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AN UNSUNG AND FORGOTTEN HERO !! LATE HAJI AHMED ALI, USIA, GHAZIPUR

"True patriot is one, who has love and respect for the place where he had been born and brought up and devoted himself for his birthplace"

Haji Ahmed Ali

There have been many forgotten and unsung heroes of Indian Freedom Struggle, who could have made it to our pages of history and should have got some place at historical canvas, but they were not so lucky- !

Late Haji Ahmed Ali is one of them.

Shri Haji Ahmed Ali was born in a middle class family. His father Mr. Jaan Mohammad was two brothers- Mr. Jaan Mohammad and Mr. Noor Mohammad. The main occupation of his father and forefathers were agriculture and agriculture based business like supply of blankets and druggets to Army and Police Personnel.

It was said that his forefathers happened to be of Hindu Rajputs origin. Father happened to be Hindu Rajput (local malguzar) and mother side happened to be of Brahmin origin, who later converted to Islam.

If we peep into the family history, initially, their forefathers lived in village named Mania, Which is nearby and were given shelter by the then local chieftain of village Mania. They were happily living and acquired land property, but in the meantime some differences arose and there was clash of ego with the local people and some fierce fight took place with local people (Pathan) resulting in loss of lives from both sides. Some of the people migrated to Yusufpur Mohammadabad Tehsil and others, migrated to village Usia. Haji Ahmed Ali forefathers, Mr Rahim Buksh and Karim Buksh were given helping hand by local people, especially Mr. Ashia Khan who was a renowned personality of village Usia and also of Kamsar-O-Bar area. Thereafter they continued to live in Usia and took forward their business of supplying blankets and druggets to Army and Police personnel.

Though Shri Haji Ahmad Ali's father had set up a small business with a great effort and struggle, Shri Haji Ahmad Ali had no interest in it. Being a young and enthusiastic and ready to accomplish altogether something new, his heart lay in sports of Wrestling, Volleyball and Football and wanted to become a famous sportsman of his times. All his contemporaries and his friends were having a great respect for him as he was an ace Volleyball Player! And a very quiet and a calm wrestler with a God gifted might, courage and mettle.

There were tremendous political upheaval and turmoil inside and outside the country. National movement was at its peak to liberate our country from the British yoke, and each and every young man was impressed and influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Subhash Chandra Bose and other national movement leaders. Many have had already joined national freedom struggle at the call of national leaders.

World Was Second broke in 1939 and there was tremendous pressure on British empire to vacate our motherland. All young men of our areas, Kamsar-O-Bar joined national movement especially Azad Hind Fauz formed by the great patriot Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose of Slogan fame "Give me blood, I give you the Freedom/Independence" (Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azaadi doonga).

Shri Haji Ahmed Ali being young, energetic and enthusiastic didn't remain untouched and uninfluenced by this great freedom struggle especially Subhash Chandra Bose. Shri Haji Ahmad Ali have had some tiff with his father and grandfather on some business issues and left home, on this pretext to join Azad Hind Fauz, as if he was looking for some opportunity/occasion to join Subhash Chandra Bose. It is a historical fact and true that he had served in Azad Hindi Fauz along with many people from Kamsar-O-Bar area and of village Usia, Who don't find any place at the pages of history. How many of us know that Mr Nazir Hussain was great flute player along with being a good dancer. He used to entertain jawans of Azad Hind Fauz. Shri Haji Ahmad Ali joined Azad Hind Fauz in 1942-1943. Shri Nazir Hussain and Haji Ahmed Ali served Azad Hind Fauz till 1945.

Once WWII was over and situation settled in 1945, Shri Haji Ahmad Ali once again joined his family after a very long gap of 4-5 years. The economic condition of his family was very bad and business was in poor shape. There was no one to support family members. As usual he didn't like his business and left for kolkata (Calcutta). He joined Calcutta Police as a Head Constable in 1946.

In 1947, partition of the country took place. There was pressure to join East Pakistan (Bangladesh), which he did in emotionally charged atmosphere and served East Pakistan as Inspector (now Bangladesh) at places like Dhaka, Khulna and Chittagong till 1949. he couldn't continue over there and came back to his village Usia after realising his blunder of his life for which he couldn't forgive himself throughout his life. As usual he faced livelihood problem and family condition was very bad, he again left for Calcutta to join Calcutta Police in 1951 which he continued till his children were grown up and after sometime took voluntary retirement.

The eldest son of Haji Ahmad Ali is Mr. M. Wakil Ansari who retired from Indian Air Force and lives in Dildarnagar town with his family. His second son Professor (Dr.) M.M. Ansari is renowned academician, educationist and economist who has served as the first Central Information Commissioner, Jammu & Kashmir Interlocutor and presently serving as member of the University Grant Commission. His third son Haji Badshah Ansari, is very religious and a great social worker of his village and a renowned figure of Kamsar-O-Bar. He is associated with social and welfare activities, especially for educational cause of downtrodden and poor people. He is associated with all schools of villages and social welfare activities. His fourth son Mr. M.W. Ansari is a (IPS) Senior Police Officer in Chhattisgarh State. His youngest son Nawab Akhtar is engaged in export business based in New Delhi. Shri Nawab Akhtar is engaged in export business based in New Delhi. Shri Nawab Akhtar takes great interest in religious and social activities.

Shri Haji Ahmad Ali who was a great humanist, a great sportsman of his times dedicated his whole life for the cause of poor people. He worked for his village and fellow-beings after retirement needs special attention of all those for whom he has sacrificed his life. He was symbol and role-model of a great humanist. Always calm, sober and he tried his ever best to help the poor.

It's disheartening that heroes like Late Haji Ahmad Ali are not acknowledged for their contribution to the Indian freedom struggle, his country and upliftment of his people. It is desirable that pages of history could be turned to include the contributions of such heroes who could be such an inspiration to all of us, young, youth, people of Usia and Kamsar-O-Bar.