Mukhiuddin Farooqi

MUKHIUDDIN FAROOQI

Date of Birth: 1920 and Date of Death: 3^rd September, 1997

            Mukhiuddin Farooqi, who was adored by the people and his colleagues as the ‘Gandhian Marxist’, was born in 1920 in Ambehata, Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh.  His ancestors were sent to the gallows for their revolt against the British in 1857.  Later, his father and brothers also participated in the Indian Freedom Movement.  Since his father Moulana Moinuddin had passed away in 1923, he went to Delhi in 1927 to stay with his brother.  Mukhiuddin joined in St. Stephen College in 1934, was specially recognized for his Khadi dress.  He presided over the All India Students’ Conference in July, 1936, which was attended by Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah.  Since he hailed from a family of revolutionaries, he started participating in the National Movement from 1936, while he was a student.  He announced a strike in Delhi University and organised a demonstration with students in 1940, protesting against the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru.  So he was debarred from the University and his M.A. Degree was also cancelled.  He became the General Secretary of the All India Students’ Federation in 1940.  He worked for the expansion of the Federation and took membership in the Communist Party of India.  Though he was a member of the Communist Party, he actively participated in the Quit India Movement as a member of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, for which he was imprisoned for 14 months.  Since he was against the communalisation of politics, he strongly opposed the movement of the Muslim League for a separate Nation.  He was detained by the British police for appealing to the people to boycott the celebrations of the British Government for its victory in World War-II.  He also worked hard to maintain harmony and peace under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi and Moulana Abul Kalam Azad, when communal riots erupted after the division of the country in 1947.  Later on, he became a whole timer of Communist Party of India.  Though he refused to join, he was offered several honorary and constitutional posts in Government of India.  He even refused the offer of Governor post by the then Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.  He was honoured in 1989 with his M.A. Degree from Delhi University by the then President of India Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma.  Mukhiuddin Farooqi, who led a very simple life breathed his lost on 3^rd September, 1997, while speaking at a meeting in Delhi.