MAHATHMA GANDHI:

MUSLIM ASSOCIATES &

FOLLOWERS

SYED NASEER AHAMED

TRANSLATION :
BVK PURNANANDAM

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MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

AHP Series No. : 17
Written in Telugu by : Syed Naseer Ahamed
Translated into English by : BVK Purnanandam
All Rights Reserved with author.
Year of Publication : 2020
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 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

E ver since Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known to

the world as Mahatma Gandhi, who commanded the momentum and course
of the Indian National Movement, the last phase of Indian Freedom Struggle,
took the first steps to convert it into a popular movement, several Muslim
freedom Fighters extended remarkable support, as associates ad followers,
to him and followed his path with utmost integrity of thought, word and
action.
When Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi returned to India as Barrister
after studying Law in London and was trying to establish himself as a
lawyer, he got a very good opportunity. That opportunity laid foundation
for a historical process which transformed ‘ Barrister M K Gandhi’. into
‘Mahathma Gandhi’ and ‘Father of the Nation’.
DADA ABDULLAH AS A GUIDE
Gandhi’s association with Dada Abdullah and the situations he faced
in South Africa played a crucial role in turning Barrister M K Gandhi’s
focus towards public work. Abdullah was the major partner in Messers
Dada Abdullah and Company in South Africa. Abdoola Hajee Adam Jhaveri
was his full name. He was a native of Gandhiji’s home town Porbandar in
Gujarat State. Several law suits regarding his business firm were proceeding
in the courts of South Africa. Shaik Abdul Kareem Jhaveri, a partner in
Messers Dada Abdulla & company, invited Gandhi to South Africa to assist
his lawyers in those law suits. When Gandhi reached South Africa in 1892
in response to the invitation, Dada Abdullah himself personally received
Gandhi at port and took him to his firm’s quarters. Since then Dada Abdullah
remained a guide to Gandhi in all his endeavours in South Africa.
Gandhi saw how Indians were discriminated against in South Africa
and he himself experienced it. He understood the helplessness of Indians
there. He gathered more details from Dada Abdullah and his colleagues.
Dada Abdullh guided Gandhi in several situations he encountered in this

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 SYED NASEER AHAMED

regard. There were occasions when

Dada Abdullah restrained Gandhiji
from adopting certain local ways
saying that they would be
detrimental to the self respect of
Indians in South Africa. Gandhiji
mentioned this in his autobiography
‘The Story of my Experiments with
Truth’ In a farewell meeting held in
Dada Abdullah’s office on the
occasion of Gandhiji’s leaving for
India in 1894, there came up for
discussion a news item about a
piece of legislation to abolish the
voting rights of Indian’s who had
been living in South Africa for a long
time.to be enacted by South African
DADA ABDULLAH (-1912) government.

N.I.C WITH ABDULLAH AS PRESIDENET

& GANDHI AS SECRETARY
Natal Indian Congress was formed on 22nd May 1894 with Dada
Abdullah as president and M K Gandhi as secretary in pursuance of the
decision taken in the farewell meeting to fight against the disenfranchising
bill. The following persons assumed charge as Vice Presidents of the Natal
Indian Congress. Hajee Mahomed Hajee Dada, Abdool Kadir, Hajee Dada
Hajee Habib, Moosa Hajee Adam, P. Dawjee Mahomed, Peeran Mahomed,
Hoosen Miran, Adamjee Miankhan, Moosa Hajee Cassim, Mahomed Cassim
Jeeva, Dawad Mahomed, Hoosen Cassim Amod Tili, Omar Hajee Aba,
Hajee Mahomed (P.M. Burg), Camroodeen (P. M. Burg). The following
prominent persons like Goolam Hoosen Randeri, Shamshoodeen, G.A.
Bassa, Ibrahim M. Khatri, Shaik Farid, Varind Ismail, Joosub Abdool Carim,
Ismail Kadir, Easop Kadua, Mahomed Esak, Mahomed Hafejee, Osman
Ahmed and Mahomed Tayub, were in the Executive committee, who set
out to implement the programmes of the Natal Indian Congress.
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 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

MAHATHMA GANDHI
WITH LEADERS OF THE NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS, 1894

INTENTION TO DO PUBLIC WORK

Adverting to this context, Gandhiji in his autobiography wrote ‘It
was here that I had opportunities of learning public work and acquired
some measure of my capacity for it’. Gandhiji, during his 21 years of stay
in South Africa, got complete cooperation from several persons mainly
Haji Esa Samad, Abdul Gani, Mohammed Khasim. Kamaruddin, Adamji
Mia Khan and Dawood Seth for the struggle he led there.
Besides extending material and moral support to Sathyagraha
Movement and phoenix settlement, Dada Abdullah made successful efforts
to make his business partners also to do so. Mentioning this in his article
‘Dada Abdullah and Mahatma Gandhi’ Prof. Yodendra Yadav wrote, ‘So
we can say that Dada Abdulla was the first supporter of Mahatma Gandhi
in South Africa Satyagraha Movement. He taught and supported him like
his father.’
‘IMAM SAHEB’ TO INDIA ALONG WITH GANHDIJI
After his transformation from Barrister Gandhi into the leader of
Sathyagraha Movement in South Africa and achieving certain tangible results
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 SYED NASEER AHAMED

