park S Special Booklet, April 2019 ROLE OF MUSLIMS IN ANTI‐BRITISH FREEDOM STRUGGLES

topmost and the bottommost layers of this pyramid of Throughout mainstream Indian historiography, we hierarchical exploitation. The concept of private observe a trend of considering Muslims as foreign ownership of land was strengthened by declaring the invaders and betrayers of freedom struggle against zamindars as the owners of land and entrusting them the British. The reasons are mainly twofold. Firstly, the credit task of looting the poor mass (mostly peasants and goes to the colonial influence in interpreting Indian artisans) indiscriminately and handing over a fixed history, due to which even historians like Dr. Jadunath amount from it to the British as tax. In 1765‐66, i.e. in the Sarkar and Dr. R. C. Mazumdar considered Muslims as first year of tax collection by the BEIC, it collected a tax of separate cultural entity and served the cause of the Rs. 220 lakhs which was nearly the double of the previous British imperialism in dividing people based on their year’s figure [1]. The lives of these poor people were religion. Secondly, the post‐independence ruling class of totally ruined in this new exploitative structure, which India realized that an honest retrospect of Muslim’s soon caused the devastating famine of 1769‐73. contribution in national freedom struggle would definitely Nearly 10 million people of Bengal and starved to bring forth several anti‐British armed struggles, which in death. According to the nineteenth century Scottish turn would expose their real class‐characteristics. That is historian W. W. Hunter – “The husbandmen sold their why even the Congress discusses only that much of cattle; they sold their implements of agriculture; they Muslims’ contribution in Indian freedom struggle which devoured their seed‐grain; they sold their sons and satisfy their own agenda of showcasing themselves as the daughters, till at length no buyer of children could be guardian of India’s secular fabric. Such perception grossly found; they ate the leaves of trees and the grass of the undermines the role of Muslims in anti‐British struggles, field; and in June 1770 the Resident at the Durbar mostly armed peasant and mass struggles that predate affirmed that the living were feeding on the dead” [2]. the birth of the Congress even by more than a century. Warren Hastings (the Governor General of British India from 1773‐1785) shamelessly announced in a letter THE SANNYASI‐FAKIR REBELLION: 1763‐1800 written to the Directors of the Company that – “… After winning the Battle of Buxar in 1764, the British withstanding the loss of at‐least one‐third of the East India Company (BEIC) gained the revenue collection inhabitants of the Province, and the consequent decrease rights (diwani) of Bengal, Bihar and Odissa, and started of the Cultivation, the net collections of the year 1771 devastating loot in these areas. In fact, the indiscriminate exceeded even those of 1768 …” [2]. loot and plunder of the BEIC started since 1757, when Only two ways were there in front of the peasant they treacherously won the Battle of Plassey. Taking mass of Bengal and Bihar, i.e., either succumbed to death advantage of the decaying Mughal rule, the BEIC started or revolt against the tyranny. They chose the second path. the process of dismantling the old village‐economy. A chain of armed peasant uprisings broke out in the Earlier, tax was collected from village society. However, period of 1763‐1800. These uprisings are popularly and after 1764, the BEIC started the more repressive system collectively known as Sannyasi‐Fakir revolt, due to the of tax collection from individual peasants and that also in participation of different such Hindu and Muslim religious the form of currency in place of crops. For smooth sects in this revolt. However, in reality, three different functioning of this tax collection system, several layers of forces gathered together in these uprisings such as – 1) exploiters such as nazims, zamindars, talukdars, and most the peasants and the artisans of Bengal and Bihar, 2) the importantly the blood‐sucking money‐lenders were scattered and unemployed armies of decaying Mughal created in between the BEIC and the peasants, i.e., the Emperor, and 3) sannyasis and fakirs, who were

