Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew was one of the most influential leaders in pre-independence India. Known for leading a protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Kichlaw played a role in establishment of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. He was instrumental in Khilafat movement, influential in driving nationalistic ideas into people in Oubjab and worked towards better Soviet-India ties post Independence.
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Legendary freedom fighter
Dr. Saifuddin
Kichlew
was a legendary freedom fighter who is often hailed as a hero of the Jallianwala Bagh protests against the Rowlatt act of 1919. Kitchlew was born on 15th January in 1888 into a Kashmiri family, which had moved to Amritsar. His father owned a pashmina and saffron trading business and originally belonged to a Brahmin family of Baramulla.
His ancestor, Prakash Ram Kitchlew, had converted to Islam and his grandfather, Ahmed Jo, migrated from Kashmir in the mid-19th century after the Kashmir famine of 1871.
Kitchlew completed his bachelors from Cambridge University in London and obtained his PhD from Germany in 1913. He returned from abroad and started practicing law in Amritsar. His strong intellect and devotion for the nation made him participate in activities that could help India emerge out of colonialism.
Part of Congress
An Indian National Congress politician, he first became Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (Punjab PCC) head and later the General Secretary of the AICC in 1924. Saifudeen Kichlew became the face of Jallianwala Bagh protest against the Rowlatt Act that the imperial legislative government of British had passed almost 100 years back.
F.Z. Kitchlew writes about his grandfather in his book Freedom Fighter — The Story of Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew, “It was at Cambridge where certain socialistic ideas of Kitchlew were developed… he had always been fascinated by the French Revolution. He read books on these themes, which excited in him a kind of admiration for nationalism and freedom movements.”
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Kitchlew took an active part in the non cooperation movement and the All India Khilafat Committee and was a nationalist determined to fight the imperialistic powers in his country. He stood firmly on his beliefs on nationalism and Satyagraha and was an active advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity.
He started an Urdu daily Tanzim and which became monumental in the establishing the Swaraj Ashram in January 1921 at Amritsar to train young men for national work and to promote Hindu-Muslim unity. He was one of the founding members of Jamia Millia Islamia.
Became Mahatma Gandhi’s associate
As a practicing Barrister, Kitchlew soon came in contact with Gandhi and became an associate. He was first exposed to Indian nationalism when the whole country was outraged by the Rowlatt Act.
On April 9, 1919, Ram Navmi was being celebrated when Sir Michael O’ Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab (1912-1919) issued orders to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Irving, to arrest Dr Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew along with Gandhi.
O’ Dwyer suggested that Gandhi be deported to Burma but, apprehending a strong public reaction, his fellow officials deemed it best not to.
Doctor Kichlu and doctor Satya Pal helm an anti-British protest after which both were secretly sent to Dharamshala.
S. D. Kitchlew | postagestamps.gov.in
Dr. Kitchlew was a strict opponent to the Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan. In the 1940s he became President of the Punjab Congress Committee and in 1947 he strongly opposed the acceptance of the Partition of India by the Congress Party. At his public meetings he passionately spoke against partition but the All India Congress Committee session ultimately voted for the resolution. He called it a blatant “surrender of nationalism for communalism”.
After 1947, he got attracted towards Communism and worked for world peace through institutions like ‘Peace and Friendship’.
He became the first Indian to be awarded the Lenin Peace Prize in 1952. He became an ardent supporter of a Socialist society and dedicated his voice towards building World Peace. He died on 9 October 1963 due to cardiac arrest.
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