in favour of Indians there, Gandhiji left for India in 1915 leaving the Ashram
and other activities to his associates there in 1914. Along with Gandhiji
came Imam Abdul Khadir Bavajir (-1931), an associate in Phoenix Ashram.
He assumed charge of the printing press in Sabarmathi Ashram started in
India by Gandhiji. Abdul Khadir’s wife Imam Saheba, his daughters Fathima
Begum and Amana Khureshi (1905-1967) also worked in the printing press.
Imam Abdul Khadir, whom Gandhiji fondly called ‘Imam Saab ’ and treated
affectionately as his brother, and his family lived in Sabarmathi Ashram
with Gandhiji’s family.
FATHIMA’S WEDDING INVITATION BY GANDHIJI
Gandhiji took special care in the matter of 20 years old Fathima’s
marriage because of the affection he had for the family. The wedding
invitation printed in the name of Gandhiji dated 2 April 1920 had a special
place in the history of the literature of Indian National Movement. The
Invitation reads like this,
‘Dear friend, Fathima Begum is the elder daughter of my
friend and brother Imam Abdul Khadir Saheb who was with me in
ashram and jail life in South Africa and India. Fathima Bibi’s marriage
with Syed Hussain Miya is fixed for 26 April,1920 Saturday at 7 Pm.
You are invited to grace the happy occasion and shower the bride and
bridegroom with best wishes.
Yours
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’
Gandhiji specially mentioned about this marriage at length in his
paper ‘Navajeevan’. Gandhiji wrote about Imam Abdul Khadir and his family
in detail. All this is available in the ‘Collected works of Mahatma Gandhi,
Government of India Publications’. Gandhiji wrote about Imam Saheb’s
life in South Africa and in India at Sabarmathi Ashram in the following way
:‘His real name was Abdul Kadir Bawazeer, but, as he served as Imam in
South Africa, most people knew him as Imam Saheb. I always addressed
him by that name. The Imam Saheb's father was the Muezzin of the famous
Jumma Masjid in Bombay and served in that capacity right till his death. He
died only a few years ago, after the Imam Saheb's return to India. He fell
dead just as he was washing and getting ready for the azan. Such a death

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 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

comes only to the blessed. The Imam Saheb's forefathers were Arabs and
had come to India and settled in the Konkan years ago. Hence he knew the
Konkani language too. His mother tongue was Gujarati, but he had little
schooling. He knew Arabic well enough to be able to read from the Koran
Sharif with a pleasing intonation, though not so well as to be able to
understand everything in the Koran. He had picked up, through contacts in
practical life, English, Dutch and Creole French. Urdu, of course, he knew.
He had also a working knowledge of Zulu. His intellect was so sharp that,
if he had regularly studied in a school, he would have earned reputation as
a great scholar. Though he was not a lawyer, he had come to understand
subtleties of law through practical experience.
The Imam Saheb had gone to South Africa for trade and had earned
much. When he gave up business, he kept coaches which he supplied on
hire and had a fairly good income from that calling.Being a man of
independent temper, he never tried his fortune in big business. He had a
sweet voice, and, since his father was a Muezzin, he occasionally officiated
as Imam in the mosque in Johannesburg. But he accepted no honorarium
for his services.
The Imam Saheb had married twice. Both the wives were Malays.
His first marriage was not successful, and so he married the lady whom
we knew as his wife. This marriage had given him much happiness. He
and the Haji Saheba served each other with great devotion. He was a sincere
friend. So far as I know, the Imam Saheb's views about marriage had
undergone a complete change and he had come to believe in monogamy.
My first meeting with Imam Saheb may be said to have taken place in 1903
in South Africa after my return to that country. He used to tell me that we
had met once before that but I have no recollection of that meeting. When
I set up practice as a lawyer in Johannesburg, he used to accompany
clients to my office. He was an altogether different man then in appearance
and manners. He used to dress himself in English style, and wore a Turkish
cap. I immediately recognized his intelligence, but otherwise he did not
produce a good impression on me at first. I thought him rather obstinate,
but, as I came to know him better, I liked him more and more.
I saw, as I had more and more experience of dealing with him,
that what I had thought to be obstinacy was only his eagerness to understand
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 SYED NASEER AHAMED

fully the implications of every point.

If he held an opinion on any matter,
he would not give it up till his reason
was convinced of his error. He
would not take a lawyer's word as
gospel truth in legal matters merely
because he himself was not a lawyer,
but would argue against him even in
such matters. Though he had had
no education, he had complete
confidence in his judgment.
Moreover, he had a proud sense of
self-respect. I, therefore, saw very
soon that he had sufficient strength
of mind to cling to his own view
without being overawed by
IMAM SAHEB ABUDL QADIR anybody.
BAWAZIR (-1931) In the beginning, Imam Saheb
used to come to me on behalf of clients and explain their cases to me. But
he took interest in current affairs and would draw me into discussion about
them. He evinced keen interest in discussing the hardships of our countrymen
in South Africa and took part in the meetings, etc. On most issues, he
supported me, but he never hesitated to oppose me even in public whenever
he did not approve of my stand. Gradually, however, he was drawn towards
me and, when the Satyagraha commenced, proved himself as steadfast as
a rock. Some fell and some weakened, and some opposed me bitterly, but
I don't remember Imam Saheb to have wavered at any time. When he was
imprisoned for the first time, nobody expected that he would remain strong
till the end.
On the contrary, many persons told me, including some who held
him in high respect, that he would not go to jail again, that he had a delicate
constitution, was pleasure-loving and had many wants. This was on the
whole true. However, Imam Saheb never weakened, whereas I saw many
who were known to be simple in their habits withdrawing from the struggle.
Imam Saheb's capacity for self-sacrifice was very great, and, though he

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 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

would think long before taking a decision, he showed wonderful strength

in clinging to a decision once taken.
When Imam Saheb plunged into the struggle, he had no thought at
all that he would have to break up his home and embrace a life of complete
renunciation. As soon, however, as he saw that if he wished to remain
staunch in the Satyagraha movement he would have to give up the attachment
to his home, he did so almost in an instant. This was no small sacrifice on
his part.
We should remember that Imam Saheb had set up his home in
English style. Haji Saheba had lived in that style from her very birth. Fatima
and Amana also were brought up like English children. For one who had
lived in this manner, it was extremely difficult to curtail his heavy expenditure
and adopt an utterly simple mode of life. For Imam Saheb, however, once
he had made up his mind to do a particular thing, it was quite easy to carry
out his resolve. And, therefore, when I decided to leave Johannesburg and
to settle in Phoenix, he himself proposed that he, too, would live there.
Though I knew his firmness of mind, I was completely at a loss what to
say in reply to his proposal. I described to him the hardships of life in
Phoenix. A man who had never put his body to the slightest trouble and had
always lived surrounded by comforts and luxuries; I wondered how such
a person would be able to start forthwith living like a laborer. Even if he
himself could bear the hardships of life in Phoenix, what about Haji Saheba,
and Fatima and Amana, I asked. Imam Saheb's reply was brief.
He said: "I have put my trust in God. And you do not know Haji
Saheba. She will always be ready to live where I live, and as I live. If,
therefore, you have no other difficulty in the matter, I have decided to
come and live in Phoenix. No one knows when the struggle will end. I
don`t think I shall be able to carry on my old business of supplying coaches
on hire, or take up any other occupation. Like you, I too have realized that
a Satyagrahi should give up love of wealth and possessions." Imam Saheb`s
proposal pleased me very much. I wrote to my co-workers in Phoenix.
They also welcomed the proposal. And so Imam Saheb and his family
came over. Many inmates of Ashram probably do not know that Imam
Saheb joined the residents of Phoenix in all their activities. Everybody
fetched water for his or her own use from a spring below. It flowed at
9
 SYED NASEER AHAMED