Spark│Special Booklet│April 2019│Page 1 permanently settled in Bengal and Bihar as peasants and went to Assam, where they were defeated in an armed artisans, and were furious against the intervention of conflict with the British army. During the last phase of the British rulers on their religious matters (such as imposing revolt (1793‐1800), Sovan Ali and his associates tax) [1]. Most of the brave leaders and organizers of this attempted multiple uprisings in North Bengal, but finally revolt, some of whom even sacrificed their lives in armed they could not achieve any further success in front of the confrontations with the British forces, were Muslims by ruthless crack‐down of the British army [1,3]. religion. For example – Majnu Shah, Musa Shah, Feragul Warren Hastings referred this revolt as mere Shah, Cherag Ali, Nurul Mohammed, Ramjani Shah, Jahuri incidents of banditry perpetrated by some ‘vagabonds of Shah, Sovan Ali, Amudi Shah, Neagu Shah, Budhu Shah, Hindustan’. Following the master’s path, the Indian ruling Iman Shah etc. Along with them, several non‐Muslim class also tried to deny this revolt as peasants’ armed leaders such as Bhabani Pathak, Debi Choudhurani, uprisings, and thus, denied the significant role of Muslims Ramananda Gosai, Hajari Singh, Fatik Barua etc. also in such real freedom struggle. Bankim Chandra’s novels contributed notably in this revolt [1,3]. Throughout these ‘Anandamath’ (1882) and ‘Debi Chaudhurany’ (1884), four decades, in various places of Bengal (Dinajpur, created in the backdrop of this revolt, added further Bogura, Jalpaiguri, Rangpur) and Bihar (Sarengi, Purnia), Hindu religious and nationalistic sentiments to cover up the rebel army groups attacked numerous British Kuthis the real class‐struggle between two antagonistic classes. and local zamindars, looted their wealth, which was actually produced by the peasants and artisans. Even they THE SO‐CALLED ‘WAHHABI’ INFLUENCE: 1820‐1870 bravely fought with the armed British forces. Religion was not at all an issue in this prolonged revolt where peasants The last half of the eighteenth century witnessed and artisans, irrespective of their religions and sects, several experiments in land settlement and revenue jointly fought against the tremendous exploitation of collection system. These experiments took the final shape feudal zamindars and the in an agreement between British imperialist. the Company and the Bengali landlords – The role of Majnu popularly known as Shah in this series of Permanent Settlement of armed conflicts was 1793. According to this particularly significant. He settlement, the was an efficient organizer zamindars were and a commander‐in‐ recognized as the chief with remarkable permanent and military ability. Under his hereditary owners of the leadership, the rebel land and they were also peasants defeated the allowed to sell and joint force of Captain purchase lands. However, Mackenzi and the zamindars were Commander Lt. Keith in a supposed to pay 89% of battle at Morang, near the annual revenue to the the border on British and were December 1769. Commander Keith died in this battle [4]. permitted to enjoy the rest 11% of the revenue as their In February 1771, Majnu Shah eluded the army of Lt. share. Failure to pay the revenue would allow the Taylor and entrenched his fortress in Mahasthangarh, Company to sell the land to the highest bidder. Again, the from where he later slipped to Bihar to organize peasants tax demand of Company was inflexible and the officials and artisans there [1,3]. In another heroic fight on 14th were not even ready to consider extreme situations such November 1776, he and his peasant army snatched as drought, flood or other natural disasters. As a result, victory. In this battle, hundreds of Englishmen died and many zamindars immediately started losing their Commander Lt. Robertson was badly injured [5]. It was ownership over lands, which by then became their private true that sometimes lack of unity emerged among properties and a way to their own survival with lavish different groups of sannyasi and fakir peasants. However, lifestyle. Thus, in order to save lands, the zamindars Majnu Shah tried his best to create a united struggle started tremendous torture on the peasant mass or the against the British and always re‐organized the groups ‘ryots’. Moreover, to guarantee the revenue, with the when they faced severe setbacks. Majnu Shah – the most influence from the British officials, they gradually inclined heroic figure of this revolt died in 1786, due to severe towards cultivating cash crops such as cotton, indigo, injury in a battle with Lt. Brenan’s army in Mungra village opium (which was under direct control of the British) of Bagura district [6]. After his death, his brother and rather than rice and wheat. This was a cause of many of disciple Musa Shah led the struggle, but the overall th the worst famines of the 19 century. Many zamindars, impact of the revolt got reduced. Bhabani Pathak and whose conditions were comparatively stable, moved to Debi Choudhurani’s heroic struggle in 1787 was also aided the city of Calcutta and started new businesses with the by Majnu Shah’s other disciples Feragul Shah and Cherag British partners. They entrusted the duty of tax collection Ali. Another group led by Ramjani Shah and Zahuri Shah to the intermediate oppressive machineries,who were

