Book & Author:
Maulana Syed Muhammad MiaN: Ulama E Hind Ka Shandar Maazi — The Glorious Past of the Islamic Scholars of Hind
By Dr Ahmed S. Khan
Chicago, IL
May 10, 2021, marked the 164th anniversary of the first war of Independence also known as Sepoy mutiny, Indian mutiny, revolt of 1857, Jang-e-Azaadi or Ghadir. The rebellion was a major, but unsuccessful struggle against the British Raj in India. It began in Meerut, near Delhi, by the Indian troops (Sepoys) serving the British East India Company, and spread to other areas like Delhi, Thana Bhawan, Kanpur and Lucknow, finally erupting into other revolts and uprisings all over India. The lack of organized central leadership and technological warfare resources led to the defeat of the freedom fighters in Gwalior on June 20, 1858, and thus, the hostilities ended on July 8, 1858.
After the revolt, most British leaders tried to tell the British public that everything is hunky-dory in India, but leaders like Benjamin Disraeli, a conservative, who later became the Prime Minister (February 27, 1868 - December 2, 1868 and February 20, 1874 - April 22, 1880) took a more realistic stance and observed in House of Commons on July 27, 1857: “The revolt was more than a mutiny of Indian troops.”(Mutiny at the Margins: New Perspectives on the Indian Uprising edited by Crispin Bates). Disraeli blamed EIC’s (East India Company) administrative policies, the imposition of the settlement of property, and aggressive Christian missionaries for disrupting Indian society and thereby creating an environment conducive to revolt or resistance (Parliamentary Debates, 3rd series, Vol. 147, July 27, 1857, pp. 440-472, edited by Ainslee Embree).
In the post-1857 war era, many British historians wrote history as it suited them for the consumption of the British Empire. After the Independence of Pakistan and India in1947, many Indian and Pakistani authors wrote several books in English, Urdu, Hindi and other local languages, which contradict and challenge the accounts of the British Empire historians. One such book is “Ulama E Hind Ka Shandar Maazi (The Glorious Past of the Islamic Scholars of Hind) written by Maulana Syed Muhammad MiaN and published by Jamiat Publications, Lahore. The book chronicles the freedom struggle, against the oppressive forces of British Raj, by hundreds of Muslim scholars, Sufi saints, rulers, Hindus and Sikhs. The narrative covers the historical accounts of three centuries, starting from the era of Mughal emperor Jahangir, in whose court the British sought permission to open up the offices of East India Company (EIC) in the aid of trade, and ending with the events of pre- and post- 1857 War.
The author has done an excellent job of juxtaposing the cultural, political, religious aspects with the personal traits, services and struggles of a long list of Muslim scholars, Sufi saints, intellectuals, and rulers.
The book has four volumes spread over 1,025 pages which include supplements, indices and list of references. Volume I highlights the ruling periods of Mughal emperors, Akbar, Jahangir, Shahjahan, and Aurangzeb, and their interaction with various groups of people; Mughal wars with Hindus and Marhattas; establishment and failure of a new religion know as Deen-e-Elahi by Akbar; biographies and struggles of the three Mujadids of Hindustan: Hazrat Mujadid Alif Sani (RA), Hazarat Shah Wali Ullah (RA), and Hazrat Shah Ismail (RA).
Volume II covers the details of Indian Muslims’ participation in the War of Independence viz a viz the freedom movement started by the Hazrat Shah Wali Ullah (RA). It also surveys the 18th century cultural and political landscape of the country.
Volume III surveys the details of the second phase of the freedom movement started by Hazrat Shah Waliullah (RA); the defeat of Gulab Singh and the art of British diplomacy; and massive suppression of freedom fighters by the British.
Volume IV presents the detailed accounts of continuation of the freedom movement by Haji Imdadullah (RA); role of Dr Wazir Khan, and General Bakht Khan; a summary of events that took place during January 1857 and May 10, 1857;and details of barbaric acts committed by the British to suppress the freedom movement.
In the publisher's note, Muhammed Riaz Durrani, observes: “Maulana Syed Muhammed MiaN was an educator, a religious scholar who also took active part in politics of the time. But his real forte was his scholarship viz a viz writings and publications. His true personality comes through his writings; he was a prominent writer among his contemporaries; his major works on politics include: Ulama E Hind Ka Shandar Maazi (The Glorious Past of the Islamic Scholars of Hind, Four volumes), Ulma-e-Haq aur Unkay Mujahidana Karnamay (Scholars of the Truth and their Achievements, Two Volumes), Tahreek-e-Shaikhul-Hind Urf Tahreek-e-Rashamee Romaal (Shaikul-Hind Movment aka Silk Handkerchief Movement), and Aseeran-e-Malta (The Captives of Malta) August 1, 2005, Lahore, Pakistan).