some depth below the level of the

Phoenix Settlement. The Phoenix
buildings were on a hill and one had
to climb about fifty feet to reach the
place. Imam Saheb had a delicate
constitution even at that time, but
every morning one saw him walking
down to the spring with a KAVADA
on his shoulders and climbing up
slowly with the buckets filled with
water. The place now occupied by
the spinning-wheel in the Ashram
was held in Phoenix by the printing
press. All the inmates, boys and girls,
old men and women, educated and
MOULANA MAZHARUL HAQ uneducated, had to work in some
department of the press. There were
(1866-1930) all kinds of big or small tasks,
composing, folding the printed copies of the paper, making wrappers, pasting
stamps, moving the wheel with the hand whenever the machine stopped,
etc., etc. Everybody was required to give some time and help in these
tasks, especially on the day on which the journal was to be published.
Imam Saheb, Haji Saheba, Fatima and Amana, all four of them joined in
this work. Imam Saheb had learned composing. For a man of his temper
and habits and of his age, this was indeed wonderful. In this way, Imam
Saheb identified himself completely with the life at Phoenix. He and the
other members of his family were non-vegetarian, but I don't remember
any time when they cooked such food at Phoenix.
This, however, does not mean that Imam Saheb was in any way a
less devout Muslim. He never missed Namaz, nor did he or his family ever
fail to observe the Roza. By adopting the manner of life of the other inmates
and making a sacrifice for their sake, he really demonstrated the nobility of
Islamic culture. Imam Saheb`s capacity for self-sacrifice was to be put to
a still more severe test. He went to jail again several times, and proved
himself a model prisoner.

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 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

When, however, in the year 1914 it was decided that most of the
inmates of the Ashram should return to India, leaving only a few of them in
Phoenix, Imam Saheb was put to a real test. South Africa had practically
become his home. Haji Saheba, Fatima and Amana were complete strangers
to India and did not know any Indian language - a little English and Dutch
was all the language that they knew. But Imam Saheb took no time to come
to a decision. He had made up his mind that he and his family would live
wherever I did. That was his self- sacrifice for the cause of Satyagraha
and his contribution towards Hindu-Muslim unity. Everyone in Sabarmathi
Ashram knew his daily routine. Being a man with a deep faith in Allah, his
heart was pure. His commitment to rules and regulations of Ashram kept
growing stronger.’
Having written about the family of Imam Abdul Khadir Bavazir,
Gandhiji went on to praise the workflow and courage of Fathima and Amana.
Praising the courage and adventurous spirit of Fatima Begum and Amana
Khureshi who participated in the Indian National Movement, Gandhiji
remarked, ‘How else would the girls brought up and trained in phoenix and
Sabarmathi Ashrams behave? ’.

INVITATION TO CHAMPARAN
When Gandhiji, who fought against apartheid in South Africa
with the weapon of Sathyagraha and achieved remarkable success, returned
to India in 1915 and the first weapon he used against the British was the
weapon of Sathyagraha. The First campaign he waged after returning to
India was the well known ‘Champaran Farmers Struggle of 1917’. Farmers
leader Mr. Shaik Gulab (1857-1920), and Journalist Mr. Peer Muhammad
Ansari Munees (1882-1949) laid strong foundations to ‘Champaran Farmers
Struggle’ with thereby the decade long campaign against the British owners
of Indigo plantations and factories and the English officers, who supported
them before Gandhiji’s arrival to Champaran of Bihar State.
Mr Peer Munees not only prepared the representation inviting
Gandhiji to Champaran but also accompanied Mr. Raj Kumar Shukla (1875-
1929) to Indian National Congress sessions held in Lucknow to hand it
over to Mr. M K Gandhi. He explained in the representation the miserable

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 SYED NASEER AHAMED

BEGUM KHURSHID KHAWAJA

(1896-1981)

SHAIK GULAB SAHEB PEER MUHAMMAD ANSARI MUNIS

(1857-1920) (1882-1949)

conditions being faced by Champaran farmers. This representation moved

Gandhiji’s heart and made him visit Champaran.
It was on this occasion that Gandhiji had a taste of the severity of
caste discrimination in India. On his way to Champaran he reached Patna
where Mr Shukla took him to the house of lawyer Mr. Babu Rajendra
Prasad. Mr Rajendra Prasad was not in the home at that time. His domestic
servants did not allow Gandhi into the house beyond varandah due to caste
related sanctions followed by the family. The servants did not allow them
even to use the toilet in the house. They further objected while they were
drawing water from the well. Gandhiji mentioned all this in his autobiography.
In a letter written to his son Mr Maganlal Gandhi he remarked, ‘They
treated us as beggars’
In that embarrassing situation Gandhiji remembered that his London
classmate Barrister Moulana Mazaharul Haq (1866-1930) was a resident
of Patna. Gandhiji sent a word to him explaining their situation. Mr Haq
understood the problem and made necessary arrangements for Gandhiji to
reach Muzafarpur. Later on Moulana Mazahrul Haq not only participated
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 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