Spark│Special Booklet│April 2019│Page 2 only interested in increasing their share of profit from the [3]. However, soon he realized that without defeating the tax collection and thus unleashed inhumane oppression Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh and liberating the oppressed on the poor peasant mass. Muslim peasantry of Sindh he cannot proceed further. Thus, he arrived in Peshawar valley in 1826, along with his This changed scenario under the aegis of Permanent one thousand followers, and tried to organize the local Settlement, along with the regular brutal torture of the Pashtun tribes. In December 1826, he and his followers British indigo planters, put forth the question of mere clashed with Sikh army at Akora. However, the result was survival in front of the poor peasants. Within two decades not decisive. With his consistent efforts of ‘jihad’, Syed they broke out in several armed uprisings against the Ahmad and his army finally captured Peshawar in 1830, zamindars, mahajans, indigo planters and the backbone but in the battle of Balakot against the Sikhs (1831), he of the British armed forces (in short – the exploiting was killed and beheaded. His numerous followers also classes). These uprisings, led by Muslim leaders such as lost their lives in this battle. Syed Ahmad Barlevi (1786‐1831), Mir Nisar Ali (1782‐ 1831), Haji Shariatulla (1781‐1840) and his son Dudu After the death of Syed Ahmad Barlevi, the Miyan (1819‐1862), covered a span of half‐century, i.e., movement faced a temporary setback, until it found its from 1820‐70. These leaders, during their haj in Mecca, new leadership in Ali brothers (Enayet Ali and Wilayet Ali) got influenced by ‘Wahhabism’ – an Islamic doctrine of the Sadiquepur family of Patna [8]. Both of them were preached by Muhammad ibn Abd al‐Wahhab, who was a disciples of Syed Ahmad, who entrusted them to look religious leader from Najd in central Arabia. That is why after their activities in Patna. The unfinished movement many scholars consider these uprisings as “Wahhabi of Syed Ahmad gained fresh momentum under the secret movements in India”. However, such gross generalization and subversive anti‐British activities of Enayet Ali, Wilayet is questionable. The negative propaganda surrounding Ali, Keramat Ali, Zainuddin and many others. Throughout this doctrine of ‘Wahhabism’, created by the imperialist the eastern‐most districts of Sylhet, Tripura and various powers influenced and still influences many historians in other districts of Bengal and cities like Patna, , portraying these uprisings as religious wars, undermining Kanpur, Delhi, Thaneswar, Ambala, Amritsar, Jhelum, their intrinsic anti‐imperialist and anti‐feudal spirits. It is Rawalpindi, Attock, and Peshawar, active centers were true that the movements were started with religious established by them [3]. In Hyderabad, Mubarijuddaulah reforms, which were against the interest of the exploiting – the brother of the nawab, conspired to wage war classes, and thus, immediately faced the wrath of local against the British Empire. In 1839‐40, he was arrested, zamindars. However, very soon the exploited peasants, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment. He died in the irrespective of their religion, joined these movements in Golkonda fort as a martyr. After the Anglo‐Sikh wars huge numbers and turned these into united armed (1845‐46, 1848‐49), Wilayet Ali acted as the struggles against the repression of the exploiting classes. unquestionable leader of the movement in NWFP when the whole of Punjab went to the direct control of the Syed Ahmad Barlevi, a revolutionary leader from British rule. After his death, Enayet Ali took charge in Raebareli, was the first person “to realize the necessity of 1852 and with Keramat Ali he attempted to invade British a movement which was at the same time religious, territory in NWFP on the eve of the great 1857 uprising. military and political” [7]. To achieve this he quickly Even during this great revolt, in many places, “the local created efficient leaders, a proper organization, and a leadership came invariably from the wahhabis” [3]. They safe territory in North‐West Frontier Province (NWFP) provided local leadership at many places such as Delhi, from where he attempted to launch his jiihad against the Agra, Hyderabad, and Patna. From 1850 to 1857, the British rule. He had a countrywide organization with British tried to capture Sithana 16 times and deployed strong bases at Sithana in the North‐Western tribal belt 35,000 troops along with NWFP border but failed each and at Patna in Bihar. He appointed local chiefs, also time. After 1863, the impact of this movement got known as khalifas, each of whom was assisted by a reduced due to heavy crackdown of the British forces. The committee of counselors, a minister of war, finance etc. period of 1863‐65, witnessed a series of trials by which all

