History’s Overlooked Patriots: Dr. Maghfoor Ahmad Aijazi of Bihar Who Stood for Unity, Nation and Urdu

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 12 July 2025 Dr. Maghfoor Ahmad Aijazi, a forgotten freedom fighter from Bihar, and his son Asghar Aijazi dedicated their lives to Urdu and public service, who are the quiet heroes of India’s soul. Main Points: 1. Dr. Maghfoor Ahmad Aijazi was a fearless freedom fighter who opposed both British rule and communal politics. 2. He founded the Jamhur Muslim League to counter Jinnah’s Two-Nation Theory. 3. Post-independence, he championed Urdu and humanitarian causes. 4. His son Asghar Aijazi continued his legacy. 5. Their contributions remain largely unrecognised. ----- A Forgotten Luminary of the Freedom Movement In the vast narrative of India's struggle for freedom, the names of towering leaders such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad tend to overshadow equally dedicated patriots who toiled day and night on the ground to make freedom a people’s movement. Among the lesser-known heroes of our struggle is Dr. Maghfoor Ahmad Aijazi, a revolutionary from Bihar whose life was characterised by unyielding opposition to British colonialism, uncompromising rejection of communal politics, and an unwavering dedication to the causes of secularism, linguistic pluralism, and public service. Born on 3 March 1900 in Dihuli village under Sakra block of Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, Aijazi came from a family of Zamindars deeply committed to anti-colonial resistance. His father, Hafizuddin Husain, and grandfather, Imam Bakhsh, were known for supporting peasants against British indigo planters. This environment of ethical rebellion shaped Aijazi’s early worldview. After receiving his early education in religious seminaries and later at the North Brooke Zila School in Muzaffarpur, he was expelled for agitating against the Rowlatt Act, a clear indication of the steadfast political conscience that would come to define him. The Flame of Rebellion: From Gandhi’s Call to Grassroots Mobilisation Inspired by Gandhi’s call during the 1920 Gaya session of the Indian National Congress, Dr. Aijazi left Bihar National College in 1921 to join the Non-Cooperation Movement. He quickly emerged as a grassroots organiser par excellence. His innovative “Muthia” campaign, where he asked every household to donate a handful of grain daily to support the national movement, became a defining example of mass mobilisation in Bihar. The campaign showcased Aijazi’s genius, a simple act that enabled ordinary citizens to become stakeholders in India’s struggle for freedom. Aijazi formed Congress-Khilafat Committees, promoted Khadi, organised bonfires of foreign cloth, and raised funds to support nationalist activity. Donations were used to acquire land for use by the Congress Party, which was later named Tilak Maidan, a site of great symbolic resistance in Muzaffarpur. His residence, Ajazi House, became a hub for revolutionary meetings and planning, often under police surveillance and subjected to raids. Regardless of arrests and threats, Ajazi never wavered from his path. A Voice Against Partition: The Jamhur Muslim League Perhaps the most historically significant act of Dr. Aijazi’s life was his refusal to accept the communal bifurcation of India along religious lines. In 1940, as the Muslim League passed the Lahore Resolution demanding the creation of Pakistan, Dr. Aijazi convened a counter-session in Muzaffarpur and founded the All-India Jamhur Muslim League. As its General Secretary, he rallied Muslims who believed in a united, secular India—rejecting the divisive narrative of the Two-Nation Theory. The Jamhur Muslim League promoted composite nationalism, religious coexistence, and equal citizenship. Dr. Aijazi boldly broke with Jinnah's ideology, asserting that Indian Muslims were an inseparable part of the Indian nation and did not need to establish a separate homeland. His stance invited hostility from communal elements, and his home was ransacked. Yet Dr. Aijazi stood firm, choosing to embrace an inclusive Indian nationalism that respected all religions and identities. Post-Independence Project: Urdu, Education, and Humanitarianism After 1947, Dr. Aijazi did not seek political office or indulge in the pursuit of power. Instead, he channelled his energies towards cultural preservation and community service. He emerged as a leading voice for the recognition of Urdu in Bihar, and in 1960, he organised the All-Bihar Urdu Conference in Muzaffarpur. In his stirring address, he reminded the state that Urdu was not a sectarian language, but a shared cultural treasure born of Ganga-Jamuni civilisation—a vital component of India’s cultural heritage. Dr. Aijazi also founded the Anjuman Khuddam-e-Millat, a welfare society that worked to promote education, restore civic and religious institutions, and assist marginalised communities. He established madrasas, revived