Moulana Habib-ur-Rehaman Ludhianvi

MOULANA HABIB-UR-REHAMAN LUDHIANVI

Date of Birth: 3^rd July, 1892 and Date of Death: 2^nd September, 1956

            Moulana Habib-ur-Rehaman Ludhianvi, who exposed the selfish motives hidden the ‘Islam in Danger’ slogan was born on 3^rd July, 1892 at Ludhiana in Punjab.  He got married to Bibi Shafatunnisa, daughter of Moulana Abdul Aziz.  He joined the Indian National Congress and entered into the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement.  He was arrested for the first time on 1^st December, 1921 for his inspiring speech appealing to the people to revolt against the British Government.  Since then, he faced imprisonment several times and spent nearly 14 years in different jails of the country.  His kith and kin also suffered imprisonment, as they too participated in the Indian National Movement.  His wife Shafatunnisa Bibi, who is also freedom fighter, supported him inspite of the repression unleashed by the British police on her family.  Ludhianvi, who played a vital role in the Jamait-ul-Ulama-e-Hind, started Majlis-e-Ahrar (The Society of Freedom) in 1920 on the advice of Moulana Abul Kalam Azad.  After Bhagat Singh hurled bombs in the central assembly, nobody came forward to give shelter to his family members fearing repression from British.  Moulana Ludhianvi came forward to provide shelter to the family members of Bhagat Singh for about a month.  He unfurled the Indian Flag in the presence of about three hundred British officials and police near Shahi Jama Masjid in 1931, for which act he was arrested.  When the British officials arranged separate water pots for Hindus and Muslims at Ludhiana railway station, he got them broken with the help of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh activists for which he was Jailed.  When the Nation was divided in 1947, he left Ludhiana on the advice of his friends, because of the hostile environment and took shelter in refugee camps at Delhi.  This caused serious mental trauma in the Ludhianvi couple.  Though they were advised to leave for Pakistan, they rejected the advice and stayed back in their native place Ludhiana, and they faced bitter experiences.  Moulana Habib-ur-Rehman Ludhianvi, who was committed to the cause of Freedom and Independence of the people till his last moment, passed away on 2^nd September, 1956.