Who among the following founded the khudai khidmatgars or the red shirts, a powerful non-violent movement?

Correct option is B

​The correct answer is (b) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

Explanation:

• Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Frontier Gandhi, founded the Khudai Khidmatgars (Servants of God) movement in 1929 in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP, now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan).
• The movement, also known as the Red Shirts, was a non-violent resistance movement against British rule, inspired by Gandhian principles of non-violence (Satyagraha).

Information Booster

Khudai Khidmatgar Movement:

Origins and Objectives

• Founded by Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the movement aimed to empower Pashtuns through education, social reform, and non-violent resistance.
• It focused on self-reliance, unity, and peaceful struggle against British rule.
• Over time, it evolved into a political movement, gaining significant influence in NWFP.

Association with Congress

• In 1929, after Abdul Ghaffar Khan and other leaders were arrested, the Khudai Khidmatgar aligned with the Indian National Congress.
• They had sought support from the All India Muslim League, but failing to receive it, they joined hands with the Congress.

Uniform and Identity

• Members were highly disciplined and wore red shirts, earning them the nickname "Red Shirts".
• Women in the movement wore black garments, distinguishing them from the men.

Opposition to Partition

• The movement opposed the Partition of India and the creation of Pakistan, believing it would divide communities and weaken the subcontinent.
• This stance led to tensions with pro-Pakistan factions.

Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1890–1988)

Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as "Frontier Gandhi", was a prominent Pashtun leader, freedom fighter, and social reformer who played a crucial role in India's struggle for independence. He was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence.

Role in National Movements

• 1920: Joined the Khilafat Movement, which aimed to maintain the Turkish Sultan’s authority over Indian Muslims.
• 1921: Became the president of the district Khilafat committee in NWFP.
• 1929: After attending an Indian National Congress session, he launched the Red Shirt Movement (Khudai Khidmatgar) among the Pashtuns, advocating non-violent resistance against British rule.
• He worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress, promoting Hindu-Muslim unity.

Awards:

• 1987: He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, becoming the first non-Indian recipient.
  
• Nelson Mandela (1990) – South African anti-apartheid leader.
• Mother Teresa (1980) – First and only naturalized Indian citizen to receive the Bharat Ratna.

Additional Knowledge:

• Mahatma Gandhi: He was the leader of India’s freedom struggle and championed non-violence and ran a movement like Champaran Satyagraha, Kheda Satyagraha, Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement etc.
  
• Subhas Chandra Bose: He led the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army - INA) and adopted an armed struggle against British rule.