Tasadduq Ahmed Khan Sherwani

TASADDUQ AHMED KHAN SHERWANI

Date of Birth: 1885 and Date of Death: 22^nd March, 1935

            Tasadduq Ahmed Khan Sherwani, who fought not only against the British rule but also against the social inequalities and superstitions, was born in 1885 in Bilona village near Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh state.  He joined the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh, where he became a leader of the Students’ Union Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College.  Ahmed Khan Sherwani got attracted towards the Indian national movement and opposed the pro-British stance of the college and criticised the management, which resulted in his rustication.  He later visits to London, where he completed Bar-at-Law in 1911.  He returned to India in 1912 and started legal practice in Aligarh.  He joined the Indian National Congress in 1916, where he was influenced by the national leaders like Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. M.A. Ansari and others.  Tasadduq Ahmed Khan Sherwani played a vital role in the Home Rule Movement in 1916 and became a member in the Indian National Congress Committee in 1919.  Since then, he started participating extensively in national politics and got recognition for his relentless services.  He participated in the activities of the All India Muslim League simultaneously.  At a meeting held by the Muslim League in 1919 at Amritsar, Ahmed Khan strongly advocated mutual understanding and friendship between the Hindus and Muslims in order to achieve freedom for the country.  He also strongly supported the resolution appealing to the Muslims to stop cow slaughter.  He warned the people that communalism is dangerous to all.  He influenced the All India Muslim League to support the Non-Violence and Non-Cooperation Movements in the meeting held in December 1920.  Ahmed Sherwani put his best efforts bring harmony between the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress.  Responding to the call given by the Indian National Congress and the Khilafat Committee, he actively participated in the Khilafat – Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, which led to his imprisonment in 1921.  He was also imprisoned in 1932 when the Indian National Congress was banned by the British government.  Tasadduq Ahmed Khan Sherwani breathed his last on 22^nd March, 1935.