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The Department of Posts has brought out a commemorative postage stamp on late Shri Abdul Qaiyum Ansari, a nationalist leader, eminent administrator and a social reformer with a firm commitment to national integration, secularism and communal harmony. The commemorative stamp, in the denomination of rupees five, will be released by Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology tomorrow at Patna to coincide with the Birth Centenary of the great leader.
Born on 1st July, 1905, Shri Abdul Qaiyum Ansari, had his school education at his native place namely Dehri-on-Sone and Sasaram. He had his higher studies from Aligarh Muslim University, Calcutta University and Allahabad University. However his education was interrupted from time to time as he had actively involved in the struggle for the country's freedom. He was taken as prisoner at his young age of 16 by the then British regime for taking part in the anti-British Non-Cooperation and Khilafat movements. He also took part in the students agitation against the All-White Simon Commission during its visit to Calcutta in 1928.
Shri Abdul Qaiyum Ansari opposed the communal policies of the Muslim League and its demand for the creation of Pakistan by dividing India, as also its claim to represent the Muslims of India. This made him to start the Momin Movement in 1937-38 to counter the policies of the Muslim League as also for the upliftment of the backward Momin community. His party won six seats in the Bihar Provincial Assembly against the Muslim League in the general elections held in the pre-Independence era. He also condemned the Pakistani aggression on Kashmir during October, 1947. Shri Abdul Qaiyum Ansari was a champion of the poor and the downtrodden who worked for the spread of education and literacy. It was due to his hard efforts and initiatives that the Government appointed the first All India Backward Classes Commission in the year 1953.
NCJ/AMA- 300605 Abdul Qaiyum Ansari Stamp
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