Deoband
New Delhi, Jan. 11: 2013

A commemorative postal stamp on silk letter movement (1915, 1916) launched by Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi--- a pioneer of the freedom struggle, prisoner of Malta and trainer  of thousands of freedom fights stalwarts including Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani, Maulana Mufti Kifayatullah and Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi--- was released here by the president  of India Parnab Mukharjee at Vigyan Bhawan today. Speaking on the occasion The President expressed happiness that Department of Posts has done its bit by issuing postage stamps to acknowledge contribution of various groups and movements which contributed in the overall effort to liberate India. He said “The sacrifices of individuals and groups, such as those associated with the Silk Letter Movement, constitute a glorious chapter of India’s history of freedom struggle and need to be acknowledged and appreciated.

 He said “The sacrifices of individuals associated with the Silk Letter Movement constitute a glorious chapter of India’s history of Freedom struggle and need to be acknowledged and appreciated. The stories of struggle need to be told and retold to a young generation born in a free India and enjoying the fruits of liberty, said President of India Pranab Mukherjee while releasing commemorative postal stamp on the Silk Letter Movement here on Friday.”

 “As we all know, 15th August, 1947 was the culmination of almost two hundred years of resistance, intense political activity, including fasts, marches, protests, agitations and various types of movements…The Silk Letter Movement was one such effort from a group of revolutionaries. This movement was a plan to mobilize the support of the governments of Afghanistan and Turkey in organizing a revolt within India to overthrow the British rule. Obaidullah Sindhi and Maulana Mahmood Hasan were two important leaders of this movement. In August 1916, some letters written on silk fell into British hands. It is believed that the Silk Letters confiscated by British Government contained details of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind and its plans and a comprehensive scheme of forming an army and getting the support of the Turkish Government,” said the President addressing the 60th Session of Shaikhul Hind’s Silk Letter Movement Centenary.”

The full text of the president speech is hereunder:

It is ndeed a happy occasion for me to be present here for the release of a stamp dedicated on ‘Silk Letter Movement’. As we all know, 15th August, 1947 was the culmination of almost two hundred years of resistance, intense political activity, including fasts, marches, protests, agitations and various types of movements. As we look back on the epic saga of this struggle, we are struck by the long drawn out and valiant fight put up by people from almost all walks of life without any thought towards their personal comfort and security. It was a widespread movement of multifaceted dimensions. In this movement people of various persuasions, following different ideologies, presented a multipronged resistance to foreign rule. This unique struggle was marked by a variety of approaches adopted by the people to rid the nation of the foreign domination. People who participated in the struggle belonged to various schools of thought and varied outlooks. Despite differences in their approaches and the methods of resistance to the foreign rule, they were all united in their desire to secure liberation for their motherland from yoke of colonial rule.

The Silk Letter Movement was one such effort from a group of revolutionaries. This movement was a plan to mobilize the support of the governments of Afghanistan and Turkey in organizing a revolt within India to overthrow the British rule. Obaidullah Sindhi and Maulana Mahmood Hasan were two important leaders of this movement. In August 1916, some letters written on silk fell into British hands. It is believed that the Silk Letters confiscated by British Government contained details of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind and its plans and a comprehensive scheme of forming an army and getting the support of the Turkish Government.

The sacrifices of individuals and groups, such as those associated with the Silk Letter Movement, constitute a glorious chapter of India’s history of Freedom struggle and need to be acknowledged and appreciated. The stories of struggle need to be told and retold to a young generation born in a free India and enjoying the fruits of liberty.

I am happy that the Department of Posts has done its bit in this regard. Over the years, it has issued postage stamps to acknowledge the contribution of various groups and movements which in their own ways contributed to the overall effort to liberate India. The regular India Postage Stamps were introduced in October 1854 during the tenure of Governor General Lord Dalhousie. These were red lithographed stamps of one anna and blue lithographed stamps of half anna, bearing the portrait of Queen Victoria. This symbolism of British Monarchy came to an end with India gaining independence on 15th August, 1947. It was a proud moment when the greeting “Jai Hind” figured on the first three stamps issued by free India.

I am told that since then the Department has issued more than three thousand stamps, many of them on great personalities and events which had contributed to the freedom struggle.

I compliment Shri Kapil Sibal for his endeavour to dedicate stamp on the ‘Silk Letter Movement’, as it truly reflects the multi-cultural and multi-faceted dimension of the freedom struggle. I join you all in paying tribute the efforts and contributions of this great movement.  Jai Hind!

Minister of communication, Mr. Kapil SIblal addressing a gathering during launch of a commemorative stamp in memory of freedom fighter Shaikhul Hind, Sibal said, "If we talk about history, businessmen have finished India. They came here to do business but went after ruling us." He was apparently referring to East India Company which entered India for trade and subsequently ruled the country for over 200 years. 

"Even today such businessmen are trying to come to India. We have to think over that. Even today there are forces which are trying to come to India as businessmen and to divide us," he said without elaborating. He made the comments while speaking about the life of freedom fighter Shaikhul Hind and on his role in the struggle for country's independence. Sibal's remarks came at a time when India has opened its various sectors, including multi-brand retail, for foreign investment. 

Jamiat Ulama-i Hind general secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani, also the chairman of Shaikhul Hind Educational Charitable Trust, urged Sibal to include the Silk Letter Movement in history text books so that the younger generation learns about an important facet of India's freedom movement. He thanked Sibal for appreciative role in issuing stamps on Maulana Mahmood Hasan having thwarted communal tendencies which acted hurdles in recognition of role of Muslim leaders in freedom struggle. He demanded to issue tickets on Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi and Maulana Kifayatullah and Maulana Asad Madani whose role in silk letter movement was also important.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Chief Maulana Usman Mansoorpuri spoke lengthily about the role of Obaidullah Sindhi and Maulana Mahmood Hasan, leaders of the movement, "This movement was a plan to mobilise the support of the governments of Afghanistan and Turkey in organizing a revolt within India to overthrow the British rule."

Maulana Mansoorpuri further said. “The stories of struggle need to be told and re-told to a young generation born in a free India and enjoying the fruits of liberty. He also demanded that the government enlist Maulana Mahmood Hasan in top rank of freedom stalwarts and his role be included in the text book.

Maulana Niaz Ahmad Farooqui advocate read out the message of Congress president Sonia Gandhi who expressed her happiness over the release of the postalal stamp.

Besides that, Governor of Uhtrakhand MR. Azeez Quraishi, K. Rahman Khan, Left. General Zameeruddin Shah VC Aligarh Muslim university, Najib Jung VC JMI, Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi pro VC Darul Uloom Deoband, Mufti Salman Mansoorpuri,Pundit Anand Mohan Gulzar Dehevi, Asghar Ali Engineer, Dr Syed Farooq, Wajahat Habibullah, K. Rahman Khan, Pundit N. K Sharma etc also spoke on the topic.

Besides that thousands of Ulama notable among them are Maulana Abdul Khaliq Sanbhali, Maulana Mujeebullah Gaondwi, Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi,  all across the country, foreing diplomats attended the function.

The postal stamp was released on the occasion of 60th Session of Shaikhul Hind’s Silk Letter Movement Centenary organized by Shaikhul Hind charitable trust and Universal association of Spiritual Awareness.