Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge commemorated Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s death anniversary with a stirring tribute on X, celebrating the Frontier Gandhi’s monumental sacrifices for India’s liberty. Khan, a Bharat Ratna awardee, faced jail after jail for his steadfast non-violent stance.
Kharge recalled Bacha Khan’s extensive service in the Congress Working Committee and Constituent Assembly, underscoring his massive role in the independence era. ‘His devotion to non-violence, unity, and dignity motivates millions even now,’ he affirmed, highlighting shared ideals across borders.
Born in 1890 in Pakistan’s Utmanzai, Khan’s passion for education led to school establishments in his youth. By 20, he was transforming lives through learning and reform.
The Rowlatt Act ignited his fervor, leading to Gandhi’s mentorship. In the Khilafat Movement, he rose as a district leader, then birthed the 1929 Khudai Khidmatgar—red-shirted non-violent warriors backing Congress till 1947. Decades of arrests defined his 1920-1947 activism.
First non-Indian Bharat Ratna in 1987, Khan’s life ended January 20, 1988, in Peshawar; burial followed in Jalalabad. His legacy endures as a testament to peaceful resistance.