Context: The Executive Council of Bhopal’s Barkatullah University has passed a proposal to rename the institution Vagdevi Bhojpal University.
About Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali:
Who He Was?
- Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali (July 7, 1854 – September 1927) was a legendary anti-colonial revolutionary, scholar, and fiery journalist who served as the Prime Minister of India’s first Government in Exile, established in 1915.
- He spent the entirety of his adult life operating from international soil, building global anti-imperial networks to secure India’s complete independence from British rule.
Early Life and Ideological Evolution:
- Birth and Education: Born in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, he was a highly meritorious student who mastered multiple languages. He moved to Bombay and later to London for advanced studies.
- The Spark of Radicalization: While teaching Arabic and Persian in Liverpool, England, he crossed paths with active Indian revolutionaries. His regular anti-British articles and fiery public speeches quickly made him a prime target for British intelligence, forcing him to flee to the United States in 1899.
- The Vision of Core Unity: Barkatullah was a staunch believer in absolute Hindu-Muslim solidarity. In his personal letters to fellow freedom fighter Maulana Hasrat Mohani, he highlighted that the brutal famines and economic starvation orchestrated by the British crushed both Hindus and Muslims equally, concluding that India could never achieve true sovereignty unless all religious communities fought shoulder to shoulder against the divide-and-rule strategy.
Major Contributions to the Indian Freedom Movement:
Barkatullah’s anti-colonial operations spanned a complex, global network of alliances:
Pioneering the Kabul Government-in-Exile (1915):
- On 1 December 1915, Barkatullah co-founded the Provisional Government of India in Kabul, the first Indian government established outside British control to seek international support for independence.
- Raja Mahendra Pratap served as President, Maulana Barkatullah as Prime Minister, and Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi as Home Minister, symbolizing a united nationalist front.
Role in the Ghadar Party:
- Barkatullah emerged as a key leader of the Ghadar Party (1913), which advocated armed revolution and rejected constitutional methods for ending British rule.
- The party aimed to trigger a large-scale revolt within the British Indian Army and inspire a nationwide uprising against colonial rule.
The German Axis Plan during World War I:
- During World War I, he worked closely with Germany, viewing Britain’s enemies as potential allies in India’s liberation struggle.
- He visited Indian POW camps in Europe, urging captured soldiers to join a revolutionary force and fight against British imperialism.
Meeting with Vladimir Lenin (1919):
- In 1919, Barkatullah met Vladimir Lenin in Moscow to seek support for India’s anti-colonial movement.
Last Days and Demise:
- Despite declining health and constant British surveillance, Barkatullah remained actively involved in revolutionary activities abroad.
- He died in September 1927 in San Francisco while attending a Ghadar Party gathering and was buried in California.
Core Achievements:
- Prime Minister of India’s Government-in-Exile: As Prime Minister of the Kabul Government, he led diplomatic efforts to secure international recognition for an independent India.
- Globalizing the Freedom Struggle: Barkatullah transformed India’s anti-colonial movement into an international campaign through activism across Asia, Europe, and North America.
- Laying Foundations for Future Revolutionary Efforts: These efforts later influenced and inspired Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s activities and the formation of the Indian National Army (INA).
