Hajara Beebi Ismail

   HAJARA BEEBI ISMAIL

Date of Death: 16^th June, 1994

            Hajara Beebi Ismail was the wife of Mohammed Ismail Saheb, who was a freedom fighter from Tenali of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh.  The couple were influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and dedicated themselves to the Khadi Campaign Movement.  Hajara Beebi supported her husband who was busy with the activities of Khadi Movement.  Her husband Mohammed Ismail started the first Khaddar Store in Guntur district for which he got fame as ‘Khaddar Ismail’.  In those days, Tenali was the headquarters for the Muslim League in Andhra area where it was very active with its different programmes.  Since Hajara and her husband were following the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi, the activists of the Muslim League caused them several troubles.  She was very supportive to her husband even in such a situation, helped the activists of the Indian National Movement, who visited their home.  Hajara Beebi never lost courage though her husband was arrested several times for his role in the national movement, Ismail couple wanted their children to be educated where nationalism was taught.  Thus, they sent their girl children to a Hindi School, which was having an educational system with Nationalist spirit.  Their family was opposed by some of their own community people and had to face an un-announced social boycott.  Hajara Beebi did not care for that act and made it clear that her family was following the ideals of Gandhiji and won’t step back from the path they were following, whatever be the consequences.  She lost her husband Khaddar Ismail in 1948.  He succumbed to the ill-health caused by repeated imprisonments.  The Government offered her land after the demise of her husband under freedom fighters category.  But, she refused politely to take the land and said that she does not want to get her patriotism valued in the form of assettes.  Moreover, she donated her family’s own land to ‘Kavuru Vinayashram’ to keep the promise made by her husband.  Even after the demise of her husband, she followed his ideals.  She got their Khadi Store run by her children after her husband and she wore Khadi till her last breath.  Hajara Beebi Ismail, who was a dedicated Khadi activist like her husband, passed away on 16^th June, 1994 in Tenali.