In 1957, Allama Mashriqi organized a million-man march to India for the liberation of Kashmir. The Pakistani Government made every possible effort to stop this march, including arresting Mashriqi, inflicting violence on Mashriqi's followers and throwing them in jail. Despite the Government's efforts, a huge number of Khaksars gathered. An Indian newspaper, "The Hindu” (August 29, 1963), wrote: “He [Allama Mashriqi] led 3,00,000 [300,000] followers to the border of Pakistan and India . . .” London newspaper “The Times” (August 29, 1963) also reported: “in 1957 he [Mashriqi] led 300,000 followers” in order to seek Kashmir’s freedom.
This rare and historic video shows glimpses of Allama Mashriqi (with cap and beard, appearing at slightly past the half-way mark in the video), and also the Khaksars arriving at the Khaksar Camp where they were gathering to march to India. Though the quality of the video is very poor, the Allama and the Khaksar assembly can be seen.
Mashriqi was the most educated politician of his time, yet he maintained a lifestyle that was no more than that of a common man. That's the type of leadership the region needs today.
