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REMEMBERING THE GREAT BACHA KHANOn January 18,1988 the demise of Abdul Ghaffar Khan had plunged the entire Pathan community in Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world into grief and misery. The observers then said that due to the loss of great warrior for peace in the world the future of the Pathans has come to a new end. All such fears and doubts have now proved valid as the war on terrorism in Afghanistan continues and recently President Bush has to warn Pakistan, Iran and Palestinians that reflected the possible expansion of war to new horizons. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan ex Red Shirt leader of the North Western Province in the former Indian colony that is presently included in Pakistan as result of a referendum held in 1947, was cherished and adored by his people for initiating the liberation movement during the British Raj in India. Though in the beginning he started with the socio-political reformation so his backward people could feel the fruits of post industrial revolutions. Hence launching in the third decade of the 20th century Khudai Kidmatgar (Servants of God) movements Abdul Ghaffar Khan was exposed around the world as a crusader of peace and progress. But as the colonial ruler did not approve the red flag and red shirts raised and worn by the Pathans he was soon confronted with ruthless decrees. This forced the great Khan to look around for help and the Indian National Congress extended to him a rescuing hand that he kept till his death. The life and struggle of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan is said to be comprised of three distinct phases:
He had his own reasons for such a political role and those reasons were basically democracy and secularism that he could champion amid the warrior tribes of Pathans so that his people may adopt to the need of the day. According to his critics Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan had great expectations from his people who had had bestowed upon him the titles of Bacha Khan(The respected Khan) and Fakhre Afghan (Pride of the Afghans). In the first phase of his struggle he succeeded in preparing an army of non-violence that joined the struggle for independence under the Indian National Congress. And finally when the narrow minded religious fundamentalism prevailed upon the impossible partition of India Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan as the member national assembly continued his services for the cause of civil rights in Pakistan. During this phase of his life he was targeted to cruel and inhuman state behavior. And when he felt that living in Pakistan was no more possible for him he went to Afghanistan and stayed there for longer time. Being a known political leader the Afghan government extended him full support and as such a new move started to brew in the political life of the subcontinent of India where under the concept of greater Afghanistan was aired from Kabul and New Delhi. The Pathans or Pukhtoons living in Pakistan were said to be separated wrongly by the English rulers who erected the historical deurand line in 1896 between Afghanistan and the then colonial India. Pakistan resisted such a conspiracy for it was directed to abolish its very existence. And hence a great game continued to brew in the region that watched the invasion of Soviets into Afghanistan wherefore Pakistan was targeted to a severe move of terrorism from Afghanistan. During all this era Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan continued his campaign for practicing non-violence in politics and despite his hectic efforts the ugly face of terrorism continued to dwell in the region. During the anti soviet moves when huge mercenaries were raised in the area Abdul Ghaffar Khan had time and again cautioned the concerned quarters of the consequences of such move. Today observers recalling the saying and services of Abdul Ghaffar Khan amid the existing scenario in Afghanistan are forced to salute to his vision and works for peace. He was owned and nominated by various circles around the world for different awards and prizes. The Indian lobbies even nominated him in 1985 for the award of Nobel Peace Prize.
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