actively in Sathyagraha Movement

but also dedicated his life for Indian
Freedom Movement leading ashram
life in a gandhian way renouncing
his luxurious life.
Mahathma Gandhi and Raj
Kumar Shukla reached Champaran
via Muzafarpur. Gandhi detailed
about Champaran Sathyagraha
Movement in his autobiography
under the caption ‘The Stain of
Indigo’ and other captions. As
Gandhiji got into action from the very
next day after reaching Champaran,
farmers in large numbers
approached him and started giving BATHAQ MIYA ANSARI
him detailed accounts of the cruel
deeds unleashed on them by the
(1869-1957)
British owners of Indigo factories. Gandhiji and his team of lawyers started
recording the painful stories of Champaran farmers and the horrible episodes
of exploitation by the British Indigo planters. Irwin, who was one of the
British owners of Indigo factories, feared that the modus operandi of
Gandhiji would have an adverse impact on their prospects, tried to obstruct
Gandhiji’s activities and even plotted to end his life.
SAVIOUR OF GANDHIJI’S LIFE
Irwin chose Bataq Miya Ansari (1869-1957), his cook, to execute
his plot. Irwin told his cook Mr. Ansari that he was inviting Gandhiji and his
colleagues for dinner and instructed him to mix poison in the food to be
served to the guest. He offered a handsome reward for obedience and
threatened that disobedience would attract severe punishment. Unwilling
to resort to the evil deed, Ansari revealed the English man’s plot when
Gandhiji and Babu Rajendra Prasad came to Irwin’s house for dinner.
Consequently Gandhiji survived the attempt on his life in 1917.
The courageous deed of Mr Bataq Miya Ansari came to be known
to the world only when the first president of India Dr. Babu Rajendra Prasad
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 SYED NASEER AHAMED

revealed it in 1950. Besides revealing the most important episode in the

history of Indian Freedom Struggle, Dr Rajendra Prasad enquired about
the financial situation of Ansari’s family and ordered the then District collector
to allot certain area of land to the family. The orders issued publicly by the
first president of India have been implemented only partially till today.
Status Quo is prevailing in the matter of the implementation of the
presidential orders even after the issue made headlines in news papers and
in spite of the subsequent recommendation of the former President Mrs.
Parthibha Patil. But for Ansari’s courageous act of exposing the plot to end
Gandhiji’s life, the fate of the freedom and independence we are enjoying
now after driving away the colonial rulers and the turns the history of
Indian freedom Struggle would have taken otherwise are unimaginable.
SUPPORT OF ALI BROTHERS
After leading Champaran Farmers Movement successfully in 1917,
Gandhiji directly entered Indian National Movement. He got abundant
support from the families of Moulana Shoukath Ali (1873-1938), Moulana
Mohammed Ali Jouhar (1878-1931) who were popularly known as ‘Ali
Brothers’ in the history of Indian Freedom Struggle. If Ali brothers were
the oxygen to the twin movements of Khilafat and Non-Cooperation, Gandhiji
was a guide to it. Ali brothers were with Gandhiji during his tours in these
movements. Gandhiji was so much mingled with Ali brothers that he declared
that he was the third son of the mother of Ali brothers, Mrs. Abadi Bano
Begum. He was highly respectful towards her. Gandhiji’s letters to his
associates, Ali brothers and to Abadi Bano herself, and special essays
published in his Journals such as Yong India bear witness to the highest
respect Gandhiji had for Mrs. Abadi Bano Begum.
Mrs. Abadi Bano Begum toured extensively to raise funds for the
financial strength and spread of Khilafath and Non-Cooperation movements.
Gandhiji requested her to make a large number of women participate in
Khilafath – Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements.
Responding to Gandhiji’s request, Abadi Bano worked actively. Mahatma
Gandhi declared that the activists of Indian National Movement should
take guidance from her in the event of Ali brothers and himself being arrested
by the British government.

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 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

MOULANA MOHAMMED ALI MOULANA SHOWKATH ALI

(1878-1931) (1873-1938)
When Mrs Abadi Bano Begum passed away in 1934, Gandhiji was
by her bedside along with Ali brothers. He said that it was his fortune to be
with the mother when she was breathing her last. In his letters and journals
Gandhiji remarked that the efforts she made for the cause of Independence,
Hindu-Muslim unity and for attracting women into Indian National
Movement are inestimable.
COURAGEOUS WOMEN
Mrs. Amzadi Bano Begum, daughter in law of Mrs Abadi Bano
Begum and wife of Moulana Mohammed Ali, played an active role in the
Indian National Movement along with her mother-in-law. Gandhiji praised
her attitude and work flow in his leter to his associates and followers and
in the journals published under his editorship.
Amjadi Bano was with Gandhi and Moulana Mohammed Ali when
they were on a tour to Madras in September 1921. On the way they were
to speak in a public meeting in Waltair. No sooner had the two leaders’
alighted from the trains than they were arrested by British police officers.
Gandhiji recorded the fearlessness displayed by Ali and Amjadi Begum in
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 SYED NASEER AHAMED

ABADI BANO BEGUM AMZAADI BANO BEGUM

(1852-1924) (1885-1947)
the form of an essay written from the railway compartment itself. Gandhiji
remarked in that essay that he was proud of working with Ali. Gandhiji
praised the courage exhibited by Mrs. Amjadi Bano Begum at the time of
her husband’s arrest and the way she spoke in the public meeting after
that. (Collected works of Mahatma Gandhi, Ministry of Information, Govt.
of India, Volume XX1, Page 176)
Gandhiji wrote a special article in ‘Young India’ dated 29 November
1921 under the caption ‘A Courageous Woman’ explaining Amjadi Bano
Begum’s role in the Indian National Movement, her boldness, fearlessness,
workflow and her style of functioning. Referring to Moulana Mohammad
Ali in the lengthy article he described her as ‘the courageous wife of a
courageous husband’. Describing the women folk of Abadi bano Begum’s
family who were active in the Indian National Movement, a British office
named Malcum Halley remarked in the legislative assembly of the day,
‘Women of this family too procure funds and resort to sedition’. Finally
he declared all the members of family as ‘dangerous Persons’.