mosques, built rest houses (Musafir Khanas) in Muzaffarpur and even in Mecca, and ensured dignified burial for unclaimed bodies. His service was not confined to the Muslim community; it extended to all humanity. As a poet and writer, Dr. Aijazi wrote prolifically in Urdu. His speeches, essays, and personal diaries are preserved today in premier institutions such as the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, the National Archives of India, and the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library in Patna. A Historic Funeral and a Legacy Neglected Dr. Maghfoor Ahmad Aijazi passed away on 26 September 1966 at his residence in Muzaffarpur. His funeral was held at Tilak Maidan, the very ground he had helped establish through public contributions, and was attended by tens of thousands. It remains one of the largest public funerals in the history of Muzaffarpur. He was laid to rest in the Qazi Muhammadpur Cemetery, where his grave still exists as a quiet yet profound testament to his life of selfless service. In the aftermath, tributes poured in from across the country. President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed described him as “a fearless crusader in the cause of Indian freedom,” while Gandhian leader J. B. Kripalani called him “a devoted servant of humanity.” Yet, decades later, his name has faded from the national consciousness. While his portrait is honoured at the Aazadi Ke Deewane Museum at the Red Fort in Delhi, there remains no national memorial, no textbook reference, no annual observance to commemorate the man and his mission. The Son Who Inherited the Fire: Asghar Husain Aijazi Dr. Aijazi’s mission did not end with him. It continued in the work of his son, Asghar Husain Aijazi (1933–2013), a stalwart of post-independence Bihar. A man of remarkable versatility, Asghar was a lawyer, journalist, Urdu poet, social reformer, and sports enthusiast. He inherited his father's ideals and carried them forward with quiet dignity and passionate commitment. In 1954, Asghar became one of the first Muslim journalists from the Urdu-speaking community in Bihar to receive press accreditation, a notable achievement at a time when the voice of Indian Muslims was struggling to find space in the national media. He also gained recognition as an Urdu poet, and his collection Tarjuman-e-Dil was published shortly before his passing. In the legal sphere, he served as Assistant Public Prosecutor, was part of the Advocate General’s Panel, and also became President of the District Taxation Bar Association. He was felicitated by the Bar Council of India upon completing fifty years of distinguished legal practice. Asghar’s commitment to cultural preservation led him to become Vice President of Anjuman Taraqqui-e-Urdu, where he promoted Urdu education and literary development across Bihar. His service extended into the realm of sports, where he organised All-Bihar cycle races and contributed to the work of the Indian Football Association. He passed away on 5 November 2013 at the age of 80. His funeral, like that of his father, drew a vast crowd from across communities. He was laid to rest beside Dr. Aijazi, a gesture that symbolised the living continuity of a mission carried across generations. Conclusion: Reclaiming the Ajazi Legacy for India The lives of Dr. Maghfoor Ahmad Aijazi and Asghar Husain Aijazi together compose a powerful saga of patriotism, cultural stewardship, and unwavering public service. The father fought colonial oppression and divisive communalism with the same moral clarity that the son brought to fighting ignorance, marginalisation, and the erosion of cultural identity in post-independence India. Both were devoted to Urdu, not as a religious marker, but as a vessel of India’s civilisational plurality. Both believed in a nationalism that included rather than excluded, that healed rather than harmed. As India continues to wrestle with questions of identity, historical justice, and national unity, the Aijazi legacy offers a moral compass. Their lives are not simply part of the past; they are a guide to reshaping our present and future. It is time that India remembers Dr. Maghfoor Ahmad Aijazi and Asghar Husain Aijazi, not as overlooked footnotes, but as central figures in the shared legacy of freedom, secularism, and cultural harmony. References Dr. Prof. M. R. Kaazmi (2022) “Dr. Maghfoor Ahmed Aijazi Ki Aham Shaksiyat Se Mulaqaat” Dr. Ajazi Memorial Committee Mohammad Sajjad (2017) “Maghfur Aijazi: A freedom fighter and a builder of Indian democracy” Heritage Times (https://www.heritagetimes.in/maghfur_aijazi) ---- Syed Amjad Hussain is an author and Independent research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is the author of 'Bihar Aur Sufivad', a research book based on the history of Sufism in Bihar. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/history-patriots-maghfoor-unity-nation-urdu/d/136153 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism