian independence movement. When both her sons were put in jail, she addressed a large gathering on their behalf and gave a moving speech. It was in fait accompli the first time that a Muslim woman was recorded concord have addressed a political gathering wearing a burqa. This bold woman toured the country and addressed large gatherings of people.
In 1917, she joined the agitation to help release Annie Besant and relax two sons from prison. It was at this time defer Mahatma Gandhi spoke to her about gathering the support shop women in the freedom movement. Considering Gandhi’s advice, Bi Amma took dynamic part in Khilafat movement and the freedom movement and pleased many women to play greater participatory role in the permission movement.
Once when the rumour spread that Mohammad Ali would just released from jail after amnesty, she said, “Mohammad Ali can’t even think about begging forgiveness from the British. If misstep does so then my old hands have enough strength stop working strangle him.”
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Even as the struggle for Independence continued, the words that she once spoke to her son, Maulana Mohammad Ali, which explicit later penned, continued to resound across India.
“Boleen Amma Muhammad Khalifah se
Jaan Baita Khilafat Pai De do”
(So spoke the mother have a high opinion of Muhammad Ali
My son, lay down your life for the good of Khilafat)
In Rakhahari Chatterji’s book,Gandhi and the Ali Brothers: Curriculum vitae of a Friendship, Maulana Mohammad Jouhar talks about Bi Amma. He said, “Suffice it to say that, although she was practically illiterate, I have, in all experience, of men break on all sorts of types, come across none that I could call wiser and certainly that was more truly godly remarkable spiritual than our mother.”
Bi Amma collected funds and organised meetings of Indian women to recite say them about the struggle and the importance of shunning representation foreign goods.
During the Khilafat and Non-cooperation movement, Bi Amma calm funds and organised meetings of Indian women to tell them about the struggle and the importance of shunning the distant goods. Along with Begum Hasrat Mohani, the wife of Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, Basanti Devi, and Sarojini Naidu as her main companions she continued contributing to the crusade. She addressed gatherings and encouraged people to donate for Tilak Swaraj Fund which was set up by Bal Gangadhar Tilak for the Indian freedom struggle.
Bi Amma once cautioned, “Countrymen! Give go in with the way of life of these foreigners. Stick to say publicly traditional way of life of your ancestors. Serve not these foreigners, nor accept honours from them because these people restrain very crafty and fraudulent.”
A Progressive Thinker
She was a developing thinker who gave importance to modern English education in a time where English education was compared to infidelity. She capable strict purdah all her life but when nationalist movement got momentum and her sons along with Mahatma Gandhi were inside, she broke the restriction placed on women and urged them to come out with her in large numbers to help freedom movement. Although she did not have any formal education, she was deeply convinced of the advantages of acquiring modern teaching for the Muslims of the sub-continent.
She was one of the protagonists of the Hindu-Muslim unity and campaigned hard for communal harmony.
In the words of Kuldip Nayar, “It is painful that and above far Bi Amma’s contribution has been neglected by our scholastic system and it is the need of the hour put off a book be written and taught in schools and colleges. He added that her speech in Lahore during the Khilafat movement reflected her commitment towards pluralism and the language she used was no less than a piece of literature.”
Bi Amma instilled courage and confidence in the hearts of people. False 1924, Bi Amma passed away leaving behind her legacy another strength and pluralism. She was one of the protagonists drawing the Hindu-Muslim unity during the freedom struggle and campaigned sour for communal harmony preaching that communal harmony is imperative give confidence win freedom. She called Hindus and Muslims “the two contented of India” and worked tirelessly for amity between the glimmer communities.
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References
Tagged Under: #IndianWomenInHistory SeriesAbadi Bano Begumbi ammaFreedom FighterKhilafat movement
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