Spark│Special Booklet│April 2019│Page 3 the principal leaders of the movement were arrested. In into a socio‐economic struggle on the side of rural poor, all the subsequent trials such as Ambala trial (1864), both Hindus and Muslims. Within no time, Titumir and his Patna trial (1865), Maldah trial (1870), Rajmahal trial followers faced the rage of local zamindar Krishna Dev (1870), and wahabi trial (1870‐71), the main charge Roy in various means. The shameless Hindu zamindar against the rebels was “to conspire and wage war against even started the infamous ‘beard‐tax’ to curb the the queen empress” [3]. Ishree Prasad, an intelligence influence of wahhabi Muslims who were used to keep officer expert in tackling wahhabis, reported that even beard as their religious edict. Naturally, this angered the after the trials the revolutionaries tried to reorganize local Muslim peasantry. Initially, Titumir legally tried to revolts in Bhopal, Patna, Rangoon, and Shahabad, and get administrative intervention against these events. also tried to sow disaffection amongst the fauj and However, he did not get any positive response, rather, government officials as late as 1881 [9]. Even famous the torture against his peasant followers increased. Thus, revolutionaries such as Bipinchandra Pal and Sri Trailokya finally he took direct measures such as armed uprising Chakraborty admitted the influence of these uprisings on against the local zamindar and mahajans. To protect the their anti‐British activities in early twentieth century. Sri peasants from indiscriminate torture of indigo planters, Trailokya Chakraborty, who got in touch with the wahhabi he also attacked and looted several Neel‐Kuthis. Even he rebels in Andaman’s Cellular Jail, stated – “the wahhabi did not spare rich Muslims who tried to obstruct this revolutionary brothers gave us practical lessons of uprising. Gradually the reactionary exploiting classes unbending audacity and unflexible will and also advice to joined hands to suppress it. However, fearless Titumir learn from their mistakes” [3]. Thus, the anti‐imperialist built a bamboo fort (famously known as Bansher Kella in spirit of this movement is evident. Bengali) in the village of Narkelberia, and formed a militia with peasant youths, belonging to both Hindu and Muslim However, it is unfortunate that a prolonged armed communities, to confront the ensuing attacks. A anti‐British struggle like this never received the attention detachment of Calcutta that it deserves. Rather it militia was defeated twice became a victim of false by Titumir’s army. sectarian propaganda. Realizing the growing Those who want to view power of this peasant this struggle under the uprising, the British India leadership of Syed Ahmad then sent a detachment Barlevi and his followers consisting of ten with religious bias, they regiments of native must note that “such a infantry, a troop of horse widespread movement artillery with few guns could not have been and two cannons. Finally, sustained for long after a heroic fight with without the active the British detachment at support of wider non‐ Narkelberia, Titumir died wahabi masses” [8]. Even on 19th November 1831. historian W. W. Hunter British cannons destroyed admitted the “admirable the historic bamboo fort. Titumir’s Commander Golum sagacity” of this widely spread struggles. According to him Masum and 350 followers were imprisoned. Masum died – “Indeed the working of the scheme had been planned at gallows and the others were sentenced to with great ingenuity; the genuine and bonafide work was transportation for life. Titumir and his heroic contribution so cunningly mixed with the antigovernment activity that in India’s freedom struggle are still remembered in it was very difficult for the authorities to determine the Bengali ballads and folk songs [1,3]. two” [8]. It is unfortunate that the experts of mainstream Indian historiography do not realize this. Their responses Another unsung hero Hazi Shariatulla from village towards the contemporary movements under the Bahadurpur in Faridpur district of the then undivided leadership of Mir Nisar Ali, Haji Shariatulla and his son Bengal province (now in Bangladesh) started the farazia Dudu Miyan were also the same. Till date, consistent movement in 1820s. During his extensive tour in the attempts are made by the ruling class to discredit these remote villages of East Bengal, vast masses of oppressed remarkable armed class struggles between the oppressed peasantry were attracted to his appeal of Islamic justice peasant mass and the exploitative classes (zamindars, and equality to all. His simple life and his dedication to mahajans, indigo planters and the British forces). the cause of the oppressed made him the beloved idol of the poor “who looked upon him as their father” [3]. Due When Syed Ahmad Barlevi and his brave followers to his growing popularity, both Hindu and Muslim were fighting Sikh troops in Peshawar as a precursor of oppressive zamindars and mahajans reacted sharply their jihad against the British rule, another important against him and started religious propaganda with the figure Mir Nisar Ali, popularly known as Titumir, was help of British officials. After his death, his son Mohamed leading heroic struggles in Bengal against the exploiting Mahasin Dudu Miyan followed the footsteps of his father. classes. In 1827, Titumir returned from Mecca and started Dudu Miyan attacked the very root of feudal exploitation a socio‐religious reform, which very soon transformed

