Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was a political and spiritual leader from the North-West Frontier Province of India, now known as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. He was born on February 6, 1890, in the village of Utmanzai in the Charsadda district, North-West Frontier Province, British India. His father, Bahram Khan, was a landowner and a chief in the Afridi tribe, while his mother, Roshanai, was a housewife.
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan received his early education in a mosque and then studied at Aligarh Muslim University. Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent movement inspired him, and he became a close ally of the Indian National Congress during the Indian Independence movement. He founded the Khudai Khidmatgar ("Servants of God") movement, a non-violent resistance movement against the British Empire.
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was known as the "Frontier Gandhi" due to his close association with Mahatma Gandhi and his non-violent philosophy. He played a key role in the Indian independence movement and was imprisoned by the British multiple times. He spent more than 30 years in jail in India and Pakistan.
After India's independence in 1947, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan became an important figure in the politics of Pakistan. He strongly advocated Pashtun autonomy and opposed the country's integration with India. In 1962, he founded the National Awami Party, a major political force in Pakistan.
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan died on January 20, 1988, in Peshawar, Pakistan, at 97. Thousands of people attended his funeral, and he was buried in his family's graveyard in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Despite facing numerous hardships and imprisonment, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan never lost his faith in non-violent resistance and remained committed to the cause of freedom and social justice until his last breath.
Annie Besant
Annie Besant was a remarkable woman born in London, England, on October 1, 1847. Her father, William Wood, was a doctor, and her mother, Emily Morris, was a devout Anglican. Annie grew up in a family that valued education and was sent to a boarding school in London. Unfortunately, her education was cut short when her father died because of some uncertain issues.
Annie Besant was a prolific writer, orator, and social reformer. She fought throughout her life for the rights of oppressed people and women. It would not be wrong to say that she was a champion of women's suffrage, working for Indian independence and workers' rights. She was also very spiritual, which led him to be a leader in a society named Theosophical, whose objective was to unite all religions.
Annie Besant had a keen interest in India from the start, and her interest led her to come to India in the year 1893. After her arrival, she started working as a social reformer in India. She was one of them who criticized British rule in India. She worked really hard to promote Indian independence. She was also a supporter of the Indian National Congress and worked with many great leaders there, like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi.
Annie Besant continued her work in India until her death on September 20, 1933, in Adyar, Chennai. She suffered a fatal bout of influenza, and because of her old age and other health problems, it got worse over time. She was mourned by people worldwide for her tireless work on behalf of social justice and her unwavering commitment to the cause of Indian independence.