The Role of Women in the Freedom Moment : Amjadi Bano Begum

Amjadi bano begum has been termed as ‘The Woman Behind The Revolution’. Her contribution to the freedom movement in massive. Bano Begum is also known for her courage and strength and her undying efforts in the pre-independence politics. Being espoused to Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar also reflected the passion for the freedom movement in her.

Amjadi Bano begum was the daughter of Azmat Ali Khan, who was a state officer in Indore. She was educated at home. In 1902, she got married to Maulana Mohammad Ali Johar, who proved out to be the ideal husband for her as both shared the same passion for the development of the Muslims. Her great courage brought her in the field of politics at that time when Muslim women were not even allowed to go out of their homes and were encouraged to develop their interest in household chores only.

At that time, Amjadi Bano Begum got out of her home and joined hands with her husband and mother in law for the khilafat movement. She was intrigued by the political meetings of her husband and often used to accompany him, just like in the round table conference in th 1930. Not only Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar and Amjadi Bano Begum were close companions of each other but likely understood each other better. Bano Begum was deeply motivated by the philosophies of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar,

Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was really inspired by the struggle Bano Begum was doing for the Muslims. Even after the death of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar, her struggle for the freedom movement did not stop. Under the guidance of Quaid, she started a campaign, the purpose of which was to develop awareness among women of the subcontinent to bring an end to this life of British slavery and demanding of independent rights. So this journey of awakening people from deep sleep took place under the banner of Muslim League, and Bano begum was given the responsibility of leading as representative of the UP’s Muslim women throughout the freedom movement.She had pride of being the only woman among 25 members of working committee. All-India Muslim League's Twenty Seventh annual session held at Lahore, from 22nd to 24th March 1940. The resolution drafted by the AIML's First Working Committee, then presented, and unanimously approved at the general public session on 23rd March. Being a member of the committee, she attended meeting and participated in the drafting of the historic resolution of Pakistan.

Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah understood the importance of women's participation in politics. He once said "No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you; we are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live."
It were the efforts of Bano Begum which resulted in creation of a separate section for the Muslim women to work under All-India Muslim League. A Turkish woman Halide Edib visited India after the death of Maulana Mohammad Ali. She found her very significant. She writes "The intermediary between me and purdah club was Begum Mohammad Ali. She has remained true to her husband's teachings and as definite, a character as one may meet anywhere. To me she was the type of those Turkish women of twenty-eight years ago who threw themselves into the service of their country, especially in the social side. She will not be hustled. She wants change but in her own good timer. If Muslim women want to do things they must do it without leaving Purdah. She herself mixed with men, though she kept her veil, which is that of Turkish women of 1908 of middle class. In the lecture hall of the Jamia, there were two types of women audience: one who sat on the same side with men and second, those who sat behind the stretched curtain. She sat alone on the platform at the backward. She is neither with those who has surmounted the barriers nor with those who remained where they are. I think her seat at the lectures was symptomatic of her attitude."

Other Muslim women also got inspired by her movement. One of those women was Noor-us-Sabah Begum, who was a member of the sherpur family.It is said that Noor-us-Sabah Begum joined the Khilafat Movement with her husband's support and changed her lifestyle inspired from the personality of Amjadi Bano Begum. It was the motivation of Amjadi Begum which gave Noor-us-Sabah Begum courage to spread freedom movement's message to