Moulvi Abdul Rasool

MOULVI ABDUL RASOOL

Date of Birth: 1872 and Date of Death: September, 1917

            Moulvi Abdul Rasool, who actively participated in the movement opposing the division of Bengal, was born in 1872.  His father was Moulvi Ghulam Rasool, who was a Zamindar in Bengal.  Abdul Rasool went to England in 1889 to pursue higher education, from where he obtained a degree in Law in 1898.  He was the first Bengali to have received degree.  He stoutly opposed the division of Bengal, and participated actively in anti-partition movement and raised his voice against the atrocities of Lord Curzon.  Since then, he started a new life as a freedom fighter.  He had participated in a meeting held at the Town Hall of Calcutta on 7^th August, 1905 to protest against the division of Bengal.  Later, he left his legal profession and got himself totally dedicated to the cause of India’s Freedom Struggle.  He organised several meetings all over Bengal criticizing the misdeeds of Lord Curzon.  He explained to the people about the need for opposing the partition of Bengal and worked for the strong harmonious and friendly relations between Hindus and Muslims.  The British Government, which could not tolerate his strident propaganda, arrested him.  He was tortured physically and mentally.  Abdul Rasool criticised that the British rulers were trying to divided Hindus and Muslims the same way they divided Bengal.  The British Government got him terminated from the posts he held and sentenced him to jail several times.  Abdul Rasool adopted the ‘Swadeshi policy’ encouraging the use of domestic goods.  He had established several associations like ‘Bengal Mohammedan Association’ for the welfare and development of Muslims through which, he spread the ideology of secularism.  When communal riots broke out in March, 1907, he visited all those places and called for ‘Rakhi Bandhan’ programme for the mutual security of Hindu-Muslims.  Abdul Rasool also played a vital role in the Home Rule Movement started by Annie Besant in 1916.  He adored the movement to such an extent that he even wished to get his wrist watch grafted with the symbol of Home Rule Movement, to be buried along with his body after his demise.  Moulvi Abdul Rasool passed away suddenly in the month of September, 1917, after announcing his last wish.