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 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

During the Khilafath and

Non Cooperation Movements
several renowned persons came into
contact with Gandhiji. All the
leaders who made a mark of their
own on the political map of India
became close associates of Gandhiji.
These leaders were ready to give
away everything they had for the
cause of Indian National Movement.
Mr. Mohammed Umer Sobhani
(1890-1926) of Bombay and Mr.
Khilafathwale Haji Usman Seth
(1887-1932) were two such
business leaders who became
famous with their distinct MOHAMMED UMAR SOBHANI
generosity. These two wealthy (1890-1926)
Business leaders joined Indian
National Movement through ‘Khilafath-Non Cooperation Movements’.
STAGE MANAGER
Mr.Umer Sobhani used to bear a major share of the expenditure
incurred on any programme conducted in Bombay in connection with Indian
National Movement. Besides extending financial support to the Indian
National Movement he was well-known for his organizing skills. On account
of that Gandhiji praised him as‘Stage Manager’. Mr.Umer Sobhani was so
generous that he gave a blank cheque to Gandhiji and asked him to write
the amount needed on the cheque, when Gandhiji was collecting donations
for ‘Tilak Swarajya Nidhi’ in 1921.Umer Sobhani’s will, determination and
commitment to support the Indian National Movement financially was
revealed best by the condolence message released by Gandhiji on the
sudden death of Mr. Umer Sobani which reads ‘ If he could not be the first
on the list of subscriptions then he thought it was better for him to retire
from public life’.

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 SYED NASEER AHAMED

CASH BAG OF INDIAN

NATIONAL CONGRESS
Mr. Haji Usman Seth, popularly
known as Khilafathwale, was an
affluent businessman dealing in
foreign goods in Bangalore of
Karnataka state. He Joined Indian
National Movement on the request
of Gandhiji and Ali brothers. He
burned down foreign goods worth
lakhs of rupees as part of Swadeshi
Movement. He came to be called the
‘Cash Bag of Indian National
Congress’ as he used to respond
generously to the requests of
KHILAFATWALE HAJI USMAN SAIT Gandhiji and Ali brothers for financial
(1887-1932) support to the organization. His
business suffered huge losses
because of the anger of British government. Unmindful of the losses he
continued his financial support to Indian National Congress by disposing
of several of his Bungalows and other properties whenever Gandhiji,
Panditha Nehru and Ali brothers requested him for support. He gave them
gold, blank cheques and cash whenever there was a need. Even when all
his properties melted away in that process, he procured money by auctioning
his son and donated the proceeds to Indian National Congress and kept his
name as the Cash Bag of Indian National Congress. That shows how great
the spirit of sacrifice of Haji Usman Seth was.
ANSARI DHAMASALA:
When Delhi became the head quarters of Indian National Movement
the house of its famous leader Dr. Mukthar Ahamed Ansari (1880-1936)
with a spacious premises Dar-Us-Salam in Delhi became the centre of all
its activity. Whenever there was any programme, however big it may be in
Delhi, Dr Ansari used to shoulder the responsibility of organizing that
programme and taking care of lodging and board facilities for every activist
and leader coming to participate in the programme from all over India.
18
 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

While Dr Ansari was deeply

involving himself in organizing
political programmes, his wife
Begum Shamshunnisa Ansari used
to supervise the arrangements of
lodging and boarding facilities to
make sure that no inconvenience
was caused to anybody. Having seen
from close quarters the Ansari
couple’s sprit of sacrifice, workflow
and commitment, Gandhiji wrote an
article in ‘Navajeevan’ dated 29
March 1931 with the title ‘Ansari
Dharmasala’.
In the article Gandhiji
praised the warm hospitality at Dr. DR. MUQTAR AHAMED ANSARI
Ansari’s house and the meticulous (1880-1936)
care Begum Shamshunnisa Ansari
took about her guests. He also praised her progressive ideas besides her
kindness, tolerance and workflow. At the end of the article he remarked ‘I
bowed my head in a sense of faith in the presence of Ansari Begum’.
Whenever Gandhiji visited Delhi, he used to stay at Dr Ansari’s house. It is
known through Mrs. Halide Edib’s writings that Gandhiji used to discuss
national issues with Begum Shamshunnisa Ansari besides family matters.
Gandhiji had the highest respect for the great woman and his remark
‘Whatever Dr Ansari achieved was only because of Begum Shamshunnisa’s
cooperation’ was the praise she received from Gandhiji.
THREE GANDHIS
There are three Gandhians, as far as I Know, who became well-
known with ‘Gandhi’ as a part of their names. Mr Khan Abdul Gafar Khan
(1890-1988) popularly known as ‘Frontier Gandhi’ was the most famous
of the three. The second leader was ‘Baluchi Gandhi’ in Pakistan whose
name was Mr. Abdus Samad Khan (1907-1983). Mr. Fareedul Jama (1907-
1973) of Vishaka- patnam, Andhrapradesh, who became famous as ‘Vishaka
Gandhi’ was the third. Mr. Khan Abdus Samad Khan , who was attracted
19
 SYED NASEER AHAMED

MAHATMA GANDHI SARIHAD GANDHI

(1869-1948) (1890-1988)
-
towards Gandhiji’s idea of non violence in 1920, led his life in gandhian
way till the end and was assassinated just like Gandhiji. Mr. Fareedul Jama
took part in Indian National Movement with nonviolence as his weapon.
He was kept in the same jail where Mahathma Gandhi was imprisoned.
Later on he worked in library movement in gandhian way. As he spent all
his wealth for building libraries, the residents of Vishakapatanam fondly
called him ‘Vishaka Gandhi’. Mr.Khan Abdul Gafar Khan, well-known as
‘Frontier Gandhi’ in the history of Indian Freedom Struggle, resented the
hegemony of colonial rulers’ right from his childhood. He entered into
Indian National Movement in 1919. He saw Mahathma Gandhi for the first
time in 1928. Mr. Khan Abdul Gafar Khan, a Patan leader for whom weapon
is like an indispensable ornament and who hesitates not even a second to
lay down his life for the sake of a friend or to take away the life of an
enemy, was attracted towards Gandhiji’s idea of non violence. He practised
Gandhiji’s non violence in toto and founded an organisation called ‘Khuda-
e-Khidmatgar’ (Servants of God) to bring about awareness among his
people in the direction of their welfare and development and to lead a

