Today’s History: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan becomes first non-Indian to receive Bharat Ratna; After partition went to Pakistan, he was imprisoned for many years

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as Frontier Gandhi, was given the Bharat Ratna on this day in 1987. He was the first non-Indian to be awarded India’s highest civilian honour. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was born on 6 February 1890. Despite his father’s opposition, he got his education done in the missionary school. He went to Aligarh Muslim University for further studies.

At the age of 20, he opened a school in his hometown, Utman Jai, which became operational within a few months, but his school was banned in 1915 by the British government. For the next 3 years, he traveled to hundreds of villages to create awareness among Pashtuns. It is said that after this people started calling him by the name ‘Badshah Khan’.

He also founded an organization named ‘Khudai Khidmatgar’ for social consciousness. This organization was founded on the inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi’s principles like non-violence and satyagraha.

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan with Gandhiji.

Ghaffar Khan was arrested during the Salt Satyagraha. A group of Khudai Khidmatgars demonstrated against this. The British ordered firing on these unarmed protesters, in which more than 200 people were killed.

When the All India Muslim League was adamant on the partition of India, Badshah Khan strongly opposed it. In June 1947, he demanded a separate country from Pakistan for the Pashtuns, but this demand was not accepted. After partition he went to Pakistan.

The government of Pakistan considered him as its enemy, so he was kept in jail for many years there. He died in Pakistan in 1988 during house arrest. Even the last journey of Emperor Khan, who followed the path of non-violence throughout his life, could not remain non-violent. On his last visit there were 2 explosions, in which 15 people were killed.

1947: Partition of India

After ruling India for years, the British had agreed to free India, but this independence also brought with it the tragedy of partition. India was partitioned on this day in 1947 and a new country Pakistan was formed. Today Pakistan is celebrating its Independence Day. On 20 February 1947, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee declared India’s independence and handed over the responsibility to Lord Mountbatten.

Mountbatten made a plan, also known as the 3 June Plan. It said that considering the situation in India, the only option is partition. India will be free, but at the same time it will be partitioned.

In this plan, the princely states were also given the facility that they can join or remain independent with India or Pakistan. On 18 July 1947, the British Parliament passed this bill. The independence and partition of India was stamped by the British Parliament.

Partition had made millions of people refugees in their own country.

Partition is counted as the most tragic event in the modern history of India. This is the biggest displacement ever due to political reasons. Riots also took place during partition in which lakhs of people died.

1862: Establishment of Bombay High Court

Before the establishment of the High Court in the country, the cases of Indians were decided by the dual justice system of the British Government and the East India Company. The jurisdiction of the Company and the court of the British king used to be separate. The rule of the East India Company came to an end in 1858. After the passing of the Indian High Court Act in 1861, the courts were unified and the judicial system came into the hands of the British government.

The British government also got the power to abolish the Supreme Courts and Sadar Adalats. One High Court each was established in the three Presidencies of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.

16 lakh 44 thousand 528 rupees were spent to build a 562 feet long and 187 feet wide building built in the English-Gothic style.

The Kolkata High Court was first established through this law. The Bombay High Court was established on this day in 1862. The Bombay High Court was empowered to hear the cases of Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Initially 15 judges were ordered to be appointed, but only 7 judges were appointed. The construction of the present building of the High Court started in 1871. At present there are benches of Bombay High Court at Panaji (Goa), Aurangabad and Nagpur.

August 14 is also remembered in history because of these important events.

2010: The first Summer Youth Olympics started.

2006: Pluto was officially declared not a planet.

1986: Benazir Bhutto was arrested and imprisoned by the President of Pakistan, Zia-ul-Haq.

1935: The US Congress passed the Social Security Act.