Maulana Shafi Daudi, who fought for the Independence of India against British colonialism, was on the forefront of the Movement along with the Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal, the Ali Brothers, Mahatma Gandhi, Pundit Motilal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad — in short, with all the top leadership of the Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League.

History is a very sensitive discipline, vulnerable to the whims of the rulers who often distort it, neglect it or use it for their own interests. Examples of this abound both in India and Pakistan. Maulana Shafi Daudi is also one of the figures who fell victim to the negligence of historians, in spite of his prominent role in the struggle for freedom. Perhaps feeling that leaving it to the concerned people or institutions justice may not be done to him, his son Obaid ur Rehman Daudi, at the age of 88, has done a wonderful job by compiling all the facts of Maulana Daudi's life in a book form 'lest we forget' the sacrifices, devotion and contributions made by such principled leaders in the cause of our nation.

The book under review is a collection of articles by scholars, friends and relatives. Dr Salim Uddin Ahmed, Asstt. Director of Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library in Patna (Bihar, India) in his article 'An Unsung Freedom Fighter of Bihar' brings to light the services of this valiant freedom fighter. 'He was among the pioneers of the freedom movement in Bihar and a staunch supporter of non-cooperation, a true Muslim and a firm believer in Hindu-Muslim unity...He played a vital role in shaping the history of the freedom movement in Bihar under the dynamic guidance of Mahatma Gandhi,' he writes.

Maulana Shafi Daudi joined the Congress in 1920 and remained a strong Congressite until 1928, when Nehru's Report on constitutional reforms was adopted by the Congress. The Maulana vehemently opposed the report as it failed to provide safeguards to the minorities, especially to the Muslims of India. When the objection was overruled and rejected by his fellow party members, he resigned from the party.

During this very period the Muslim League was also split into two groups on the issue of the formation of the Simon Commission. The Maulana, with his farsightedness, formed The All India Muslim Conference on October 31, 1928 at Delhi which included other Muslim legislatures of the Indian Parliament. The participants drafted a most important resolution and got it passed by the AIMCs first session held at Delhi in 1929 under the chairmanship of Sir Sultan Muhammad Agha Khan III. The resolution demanded a federal system of government with autonomy and residuary powers for the provinces and separate electorate for the Muslims. This demand was later incorporated by Mohammad Ali Jinnah in his famous 14 points.

Maulana Shafi Daudi was the general secretary of the All India Muslim Conference from 1930 to 1932, but he resigned when the leaders of both AIMC and All India Muslim League decided to merge the two organisations. However, he was nominated as one of the permanent vice presidents of the merged Muslim League and Muslim Conference — along with Allama Iqbal and Shafaat Ahmed Khan — by Sir Agha Khan III on February 15, 1934.

In his book Prelude to Partition, David Page has paid a glowing tribute to the Maulana. According to him, 'A thoroughly conscientious conference working secretary, Maulana Shafi Daudi was a man of great experience in many different political spheres, in local provincial and national politics. As a former Khilafatist, Daudi was well acquainted with the politics of the religion; as a non-cooperator, he had learnt how to give a programme mass appeal; as Motilal's lieutenant in Bihar, he had acquired the techniques of provincial organisation; as the member of the Central Assembly, he was well aware of what was at stake in All India terms; as a national politician, he had innumerable contacts in many different provinces. He was an extremely devoted and selfless worker in the Conference cause and to him undoubtedly goes much of the credit for the successor the organisation.'

In his book Prelude to Partition, David Page has paid a glowing tribute to the Maulana. According to him, 'A thoroughly conscientious conference working  secretary, Maulana Shafi Daudi was a man of great experience in many different political spheres, in local, provincial and national politics.'

Born into a middle class rural family at Daudnagar, Vashali District in Bihar, the Maulana completed his education as a law graduate in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He joined the Muzzafarpur Bar and practiced as a lawyer till 1920 but suspended his work during the Non-Cooperation Movement. He was sentenced to one year imprisonment (from December 1921 to December 1922) in Buxur Jail, Bihar. He was the secretary of the Bihar Khilafat Committee and a member of the organisation committee founded to advise the Provincial Congress Committee.

Under his presidentship a resolution was passed to boycott the visit of Prince of Wales to Arrah.in early October 1921. The Maulana was elected vice-president of the Provincial Congress Committee in 1921.He was the leader of Bihar Swaraj Party founded by Motilal Nehru and C.R.Das. In November 1923 he contested in the elections from the party's platform and was elected to represent Bihar in the Central Legislative Assembly. Shafi Daudi remained a member of the Assembly from 1924 to 1935.

In 1928 he started printing and publishing the Urdu daily Ittehad from Patna. In it he called on the masses for national unity and not to mix politics with caste, creed and religion. Maulana attended the Second Round Table Conference in London in1931 as a delegate from Bihar and visited several countries including France, Italy Egypt and Palestine with Allama Iqbal.While in Palestine he attended the Al Alam Al Islam Conference and was elected a member of its executive council along with Allama Iqbal and others from India.

In the 1937 elections he contested on the Ahrar Party ticket from Mozaffarpur and lost against the Independent Party candidate. The defeat was a personal disappointment. His grandson Dr Imbesat Daudi writes, 'He never looked to politics again but remained active in social work till the very end of his life.'

The book is organised in five sections. While section I and II cover his political life, section III comprises of reminisces by his close family members wherein he emerges as a loving father, grandfather, father-in-law, and above all, an enlightened husband who believed in equal status for women. A self-made man, he was a great humanist and showed tolerance towards those who did not agree with his ideology. Section IV consists of the documents related to his personal achievements and condolences on his demise (27th January 1949), as well as appendices and photographs. Section V is in Urdu and it contains 11 articles spread over 94 pages .These articles are a loving tribute to the great man by his close relatives, friends and acquaintances.

The book is a through study of the life and times of Maulana Shafi Daudi. It is not only a record of the contributions of a great leader, but also a lesson to the present breed of politicians and leaders that integrity, principles and faith have a definite place in making a man truly great. The book is a valuable addition to the history books on the struggle for freedom, and will be appreciated by research scholars, students of political science and people who wish to be aware of their political heritage.

Life and Times of Maulana Shafi Daudi

A valiant freedom fighter

Compiled by Obaid ur Rehman Daudi

Edited by Akhtar Payami

Zain Publications, Karachi

653pp. Price Not Listed