Raghupati Sahay 'Firaq' Gorakhpuri Called Politicians Aulaad-e-Iblees (Offspring of Satan)
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
21 August
2023
Karan
Sangwan, an educator at Unacademy, who was terminated after encouraging
students to vote for educated candidates without naming any party, believes his
removal may have been influenced by political pressure. Unacademy stated that
the classroom is not a platform for personal opinions.
Karan
Sangwan. Photo: Legal Pathshala/YouTube
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Here, I
don't want to get into any political controversy. Let me just narrate an
incident that will put things in perspective.
Way back in
1954 at the famed Allahabad University, the irrepressible Raghupati Sahay '
Firaq' Gorakhpuri said in the classroom, "All politicians are made of the
same stuff and no one's worth-electing." He also called them "Aulaad-e-Iblees"
(offspring of Satan). Mind you, 'Firaq' was a Congressman. He was sent to jail
by the Brits and called PM Nehru and the President Rajendra Prasad by their
names.
One jealous
and overzealous professor wrote to the then Education Minister of India,
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad that ' Firaq' must be reprimanded, if not sacked for
insulting all politicians. Azad, who spent a couple of years with 'Firaq' at
Ahmednagar Jail in Maharashtra, wrote back, " 'Firaq' Sahab is fully
entitled to his views and he aptly called all politicians 'Aulaad-e-Iblees.'
I liked his phrase! "
I don't
want to say anything further. You had better infer. Hasn't time changed?
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A regular
columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative
religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the
world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism