Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi

Ajazi was born on 3 March 1900 in village Dihuli, Block Sakra of District Muzaffarpur, in Bihar.[1] His father Hafizuddin Husain and grand father Imam Bakhsh were zamindars and his mother's name was Mahfoozunnisa. His maternal grandfather Reysat Husain was an advocate in Sitamarhi.[2]

He became a disciple of Ajaz Husain Budayuni, the Khalif of Hazrat Fazle Rahman Ganj Muradabadi, and assumed title of 'Ajazi'. He gained his patriotism from his father.[1]

Ajazi's mother died in his childhood, while his father died in Lucknow during treatment and was buried in Chaar Bagh Qabristan when Ajazi was in school. His elder brother Manzoor Ahsan Ajazi was also a freedom fighter.[3] He had only one sister, Noorun Nisa.[4]

Ajazi left his studies at B.N. College Patna to follow Mahatma Gandhi and joined the non-co-operation movement in 1921.[5]

Ajazi was in charge of North Bihar. Once he unknowingly reached the house of his cousin in a remote village. He inquired about 'Muthia'. He received a negative answer. His cousin recognised him and requested him to take meal, but he refused even a glass of water. When his sister promised to take out muthia and donated the dues, he agreed to take meal.[6]

He attended the AICC session held at Ahmedabad in 1921 and supported Mohani's motion on 'Complete Independence', which was opposed by Mahatma Gandhi and failed.[1] He met Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram. He joined Khilafat movement and became member of the Central Khilafat Committee. Thus he came into contact with Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Shaukat Ali and became their associate.

He represented the Central Khilafat Committee at the All Parties Conferences and All Muslim Parties Conferences on Nehru Report along with Maulana Shaukat Ali, Begum Md. Ali, Abdul Majid Daryabadi, Maulana Azad Subhani, Maulana Abul Mohasin Md. Sajjad and others.[7][8] On the direction of Md Ali Jauhar, he took charge of the Khilafat Committee Calcutta. He was arrested in a protest march led by Subhash Chandra Bose and was arrested and released. He obtained a degree from Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College.

During the by-election of Abdul Bari, he was arrested and expelled from Purnia district. He was prosecuted for the 'Dihuli Conspiracy' and his office was searched. In August 1942, his house was searched, forcing him to work secretly, and his eldest son Muzaffar Husain Ajazi died on 25 July 1942.

After the earthquake of 1934, he and Rajendra Pd. devoted themselves to the relief operation. One night they had to sleep beneath a tree with their heads on a single brick.

Ajazi opposed Jinnah's two-nation theory [9] and the creation of a separate Pakistan. He founded the All-India Jamhur Muslim League to counter Jinnah's All-India Muslim League, and served as its first general secretary. Opponents used to come in batches to his residence, virtually spitting and shouting slogans.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] [21][22][23][24][25]

First Session of All India Jamhur Muslim League

Ajazi was also a poet and writer in the Urdu language as well as an orator. His papers, diaries, letters and files are preserved in the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library in New Delhi, National Archives in New Delhi and the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library in Patna.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]

He was the chairman of the Urdu Conference of Muzaffarpur held in 1960, in which for the first time a resolution was passed demanding that Urdu be accepted as an official language in Bihar.[35] (After 15 years this demand became reality).[36][37]

Ajazi established Anjuman Khuddam-e-Millat, based on the pattern of Sir Syed's Educational society. This society established a school, renovated the Company Bagh Mosque of Muzaffarpur, now the biggest Mosque of this city, built a rest house, and undertook the last rites of unclaimed dead bodies.[38][39][40][41][42]

Ajazi died on 26 September 1966. Acharya J.B. Kripalani said: "Dr. Ajazi was a great patriot, a devoted servant of humanity and a lovable friend. Selfless patriot like him are becoming rare. His death is a loss to society". Fictionist and journalist Kalam Haidry and novelist and journalist Moin Shahid called him "Baba-e-Urdu, Bihar" (Father of Urdu in BIhar) for his services towards Urdu language. Journalist and poet Wafa Malikpuri described him an old 'Mujahid' (crusader) for Urdu language.[43][44][45]