Saquib Salim

The Daily report of the Commissioner of Police, Bombay on 28 December 1931 reads, “On receipt of the news of the arrest of Pandit Jawaharlal, T.A.K.Shervani and Khan Abdul Gaffar on the 26th a partial hartal was observed in the city.” People across the Indian subcontinent are familiar with the names of Jawaharlal and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan but not with T.A.K. Shervani.

Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle

The friendship developed with Nehru, Mahmood, and Khwaja were later extended into the political sphere and Shervani took up a leading role in the freedom struggle along with Nehru.

Shervani entered the freedom struggle in 1921 at the height of the Non-cooperation and Khilafat movement. He had already joined Congress in 1916 and was regularly interacting with Motilal Nehru, C. R. Das, and Mahatma Gandhi. When the Non-cooperation Movement was launched, Shervani was at its forefront. This led to his first arrest in 1921.

Inspired by his heroic deed, Shervani’s younger brothers, Nisar Ahmed Shervani, Superintendent, of Posts & Telegraphs, and Fida Ahmed Shervani, a student joined the freedom struggle. Responding to Gandhi’s call, Nisar resigned from his job and Fida left the college.

M. R. Shervani says, “Both the younger brothers were also arrested and sentenced to imprisonment — the longest term having been awarded to Nisar Ahmad Shervani, as he was the first Civil Service officer to have revolted and the Government wanted to make an example of him.”

In 1924, Khilafat committee leaders went with a delegation to Turkey. A request for passports was sent to the British government. The authorities cleared the passport application of all including Dr. M. A. Ansari, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Sulaiman Nadvi, Mufti Kifayatullah, and Khaliquzzaman but objected to Shervani.

Shervani was believed to be dangerous for the empire. The official communication on 9 June 1924 noted, “Criterion of exclusion laid down by us and accepted by you was the conviction of offense against the State or for inciting Government servants to disaffection. Of course, we did not bind ourselves to grant passports to anyone who escaped this criterion, but we think it would be advisable to interpret it strictly, provided that no person who is likely to be dangerous in Turkey is admitted.

Of the above delegation Tassaduq Ahmad Khan Sherwani was convicted under section 153-A., Indian Penal Code, for a speech delivered at Chara in connection with Aligarh riots reported in our telegrams of 6th and 10th July 1921, and sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment; later he suspended his legal practice and advocated civil disobedience. The Convicting Magistrate held Sherwani's speech contained clear attempts to create and promote enmity and hatred between Indian Indians, especially Mahomedans, and European officials and non-official.”

Later his passport was cleared but he did not go because of his health.

Shervani shifted base to Allahabad and proximity to Nehru increased. He rose to head the U.P. Provincial Congress Committee and led the Civil Disobedience Movement in the state. Nehru and Shervani, both were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment in January 1932 for leading the movement. Between 1921 and 1935, he was imprisoned five times.

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At a time when the administration of the country was in the Congress's hands and crores of rupees had to be administered, men of Prof. Bari’s honesty would have been of invaluable help.. God had willed otherwise and He had deprived Bihar of the great service of a very brave man with the heart of a fakir.”