In the section titled “The Conclusion and An Apology,” the author states: “ I have inked hundreds of pages, but the story of 1857 remains incomplete, for the discussion covered events related to scholars located in Delhi and Rohilkhand; but the stories of those freedom fighters — who were shot standing in the lines, and who were tied to barrels of British Army cannons for execution, and who were lynched on the branches of the trees — remains to be told. Numerous accounts of such executions can be found scattered in many books, there is a need to put all such accounts in a single volume.
In the section titled “The Beginning of the Revenge,” the author observes: “The refusal — by the Indian soldiers to use bullets made with the fat of pig and cow — was avenged. In this regard a British historian presents the picture of revenge, ‘Under the shadows of guns and strict guard, eighty-five soldier prisoners were presented before the court to declare them criminals. Soldiers’ insignias were snatched, and their military uniforms were torn from behind and then ironsmiths moved forward with the lightning speed to handcuff and chain them; it was a very imposing scene, with a clear message being sent to all soldiers in the crowd that disloyalty to the British will lead to this. Some prisoner soldiers looked at the British General to seek leniency, but they all were sent to be locked up in the dungeons guarded by their fellow soldiers…”
Referring to the hanging of the freedom fighters, the author observes: “… a priest observed, ‘Many rebels were forced to sweep the floor of the church, though many believed it to be against their will and beliefs but using the pointed bayonets of rifles they were forced to sweep the floor, they did that hoping to escape the hanging, but they all were hanged.’ Discussing the platoon 26 and its guilt and punishment, the newspaper Times writes, ‘Within the 48 hours of the declaration of the mutiny, five hundred people were hanged. Now the question is: what is their crime? The authorities have admitted that they all were unarmed, and they ran away to seek shelter from the severe storm, and when they were captured they all were in distress, starving and they were almost semi-dead.’…in Delhi and other cities, crucifixes were installed at high places and every day five to six people were hanged…many were executed tied to the barrels of the guns…many were burnt tied to the pig skin…many were starved to death…”
In four volumes, the author has presented a plethora of historic information with specific contexts and references. The author also delves into the missionary work by the Christian priests to convert the local population to Christianity, and provides an example of a priest Edward, who was active at all railway stations by posting signs stating that since India is becoming one country, the entire population should follow one religion of Christianity.
One of the supplements at the end of the book discusses the role of the people of Thana Bhawan, a small town located 75 miles north of Delhi. Thana Bhawan and Meerut were among 18 places where the freedom fighters raised Aalums (flags) for the freedom struggle (Jang e Azaadi).
In Thana Bhawan, on May 10, 1857 (Ramadan 16, 1273 Hijra), the Aalum was raised in front of the Haveeli (Mansion) of the Qazi (Judge) Inayat Ullah Ali Khan. Haji Imdadullah (RA) provided the leadership for the freedom struggle. Couple of days later, when Qazi Inayat Ullah’s younger brother, Qazi Riyaat Ullah Ali Khan went to a close-by town, Saharanpur, on an elephant (as was the custom of the elite back then) to do some shopping of household items, the British were told falsely by their informers that Qazi Riyaat Ullah has come to shop for arms and ammunitions for the freedom movement; the British troops attacked and killed Qazi Riyaat Ullah and his companions. The British later discovered that the news was incorrect, and to patch things up with the family of Qazi Riyaat Ullah and people of Thana Bhawan, the British offered the family and widow of Qazi Riyaat Ullah,a gift of 28 villages near the area of Muzaffarnagar, but the family, widow and the brother Qazi Inayat Ullah declined their offer and told the British that they will continue their fight for the freedom. After this incident, the British troops attacked Thana Bhawan multiple times. Before May 10, 1857, Thana Bhawan was a small prosperous town of 35,000 inhabitants, of which 7,000 were employed by the British army. After the revolt, the British targeted Thana Bhawan, and stopped providing any services. People started to migrate to other areas, and Thana Bhawan became a deserted town of only 7,000 inhabitants. Qazi Inayat Ullah Ali Khan went into hiding, migrated to other places, and spent his entire life fighting British oppression.
The book is an interesting read, full of historic events and accounts, and a valuable resource for all who wish to read about, and learn from, the history of the First War of Independence against the British colonization of India. The book is available, on the Internet for the avid book reader, at the following web link:
https://archive.org/details/UlamaEHindKaShandarMazi/page/n1023/mode/2up
[Dr Ahmed S. Khan (dr.a.s.khan@ieee.org) is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar (2017-2022).]