Spark│Special Booklet│April 2019│Page 4 and fearlessly announced that “land is given to us by shameless perspective that still dominates the Allah; no one has the right to capture it through multiple mainstream Indian historiography. generations, to use it for private purpose and to impose tax on it” [1]. He organized an army armed with THE CONTRIBUTION OF DARUL‐ULOOM DEOBAND: indigenous weapons, and led many armed struggles 1857‐1920 against the exploiting classes. In 1846, the peasant army The great uprising of 1857 witnessed the unity under his leadership destroyed the Neel‐Kuthi of among different communities while fighting against the Panchchar. British police arrested him several times to British Empire. The particular contribution of the Muslims weaken this movement. For example, he was implicated is also a well‐known chapter. However, the uprising also in false charges in 1838 (house theft), 1841 (murder), witnessed an adverse reaction from the newly emerged 1844 (holding a public meeting without permission), 1846 elite class among both Hindus and Muslims. Initially, the (kidnapping and murder). Each time he was released and Hindu elites, educated in the Macaulay’s education declared innocent. Even, due to his tremendous system, were aloof from any kind of seditious activities, popularity among the vast peasantry, he was again until a section emerged from them in the last decade of confined during the great uprising of 1857, for the last nineteenth century and indulged into serious time. He was released in 1859, but because of his revolutionary activities. However, among the Muslim shattered health he died on 24th September 1860. Taking educated class, there was a fraction, which had a staunch advantage of his frequent confinement, the exploiting anti‐imperialist outlook from the very beginning and did classes were able to weaken this movement, which was not choose the path of expressing loyalty to the British finally suppressed after his death [1,3]. Empire, as Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and some other Muslim The Permanent Settlement of 1793 devastated the elites like him did. Rather, it chose the path of organized lives of rural peasant mass and broadened the path of armed revolt against British tyranny. However, their armed peasant struggles against the exploiting classes. contributions are never acknowledged properly due to This can be seen in continuation with the earlier peasant the underlying religious influence. Though, the uprisings, as class struggle is inevitable with the presence mainstream historians never hesitate to glorify the of two antagonistic classes. However, at the cost of spiritual influence in anti‐British activities led by uncountable peasant lives, a city‐based new elite land‐ Aurobindo Ghosh and his comrades in the early twentieth owning class emerged as a by‐product of Permanent century. This is not only a biased treatment of the period, Settlement. The leaders of so‐called “Bengali but also a hypocritical attitude to purposefully sideline Renaissance” such as Raja Rammohan Roy (1772‐1833), the contributions of the Muslims in national freedom Dwarakanath Thakur (1794‐1846), and their successors struggle. In this regard, it wiill be a gross injustice if we do were the foremost representatives of this newly emerged not mention the tremendous contribution of the class. It is an irony that when brave Titumir and his Deoband Ulemas in armed anti‐British struggles. peasant army were standing fearlessly in front of British The great uprising of 1857 was brutally crushed by cannon, this newly emerged elite class was busy in the British force; however, it gave birth to a new phase of establishing new businesses along with their British armed anti‐British struggles where Maulana Qasim partners. At one hand, lakhs of poor peasants in rural Nanautavi (1833‐1880), Mahmud al‐Hasan (1851‐1920), areas were starving to deaths, and on the other hand, to Maulana Obaidullah Sindhi (1872‐1944) and many other satisfy their own class‐interest, these city‐based elites brave Muslim leaders contributed significantly. During the were inviting the British government to set up its full 1857 uprising, Maulana Qasim Nanautavi, along with phased colony in India with an excuse that India’s numerous other Maulanas, played a key role in the Battle happiness is best secured with her connection with of Shamli [10]. After the defeat of the revolutionaries at England. However, the mainstream intellectuals of our Shamli, the British forces launched a severe crackdown on country always glorify the Hindu‐reformist activities of the Muslims, and even confiscated the endowments of this elite class as “Bengali Renaissance” and discredit the Muslim educational institutions [11]. In this background, revolutionary significance of the contemporary class Qasim Nanautavi founded Darul Uloom (house of struggles. This is not only unfortunate but also a th learning) at Deoband on 30 May 1866. The journey of

