Begum Anis Kidwai a great philanthropist activist politician and writer

Begum Anis Kidwai (1906-82)

Begum Anis Kidwai, was born to an impoverished orthodox but a respectable patriotic family of Awadh in 1906 in Masauli situated 14 kms on lko Gonda Bahraich road, Distt Barabanki UP. Her father Vilayet Ali kidwai who had the privilege to work with Ali Brothers was also a columnist in “The Comrade” edited by Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar. Later he had moved on to Barabanki town where he started legal practice.

Begum Anis known in social and political circles as “Anis apa”, was married to Mr Shafi Ahmad Kidwai, the younger brother of Mr Rafi Amad Kidwai. The orthodox family believed in imparting education at home to their children similarly she completed her education without going to any school. Because of her extraordinary genius she acquired good knowledge of varied subjects and command over Persian, Urdu and English languages. Her husband’s brother Rafi Ahmad Kidwai was a freedom fighter and often imprisoned by the British government and that his family used to face hardships and persecution.

Probably the first and the most tragic incident in the life of Begum Anis happened in Oct 47 when her husband Mr Shafi Ahmad Kidwai posted in Dehradun as administrator municipal board was murdered in the communal frenzy while on his way to office. He was receiving repeated threats. Advised by his local Hindu friends to leave the city and they had even made his necessary travel arrangements nevertheless Mr Kidwai instead of leaving the place to save his life preferred to stay back. Having confidence in the people he never believed anyone had the right to force him to leave. Moreover he had to take care of his subordinate colleagues staying there in unsafe temporary camps at that time.

After the most gruesome tragedy, life Begum Anis came to a standstill but then she thought there was nothing more left for her to lose. Care and compassion have replaced her anger and anguish vengeance and hate and she decided to wipe out the tears from the eyes of the victims of similar tragedies displacement and destruction to their lives and properties. This was the greatness of the lady that when she was asked to pursue for a probe into the well orchestrated killing of her husband her reply was, why should the parents, wife and children suffer for the crime committed by the offenders.

A few days to recover from shock Anis Kidwai without taking further time decided to go to Delhi where she was keen to meet father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. On her first meeting with Mahatma Gandhi at Birla House she had lost control over her emotions and tears rolled down her eyes. Aware of the tragedy Gandhi Ji consoled and advised her to focus on helping and to look after the riot victims, the injured, refugees, saving children and young girls from being pushed to prostition.

Close friends and comrades Begum Anis and Mrs Mridula Sarabhai had worked together in the grief and the trials of life during their long association of twenty seven years. Mridula died on Oct 27, 1974. They both worked together tirelessly saving the lives and dignity of thousands of young women victims under captivity sold from person to person. None of them ever hesitated to jump into the villages under fire and saved the victims specially the young women ensured their freedom from the clutches of hungry vultures. Anis is perhaps rarest of a woman of her stature in modern history, who didn’t give just bath to dead bodies but also dug up graves herself and performed cremation of deceased victims of post partition riots. In the heart of the heart she was fulfilling the unfulfilled mission of her brave husband.

Visiting the camps of panahgazin ( the displaced Muslims who didn’t migrate to Pakistan) or in the tents of sharnaarthis ( the Hindus turned away from Pakistan) lived in filthy, small cramped rooms, was her daily routine and health camps of refugees talking to them listening to their grievances and at times she used to face unruly behaviour of the victim families or the government officials. Usually the day to day problems were addressed by herself seldom using the name of Rafi A kidwai, the then communication Minister. On rare occasions when it was inevitable that she had to approach Prime Minister Nehru seeking his intervention particularly for resolution of humanitarian crisis.

Accepted the offer of congress in 1956 and became Rajya Sabha member after the sad demise of Mr Rafi Ahmad Kidwai on Oct 24, 1954. Anis Kidwai served as Rajya Sabha MP for two terms 1956-68 and finally retired on 2 April 1968. Along with her colleagues Mrs Subhadra Joshi, Mrs Savitri Devi Nigam, she used to participate actively in parliamentary proceedings, stood in favour of punishment of women molestation bill 1958. Had the privilege of working with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and later with Mrs Indira Gandhi.

