Interplay of Two Socio-Political Movements: Khudai Khidmatgar Movement and Independence Movement

Abstract

Khudai Khidmatgar Movement was an important historical movement which mobilized the polity in a bottom-up direction to awaken the people living in the then North Western Province and today's province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was a transformational and charismatic leader. He educated common people about non-violence as a tool for organization and accomplishment of designed objectives. The essence of whole movement was rooted in the religion Islam which is interesting against the background of inspiration drawn by Pushtuns nationalists for the legitimacy of their narratives. This work throws new light on historical legacy of Khudai Khidmatgar Movement led by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan from a leadership perspective through historical comparative method. A new insight will be made to dig out various methods adopted by the leadership of the movement to gain the legitimacy of the movement and which had roots in religious text.