Photo exhibition of Muslim freedom fighters concludes

Hyderabad: The works of historian Syed Naseer Ahmed on ‘Indian Muslim Freedom Fighters’ concluded in the city. Contrary to popular belief that photo exhibitions rarely attract crowds, people thronged the Bookworms Reading Room. In all 155 portraits were exhibited.

The organizers said that the exhibition was an eye opener and many who visited said that they did not know that so many Muslims contributed in the freedom movement. Dr Syed Faheem, one of the organizers said, “The youth are not aware of the contributions of hundreds of freedom fighters.”

Freedom Fighter Abadi Bano Begum (1850–1924) was one of the first Muslim women to actively take part in politics and was part of the movement to free India from the British Raj. The organizers said, “She was daring and went to the extent of saying that even dogs and cats of my country should not be in the slavery of the British’, who had later became the source of inspiration to the women of India to fight against British rule.

Ravi Kiran, a BFA student said, “There are so many who just know a few names who were part of the freedom movement. There is a need for more such exhibitions to make people aware. If there was ever a need for secularism to be promoted it is now.”