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In the tapestry of India’s freedom struggle, countless heroes sacrificed their lives for the dream of a free and united nation. Among them, Ashfaqullah Khan stands tall not only as a brave revolutionary but also as a deeply spiritual man whose patriotism was nourished by the Sufi ideals of love, justice, and sacrifice. His life is a powerful reminder of the immense contribution of Indian Muslims to the independence movement and of the spiritual depth that guided their resistance to colonial rule.
Born on 22 October 1900 in Shahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Ashfaqullah Khan grew up in a devout Muslim family known for its honesty and social conscience. The horrors of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919) awakened in him a fierce determination to end British tyranny.
He soon came in contact with Ram Prasad Bismil, and together they became key members of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) a revolutionary group committed to ending British rule through armed struggle and establishing a federal republic.
Ashfaqullah’s most daring act was his involvement in the Kakori Train Robbery (1925) not for personal gain, but to finance the freedom struggle. This act of defiance shook the British Empire, marking a milestone in India’s revolutionary history.
The Sufi Soul of a Revolutionary
What distinguished Ashfaqullah Khan from many of his contemporaries was his Sufi orientation. Spiritually connected to the Warsi Silsila, a Sufi order founded by Hazrat Waris Ali Shah of Dewa Sharif, Ashfaqullah’s beliefs were rooted in divine love, compassion, and service to humanity.
The Warsi philosophy teaches that devotion to God must manifest as devotion to humankind. For Ashfaqullah, fighting colonial injustice was a sacred duty, an act of selfless service inspired by faith. His revolutionary spirit was not fueled by hatred, but by love, love for his country and for the suffering people of India.
Even in prison, he remained calm, prayerful, and poetic. His writings from jail reveal a man who viewed martyrdom not as an end, but as a spiritual ascent. In one of his letters, he wrote:
“I am proud to give my life for my country. My only wish is that India should be free, and Hindus and Muslims should live together in peace and love.”
The story of Ashfaqullah Khan must be understood as part of a broader Muslim contribution to India’s independence. From Bahadur Shah Zafar and Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah in 1857, to Allama Fazle Haq Khairabadi, Maulana Hasrat Mohani, and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Indian Muslims consistently challenged colonial rule.
They did not fight for religious dominance, but for a plural, inclusive, and sovereign India. Ashfaqullah Khan’s friendship with Ram Prasad Bismil a devout Arya Samaji symbolized this unity. Together, they embodied the spirit of India where different faiths merged in the common cause of freedom.
On 19 December 1927, Ashfaqullah Khan was hanged at Faizabad Jail, just two days after his comrade Ram Prasad Bismil was executed in Gorakhpur. As he walked toward the gallows, he recited verses from the Qur’an and shouted “Inqilab Zindabad!” (Long live the revolution). He was only 27.
His death transformed him into a martyr of both faith and freedom a revolutionary guided by Sufi compassion and national devotion. In him, India found a rare blend of spiritual depth and political courage.
Today, when divisive narratives attempt to erase the composite nature of India’s freedom struggle, Ashfaqullah Khan’s story stands as a moral beacon. He proved that to be a true Muslim was to be a true Indian and that love for the motherland is a form of worship.
Ashfaqullah Khan’s life was a fusion of Sufism and sacrifice, faith and freedom, Islam and India. Remembering him is not just about honoring the past it is about reaffirming the idea of India itself: diverse, united, and driven by love.
By: Dr. Shujaat Ali Quadri: (The Author is the National Chairman of Muslim Students Organisation of India MSO, he writes on a wide range of issues, including, Sufism, Public Policy, Geopolitics and Information Warfare.)