Fareedul Zama

   FAREEDUL ZAMA

Date of Birth: 1907 and Date of Death: 2^nd December, 1983

            Fareedul Zama, who travelled in the path of Mahatma Gandhi throughout his life and became familiar as “Vishakha Gandhi”, in his home town, was born in 1907 in Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.  He lived in Khila bazaar in Vishakhapatnam during his childhood.  He was attracted towards Indian freedom movement from his childhood and he started to participate in Indian National Congress programmes.  After that, he began to follow Mahatma Gandhi’s path.  He thought that the British could be defeated by using nonviolence methods and he participated actively in the freedom movement.  Fareedul Zama participated in “Neil Satyagraha” in 1824 in Madras.  To participate in this movement, he went to Madras from Vishakhapatnam.  Because of his active participation in that movement, he was arrested by the British government.  He very actively participated in all most all agitational programmes of Indian freedom movement like Non-Cooperation movement, Individual Satyagraha, Salt Satyagraha, Quit India and similar other movement.  Fareedul Zama also maintained good relations with revolutionaries who are fighting against British, though he was basically stunch follower of Gandhian thought of non violence.  He helped revolutionary fighters of his area.  Due to this, he was arrested several times.  On once occasion he was in a jail along with Mahatma Gandhi.  From that time onwards, Fareedul Zama became very familiar as “Vishakha Gandhi”.  He wore khaddar himself and gave importance to khaddar.  Besides participating in national movement, he showed interest in social welfare activities.  He gave more importance to the movements meant to remove untouchability, and educate the people.  To reach his goal, he started working in Library Movement.  He himself established first Urdu library in Vishakhapatnam which became familiar as “Babulal Grandhalayam”.  After independence, he worked for peace and harmony among the people.  He was respected by the people irrespective of caste and religion.  He worked continuously to protect religious harmony.  In the recognition of his services as a freedom fighter and as social worker, he was identified as Vishakha Gandhi.  On 2^nd December, 1983 Babulal Fareedul Zama breathed his lost in Vishakhapatnam.