English THE RELIGO-POLITICAL ACTIVISM IN THE NORTH WESTERN INDIA: AN ANALYSIS OF PESHAWAR VALLEY (1914-1927)

Abstract

The twentieth century witnessed a political change in the Indian sub-continent. The British Imperialism had reached its highest level with an unmatchable power show. The Balkan War and the events of First World War had inspired the Muslim masses as well as Ulama in the entire Indian Sub-Continent. Ulama of Deoband struggled for and helped the Turks, morally, politically and economically. In this regard, Maulana Mahmud ul Hasan defied and resisted the British Raj, and launched a movement later on called “Tehreek-i-Raishmi Romaal” (Silk Handkerchief Movement) hatched in Kabul. Thus, it led to the rise of nationalist element and various religious movements including Anjuman Khuddam-i-Kaaba, Khilafat, and Hijrat movements, and were helped by the Pukthuns of this region at large. However, with the failure of those movements, the Ulama resorted to a non-violent political struggle for freedom. The study is based on locals’ narratives, official records of NWFP, British India Office Library Record; and personal collections of Ulama and Mashaikh to trace the historical roots of the process of religious mobilization, shifting from Jihadist strategy (militant resistance) to political activism against British colonial rule in the frontier.