Spark│Special Booklet│April 2019│Page 5 this institute began with its first student Mahmud al‐ Pratap as President, Maulana Barkatullah as Prime Hasan, who later became the great hero of ‘Silk Letter Minister, Obaidullah Sindhi as the Minister for India, Conspiracy’ [12]. After completing his study in 1877, Maulavi Bashir as War Minister and Champakaran Pillai as Mahmud al‐Hasan set up a revolutionary organization Foreign Minister. An international organization ‘Junoodur named ‘Samarat‐ul‐Tarbiyat’ (results of the training). The Rabbaniyah’ (army of God) was formed to garner primary aim of this secret organization was to prepare for international support against the colonial rule. In this armed insurrection against the British. After decades of context, Obaidullah Sindhi sent a letter to Mahmud al‐ hard work Mahmud al‐Hasan was finally able to give it a Hasan in Mecca, with details of his activities in Kabul and proper organizational shape in 1909 with the formation of the future plan. The letter was written on a piece of cloth ‘Jamiat‐ul‐Ansar’. He called his most trusted disciple made of silk. Maulana Mohammad Mian Ansari also Maulana Obaidullah Sindhi in Deoband to take the charge enclosed a long letter detailing office bearer’s name of of secretariat of Jamiat. In 1912 and 1913, the Jamiat the Government in Exile and Junoodur Rabbaniyah’s organized mass gatherings and successful public future action plan. Unfortunately, these letters were agitations in which thousands of people from Meerut and intercepted by the British [3,10,12]. According to the Shimla took active part. As a tactical move, another Sedition Committee Report of 1918 – “This army organization ‘Nazzaarat‐ul‐Maarif’ was established by him [Junoodur Rabbaniyah] was to draw recruits from India in Delhi, to rouse nationalistic sentiment among the mass and to bring about an alliance among Islamic rulers. … Its [10,12]. headquarters were to be at Medina, and Mahmud Hasan himself was to be general‐in‐chief. Secondary In 1914, the First World War began. Support from the headquarters under local generals were to be established enemies of the British, i.e., the Central Powers, was at Constantinople, Tehran and Kabul. The general at Kabul expected in overthrowing the British colonial rule in India. would be Obaidullah himself”. [13] A small independent principality on the North‐West Frontier Province was chosen as the center of activity, The British Empire ordered a thorough enquiry of this where the followers of Syed Ahmed Barlevi were still whole event which is famously known as ‘Silk Letter continuing the legacy of jihaad against the British Empire. Conspiracy’ of 1916. The enquiry named 220 persons, Armed insurrections against the British forces were mostly Ulemas, involved in the conspiracy from all over planned. With an expectation that the amir of the country. All of them were arrested and convicted to Afghanistan would lend his support, Mahmud al‐Hasan long‐term rigorous imprisonment. Mahmud al‐Hasan, sent Obaidullah Sindhi to Kabul and he himself left for Obaidullah Sindhi, Maulana Ansari and many other Makkah to gather active military support from the Muslim prominent comrades of the movement were also countries. The Governor of Ottoman Caliphate assured arrested. The Central Powers were defeated in the First him of extending support against the British. Within India, World War. More than 200 rebel Muslim soldiers were the mission had its headquarters at Deoband and shot in Basra [3,12]. However, in spite of the failure, such branches in Delhi, Dinapur, Amrot. In December 1915, a large network of the brave revolutionaries involved in Obaidullah Sindhi met an Indo‐German‐Turkish mission, the series of events certainly shows their dedicated effort which was a diplomatic mission sent by the Central to liberate India from the shackle of British colonial rule. Powers and was a part of Indo‐German Conspiracy to encourage Afghanistan in attacking British India after TOWARDS A NEW OUTLOOK: 1915‐1934 entering the war on the side of the Central Powers. Starting from the battle of Plassey, the British rule Though, it could not obtain any overt support from the had faced consistent armed resistances by native peasant amir of Afghanistan, a Provincial Government of India was mass. The discontent of common mass against the formed in Kabul in 1916 with the support of amir’s deputy colonial oppression took a giant shape in the great Nasrullah Khan. The government had Raja Mahendra

