9

Jun

From Advocate to Mahatma: Gandhi’s Profound Connection with Deoband

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Mansooruddin Fareedi

New Delhi | Monday | 9 June 2025

Every year on January 30 and October 2, India and the world commemorate the death and birth anniversaries of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi—reverently known as Mahatma Gandhi. However, we forget a very important date in his life. It is June 7 in the year 1893 when he was thrown out of the first class of a train despite having a valid ticket because the colour of his skin was black. This event in South Africa let a deep impact of the young lawyer’s mind and started the process which eventually made him Mahatma Gandhi instead of Advocate M.K. Gandhi.

 Born in Gujarat in 1869, Gandhi became the face of India’s non-violent struggle for independence and emerged as a global icon for peace and civil rights. While much has been written about his political activism and philosophy of Satyagraha, one lesser-known yet deeply significant chapter of his life is his connection with Deoband and the scholars of Darul Uloom Deoband, a hub of anti-colonial resistance in British India.

Gandhi and the Legacy of Deoband

The town of Deoband in Uttar Pradesh holds a crucial place in India’s freedom struggle. It was here that a powerful resistance against British colonialism took shape following the 1857 uprising. In 1866, Darul Uloom Deoband, India’s largest Islamic seminary, was established with a vision to combine religious scholarship with political awakening. This institution became a center of nationalist fervor and contributed significantly to the anti-British movement.

Gandhi’s engagement with Deoband was not merely symbolic—it was strategic and spiritual. He found allies among its scholars, who, like him, were deeply committed to India's liberation. It was within this setting that Gandhi was first honored with the title “Mahatma,” a turning point in how the nation and the world came to perceive him.

 

Article at a Glance
Every year, India commemorates Mahatma Gandhi's birth and death anniversaries, but a pivotal moment often overlooked is June 7, 1893, when he was ejected from a train in South Africa due to his skin color. This incident profoundly influenced his transformation from Advocate M.K. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's non-violent independence movement. A significant yet lesser-known aspect of his journey is his connection with Deoband, home to the Darul Uloom seminary, which became a center for anti-colonial resistance. Gandhi was honored with the title "Mahatma" by Maulana Mahmood Hasan, a key figure in the freedom struggle. Their alliance was instrumental during movements like the Non-Cooperation Movement, showcasing a shared vision for India's liberation. This collaboration bridged cultural divides and emphasized moral discipline and communal harmony, highlighting the essential role of Deoband scholars in India's fight for independence.

The Title “Mahatma” and Sheikh-ul-Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan

The man who first conferred the title "Mahatma" upon Gandhi was Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi, a towering figure in India’s freedom struggle and the pioneer of the Silk Letter Movement. During a convention in Mumbai, Maulana Mahmood Hasan publicly praised Gandhi's moral integrity and non-violent leadership, stating:

"Now a man like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who is a ‘Mahatma’ through his thoughts and actions, has joined our movement."

This moment marked a pivotal recognition of Gandhi’s role in India’s fight for independence, particularly among the Muslim community and Deobandi circles. Though Gandhi never visited the seminary itself, he did visit the town of Deoband and nearby villages, including Kheda Mughal, further cementing his bond with the region and its people.

Deoband’s Support for the Non-Cooperation Movement

The alliance between Gandhi and Deoband was visible during key national campaigns. The Non-Cooperation Movement, launched in 1920, saw massive participation from Deobandi scholars and the general populace. Deoband’s opposition to British-imposed taxes on essentials like salt, water, and even grass, resonated strongly with Gandhi’s principles.

In 1929, Gandhi visited Deoband on the invitation of freedom fighter Kanhaiya Lal Mishra Prabhakar. Kasturba Gandhi accompanied him. The visit drew thousands, reflecting the widespread support Gandhi commanded among diverse communities. During his address, local women demonstrated profound solidarity by removing their jewelry and donating it to the cause. A sum of ₹1,500, a considerable amount at the time, was also presented to him. Gandhi was deeply moved by this outpouring of support and acknowledged it in his publications such as Young India and Jan Jeevan.

Kheda Mughal: A Village Visit that Sparked a Movement

Another significant yet often overlooked episode in Gandhi’s journey was his visit to Kheda Mughal, a historic village in the Deoband sub-district. During the height of the Non-Cooperation Movement, Gandhi chose this location to rally public sentiment. In 1946, a joint meeting was held in the village, where Gandhi was joined by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The gathering attracted a large audience comprising Hindus, Muslims, and people from all walks of life, united in their desire to see India free from colonial rule.

In his speech, Gandhi called for a mass awakening and urged the villagers to take the movement into their own hands. This event served as a catalyst, energizing the freedom movement across the region. Local resistance efforts grew stronger, and the area became an active front in the nationwide campaign against British rule.

A Shared Vision for India

The collaboration between Gandhi and Deoband was based not only on a shared opposition to British colonialism but also on a deeper philosophical alignment. Both emphasized moral discipline, education, communal harmony, and national unity. While Gandhi’s Satyagraha focused on non-violent resistance rooted in truth and ethical conduct, the Deobandi movement promoted social reform, national consciousness, and anti-imperial activism through religious and educational channels.

Gandhi recognized and valued the commitment of Islamic scholars in the freedom struggle. In turn, the Deobandi leadership acknowledged his sincerity and accepted his leadership despite religious differences—a testament to the inclusive spirit of India’s independence movement.

Conclusion

Mahatma Gandhi’s journey from a barrister in South Africa to the revered “Father of the Nation” was shaped by numerous encounters and influences. Among the most impactful was his relationship with Deoband and its scholarly community. This bond bridged cultural and religious divides, reinforcing a united front against colonial rule.

The title “Mahatma” bestowed by Maulana Mahmood Hasan was more than a name—it symbolized a spiritual endorsement of Gandhi’s ideals by one of the country’s most respected Islamic scholars. Deoband’s participation in Gandhi-led movements, and the mutual respect shared between these two powerful forces, reveal a lesser-known but profoundly important narrative in India’s struggle for freedom.

On Gandhi Jayanti, as we remember the legacy of the Mahatma, it is also worth honoring the contributions of Deoband and its scholars—who stood not behind, : but beside him, in the fight for a free and united India.

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