The
real name of Titu Mir was Sayyid Mir Nisar Ali.
He was born on 14 Magh 1188 BS (1782 AD) at village
Chandpur (controversially Haiderpur) under Bashirhat
sub-division of the district of 24 Parganas in
West Bengal. His father was Sayyid Mir Hasan Ali
and his mother's name was Abida Rokaiya Khatoon.
Titu's family claimed descent from Hazrat Ali
(R). His predecessor Sayyid Shahadat Ali came
to Bengal from Arabia to preach Islam. Sayyid
Abdullah, son of Shahadat Ali, was appointed the
chief qazi of Jafarpur by the emperor of Delhi
and was invested with the title of Meer Insaaf.
Henceforth the descendants of Shahadat Ali used
both the hereditary titles 'Sayyid' and 'Mir'.
Titu
Mir had his early education in the village maktab
and then entered into a local madrasah. He was
a hafiz, excelled in three languages- Bangla,
Arabic and Persian and developed keen interest
in Arabic and Persian literature. He was well
versed in Islamic theology, jurisprudence, philosophy,
tasawwaf (Islamic mysticism) and mantiq. While
a student in the madrasah Titu Mir grew up into
a good gymnast and a renowned pahlwan (wrestler).
Titu
Mir went on a pilgrimage to Makka in 1822 AD and
came in close contact with the great Islamic reformer
and revolutionary leader Sayyid Ahmad of Bareilly
who inspired him to free his fellow countrymen
from un-Islamic practices and foreign domination.
On his return from Makka in 1827 Titu Mir started
preaching among the Muslims in the districts of
24 Parganas and Nadia. He advised them to refrain
from practising shirk and bidaat and inspired
them, especially the weavers and peasants, to
follow the Islamic way of life. But soon he was
in conflict with the Hindu zamindar Krishnadeva
Rai of Purha for his sectarian attitude towards
the Muslims and imposing illegal taxes on them.
Titu Mir happened to be in conflict with other
landlords like Kaliprasanna Mukhopadhyay of Gobardanga,
Rajnarayan of Taragonia, Gauri Prasad Chowdhury
of Nagpur and Devanath Rai of Gobra-govindpur
for their oppression on the peasantry.
To
face the situation and to give protection to the
peasants Titu Mir formed a Mujahid force and trained
them in lathi and other indigenous arms. His disciple
and nephew Ghulam Masum was made commander of
the force. The increasing strength of Titu Mir
alarmed the zamindars who however attempted to
take united stand and to involve the English in
their fight against him. Being instigated by the
zamindar of Gobardanga, Davis, the English kuthial
(factor) of Mollahati, advanced with his force
against Titu Mir, but was beaten back. The zamindar
of Gobra-govindpur was killed in a conflict with
Titu Mir. Alexander, the collector of Barasat,
advanced against Titu with the daroga of Bashirhat
and sustained a severe defeat in the hands of
Titu Mir. By this time Titu Mir filed a complain
to the government of east India company against
the oppression of the zamindars, but to no result.
Titu
Mir built a strong fort with bamboo poles at Narkelbaria
in October 1831, recruited mujahids and gave them
military training. The number of Mujahids rose
to nearly five thousand. Having completed his
military preparation Titu Mir declared himself
Badshah (king) and urged upon the people to participate
in jihad against the British. He soon established
his control over the districts of 24 Parganas,
Nadia and Faridpur. Titu Mir demanded tax from
the zamindars of Taki and Gobardanga who implored
protection of the English. An English contingent
was sent from Calcutta. But the combined forces
sustained severe defeat in the hands of the mujahids.
Subsequently Lord William Bentinck sent a regular
army against Titu Mir under Lieutenant Colonel
Stewart consisting of 100 cavalry, 300 native
infantry and artillery with two cannons.
The English launched
attack on the mujahids on 14 November 1831. The
mujahids with traditional arms failed to resist
the English army equipped with modern arms and
took shelter inside the bamboo fort. The English
opened fire and totally destroyed the fort. There
was heavy casualty on the side of the mujahids.
Titu Mir along with many of his followers fell
in the battle (19 November 1831). 350 mujahids
including their commander Ghulam Masum were captured.
Ghulam Masum was sentenced to death and other
140 captives were sentenced to imprisonment on
different terms.
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