Mohammed Ismail

MOHAMMED ISMAIL

Date of Birth: 1892 and Date of Death: 19^th November, 1948

            Mohammed Ismail, who became synonymous with Khadi Movement in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi, was born in 1892 in Nakirekal, Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.  His father was Mastan Saheb and mother Khulsum Bibi.  He was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi since his childhood and was attracted towards the Indian Freedom Movement.  Mohammed Ismail voluntarily took up the propaganda for and sale of Khadi in response to the call given by Mahatma Gandhi.  He participated in the freedom movement along with his childhood friend Velpula Gangaiah.  As he was inspired by the call of Mahatma for the Grama Swarajya, he campaigned for the use and production of Khadi among the people.  He started the first Khadi store in Tenali in 1926 and ran it without motive, but for the special cause of the National Movement.  He brought cotton, charkha and other material for spinning yarn and made them available to the people who were interested in the Khadi Movement.  Khaddar Ismail travelled extensively in rural areas encouraging the people to go for Khadi production and cottage industries.  Khadi store of Ismail the prime centre for the freedom fighter in Tenali for their secret meetings and activities.  Thus, Mohammed Ismail became famous as ‘Khaddar Ismail’ among the freedom fighters.  Ismail and his wife Hajira Bibi Khadi till, they breathed their last.  Though the fellow Muslims, who were under the influence of the All India Muslim League, boycotted him, he never distanced himself from the Nationalist Movement and consistently participated in it without any fear.  Mohammed Ismail was sentenced for 18 months of imprisonment for his active participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement.  During the freedom struggle, he spent in all about six years in prison.  Some of the fellow Muslims, who were under the influence of the Muslim League, had warned him to give up Congress Politics.  He did not heed for such warnings and continued his mission, keeping himself above the communal politics.  Such of his attitude irked the communal forces, who posed threat to his life and family.  Ismail totally dedicated himself to the cause of secularism apart from freedom struggle.  While he was in the Vellore jail he suffered from jaundice.  After some time he was released as his illness became very severe.  Mohammed Ismail could not recover from jaundice and succumbed to it in independent India on 19^th November, 1948.