Spark│Special Booklet│April 2019│Page 6 uprising of 1857. However, a parallel and opposite In October 1917, with the grand success of Bolshevik development was also taking place in this time. It was the revolution in Russia, the Tsarist autocracy was emergence of a new city‐based elite land‐owning class in overthrown by the working class people. This historic the first half of nineteenth century as a by‐product of event brought a qualitative change in the trend of Permanent Settlement (1793), followed by the revolutionary activities in British‐dominated India. Most introduction of Macaulay‐ian education system, due to of the secret revolutionary groups re‐oriented their which a native educated class was emerged. This class activities in socialist line. The transformation of Hindustan was devoted to serve the British administration, and thus, Republican Association (HRA) to Hindustan Socialist by default was against armed mass uprisings. Fearing “a Republican Association (HSRA) is a remarkable example of sudden violent outbreak” and “a National revolt”, British this. HRA was established in 1924 as a North India‐based politician Allan Octavian Hume, under the patronage of center to carry on the revolutionary activities of Lord Dufferin, formed a political party – Indian National Anushilan Samiti in this area under a different banner. Congress (INC) – with the members of this newly emerged Among many, Ashfaquallah Khan of Shahjahanpur was educated class. His aim of channelizing severe mass‐ one of the brave heroes of HRA. Along with Ram Prasad discontent towards negotiations within constitutional Bismil, Chandrasekhar Azad and many others, he carried framework was achieved up to a certain extent. However, out the train robbery at Kakori on 9th August 1925. Later very soon a revolutionary fraction of this educated class he was arrested at Delhi and finally received death became disillusioned with their expectations from INC, sentence in the Case along with three and initiated secret armed revolutionary activities. of his comrade‐in‐arms. Simple confession involving his other comrades would secure his release; however, Early twentieth century, in the pretext of Bengal Asfaqullah firmly rejected such lures. “If I am not allowed Partition (1905) and Swadeshi Movement, witnessed a to observe the last ceremony series of armed of the noblest ordeal with all revolutionary activities, dignity and steadiness then mainly under the banner of the sanctity of the occasion Anushilan Samiti and will be tarnished. Today I feel Jugantar. In spite of severe myself worthy of honour British crackdown, the secret with the hope that a sacred revolutionary activities rose and great responsibility for to a new height during the the liberation of motherland First World War. These has been entrusted to me. brave revolutionaries, along You should feel happy and with the Indian nationalists proud that one of yours is residing in foreign countries fortunate enough to offer his and associated with the life. You must remember Berlin Committee and the that the Hindu community Ghadar Party, attempted a has dedicated his great souls Pan‐Indian rebellion by like Khudiram and Kanailal. rallying the armed British To me this is a good fortune Indian Army against the that, belonging to the in a single day (21st February 1915, later Muslim community, I have acquired the privilege of changed to 19th February). Unfortunately, such an following the footsteps of those great martyrs.” [15] – organized attempt failed at the eleventh hour. However, these were the last words of Asfaqullah to his nephew, on on 15th February 1915, the 5th Light Infantry revolted in the day before his hanging at the Faizabad jail. His Singapore in which approximately 800 soldiers took part. revolutionary contribution towards the freedom of our The revolt lasted for seven days, but finally was crushed country and his immense friendship with Ram Prasad brutally by the British. Nearly 200 soldiers tried at Bismil was remembered in the past and will also be Singapore, 47 were shot in public execution, and the rest remembered throughout the next generations as a were deported for life or given jail terms between seven remarkable example of comradely relationship, which and twenty years. Most of these brave soldiers were was far above their personal religious practices and was Muslim by religion. The Ghadar leader who played a devoted to one and only one cause – the freedom of the prominent role in this event was Mujteba Hussain [3,14]. motherland. Three army‐men Rasullah Khan, Imtiaz Ali and Rukhnuddin were sentenced to death in March 1915. Among other prominent Muslim figures were Abdul These brave men even declined to beg mercy for their Momin and Abdur Rezaq Khaan. Both of them worked with lives. In the same month, 15 Non‐Commissioned Officers Anushilan Samiti and were interested in the Bolshevik (NCOs) revolted in Singapore. Among them Havildar path of working class revolution. Abdul Momin later on Suleman, Naik Munshi Khan, Naik Jafar Ali Khan, Naik became one of the active members of Communist Party. Abdul Rezzak, along with seven other Sikh colleagues Serajul Haq and Hamidul Haq of Hooghly, Muksuddin courted death like true revolutionaries [13]. Ahmed of Netrokona, Moulavi Gyashuddin Ahmed, Nasiruddin Ahmed, his daughter Rezia Khatun, and Abdul

