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{{Short description|Muslim businessman and philanthropist from India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Abdul Habeeb Yusuf Marfani.jpg
| caption = Marfani, c. 1940s
| birth_place = Dhoraji, [[Saurashtra (state)]]
| occupation = Businessman and philanthropist
| known_for = Donation to [[Indian National Army]]
| title =
| honours = Sevak-e-Hind
}}

'''Abdul Habeeb Yusuf Marfani''' ({{Floruit|1940s}}) was a [[Gujarati Muslims|Gujarati Muslim]] businessman and philanthropist from [[Dhoraji]], [[Saurashtra (state)|Saurashtra]], who made significant contributions to the [[Indian National Army]] (INA) led by [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] during India’s struggle for independence. He is best known for donating his entire fortune, approximately ₹1 crore, to the INA in 1944, earning him the Sevak-e-Hind medal, the highest civilian honour of the [[Azad Hind]] government.

== Early life ==
Marfani was born in a [[Memon people|Memon]] family in Dhoraji, a town in Saurashtra (present-day [[Gujarat, India]]), and later settled in [[Rangoon]] (now Yangon, [[Myanmar]]), where he established himself as a successful businessman.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=14 July 2012 |title=Gujarati Muslim gave Rs 1 crore to Netaji |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarati-muslim-gave-rs-1-crore-to-netaji/articleshow/14870715.cms |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Muslims In India's Freedom Struggle |url=http://brighterkashmir.com//news/muslims-in-indias-freedom-struggle |access-date=12 August 2025 |website=Brighter Kashmir}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Prohor |title=খাকি উর্দির বদলে আজাদ হিন্দকে কোটি টাকা লিখে দেন আবদুল হাবিব ইউসুফ মারফানি - Prohor |url=https://www.prohor.in/index.php/abdul-habeeb-yusuf-marfani-donated-one-crore-rupees-to-azad-hind-fauj |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=খাকি উর্দির বদলে আজাদ হিন্দকে কোটি টাকা লিখে দেন আবদুল হাবিব ইউসুফ মারফানি - Prohor |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-08-15 |title=Gujarati couple gave up all for Netaji |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarati-couple-gave-up-all-for-netaji/articleshow/40292847.cms |access-date=2025-08-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Contribution to the Indian National Army ==
In 1944, Marfani made a historic contribution to the Indian National Army, a military organization formed by Subhas Chandra Bose to fight [[British colonial rule]]. On 9 July 1944, during a public gathering in Rangoon, Marfani donated his entire fortune, estimated at ₹1 crore, which included cash, jewelry, and property deeds.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Abhijit Sen |date=22 January 2024 |title=Spirit of Freedom: Habeeb Yusuf Marfani donated everything he had to Netaji’s INA |url=https://www.siasat.com/spirit-of-freedom-habeeb-yusuf-marfani-donated-everything-he-had-to-netajis-ina-2961699/ |access-date=12 August 2025 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Head of State |url=https://www.netajisubhasbose.org/supreme-commander |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=netajisubhasbose |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=2022-10-08 |title=Netaji Bose and His Rangoon stay at Manilal Nautamlal Mehtas home. |url=https://nautamlalmehta.com/netaji-bose-and-his-rangoon-stay-at-manilal-nautamlal-mehtas-home/ |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=Nautamlal Mehta |language=en-US}}</ref>

The donated amount is worth equivalent to INR 800 cr in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gulbargavi |first=Talha Hussain |date=1 September 2022 |title=Remembering Muslim Heroes Of Indian National Army |url=https://thecognate.com/remembering-muslim-heroes-of-indian-national-army/ |work=The Cognate}}</ref>

This donation was one of the largest individual contributions to the INA, significantly bolstering its resources for the armed struggle against British forces.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Nag |first=Kingshuk |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Netaji_Living_Dangerously.html?id=duHwCgAAQBAJ |title=Netaji: Living Dangerously |date=18 November 2015 |publisher=AuthorsUpFront {{!}} Paranjoy |isbn=978-93-84439-70-5 |language=en}}</ref>

He was the first donor to the [[Azad Hind Bank]], he also convinced other [[Gujarati people|Gujaratis]] in [[Myanmar|Burma]] to donate to [[Azad Hind]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rattibha |url=https://en.rattibha.com/thread/1558864468834385920 |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=en.rattibha.com}}</ref>

Marfani’s act of generosity inspired others to contribute to the INA, and Subhas Chandra Bose personally acknowledged his sacrifice, reportedly stating, "India will never forget you."<ref name=":1" />

In recognition of his contribution, Marfani was awarded the '''Tamgha-e-Sevak-e-Hind''' (Sevak-e-Hind medal), the first recipient of this prestigious civilian honor instituted by the Azad Hind Sarkar, the provisional government established by Bose.<ref name=":0" />

Following his donation, Marfani expressed his desire to join the INA as a soldier, but Bose advised him to continue his civilian support, recognizing his greater value as a philanthropist.<ref name=":1" />

== Legacy ==
Marfani’s contribution is noted in historical accounts of the INA, with historians such as Yunus Chitalwala and Raj Mal Kasliwal documenting his role in their works.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

His donation is regarded as a pivotal moment in mobilising financial support for the INA among the [[Indian diaspora]] in [[Southeast Asia]].<ref name=":2" />

Despite his significant contribution, Marfani remains a relatively unsung figure in the [[Indian independence movement]]. Recent efforts, including articles in Indian media and advocacy groups have called for posthumous recognition, such as the [[Bharat Ratna]], India’s highest civilian award.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muslim soldiers of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose |url=https://www.awazthevoice.in/heritage-news/muslim-soldiers-of-netaji-subhash-chandra-bose-9129.html |access-date=12 August 2025 |website=www.awazthevoice.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desai |first=Dr Hari |title=Posthumous Injustice to Memon Abdul Habib |url=https://www.haridesai.com/2022/01/posthumous-injustice-to-memon-abdul.html |access-date=12 August 2025 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desai |first=Dr Hari |title=Habeeb Saheb should be honoured properly in Gujarat for his magnanimity |url=https://www.haridesai.com/2022/01/habeeb-saheb-should-be-honoured.html |access-date=2025-08-13 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Currently, the Memon family resides in [[Myanmar]]. As a result, Yakub Memon, the grandson of Abdul Habeeb Yusuf Marfani, was honored by the [[Government of India]] in [[New Delhi]] for his ancestor's contributions to the [[Indian independence movement]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-20 |title=वे स्वतंत्रता सेनानी जिन्हें भुला दिया गया- 40, अब्दुल हबीब युसूफ मर्फानी मेमन |url=https://watansamachar.com/The-freedom-fighters-who-were-forgotten---40-Abdul-Habib-Yusuf-Marfani-Memon |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=Watan Samachar}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{YouTube|id=OJbG781ABw0|title=A video on Marfani's life}}
[[Category:Indian National Army]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists]]
[[Category:Gujarati Muslims]]
[[Category:People from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Recipients of Indian civil awards and decorations]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople]]

Abdul Habeeb Yusuf Marfani - Revision history

Republic Bangla at 09:58, 13 August 2025