Syed Ataullah Shah Bukhari, one of the greatest orators who inspired the people towards the Indian National Movement with their fiery speeches, was born on 23 September 1892 in Patna, Bihar. His mother was Fatima and his father was Ziauddin Ahmed. His family migrated to Gujarat, which is now in Pakistan.
He learnt Persian, Arabic and Urdu languages and finished his spiritual studies there. Ataullah Shah Bukhari came to Amritsar in Punjab in 1914, where he started his career as a teacher. Since he hailed from an anti-British family, he started anti-British teachings from 1916. He entered into the National Movement in 1921 participating in the Khilafat Movement.
Ataullah Shah Bukhari got fame as an inspiring orator with his forceful lectures criticizing the imperialist nature of the British rulers and their conspiracies. This naturally irked the British Government, which used brutal force against him. He faced lathi charges and imprisonment for his role in the Indian National Movement.
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He was closely moving with Mahatma Gandhi. Ataullah Shah Bukhari traveled the entire India, appealing to people that they have to be united in the fight against the British to liberate themselves from their yoke. He campaigned for unity not only between the Hindus and Muslims but also among all the communities in the country.
Syed Ataullah Shah Bukhari started an association ‘Majlis-e-Ahrar Islam Hind’ based in Punjab in 1929 for the spiritual and social development of the Muslims. Syed Ataullah Shah Bukhari and his followers participated actively in the Civil Disobedience Movement. He was also very active in Jamaiat-ul-Ulma-e-Hind. Ataullah Shah declared that fighting for freedom was everyone’s duty.
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He strongly opposed the divisive politics of the Muslim League. He countered the campaign of the Muslim League for the division of the nation with his spiritual knowledge and inspiring lectures. Syed Ataullah Shah Bukhari returned to his native village after independence and stayed away from politics.
Ataullah confined himself to the activities of social reforms through which he worked for the empowerment of women and the spiritual, and also social development of the people. Syed Ataullah Shah Bukhari breathed his last on 21 August 1961.
