Red Shirt Movement and its Objective
The British colonial rule in India faced pressure due to the Pashtun Nonviolent Resistance. It was led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan and is also called the Red Shirt Movement. These activists followed the road of non-violence under the eminent leader Abdul who was also called Frontier Gandhi. His movement was entirely against the tyranny and atrocities of the British East India Company in the North-West Frontier Province in 1930 in undivided India. He was also an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and was backed by the Indian National Congress. In this article, we will study why this movement was given such a name.
What is Red Shirt Movement?
Under the supervision and admiration of Mahatma Gandhi, Abdul Ghaffar Khan pledged to oppose and revolt against the British East India Company in the North-West Frontier Province in undivided India. He was a Pashtun by origin and was followed by many believers of India’s independence from the tyrannical rule of the British colonists.
His motives of building a non-violent movement with many believers in this province, presently in Pakistan, were admired and supported by the Indian National Congress. The atrocities in the frontier regime made him develop a foundation of Khudai Khidmatgars. It is a Persian term that means the servants of God. If we study about Khudai Khidmatgar, we will understand why he was also known as Frontier Gandhi. He was considered as the perfect example of Gandhi leading the movement against British rule in the provinces of present Pakistan.
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About Khudai Khidmatgar
The North-West Frontier Province lies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in present day Pakistan. Abdul Ghaffar Khan was an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi. He also pledged to follow the nonviolent path shown and led by Mahatma Gandhi in this region. He formed a group of Khudai Khidmatgars or the servants of God and started the Red Shirt Movement in this region.
The Khudai Khidmatgar movement had participants from this frontier of the British Colonial rule. Every participant wore a red shirt or Surkh Posh. The entire team was dressed red. It originally focused on the social reforms in this province. It also focused on eliminating blood feuds and introduced education among the tribal natives. Previously, it was known as Anjuman-e-Islah-e Afghania. This term means the society aiming at reforming Afghans. He was locally known as Bacha Khan, Sarhadi Gandhi, and Badshah Khan. Gradually in due course of time, the group became more politically oriented resulting in getting support from the Indian National Congress. Eventually, the members under the guidance and leadership of Abdul Ghaffar Khan led to the foundation of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement.
When and How Was Khudai Khidmatgar Established?
Abdul Ghaffar Khan, as mentioned earlier, formed a group of nationalists in the Northwestern Province of the British Colonial Rule to reduce internal friction and blood feuds by educating the masses. The group wore red shirts and was called the Red Shirt Movement when the members started to seek political influence.
Everyone was aware of the tyranny of British Rule and wanted to free his motherland from the clasp of the colonials. Eventually, this group was tormented by the British by arresting the leader. Abdul was exiled and a huge number of workers were arrested. Abdul sought allies from the Indian National Congress the All-Indian Muslim League. The latter rejected his request but the former took him in 1929.
In 1930, the Red Shirt Movement took a prominent shape under the leadership of Frontier Gandhi. This movement played an important role in achieving independence. This group formed an ally with the Indian National Congress and bonded well to move against colonial rule. Eventually, Abdul was released from his exile due to the immense pressure created by both parties.
As per the Government of India Act 1935, male franchises were introduced for the first time in this province. In the elections of 1937, Khudai Khidmatgars joined hands with Congress and won. It was Abdul’s brother Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan, also called Dr. Khan Sahib, who was elected as this province’s Chief Minister.
During Quit India Movement in 1940, this group faced a crackdown as the Muslim League did not support its alliance with the Indian National Congress and opposing British Rule. Despite this blow, the Khudai Khidmatgars won the election conducted in 1946 with the same alliance and Dr. Khan Sahib was reelected in the same post.
They also strongly opposed the partition of India but were disappointed when the Indian National Congress agreed to the terms. Abdul Ghafar Khan was devastated by the decision made by the Congress leaders without seeking his consent and said that they have thrown them to the wolves.
This group of volunteers put in front the Bannu Resolution and demanded a free state for Pashtuns but the British rejected it in 1947. After the separation of India and Pakistan, the new government of the latter country dismissed and banned this movement. It led to Babrra Massacre on 12th August 1948 where the volunteers were violently targeted by the new government.
FAQs on Khudai Khidmatgar Movement and its Impact
1. What was the Khudai Khidmatgar movement and who founded it?
The Khudai Khidmatgar movement was a non-violent resistance movement against British colonial rule among the Pashtuns of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). It was founded in 1929 by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi's principles. The name 'Khudai Khidmatgar' translates to "Servants of God," and its primary aim was to achieve independence through peaceful means.
2. Why were the Khudai Khidmatgars also known as the 'Red Shirts'?
The volunteers of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement wore a distinctive, uniformly dyed dark red-coloured shirt as their uniform. This simple but powerful visual identity led to them being popularly known as the 'Red Shirts' (or 'Surkh Posh'). This uniform became a recognisable symbol of their organised, non-violent resistance against the British.
3. What were the main objectives of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement?
The primary objectives of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement were multifaceted and included:
To achieve independence from British colonial rule through strictly non-violent methods.
To promote social reform within Pashtun society, such as ending blood feuds and encouraging education.
To advocate for a united and independent India, opposing the religious separatism that led to the partition.
To foster a sense of Pashtun nationalism that was integrated with the broader Indian identity.
4. How did the philosophy of non-violence challenge the traditional Pashtun culture?
The philosophy of non-violence was revolutionary for Pashtun culture, which traditionally valued a code of honour (Pashtunwali) often associated with martial prowess and revenge. The Khudai Khidmatgar movement fundamentally challenged this by framing non-violence as a form of ultimate bravery and self-control, not weakness. It reframed courage as the ability to endure hardship for a collective cause without retaliating, thereby shifting the focus from personal feuds to a unified struggle against colonial oppression.
5. Why did the Khudai Khidmatgars align with the Indian National Congress instead of the Muslim League?
The Khudai Khidmatgars aligned with the Indian National Congress (INC) because their core principles were highly compatible. Both organisations were committed to achieving a secular, united, and independent India through non-violent means. In contrast, the Muslim League's platform increasingly focused on creating a separate state for Muslims, a vision that directly contradicted Abdul Ghaffar Khan's goal of a unified nation. This fundamental ideological difference was the primary reason for their alliance with the INC and the resulting friction with the Muslim League.
6. What was the long-term impact of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement on the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)?
The long-term impact of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement on the NWFP was profound. It successfully mobilised the Pashtun population into a disciplined political force, raising their political consciousness and promoting education. The movement's emphasis on non-violence helped reduce internal conflicts like blood feuds. Although the NWFP ultimately became part of Pakistan after the 1947 partition, the movement's legacy endures as a powerful historical example of secular Pashtun nationalism and successful non-violent resistance.
7. What was Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan's role in the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, often called the 'Frontier Gandhi', played a pivotal role in the Civil Disobedience Movement launched in 1930. He led the movement in the NWFP, organising widespread protests and acts of non-violent defiance that mirrored those across the subcontinent. His leadership was so effective that it posed a significant challenge to the British administration in the region, leading to events like the Qissa Khwani Bazaar massacre. His efforts were crucial in demonstrating the national reach of the struggle, proving that it was an integral part of the broader Indian independence movement.
