Khudai Khidmatgar Movement A Catalyst of Reforms and Refinements in the Pashtun Society

Abstract

The Khudai Khidmatgar Movement, also renowned in historical annals as the Servants of God, and the Red Shirt Movement, was founded by the popular Pashtun leader of the 20th century, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Bacha Khan) in the Province of North-west Frontier Province (NWFP) in November 1929. This reformist movement emerged as a transformative force within the Pashtun society, heralding a dawn of social, cultural, religious, and educational reform. According to the founding father of this movement, Bacha Khan, this organization is for the Pashtuns, by the Pashtuns and of the Pashtuns. The sheer purpose behind founding this movement was to drag the Pashtuns from the slumber of ignorance, dormancy of violence, unjust behavior towards women, using extreme version of religious teachings, following old traditions and contentions with each other’s, and guiding them towards modern education, non-violence resistance to British brutalities, equity for women in the Pashtun society, moderate and secular version of Islamic teachings, and to treat each Pashtun as his brother and comrade. That’s why every Pashtun who showed his willingness to join Khudai Khidmatgar Movement had to take this solemn oath that “As God needs no service, so I will serve him by serving his creature selflessly. I shall not use violence. I shall not use retaliation nor take any revenge. I shall treat every Pashtun as my brother and comrade.”  All in all, it was a pledge of loyalty and a commitment to non-violence, social reform, and the pursuit of justice for all, because Bacha Khan wanted such a Pashtun society where there is peace, prosperity, justice, and equity for all, irrespective of their gender, class, creed and race.