Habib ur Rehman Ludhianvi (English: Habib ur Rehman Ludhianvi, born- 3 July, 1892, Ludhiana; died- 2 September, 1956) was an Indian freedom fighter. He joined the Indian National Congress and actively participated in the Khilafat Movement and the Non-Cooperation Movement. In 1929, when British officials used separate water vessels for Hindus and Muslims at Ghas Mandi Chowk in Ludhiana, Habib ur Rehman Ludhianvi, with the help of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh activists, ended this and put up a poster ‘Sabka Pani Ek Hai’ for which he was sent to jail.
Introduction
Maulana Habib-ur-Rahman Ludhianvi, a great leader of India’s freedom movement, born on July 3, 1892 in Ludhiana, Punjab, exposed the selfishness hidden behind the slogan ‘Islam is in danger’. He was the grandson of the famous Maulana Shah Abdul Qadir Ludhianvi of Ludhiana, who had issued a fatwa against the British in 1857. After completing his education from Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Habib-ur-Rahman Ludhianvi married Bibi Shaftunisa, daughter of Maulana Abdul Aziz. He joined the Indian National Congress and actively participated in the Khilafat Movement and the Non-Cooperation Movement.[1]
Revolutionary activities
During the Khilafat Movement and Non-Cooperation Movement, Maulana Habib ur Rehman Ludhianvi incited people to revolt against the British government through his inspiring speech on 1 December 1921 and was arrested for the first time. Since then he faced the torture of cell several times and spent about 14 years in various jails of the country. His friends and relatives also faced imprisonment as they also participated in the Indian National Movement. His wife Bibi Shaftunisa, who was also a freedom fighter, supported her family despite the brutal repression unleashed by the British police.
Specific tasks
Habib ur Rehman Ludhianvi, who played an important role in Jamiat-Ulama-e-Hind, founded Majlis-e-Ahrar (The Society of Freemen) in 1929 on the advice of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad. After Bhagat Singh threw bombs in the Central Assembly in 1929, no one came forward to shelter his family members because people were afraid of British repression. Then Maulana Habib ur Rehman Ludhianvi provided shelter to Bhagat Singh’s family members for a month. He also hosted Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at his home.
prison visit
In 1929, when British officials started using separate water vessels for Hindus and Muslims at Ghas Mandi Chowk in Ludhiana, Habib-ur-Rehman Ludhianvi, with the help of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh activists, ended this and put up a poster saying ‘Everyone’s water is one’, for which he was sent to jail. In 1931, he hoisted the Indian flag in the presence of about three hundred British officials and police near Shahi Jama Masjid, for which he was arrested. For the sake of India’s independence, Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman Ludhianvi spent about 14 years in various jails of the country including Shimla, Mainwali, Dharamshala, Multan, Ludhiana.[1]
Opposition to Partition
Habib ur Rehman Ludhianvi opposed the creation of Pakistan till the end; but when the nation was partitioned in 1947, he left Ludhiana on the advice of his friends due to the hostile atmosphere and took refuge in refugee camps in Delhi. This caused severe mental trauma to the Ludhianvi couple. Though they were advised to go to Pakistan, they rejected the advice and decided to stay in their native place Ludhiana and there too they had to face bitter experiences. Habib ur Rehman Ludhianvi had very good relations with Pandit Nehru and after independence he worked very hard for good relations of India with the Muslim world. For this he also went to Saudi Arabia in 1952.
Death
Habib ur Rehman Ludhianvi, who fought with commitment for the freedom of the country and the people till his last breath, died on 2 September 1956. On the request of Pandit Nehru, he was buried in the graveyard near Delhi’s Jama Masjid.