>Richard-of-Earth at 21:07, 27 November 2021

2021-11-27T21:07:32Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| caption = Ahmadullah Shah
| native_name = {{Nastaliq|مولوئ احمداللّہ شاھ}}
| birth_name = Sikandar Shah
| other_names = Moulavi, Danka Shah, Nakkaar Shah
| birth_date = 1787
| death_date = {{death date and age|1858|6|5|1787|df=y}}
| birth_place = Vijigapattan [[South India]], [[Arcot State]]
| death_place = [[Shahjahanpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| father = Ghulam Hussein
| known_for = Freedom fighter of [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
}}
'''Ahmadullah Shah''' (1787 – 5 June 1858) famous as ''Maulavi of Faizabad'', famous freedom fighter and was a leader of the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]. Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah was known as the Lighthouse of Rebellion in [[Awadh]] region.<ref name=NBT>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbtindia.gov.in/books_detail__9__national-biography__2558__maulavi-ahmad-ullah-shah-and-great-revolt-of-1857.nbt |title=Maulavi Ahmad Ullah Shah and Great revolt of 1857|work=National Book Trust, India website (Book by Rashmi Kumari)|accessdate=27 August 2019}}</ref> British officers like George Bruce Malleson and Thomas Seaton made mentions about the courage, valour, personal and organizational capabilities of Ahmadullah. G. B. Malleson mentions Ahmadullah repeatedly in the History of Indian Mutiny, a book written in 6 volumes covering Indian revolt of 1857.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyindianmu01mallgoog#page/n591/|title=History of the Indian Mutiny, 1857-1858|work=George Bruce Malleson (1858) }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@umairsy/muslim-freedom-fighter-missing-in-the-indian-history-books-8c4d6a54069|title=Muslim Freedom Fighters Missing in the Indian History Books |date=15 August 2017|accessdate=27 August 2019}}</ref> Thomas Seaton describes Ahmadullah Shah as:{{quote|A man of great abilities, of undaunted courage, of stern determination, and by far the best soldier among the rebels.|Thomas Seaton |<ref name=IndianMutiny>The Conspirators, Indian Mutiny of 1857 (Ahmadullah Shah) The Annexation of Oudh."[https://archive.org/stream/indianmutinyof00malliala#page/17]"</ref>}}

Being a practicing Muslim, he was also an epitome of religious unity and Ganga-Jamuna culture of Faizabad. In the rebellion of 1857, royalties like [[Nana Sahib]] and [[Khan Bahadur Khan Rohilla|Khan Bahadur Khan]] fought alongside Ahmadullah.<ref name=Tribune>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070510/1857/main2.htm |title=1857 The First Challenge: The Rising|work=The Tribune (India newspaper)|accessdate=27 August 2019}}</ref>

The British could never catch Maulavi alive. The price of 50,000 pieces of silver was announced to capture him. Finally the king of [[Pawayan|Powayan]] Raja Jagannath Singh killed Maulvi, beheaded and presented his head to the British for which Raja Jagannath was paid the announced prize.<ref name=DailyStar/> Next day, the head of Maulvi was hanged at Kotwali.<ref name=IndianMuslimLegends/>

== Family ==
The family of Ahmadullah was original inhabitant of Gopaman in Hardoi Province. His father Ghulam Hussain Khan was a senior official in [[Hyder Ali|Haider Ali]]'s army. His forefathers were big exponents of weaponry. G. B. Malleson describes personality of Maulvi as <ref name=IndianMutiny/>

<blockquote>The Moulvi was a remarkable person. His name was Ahmad-ullah and his native place was Faizabad in Oudh. In person, he was tall, lean and muscular, with large deep eyes, beetle brows, a high aquiline nose, and lantern jaws.</blockquote>

Maulvi was a Sunni Muslim and belonged to an affluent family. He had a good command over English. After getting his traditional Islamic education, Maulvi had got training on welfare as well. He travelled to [[England]], [[Russia]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]], [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]], and also performed [[Hajj]].<ref name=NBT/>

==Before 1857 Revolt==
Maulvi believed that for the success for an armed rebellion, the co-operation of people was very important. He travelled to [[Delhi]], [[Meerut]], [[Patna]], [[Calcutta]] and several other places and sowed the seed of independence. Maulvi and [[Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi]] also declared jihad against Britons. He also authored a pamphlet called Fateh Islam, planned manner for the need of jihad against Britisher, even before the eruption of revolt in 1857.