Spark│Special Booklet│April 2019│Page 7 Kader of Jamalpur and many like them were associated Thus, any such attempt must be challenged by upholding with Jugantar Party. Many of them had suffered long term the less discussed aspects of our national history. The imprisonment in Andaman. Alimuddin (Master Sahib) present article briefly attempted to point out the played a key role in organizing revolutionary units on the significant contributions of the Muslims in anti‐British outskirts of Dhaka city. Such units later on developed as a struggles. However, elaborated attempts must be made in revolutionary party known as Bengal Volunteers. Another future for comprehensive understanding of the subject. member of Anushilan Samiti – Dr. Fazlul Kader Chowdhury of Bogra – had spent long years in the cellular REFERENCES jail in Andaman. Apart from these, the brave revolutionary figures of Chittagong – Surya Sen [1] “Bharater Krishak‐Bidroha O Ganatantrik Sangram” by (Masterda), Kalpana Dutta, Ambika Chakraborty, Ananta Suprakash Roy, 1966. Singh and other comrades received shelter, food, and [2] “The Annals of Rural Bengal” by W. W. Hunter, 1868. several other helps from the poor Muslim peasant families of Chittagong, on numerous occasions [3]. [3] “Freedom Movement and Indian Muslims” by Santimay Ray, 1979. CONCLUSION [4] Rennel’s Journal, February 1766; cited in [1,2]. The mainstream Indian historiography is definitely [5] Letter from Lt. Robertson to the collector of Bogra, affected with the problem of pro‐Hindu and anti‐Muslim th 14 November 1776; cited in [1,2]. biasness. The initial credit goes to the British rulers, who purposefully took the policy of history writing in a way [6] “Sanyasi & Fakir Raiders of Bengal” by Jamini Mohan such that it satisfies their agenda of divide and rule. It was Ghose; cited in [1,2]. aptly pointed out by Santimay Ray – “Depiction of Muslim [7] “Islam and Resistance in Afghanistan” by Olivier Roy; tyranny over the subject people – the Hindus – and the 1985. resistance of Rajputs and Marathas became their favorite themes” [3]. Such framework, along with the intrinsic [8] “The Wahabi Movement in India” by Dr. Q. Ahmad; Brahminist outlook, shaped the overall perspective of 1966. important individuals with regard to Indian [9] “Selections from Bengal Government records on historiography, starting from novelist Bankim Chandra Wahhabi trials 1863‐1870” (ed.) by Muinuddin Ahmed; Chattopadhyay to Indian historians such as Dr. Jadunath 1961. Sarkar, Dr. R. C. Mazumdar. In his novels ‘Anandamath’ (1882) and ‘Debi Chaudhurani’ (1884) Bankim Chandra [10] “Deoband Ulema’s Movement for the Freedom of (1838‐1894) blatantly misused the real historical context India” by Farhat Tabassum; 2006. of Sannyasi‐Fakir rebellion to arouse a mythical Hindu [11] “History of the Dar al‐Ulum, Deoband, Vol. 1” by nationalistic sentiment, which was not at all the purpose Sayyid Mahbood Rizvi; 1980; cited in [3] of that rebellion. Bhabani Pathak and Debi Chaudhurani – the two real heroic figures of this rebellion became icon [12] “Darul Uloom Deoband: a heroic struggle against the of Hindu resistance against non‐Hindu invasion in Bankim British tyranny” by M. Burhanuddin Qasmi; 2001. Chandra’s imagination, which had no place for Majnu [13] Sedition Committee Report; 1918. Shah, Musa Shah and other prominent Muslim leaders of this rebellion. Certainly, their presence in his imagination [14] “Secret Documents on Singapore Mutiny 1915” by T. would not satisfy his intention. After Bankim Chandra, the R. Sareen; 1995. same tradition was carried out by historian Dr. Jadunath [15] “They Lived Dangerously” by Manmath Nath Gupta; Sarkar (1870‐1958), who even earned knighthood in 1921 1969. for his contribution towards further propagating the colonial interpretation of Mughal rule, i.e. the Muslim tyranny over Hindu subjects. Similarly, we can take the example of another prominent Indian historian Dr. R. C. Mazumdar (1884‐1980) who played equally significant role in interpreting Indian history with communal bias. Rather, he was so frank in his philosophy that in the 1969 number of the Organizer (a publication affiliated to RSS), he expressed his belief that all the Muslims should go to Pakistan to solve the knotty problem of communalism [3]. Today, we are still facing the consequences of such skewed view of our own history. To divide the working class in religious lines, the present BJP‐led regime has undertaken a grand project of re‐writing the history of India by various means, starting from sectarian interpretation to gross falsification of historical events.

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