20
 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

KHAN ABDUL SAMAD KHAN FHAREEDULA JAMA

(1907-1973) (1907-1983)
nonviolent struggle against the British colonial rulers. Through his efforts
the servants of God internalized the concept of non violence. When the
British police opend fire on the people and servants of God who were
holding a demonstration in Khissakhani Bazar in Peshawar on 23 April
1930 during Civil Disobedience Movement, the servants of God did not
throw even a small piece of stone. Moreover they went forward in batches
and sacrificed their lives. Even when Khissakhani Bazar was turning into a
heap of dead bodies, they did not deviate from the path of nonviolence.
The unique role played by the activists of Khuda-e-Khidmatgar in
the Indian Freedom Struggle under the leadership of ‘Frontier Gandhi’ was
hailed not only by Pathans but by the whole world. When Gandhiji toured
the northwest region on the request Mr. Gafar Khan he studied the
programmes of Khuda-e-Khimadgar and remarked ‘It is enough to have a
thousand persons like the workers of Khuda-e-Khamadgar to drive away
the social malady called slavery beyond the frontiers of our country’. In
this background, Khan Abdul Gafar Khan once said to Gandhiji, ‘Mahatmaji,
violent incidents happened in several places during this movement, but

21
 SYED NASEER AHAMED

JUSTICE ABBAS TAYABJI (1854-1936) AND MAHATHMA GANDHI

why didn’t Pathans resort to any violence?’. In response to this question
Gandhiji said ‘On several occasions I said that only courageous people get
quickly into the way of non violence. Pathans’ giving up violence is not
their weakness. It is because of their strength that they were able to give
up violence. That is why they demonstrated to the world how the nonviolent
way of courageous people looked like’.Thus Gandhiji praised the nonviolence
of Pathans. (Bharatha Swathnstrodyamam : Muslim Poraataalu, Syed Naseer
Ahamed, Azad House of Publications, 2003, Pages 160,161)
GUJARATHI DIAMOND
Tayyabji family members of Bombay had inalienable ties with Indian
National Congress since its inception. Justice Abbas Tayyabji (1854-1936)
of Tayyabji family happened to have direct contact with Mahathma Gandhi
since 1915 and that contact was a turning point in his life. He decided to
participate actively in Indian National Movement in accordance with the
suggestions made by Gandhji. ‘Gujarath Rajkeeya Parishad’ under the
leadership of Justice Abbas Tayyabji launched Non Cooperation Movement
in 1919 before congress started it. He gave up all luxuries with the inspiration
22
 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

from Mahathma Gandhi and became

a part of Swadeshi movement. He
travelled in a bullock cart form
village to village in Gujarat selling
‘liberty cloth’ at the age of eighty
years to promote Khadi. He took up
several responsibilities during Bardoli
Sathyagraha programme in 1928.
When Gandhiji was arrested on the
eve of Dandi March, which ran from
12 March, 1930 to 6 April 1930, Mr.
Abbas took up the reins of Dandhi
Sathyagraha Movement as per the
anticipatory instructions of Gandhiji.
Then the British police arrested Mr.
Abbas and sent him to jail. Even in BEGUM AMEENA TYABJI
the ripe old age he went ahead on
(1866-1942)
gandhian path with undaunted
courage and with freedom struggle as his breath unmindful of his ill health
and was lauded by Gandhiji as ‘Gujarati Diamond’. (Encyclopedia of Muslim
Biography, Edited by Nagendra K.R.Singh, APH Publishing Corporation,
New Delhi, 2001, Page. 377)
THREE GENERATIONS OF TAYYABJI’S ON GANDHIAN PATH
Since Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 till the
attainment of Independence in 1947, three generations of men and women
belonging to the educated and wealthy Tayyabji family of Bombay played a
significant role in Indian Freedom Struggle. The members of Tayyabji family
used to discuss their personal issues with Gandhiji. That way women of
Tayyabji family followed Gandhian path in full measure along with their
men folk.
Participation of women from Tayyabji family in Indian National
Movement started with Ameena Tayybji (1866-1942). She organised
programmes of Indian National Movement on the invitation of Gandhiji.
Gandhiji noticed the perseverance in Ameena and the respect Gujarati women
had for her. In a letter to Ameena’s daughter Rehana Tayyabji dated 11
23
 SYED NASEER AHAMED

April 1930 he wrote, ‘I am

convening a meeting of Gujarat
Women to discuss issues such as
prohibition of liquor and boycott of
foreign goods. You and your mother
must attend the meeting’. Honoring
the special invitation of Gandhiji,
Ameena attended the meeting. In that
meeting Ameena Tayabji was elected
president of Gujarat Mahila
Congress in the presence of
Gandhiji.
Noticing Ameena’s efforts and
workflow, Gandhiji wrote praisingly
about her in his ‘Young India’ and
BEGUM REHANA ABBAS TYABJI ‘Navajeevan’; By passing an apt
(1900-1975) resolution Gujarath women took up
a great responsibility. On behalf of
all women Ameena Tayyabji and her committee bore that burden’. Ameena’s
importance in national level politics was revealed when Gandhiji wanted
her to be a signatory, besides 24 other women, to a letter being sent to the
Viceroy on behalf of women’s conference during Indian National Movement.
Mrs. Hameeda Tayyabji (-1911-) participated in all programmes
of Indian National Movement in gandhian path. She organised the
programmes with courage and audacity as per Gandhiji’s suggestions. In a
letter written to Rehana Tayyabji on 24 April, 1932, Gandhiji praised
Hameeda’s organizing abilities, courage and audacity. He wrote ‘Hameeda
is a courageous person. May god bless her with a long life?’

GANDHIJI’S USTADI SAHEBA REHANA

Begum Rehana Tayyabji (1900-1975) was Urdu ustadi of Gandhiji.
She taught Urdu to Gandhiji. Rehana’s father Abbas Tayyabji, and her mother
Ameena Tayyabji participated in several prgrammes organised under the
leadership of Gandhiji. Right from her childhood Rehana had direct contact
with Indian National Movement and its leadership especially Mahatma

24
 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

BEGUM SAKINA LUKMANI BEGUM KHURSHID KHAWAJA

(1865-1960) (1896-1981)
Gandhi. Gandhiji had fatherly affection for Rehana and in several letters he
wrote to her on various occasions he addressed her as ‘Priya Puthri,
Chiranjeevi, Rehana Beti, Beti Rehana, Ustadbi Saheba and Rehana and Bholi
Rehana’.
During her stay in Mahathma’s Sevagram Ashram, Rehena taught
Urdu to Gandhiji. Even after that she wrote to him frequently and showed
a lot of interest in teaching him Urdu. Gandhiji used to say that he was
delighted to receive letters from her. In a letter written to Rehana, Gandhiji
remarked, ‘I feel anxious if I do not receive your letter’. Rehana was a
good poetess. She wrote several prayer songs and sang them. Gandhiji
was so much impressed by her songs that in one of his letters to her he
wrote, ‘I do not feel good, unless I listen to your prayer songs. You please
come and sing for me’.