According to G. B. Malleson, "It is beyond doubt that behind the conspiracy of 1857 revolt, Moulavi's brain and efforts were significant. Distribution of bread during the campaigns, [[Chapati Movement]], was actually his brainchild."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/food-story-how-indias-favourite-flatbread-roti-was-born|title=Food Story: How India's favourite flatbread Roti was born |author=Madhulika Dash|date=8 January 2015|newspaper=The Indian Express (newspaper)|accessdate=27 August 2019}}</ref>

==Arrest at Patna==
According to G. B. Malleson, when Maulvi was in patna, suddenly with no previous notice or intimation, an officer arrived at Patna from Punjab. He is referred as Lt. Thursbern in a book by Rashmi Kumari on Ahmadullah Shah. With a warrant in his pocket, he walked into Sadikpur, a quarter in [[Patna]]. He entered house of Ahmadullah Shah, and with the help of police arrested Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah.<ref name=Tribune/> Maulvi was awarded capital death punishment on the charges of revolt and conspiracy against the British rule. The punishment was later reduced to life imprisonment.

After eruption of revolt on 10 May 1857, Rebel sepoys of Azamgarh, Banaras and Jaunpur reached Patna on 7 June. They attacked the bungalows of English officers who were already on the run. Once the city was captured by the rebels, they captured the government treasury. They proceeded towards the jail and got Maulvi and other prisoners freed. After declaring Mansingh as Raja of Patna, maulavi Ahmadullah proceeded to [[Awadh]].

==Indian Rebellion of 1857 and 1858==
The rebel army of [[Awadh]] was led by [[Barkat Ahmad]] and Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah. In the [[Battle of Chinhat]], [[Barkat Ahmad]] was declared Chief Army Officer of the rebels. Britisher army was led by [[Henry Montgomery Lawrence]] who eventually died in [[The Residency, Lucknow]]. This fierce battle was won by rebel army in the leadership of [[Barkat Ahmad]] and Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31813&articlexml=Battle-of-Chinhat-A-Wilful-Amnesia-12072015014059|title=Battle of Chinhat: A Wilful Amnesia?|author=Sonal Gupta|newspaper=Times of India (newspaper)|accessdate=27 August 2019|archive-date=8 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208072015/http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31813&articlexml=Battle-of-Chinhat-A-Wilful-Amnesia-12072015014059|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Ahmadullah Shah also led an attack on Beligarad. The writer Kaisaruttawarikh states that it was a huge victory for the rebels.

<blockquote>Maulavi fought with great courage and chivalry in real sense, and for that he succeeded in pushing the British to beligarad. And then a big house of "Machchhi Bhavan" was also blown up.</blockquote>

After [[Lucknow]] was captured by rebels, [[Birjis Qadr]], ten-year-old son of [[Wazid Ali Shah]] and [[Begum Hazrat Mahal]] was declared a king. Maulavi resisted being part of new administration. He went away from the palace politics and established his camp with Ghamandi Singh and 1000 soldiers of subedar Umrao Singh in Badshah Bagh beyond river Gomati.

On 6 March 1858, Britishers attacked [[Lucknow]] again under the leadership of [[Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde|Sir Colin Campbell]], a reputed British army official. The rebel army was led by [[Begum Hazrat Mahal]]. With the [[Capture of Lucknow]] by the British, the rebels escaped on 15 and 16 March through a road leading to Faizabad. The last rebels, 1,200 men under Ahmadullah Shah were driven from a fortified house in the centre of the city on 21 March. The city was declared cleared on this date.

After fall of Lucknow, maulavi shifted his base to [[Shahjahanpur]], [[Rohilkhand]]. In Shahjahanpur, forces of [[Nana Sahib]] and [[Khan Bahadur Khan Rohilla|Khan Bahadur Khan]] also joined maulavi in attacking Britishers.

[[Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde|Colin Campbell]] departed from [[Shahjahanpur]] on 2 May towards [[Bareilly]]. Maulvi, with king of Mohammadi and several thousand soldiers attacked Shahjahanpur. The British Army was informed and General Brigadier John reached Shahjahanpur on 11 May.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VDmS9noPkbkC&pg=PA373 |title=A History of the Indian Mutiny, 1857-58|work=By George W. Forrest|isbn=9788120619999|last1=Forrest|first1=George W.|authorlink1=George William Forrest|year=2006}}</ref> Jones could not muster courage to attack moulavi and kept waiting for more assistance from Bareilly. [[George Bruce Malleson]] writes that:

<blockquote>Maulavi was the only one who could have dared to defeat [[Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde|Sir Colin Campbell]] twice.</blockquote>

The fierce battle took place on 15 May 1858 between platoon of rebels and regiment of General Brigadier Jones. Both sides had to bear heavy losses but rebels still controlled Shahjahanpur. [[Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde|Colin]] reached Shahjahanpur on 20 May, and attacked Shahjahanpur from all sides. This battle continued all night long. Maulavi and [[Nana Sahib]] left Shahjahanpur. It is said that [[Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde|Colin]] himself followed maulvi but couldn't capture him. After fall of Shahjahanpur, maulvi left for [[Pawayan|Powayan]] which was situated 18 miles north of Shahjahanpur.

