Abstract
Abdul Ghaffar Khan and his Khudai Khidmatgar Movement, whose peace activities included nonviolent resistance to British rule in India, have remained relatively unknown despite the magnitude of their achievement and significance (100,000 strong peace army). Even among appreciative peace scholars their nonviolence has been mischaracterized as an adoption of Gandhi’s teachings; Khan is referred to as the Muslim Gandhi. I argue that this is due to a reliance on biased colonial sources, concomitant racist characterization of the Pakhtuns and Islam, and an insufficient understanding of violence. I illustrate how this movement’s motivation and inspiration were deeply rooted in Pakhtun culture and Islam, even though Khan and Gandhi were spiritually alike, with the same peace cultural commitments, working together for independence. A better understanding of this movement’s origins as indigenous is crucial to avoid the vilification of these people that continues to justify violence against them, constraining them to respond likewise.
Recommended Citation
Harris, Shelini
(2020)
"The Mischaracterization of the Pakhtun-Islamic Peace Culture Created by Abdul Ghaffar Khan and the Khudai Khidmatgars,"
The Journal of Social Encounters:
Vol. 4:
Iss.
2, 61-77.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69755/2995-2212.1054
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/social_encounters/vol4/iss2/6
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Home > Journals > The Journal of Social Encounters > Vol. 4 (2020) > Iss. 2
The Mischaracterization of the Pakhtun-Islamic Peace Culture Created by Abdul Ghaffar Khan and the Khudai Khidmatgars
Authors
Shelini Harris, Australian National University
Abstract
Abdul Ghaffar Khan and his Khudai Khidmatgar Movement, whose peace activities included nonviolent resistance to British rule in India, have remained relatively unknown despite the magnitude of their achievement and significance (100,000 strong peace army). Even among appreciative peace scholars their nonviolence has been mischaracterized as an adoption of Gandhi’s teachings; Khan is referred to as the Muslim Gandhi. I argue that this is due to a reliance on biased colonial sources, concomitant racist characterization of the Pakhtuns and Islam, and an insufficient understanding of violence. I illustrate how this movement’s motivation and inspiration were deeply rooted in Pakhtun culture and Islam, even though Khan and Gandhi were spiritually alike, with the same peace cultural commitments, working together for independence. A better understanding of this movement’s origins as indigenous is crucial to avoid the vilification of these people that continues to justify violence against them, constraining them to respond likewise.
Recommended Citation
Harris, Shelini (2020) "The Mischaracterization of the Pakhtun-Islamic Peace Culture Created by Abdul Ghaffar Khan and the Khudai Khidmatgars," The Journal of Social Encounters: Vol. 4: Iss. 2, 61-77.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69755/2995-2212.1054
Available at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/social_encounters/vol4/iss2/6
DOWNLOADS
Since August 03, 2020
Included in
Ethics in Religion Commons, History Commons, History of Religions of Eastern Origins Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, International Relations Commons, Islamic Studies Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies Commons
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