By Nasim Yousaf
On March 19, 1940, a Khaksar march with chup raast commenced, and the resolute rhythm of Khaksar boots echoed through the streets of Lahore, driven by an unyielding drive to liberate the
nation. This march ended in a brutal massacre of Khaksars at the hands of the police. Despite popular narratives attributing independence to the constitutional efforts of M.A. Jinnah and the non-violent resistance of M.K Gandhi, the truth is more complicated. Freedom came through the sacrifice and suffering of thousands of Khaksars – from Peshawar to Burma (now Myanmar) – who were either killed, injured, beaten, jailed, or subjected to other cruelties by the British
authorities. This article explores the aftermath of the tragic event of March 19th, the suffering of Mashriqi, his family, and his followers, and the path that led to the downfall of the British Raj.
On that fateful day of March 19th, the Khaksars organized a peaceful protest parade in Lahore against restrictions that the Government had placed on their activities. In order to stop the protest, police opened fire on the unarmed Khaksars, killing over 200 of them and injuring hundreds of others (though officials publicly reported figures that were lower). Many of the martyrs and the injured were kicked and dragged with their turbans tied to their necks or feet.
The carnage was a significant event in the history of the Indian sub-continent's independence movement. The martyrs were buried in the Miani Sahib Graveyard, which has since become a site of pilgrimage for Khaksars and others. Every year on March 19, since 1940, Khaksar Martyrs' Day is solemnly observed by the Khaksar Tehrik. Speeches are made to enlighten the public, and Khaksars and others visit the graveyard to pay their respects to the martyrs.
On the same day as the massacre (March 19th), at 5:45 pm, the police and military conducted a raid on the Khaksar headquarters and the adjacent house of Mashriqi, under Section 17-A of the Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act. The raiders were callous and ignored the sanctity of Mashriqi's abode, where not only his sons but also purdah-observing females, were ferociously
treated. The police fired teargas grenades and injured Mashriqi’s son, Ehsanullah Khan Aslam.
The police arrested two of Mashriqi's sons and the Khaksars present at the Khaksar Tehrik's headquarters. They also ransacked both premises and confiscated the Khaksar Tehrik's materials.
In Lahore, a curfew was imposed, censorship on newspapers was enforced, and the army patrolled the city. At night, Mashriqi, who was in Delhi, was arrested by Senior Superintendent of Police D. Kilburn. His sons and daughters were threatened with physical harm, abduction, and even killing. Mashriqi’s family and Khaksars were also harassed by both state and non-state actors.
About the Author: Nasim Yousaf, a grandson, and biographer of Allama Mashriqi, is a researcher based in the USA.
To be Cont. in Next edition
Saturday, April 18, 2026