‘ESTEEMD WIFE’ KHURSHID KHWAZA:

Begum Khurshid Khwaza (1996-1981) was a bold woman who
wrote a letter to Gandhiji expressing her worry about her husband not
25
 SYED NASEER AHAMED

<ÒMÏoÖ’ =∞`«HÅõ ǨÅ∞ ~°ye#ѨÙfl_»∞ âßOu–™ê=∞~°ãº¨ ™ê÷Ñ#¨ ‰õΩ ÉËQOÆ J=∞`«∞ã¨ûÖÏO 20 ~ÀAÅáê@∞
ã¨`庄QÆÇϨ nHõΔ Ñ¨Óx# ã¨O^Œ~ƒ° OQÍ P"≥∞‰õΩ Ñ¨O_»~¡ ã° O¨ JOkOz ã¨`庄QÆÇϨ q~°=∞}QÍqã¨∞#Î fl QÍOnè.
being arrested during Indian National Movement. She wrote, ‘All the
associates of my husband have gone to jail. I am very sad that my husband
is free till today’. Respecting her feelings, Gandhiji expressed the optimism
like this: ‘Feelings of really committed people are like this only. We will
surely get independence on the day when all the men and women come
forward willingly like this to fill the jails for independence’ (Collected works
of Mahatma Gandhi, Govt. of India Publications, New Delhi) Explaining
the great sacrifices her husband Khwaza Abdul Mazeed (1896-1961) made
in Indian National Movement, Gandhiji wrote an article titled ‘Great Esteemed
wife’. In that article Gandhiji specially mentioned how her family gave up
luxuries and adopted the life style of an ordinary worker and how strong
her determination and commitment toward the aims of Indian National
Movement was. Gandhiji expressed his happiness in an article in which he
mentioned a letter written by Begum Khurshid in which she wrote, ‘You
must have felt happy when you know that the Government had arrested
my husband’.

26
 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

Another woman from the

well-known Tayyabji family, Sakina
Lukmani is the daughter of Justice
Badruddin Tayyabji. She actively
participated in the prgrammes of
Indian National Movement even at a
very ripe old age because of
Gandhiji’s special request. When the
British Government in Gujarat
arrested her, the whole Gujarat rose
in resentment. Gandhiji praised the
courage of Sakina Lukmani when he
said, ‘Tayyabji family members
exhibited extraordinary courage and
audacity’.
DEAR DAUGHTER BEGUM ZOHARA ANSARI
AMUTUSSALAM (-1988)
Bibi Amutusslam (1807-
1985) who was considered as ‘dear daughter’ by Gandhiji becomes his
heir to the theory and practice of Non violence. She joined Sevagram Ashram
in 1931 and followed completely the stipulated rules and regulations of the
Ashram and discharged her responsibilities with dedication. As a close
assistant of Gandhiji, she participated in various experiments he conducted.
She accompanied Gandhiji in his country wide tours and served him.
There is Amutussalam’s role in Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s becoming
well known as ‘Qaid-I-Ajam’ (Great Leader). Once when Gandhiji, while
writing a letter to Jinnah, was not certain as to how he should address him,
Amuthussalam suggested to him that ‘Qaid-I-Ajam’ could be apt for Jinnah.
Gandhiji took her suggestion and addressed Jinnah as ‘Qaid-I-Ajam’. With
this phrase Jinnah’s personal prestige grew unimaginably. Moulana Abdul
Kalam Azad in his book ‘Indian wins Freedom’ at page 96-97 commented
that the phrase subsequently caused huge change in Indian Politics.
When communal violence flared up in North-west frontier, Sindh
and Noukhali regions, Gandhiji sent Amutussalam there to restore peace
and harmony. Writing a letter to his friend Mr Anand Hingloy on that occasion
27
 SYED NASEER AHAMED

on 6 November 1940, Gandhiji

remarked, ‘She comes there to stop
the communal violence in Sindh. She
can lay down her life to stop the
violence’. She Undertook
Sathyagraha there for 20 days and
proved that she was Gandhiji’s true
heir.
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Begum Johara Ansari (-1988)
was the daughter of Dr Mukthar
Ahamed Ansari and Begum
Shamshunnisa Ansari who were
praised by Gandhji as ‘the Wealthy
by Sacrifice’. She made more
MOULANA HASRATH MOHANI sacrifices than her parents and
(1878-1951) received blessings from Gandhiji.
She spent a long time with Gandhiji
in the Ashram. At that time she becomes his Urdu teacher. She spent all her
inherited properties for the sake of Indian National Movement and lived in
a rented house in the last phase of her life.
URDU IS NOT A MUSLIM’S LANGUAGE
Begum Sultana Hayath Ansari was an activist in Indian National
Movement after respect for Gandhiji did not stand in her way to express
her disagreement with his ideas without any inhibition or hesitation. She
lived close to Mahathma Gandhi in Sevagram Ashram translating his letters
and books into Urdu.
Then there was a discussion in newspapers over the proposal to
follow individual sathyagraha not as a rule but as a moral. Referring to that
discussion Begum Sultana Hayat wrote a letter to Gandhiji. In that letter
she brought that proposal to his notice and questioned him ‘if it was not
contradictory to Gandhian way of life to consider individual sathyagraha
as a moral instead of as a rule’ In response to that question Gandhiji wrote
a letter to Sultana Hayath on 27 January 1942 in which he remarked ‘your
opinion on this issue is correct’.
28
 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

GANDHIJI AND MOULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD (1888-1958)

