India became independent on August 15, 1947, after being ruled by Britishers for close to 200 years. For driving out Britishers, many freedom fighters sacrificed their lives for the motherland. Ashfaqullah Khan was one of the prominent freedom fighters who stood against the atrocities of the British Empire. At a young age, he became immortal by sacrificing his life for the cause of freedom. Independence Day 2019: From Mahatma Gandhi to Bhagat Singh, Remembering Freedom Fighters on India's 73rd Independence Day.

Khan was born on October 22, 1900, in Shahjahanpur, which was then part of North-Western Province, British India. He was the youngest child of Shafiqullah Khan and Mazharunissa. Khan belonged to a Pathan family. His elder brother was a classmate of another freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil. Independence Day 2018: Looking Back At The Freedom Fighters Who Fought For Free India.

Here Are Some Of The Facts About Ashfaqullah Khan:

  • Khan actively took part in Non-Corporation launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1922. However, he became depressed after the movement was called off by Gandhi in 1922.

  • Later, he adopted extremist ways to fight the British Rule. Khan joined Hindustan Socialist Republican Association which was founded in 1924.

  • Ashfaqullah wrote man poems in Urdu and Hindi under pen names of “Hasrat” and “Warsi.”

  • On August 9, 1925, Ashfaq along with other revolutionaries of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association including Chandrashekhar Azad and Ram Prasad Bismil looted the train carrying British government money in Kakori near Lucknow.

  • All the revolutions except Ashfaq were arrested by the British Police almost a month after the robbery.

  • Ashfaq was detained in the Faizabad jail, and a case was filed against him. Around 40 revolutionaries were arrested in connection with the Kakori robbery.

  • He was inspired by Bismil as they both shared a vision of free India.

  • Ashfaq and Bismil were hanged on December 19, 1927, in two different jails.

  • Ashfaq was 27 years when he sacrificed his life for the nation. India Celebrates Its 73rd Independence Day; Know History and Significance of 15th of August Celebrations.

Ashfaq was a devout Muslim. In jail also, he used to offer prayers five times a day and had also fasted during the religious month of Ramzan. During his confinement in Faizabad jail, Ashfaq had started writing a diary. Apart from Ashfaq and Bismil, Rajendra Lahiri and Thakur Roshan Singh were also given death sentence in the Kakori Conspiracy case.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 22, 2019 08:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).