Comrade Dr Taj

Answer zeb

I met him for the first time in Zida (Swabi). At that time I was a third-year student and an activist of Pakhtun Students Federation (Progressive). He came to meet ideological colleagues. If he did not introduce himself, there was no chance that anyone would ask about the political guest. Because Zia martial law, arrests, and warrants were commonplace, often associates were forced to hide.

Even if the name was given, it would have to be given a fake name. After greeting, I was told that the guest's name was Dr. Taj. There was a big contrast between the doctor and his appearance. Therefore, there was no special effect. After the initial introduction, a series of debates started. The friends who participated in the gathering, full of knowledge of Comrade Taj, not only listened attentively but also asked him questions, which he explained. I gave the answers. Meetings with this impressive and besieged revolutionary continued. Sometimes in Khyber Bazar located in the Peshawar office of Kisan Jirga and sometimes in Timargarh, where he practiced law with Comrade Taj, Comrade Naeem of Thana. Lived in the area.

Comrade Taj was introduced to revolutionary ideas and politics mainly in Karachi, where he did revolutionary political work with two other committed comrades, Azizul Rahman Advocate of Pakhtunkhwa, recent Mardan, and Maulana Arif of Hind. He was sent to Pakhtunkhwa to build a revolutionary party, which became a beacon for young comrades as ideal cadres.

Along with advocacy, Dr. Taj also actively participated in politics from the platform of the National Progressive Party and in social welfare works in his far-flung backward area of Maidan, which was disliked by the local Khawanin and Jamaat-e-Islami. He was martyred in broad daylight on October 3, 1983, as part of a grand conspiracy.

I still remember that at that time, a large delegation of the Democratic Students Federation used to walk up the hill from the "Maidan" market to his house to pay his Fatiha and visit his grave. On that day, his greatness was further appreciated that even in this state of poverty, he did not let the continuity of struggle in the most remote area from Karachi to Dir be broken. On that day, the truth of Mao Zedong's little pamphlet "The Old Fool Who Moved the Mountain" was revealed.

When we saw for ourselves the several kilometers long road that Dr. Taj and his colleagues had started to build in the mountain with themselves and the village workers, and which was later completed by the villagers, that day we all especially. Ali Akbar Sial, cried a lot.

After 36 years, when I look back, I miss them a lot. I want to call them comrades! Come see the class society you made a lifelong commitment to change. Did that movement and those comrades of yours fulfill that commitment after your martyrdom?