THE mainstream media often glorify our heroes of independence like the Quaid-i-Azam, Allama Iqbal and Sir Syed but at the same time those who glorify them fail to remember an unsung hero, Bacha Khan.

Bacha Khan was born in Charsadda, was an epitome of unending struggle. He was the torch-bearer of a non-violent movement that he started to liberate the Indians from the British.

He was also a renowned educationist. He established Azad Schools in all of what is today known as Khyber Pakhtukhwa. Today it is taken for granted that Bacha Khan was a traitor and he was against the creation of Pakistan.

This is not true. In fact he was misunderstood. Had he been a traitor he would not have pioneered these movements. Even his son and a great Pashto poet, Khan Abdul Ghani Khan, is a forgotten hero.

It is humbly requested that we acknowledge these unsung heroes.

Mian Shiraz

Charsadda

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2019