Syed Shah Mohiuddin Khadri Biyabani

SYED SHAH KHADRI BIYABANI

Date of Birth: 1894 and Date of Death: 1^st October, 1969

            Syed Shah Mohiuddin Khadri Biyabani, who was a strong opponent of the British rule, and who dedicated himself totally to the Indian Freedom Movement, was born in 1894 in Cumbum of Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, in a wealthy family.  His father was Syed Ghouse Peer Khadri Biyabani, a famous doctor known as ‘Allah Shafi’ and mother Rukhiya Bi.  Syed Khadri Biyabani did his primary education at Cumbum high school.  Later, he had his graduation from the Presidency College at Madras and joined the Law course in the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh.  When he was at Aligarh, he got acquainted with Dr. Zakir Hussain, which made his life turn towards the Indian National Movement.  When he was arrested for meeting the National Movement leaders like Dr. Babu Rajendra Prasad secretly, he protested against the detention by going on a hunger strike taking only salt for three days.  He grew close with Moulana Abul Kalam Azad when he was in Agra Jail.  His fluency in Telugu, Urdu, Kannada, Tamil and English languages, enabled him assist Azad in the authoring ‘Tafsir-e-Quran’.  He refused the post of the Deputy Collector offered by the British Government declaring that ‘Angrezonka ghulamgiri nahin karoonga’ (I don’t want to serve as a slave to the British).  He participated in the Indian National Flag Movement in May, 1923.  He attended the National Flag Satyagraha at Khanapur, defying the government orders as a member of the Andhra Provincial Congress Committee.  He was sentenced to eleven months imprisonment for his participation in the Quit India Movement.  He said that ‘I am a Muslim.  I respect my religion and I respect Allah.  But, I feel proud to be called Indian’.  He followed the path of Mahatma Gandhi in his life.  He donated 500 acres of land to strengthen the Indian National Congress.  He had even donated the 15 acres of land, which was offered to him by the Indian Government after Independence, recognizing his services in the Indian Freedom Movement.  While working as the member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, Syed Shah Mohiuddin Khadri Biyabani breathed his last on 1^st October, 1969.