Hajra Bibi Ismail : A Freedom Fighter Who Gave Selfless Service To The Nation

By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam 8 August 2025 Hajra Bibi Ismail, born in 1910 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, was a dedicated freedom fighter who, alongside her husband Mohammad Ismail Saheb, promoted Khadi, boycotted foreign goods, and opposed the Muslim League’s two-nation theory. She selflessly served India, rejecting personal rewards, and died in 1994. Main Points: 1. Hajra Bibi Ismail, born 1910 in Guntur, was a dedicated freedom fighter. 2. Promoted Khadi, boycotted foreign goods during the Civil Disobedience Movement. 3. Opposed Muslim League’s two-nation theory, fostering unity in Guntur. 4. Supported husband Mohammad Ismail despite his imprisonment. 5. Selflessly served India, rejecting land rewards; died 1994. ------ People from every province participated in the freedom struggle of India. They joined the movement wherever they were and in whatever way they could. Hajra Bibi Ismail from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh made a very notable contribution. Hajra Bibi Ismail was born in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh on 22 December 1910. Hajra Bibi Ismail was married to freedom fighter Mohammad Ismail Saheb. Both Hazra Bibi and her husband Mohammad Ismail Saheb were deeply influenced by Gandhiji's ideology and followed his ideals and continued to struggle for independence. In 1930, when Gandhiji started the Civil Disobedience Movement against the Salt Law across the country, Ismail Sahib, along with other revolutionaries, led the movement in Guntur. A part of the Civil Disobedience Movement (Savinay Avgya Andolan) was the boycott of foreign goods. There were some shops of foreign goods in Guntur too. Ismail Sahib and his companions formed teams of four people each and trained them. They would sit on dharna in front of the shops selling foreign goods. If they were arrested, four other people would take their place. Hazra Bibi formed a group of women in this series who used to sit in front of shops selling foreign goods. The movement was not only about boycotting foreign goods but also about adopting indigenous goods and especially Khadi. Hazra Bibi started spinning Khadi along with other women. Hazra Bibi used to sell Khadi clothes at a shop. This shop had the distinction of being the first Khadi shop. Ismail Sahib got the name of "Khadar Ismail" because of this shop. Hajra Bibi wore only Khadi clothes throughout her life and promoted Khadi. Ismail Sahib had to suffer a lot of torture in jail due to his revolutionary activities. He was often in jail due to his activities but Hazra Bibi always encouraged him. She always stood by him and ran the movement smoothly in his absence. In the 1940s when the activities of Muslim League started increasing in Andhra Pradesh and some people started getting influenced by their two nation concept, Hazra Bibi became very worried. Hazra Bibi was completely in support of her country India and was against the demand of two nations. She started understanding her people on a wider level and warned them against the separatist policies of Muslim League. They went among the people to spread awareness about the dangers of two nations and to remain dedicated to their motherland India. Due to their talks against Muslim League, some people turned against Hazra Bibi's family and even boycotted Hazra Bibi and her family. But Hazra Bibi and Ismail Saheb remained firm in support of India and kept informing people about Muslim League and its dangers. It was the result of their tireless efforts that the effect of Muslim League's theory ended in their district Guntur and Tenali. Hajra Bibi and Ismail Saheb were so dedicated to their country that they chose a school for the education of their daughters where the feeling of patriotism was inculcated. Hence, they got their children educated in a Hindi school and also taught their children to be dedicated to the country. Ismail Sahib died in 1948 due to ill health and continuous torture in prison . After his death, the Indian government offered the land given to the families of freedom fighters for their maintenance to Hazra Bibi but she politely refused it and said “My patriotism could not be traded with money or material assets. Love for the country made me fight during the freedom struggle and a land grant would belittle my love for the nation.” Hazra Bibi Ismail believed that she did not want to trade her patriotism for land. The work done by her and her husband for the country was selfless, it was her duty for which she did not want to charge any price. Ismail Saheb had promised to donate his land to Kuvuru Vinayashram. After his death, Hazra Bibi kept his word and donated her family's land to Kuvuru Vinayashram. Hajra Bibi was a dedicated patriot and Khadi worker who worked diligently throughout her life. She died on 16 June 1994 in Tenali. The life of Hazra Bibi Ismail teaches us what it means to do work selflessly. Not taking any price for the service done for her country is an example of her excellent character. ----- Afroz Khan is a teacher by profession, focusing on writings about women and Islam. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/hajra-bibi-freedom-fighter-nation/d/136436 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