Once a news item appeared in newspapers reporting that Gandhiji
had said that ‘Urdu was the language of Muslims’. Reacting to that statement
Sulthana Hayath stated that Urdu was not at all the language of Muslims
and it was the language of all Indians. Further she questioned Gandhiji why
he said so. Replying to the question Gandhiji had to say ‘I did not say like
that. What can we do? News papers are misrepresenting several things’.
I CAN NOT SLEEP THAT NIGHT
Moulana Hasrath Mohani (1878-1951) was the firebrand speaker
whose assertion disturbed even Gandhiji when he said ‘what is needed is
not self rule but ‘total independence’ much against the stated opinion of
Gandhiji. His wife Begum Nishasthunnisa also participated actively in Indian
National Movement. Though they had no agreement on the concept of
non violence they had enormous respect for each other. He had been putting
the proposal of ‘total independence’ to public discussion for a long time in
his news paper ‘Urdu-e-Moalla’. Mohani proposed the resolution of ‘total
independence’ in 1921 Ahmadabad Congress Conference. Mohani’s speech
in the conference in favour of the proposal of total independence disturbed

29
 SYED NASEER AHAMED

Gandhiji. Gandhiji specially mentioned

this in his autobiography. ‘Hasrath
Mohani’s speech had been received
with such loud acclamations that I
was afraid that mine would only be
a cry in the wilderness’ (The Story
of my experiments with truth, MK
Gandhi, Navajeevan Trust,
Ahmedabad, 2004 Page. 442).
In 1937 while speaking to
Halide Edib, a writer from Turkey,
about the argumentative power of
Moulana Hasarath Mohani,
Mahathma Gandhi said, ‘When I
have a talk with Mohani, I cannot
MOHAMMED GULAM sleep in peace’. This reveals the level
MOHIDDIN (1882-1973) of Mohani’s argument, how much it
disturbed Gandhiji and the extent to
which it influenced him.
Moulana Hasrath Mohani’s wife Nishathunnisa Begum encouraged
‘Swadeshi’ and undertook an extensive campaign on the boycott of foreign
goods and other issues. As a part of the programmes they opened ‘Alighar
Khilafath Stores’ breathing life into non cooperation movement. Thus they
became the first to start the business of Swadeshi cloth in India. Begum
Nishathunnisa organised several meetings to promote ‘Swadeshi’ and
motivated women in that direction. Gandhiji wrote a special article in ‘Young
India’ dated 19May 1920 praising the significant role the couple Begum
Nishashunnisa and Moulana Hasrath Mohani played in the Indian National
Movement.
ELDER BROTHER ABUL KALAM AZAD
Moulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), the freedom fighter, can
be named as the first among those who moved very closely to Gandhiji.
Abul Kalam Azad, who was working in revolutionary ogranisations revolting
against the British colonial rulers, met Gandhiji for the first time in January
1920. Since then he left the path of revolutionaries and followed Gandhian
30
 MAHATHMA GANDHI : MUSLIM ASSOCIATES & FOLLOWERS

path of non violence and took part actively in Kilafath and non cooperation
movements. He walked along with Gandhiji in all the programmes of Indian
National Movement. He opposed the partition of India. As an activist of
Indian National Movement he spent more than a decade in jails. He assumed
charge as Union Minister for Education of on the insistence Gandhiji on
1947 January 15. As the education minister, in Independent India he made
distinctive educational plans and implemented them.
MOHIDDIN SAAB KAISE HI ?
Mohammed Gulam Mohiddin of Vijaywada, Krisha District,
AndhraPradesh state, was the first man from Andhra region to resign
from the post of honorary magistrate in response to the call given by
Mahathma Gandhi during Khilafath and Non Cooperation Movements.
Mentioning this in his book ‘Naa Jeevitha Katha (Navyandhramu)’, noted
freedom fighter Sri Ayyadevara Kaleswara Rao wrote, ‘my close friend
Mohammed Gulam Mohiddin sahib was in the position of First Class
Honorary Magistrate. He declared that he would give-up the job along with
me. At that time Sriman Chakaravarthula Rajagoplachari was also with us.
Till now we are the only two persons in Andhra to give up the positions of
membership of legislature and First Class Honorary Magistrate following
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s nonviolent Non cooperation movement.
Gandhiji declared this amidst the claps of thousands of people gathered
there. He also wrote about this in his journal ‘Young India’ (Page. 291).
Gulam Mohiddin spent his wealth like water to organize Indian
National Congress conference in Vijayawada in 1921. When Sri Ayyadevara
informed Gandhiji in person about this by saying that Gulam Mohiddin
extended a lot of financial help to congress, Mohiddin responded instantly
that he spent his money not for Congress but for his country. Then all the
leaders present there were pleased with his response and appreciated him.
Mahathma Gandhi never forgot the generosity and hospitality of Mohiddin
saab and used to enquire every one fromVijayawada, ‘How is Mohiddin
saab?’ (Narration by Sri LV Ramana, historian, writer, and senior Journalist,
Vijayawada).

31
 The theme of this book was
published in SAKSHI Telugu daily news
paper of 2 October 2019 under the title
‘Gandhi Mulsim Bhai-Bhai’ on the
occasion of 150th Birth Anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi. The friends and elders
who read this article suggested that it
would be better if the matter was
expanded and published in the form of a
book .This booklet took shape in response to those suggestions. In
this booklet I presented all the information in my knowledge about
the Muslims who are associated with Gandhiji and those who
followed him ever since he as Barrister Gandhiji entered public work
in South Africa and shone as the leader of Sathayagraha there till he
became Mahatma Gandhi by playing a pivotal role in the National
Movement in India. There may be a lot more information which I
am not aware of. Hence I humbly request those who are in
possession of such information to pass it on to me so that I can
include it in the next editions. The friends and elders who read the
book in Telugu advised me to publish it in English too. I informed
my friends about the advice through Face Book and appealed to
them to share the financial burden for publishing it in English and
other languages. As my friends and elders responded favouably to
my request, it was decided to publish ‘MAHATHMA GANDHI:
MUSLIM ASSOCIATES AND FOLLOWERS’ in English and
distribute it as a small gift covering total India.
My heartfelt thanks to my friend Sri Bhuvanagiri Venkata
Krishna Purnanandam, retired English lecturer who translated this
book into English from Telugu and to those friends and elders who
extended their financial and moral support for the publication of the
book.
– Syed Naseer Ahamed.

32