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Ashfaqulla Khan was an Indian freedom fighter in the Indian Independence Movement against British rule. He was also the co-founder of the Hindustan Republic Association, which later became the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Read this blog to learn more about Ashfaqulla Khan’s life and contributions to the Indian Freedom Struggle.
| Overview of Ashfaqulla Khan | |
| Life | Born: October 22, 1900, Shahjahanpur, British India |
| Died: December 19, 1927, Faizabad Jail, British India Muslim Pathan family | |
| Contribution to the Indian Independence Movement | He co-founded the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) in 1924 |
| Participated in the Kakori train robbery (1925) to fund the HRA | |
| He was arrested and sentenced to death for his role in the robbery | |
| Believed in armed revolution for freedom | |
| Other Contributions | The poet is known by pseudonyms “Hasrat” and “Warsi” |
| Advocated against social injustice and religious communalism | |
Also read: Who Was Captain Vikram Batra?
Early Life Of Ashfaqulla Khan
Ashfaqulla Khan was born in the Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh to Shafiq Ullah Khan and Mazharunissa, of Dilzak Pathans
- The arrest of his friend Rajaram Bharatiya in the Mainpuri Conspiracy spurred his engagement in the revolutionary practices of Uttar Pradesh.
- Khan met Ram Prasad Bismil, a revolutionary deeply involved in the Mainpuri Conspiracy, through a friend.
- Along with Ram Prasaad Bismil, he became a part of the non-cooperation movement.
- Khan was greatly influenced by Lenin and the Russian Bolshevik Revolution, just like other members of the Hindustan Republican Association. He stated his support for the poor’s liberation and opposition to capitalist interests.
Also Read: The Eminent Musician Ustad Bismillah Khan
Involvement of Ashfaqulla Khan in the Indian Independence Movement and Kakori Train Robbery
| Event | Details |
| Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) | Khan, along with others, co-founded the HRA in 1924. |
| The HRA aimed for an armed revolution to overthrow British rule in India. | |
| Khan believed armed struggle was necessary for achieving independence. | |
| Planning the Kakori Train Robbery (August 1925) | Khan, along with Ram Prasad Bismil, is considered a key planner of the robbery. There are differing accounts of his initial stance, with some suggesting an initial opposition that later changed. |
| The target was the government treasury carried on a train near Lucknow to fund HRA activities. | |
| Execution of the Kakori Train Robbery (August 9, 1925) | Khan participated alongside revolutionaries like Bismil, Chandrashekhar Azad, and others. |
| They stopped the train and looted the cash from the guard’s cabin. | |
| One unintended casualty, a passenger named Ahmed Ali, died in the crossfire. | |
| Aftermath and Capture (December 1926) | The British launched a manhunt after the robbery. Bismil was arrested earlier, while Khan continued revolutionary activities. |
| While in Delhi, a friend he trusted (possibly a traitor) informed the police, leading to Khan’s arrest in December 1926. | |
| Trial and Execution (1927) | The Kakori trial gained significant public attention. |
| Khan, along with others, was charged with robbery and murder. | |
| Despite a well-known defence, Khan was sentenced to death. | |
| He was hanged in Faizabad Jail on December 19, 1927. | |
| Legacy | Khan became a symbol of Indian nationalism and resistance against British rule. |
| His execution sparked further outrage and inspired other revolutionaries. |
FAQs
Ashfaqulla Khan was an Indian freedom fighter and poet, known for co-founding the Hindustan Republican Association and participating in the Kakori train robbery against British rule.
Khan planned and executed the Kakori train robbery in 1925 to fund the freedom struggle. He was later captured, tried, and sentenced to death by the British.
Khan’s bravery and sacrifice made him a symbol of Indian nationalism. His execution galvanised the independence movement and inspired future generations of revolutionaries.
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