Politics of Social Reformation in NWFP (KPK) - An Estimate of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1890-1988)¡¯s Educational Philosophy

In the history of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP; renamed as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through 18th Amendment on 15 April 2010), many renowned personalities played their role for the awakening of the masses. Among them, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (alias Bacha Khan) occupies a prominent place. The history of KPK would remain incomplete without the notion of services rendered by Bacha Khan. He played his role in a dignified manner in politics, social and educational field. It is a matter of fact that continuous invasions over Pakhtuns region greatly reduced the literacy rate among Pakhtuns which resulted in backwardness of the province. Consequently intermingling of evil customs into Pakhtun society in the name of Islam became the fate of the society. They were having a little knowledge of the religion. Mullahs, the religious leaders, also did nothing for the revival of Islam and Pakhtun society. Pakhtuns were living miserably and none was ready to come forward for the revival of this society. At the same time there came Bacha Khan on the scene and he accepted the challenge of the revival of Pakhtun society. This article highlights the facts that how Bacha Khan used education as a weapon for the revival of Pakhtun society of KPK. He not only made steps to flourish education among Pakhtuns but also tried his best to refrain the Pakhtuns from believing the evil customs and their practices. This article also mentions the institutions which were established by Bacha Khan to achieve his motives.