The first war of Independence in 1857 and Role of Muslims
(Clarification; The first war of independence was fought together by Hindus and Muslims. Both have an equal Role. But the Muslim Freedom fighters like Begum Hazrat Mahal, Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah,Azeemullah Khan, Bakht Khan and others is not being acknowledged in History by proportion.Our younger generation is not knowing the Muslim Freedom fighters. So it is an attempt to tell the truth and to acknowledge the heroes who sacrificed their life for our Beloved India)
After Teepu, Muslims laid down their lives in the struggle started in 1857, famous as the First War of India's Independence under the leadership of the Mughal emperor Bahadur Sha Jaffar.
In this struggle the courageous role played by Begum Hazarat Mahal of Oudh is laudable. She fought the foreign rulers, challenged them and offered stiff resistance for a period of 14 months, declaring her child as ruler of the Oudh. She inspired the native rulers and ruled her state in the time of crisis. It is remarkable to notice thast I n those days the so-called developed countries like England did not have women in military. But here in India, we find women in patriotic military force with proper training, under the leadership of Begum Azizun, a woman of just 25 years old. She fought on the side of Nana Saheb. Azizun sacrificed her life for the sake of motherland. She preferred death to surrendering to the enemy.
There were other courageous women like Habeeba Begum and a women donned in green dress, who fought violently for the motherland and courted the gallows without any fear. Begum Rahima bravely fought the enemy forces. Asgari Begum was barbarically burnt alive for not disclosing the secrets of revolutionaries.
Moulvi Ahamadulla Sha Fyzabadi marched forward victoriously and inflicted such heavy losses on the British that they announced a reward of Rs. 50,000-00 for his head. The Raja of Powain betrayed and he was shot him to death, and his head was cut off and sent to the British lords, to get the reward. Only after seeing the head of Ahamadull Sha, the British officers with a sigh of relief declared that the most formidable enemy of the British in northern India was dead.
Azimulla Khan, brain behind the revolt, who was the vakeel of Nana Saheb of Kanpur, wrote several letters to the native rulers and public infusing in them patriotic zeal.. Thus there is a long list of Muslim patriots who bravely fought the British.
The list, among the others, includes Moulana Liyakhat Ali Khan, Hikmatulla Khan, Kahn Bahddur Khan, who became a symbol of Hindu- Muslim unity. Mahammad Bhakth Khan, the military general of the first war of India's independence, Bakshi Ali, who inspired Jhansi ki Rani to revolt, Shehajada Feroz Sha several others.
Several fatwas were issued by the ulema to wage a war against the British, which stirred the whole community to fulfill the obligations enjoined on it. Moulvi Fazle Haq and Moulana Sarfrz Ali who wielded enormous influence upon the people closely aligned themselves with the revolt. Haji Imadadullah gave stiff resistance fight to the British while commanding the Mujahids in the plains of Shamili.
In UP, Moulana Qasim Nanutvi and Moulana Rasheed Ahamed Gangohi (Founders of Darul Uloom Deoband) led the rebellious forces during the uprisings. Thus Ulema, along with others, made it obligatory upon the Muslims to wage a holy war against the British. In Southern India several patriots unfurled the flag of revolt at the cost of their lives. A rebel by name cannon blew up Subedar Ahmed and several of his men were shot dead in Vishakapatnam. Pathan Turrebaz Khan, Moulvi Allauddin etc. attacked the British residency at Hyderabad. Turrebaz Khan was hanged publicly and Allauddin was sent to Andaman. The list containing the names of such legendary heroes is very long.
In this struggle the courageous role played by Begum Hazarat Mahal of Oudh is laudable. She fought the foreign rulers, challenged them and offered stiff resistance for a period of 14 months, declaring her child as ruler of the Oudh. She inspired the native rulers and ruled her state in the time of crisis. It is remarkable to notice thast I n those days the so-called developed countries like England did not have women in military. But here in India, we find women in patriotic military force with proper training, under the leadership of Begum Azizun, a woman of just 25 years old. She fought on the side of Nana Saheb. Azizun sacrificed her life for the sake of motherland. She preferred death to surrendering to the enemy.
There were other courageous women like Habeeba Begum and a women donned in green dress, who fought violently for the motherland and courted the gallows without any fear. Begum Rahima bravely fought the enemy forces. Asgari Begum was barbarically burnt alive for not disclosing the secrets of revolutionaries.
Moulvi Ahamadulla Sha Fyzabadi marched forward victoriously and inflicted such heavy losses on the British that they announced a reward of Rs. 50,000-00 for his head. The Raja of Powain betrayed and he was shot him to death, and his head was cut off and sent to the British lords, to get the reward. Only after seeing the head of Ahamadull Sha, the British officers with a sigh of relief declared that the most formidable enemy of the British in northern India was dead.
Azimulla Khan, brain behind the revolt, who was the vakeel of Nana Saheb of Kanpur, wrote several letters to the native rulers and public infusing in them patriotic zeal.. Thus there is a long list of Muslim patriots who bravely fought the British.
The list, among the others, includes Moulana Liyakhat Ali Khan, Hikmatulla Khan, Kahn Bahddur Khan, who became a symbol of Hindu- Muslim unity. Mahammad Bhakth Khan, the military general of the first war of India's independence, Bakshi Ali, who inspired Jhansi ki Rani to revolt, Shehajada Feroz Sha several others.
Several fatwas were issued by the ulema to wage a war against the British, which stirred the whole community to fulfill the obligations enjoined on it. Moulvi Fazle Haq and Moulana Sarfrz Ali who wielded enormous influence upon the people closely aligned themselves with the revolt. Haji Imadadullah gave stiff resistance fight to the British while commanding the Mujahids in the plains of Shamili.
In UP, Moulana Qasim Nanutvi and Moulana Rasheed Ahamed Gangohi (Founders of Darul Uloom Deoband) led the rebellious forces during the uprisings. Thus Ulema, along with others, made it obligatory upon the Muslims to wage a holy war against the British. In Southern India several patriots unfurled the flag of revolt at the cost of their lives. A rebel by name cannon blew up Subedar Ahmed and several of his men were shot dead in Vishakapatnam. Pathan Turrebaz Khan, Moulvi Allauddin etc. attacked the British residency at Hyderabad. Turrebaz Khan was hanged publicly and Allauddin was sent to Andaman. The list containing the names of such legendary heroes is very long.
Taken from
Retrieving the Forgotten History :
ROLE OF MUSLIMS IN INDIA'S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE 187-214http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/toc/fy1002/2008324065.html
Written by
Syed Naseer Ahamed
(A historian and author of Several Books)
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