==Death==
The British could never catch Maulvi alive. They announced 50,000 pieces of silver as a prize to capture maulvi. Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah wanted to induce The king of [[Pawayan|Powayan]], Raja Jagannath Singh to revolt against Britishers, but the latter did not give into the Maulvi's wishes. When Maulvi reached gates of his palace on his war elephant, king attacked him by firing a cannon shot. This killed maulvi who came down falling from his elephant. G. B. Malleson describes his death as:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://muslimsofindiablog.wordpress.com/2016/09/05/अंग्रेज़ों-ने-जंगे-आज़ादी-म/|title=अंग्रेज़ों ने जंगे आज़ादी में अपना सबसे बड़ा दुश्मन मौलवी अहमदुल्लाह शाह फ़ैज़ाबादी को माना था.|website=wordpress.com website|accessdate=27 August 2019}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

{{quote|Thus died the Moulvee Ahmed Oolah Shah of Faizabad. If a patriot is a man who plots and fights for independence, wrongfully destroyed, for his native country, then most certainly, the Moulvee was a true patriot.<ref name=DailyStar/> |[[G. B. Malleson]]}}

The brother of The king of [[Pawayan|Powayan]] Raja Jagannath Singh, Kunwar Baldeo Singh killed Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah, beheaded him and presented it to the magistrate. He was paid announced prize and gained favour of the British.<ref name=DailyStar>{{cite web | url=http://www.thedailystar.net/revisiting-the-great-rebellion-of-1857-33161|title=Revisiting the great Rebellion of 1857|publisher=The Daily Star (newspaper)|date=14 July 2014|accessdate=27 August 2019}}</ref> The head of Maulvi was hanged at kotwali next day. Another revolutionary of 1857 [[Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi]] witnessed the death of maulvi.<ref name=IndianMuslimLegends>{{cite web| url=http://indianmuslimlegends.blogspot.in/2011/03/75-maulvi-ahmad-ullah-shah.html| title=The Indian Muslim Legends (Ahmadullah Shah)| accessdate=27 August 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131045147/http://indianmuslimlegends.blogspot.in/2011/03/75-maulvi-ahmad-ullah-shah.html| archive-date=31 January 2018| url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Legacy ==

The to-be-constructed [[Ayodhya Mosque, Dhannipur| mosque]] in [[Ayodhya]] as per the verdict of [[Supreme Court of India]] in [[Babri Masjid]] demolition case, will be named after Ahmadullah Shah.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=25 January 2021|title=Ahmadullah Shah: Ayodhya Mosque to be named after the maulana who died for India's Independence|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ahmadullah-shah-ayodhya-mosque-to-be-named-after-the-maulana-who-died-for-indias-independance/articleshow/80445822.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-26|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Indian Freedom Movement]]
*[[Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi]]
*[[Barkat Ahmad]]
*[[Bakht Khan]]
*[[Begum Hazrat Mahal]]
*[[Khan Bahadur Khan Rohilla]]
*[[Shah Waliullah Dehlawi]]
*[[Nana Sahib]]
*[[Siege of Lucknow]]
*[[Battle of Chinhat]]
*[[Capture of Lucknow]]
*[[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last= Malleson |first=George Bruce |authorlink=George Bruce Malleson |date=1880 |title=History of the Indian Mutiny 1857-1858 |edition=2st |url=https://archive.org/stream/historyindianmu01mallgoog#page/n590/mode/1up/search/ulla|volume=3|pages=590–591}}
* {{cite book |last= Malleson |first=George Bruce |authorlink=George Bruce Malleson |date=1889 |title=History of the Indian Mutiny 1857-1858 |edition=2st |url=https://archive.org/stream/historyindianmu01mallgoog#page/n590/mode/1up/search/ulla|volume=5|pages=274}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shah, Ahmadullah}}
[[Category:1787 births]]
[[Category:1858 deaths]]
[[Category:Revolutionaries of the Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
[[Category:19th-century Muslim scholars of Islam]]
[[Category:Indian Sufi religious leaders]]
[[Category:Sunni Sufis]]
[[Category:Indian Sufis]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Faizabad]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists]]
[[Category:People executed by decapitation]]
[[Category:People of the Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
[[Category:Works about the Indian Rebellion of 1857]]

Ahmadullah Shah - Revision history

>Richard-of-Earth at 21:07, 27 November 2021