She was also an author of number of books and publications. The one “Azadi ki Chhaon me” published in 1974 chronicles post partition trauma, detailed account of the struggles of refugees experiencing the trauma herself while working for resettlement and rehabilitation of the abducted women. The book “Azadi ki chaon me” won Urdu Academy award. She was also honoured by Sahitya Kala academy for her contribution to literature. The detailed account of the state of affairs during the years 1947-48 were used be noted in the author’s daily diary.
“Azadi ki chaon me” is a socio-political guide and a torch bearer for the younger generation. Following are few of its important excerpts, written in Hindi:

1. मगर कोई हादसा भी इस यक़ीन को मुतज़लज़ल न कर सका कि कौ़म की बका़ का इन्हेसार एख़लाकी़ एक़दार के साथ जम्हूरियत और इत्तेहाद में है।
“शब गुरेजा़न होगी आखि़र जलवाए खु़रशीद से”

2. नई दुनिया के मेमारो! इस ज़हर से बचो जिसे पीकर हमने खु़दकुशी की थी और एख़लाकी़ क़द्रों की नियू पर अगर नई तामीर करोगे तो मज़बूती शान और इज़्ज़त तुम्हारा हिस्सा होगी।

3. प्राचीन भारत और कदी़म इस्लामी क़द्रों का ख़्वाब देखने वाले आख़िर नई दुनिया से दामन बचा कर कैसे चल सकेंगे।
मजा़हिब को उनके असल और फि़तरी रूप में देखे बगै़र रूह का उजलापन नामुमकिन है।

हम उमर रसीदा लोग हमने अपनी जि़न्दगी भली बुरी गुज़ार दी। अपने कर्म का फल भी देख लिया। थके मारे दिमाग़ और जिस्म अपना वक्त़ गुज़ार चुके। दिया टिमटिमा रहा है रात ख़त्म हो रही है और कुछ देर नहीं कि नसीम का झोंका हमेशा के लिए हमारे ज़माने का चिराग़ गुल कर दे।
सारा बोझ नई नस्ल के कंधे पर पड़ेगा इससे पहले कि वह इस बोझ को उठाएं ये किताब उन तक पहुंच जानी चाहिए ताकि वह हवा का रुख़ देख कर अपनी कश्ती दरिया में डालें उन्हें पता लग जाए कि कहां चट्टानें हैं और कहां भंवर ताकि उनकी नाओ भी बीच मझदार में फंस कर हमारी तरह तबाह न हो जाए।

4. जंग आज़ादी में लड़ने वालों ने अपने को तमाम एख़लाकी़ पाबंदियों से आज़ाद कर लिया है और उन लोगों के साथी बन गए हैं जो तहरीक के खुले मुखा़लिफ़ थे।
महात्मा गांधी
प्रार्थना सभा
12 जून 1948

Her achievements in the fields of politics, philanthropy, literature makes her an ardent and remarkably a distinguished woman of her times. Her story sets an example of how women exercised their prowess during the times when was clearly denied to them. Her criticism of gendered violence and deep empathy towards those she dealt with during her work as a social activist that form the basis of her true legacy. She is the founder of Women Service Home in Masauli, established with the aim to resettle and rehabilitate the destitutes, oppressed women mainly the victims of post partition riots. The Home in Masauli is still existing, helping the poor and needy women.

Urvashi Butalia is an Indian feminist writer, publisher and activist has written in her famous book; the other side of silence
“Anis kidwai took up the challenges presented to the witness of history to safeguard a narrative of partition that goes beyond just dates to touch upon things that lie deeper to use to face one’s own self”.

After her husband’s death there was yet another tragedy, her daughter Azadi, after battling long with rheumatic heart disease, died in 1973. Begum Anis Kidwai died on 16 July 1982, leaving behind a daughter Kishwar Kidwai and a son Taufiq kidwai. Most of her life, she spent in struggle and enduring hardships. She remained devoted to truth and non-violence and gave her all to the battle for freedom. Her unusual personality heroic endeavours and her boundless generosity led to touch the highest echelons of morality kindness and understanding of the human values.

Begum Anis Kidwai shall be living around us and her great services towards humanity and the Nation shall always be acknowledged remembered and admired.

Najmuddin A Farooqi
9956287442
farooqi.01.1957@gmail.com