Ahmadullah Shah

The family of Ahmadullah was original inhabitant of Gopaman in Hardoi Province. His father Ghulam Hussain Khan was a senior official in Haider Ali's army. His forefathers were big exponents of weaponry. G. B. Malleson describes personality of Maulvi as [4]

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.

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.[1]

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."[8]

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.[5] 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.

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.[9]

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

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.

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 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 also joined maulavi in attacking Britishers.

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.[10] Jones could not muster courage to attack moulavi and kept waiting for more assistance from Bareilly. George Bruce Malleson writes that:

Maulavi was the only one who could have dared to defeat Sir Colin Campbell twice.

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 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 himself followed maulvi but couldn't capture him. After fall of Shahjahanpur, maulvi left for Powayan which was situated 18 miles north of Shahjahanpur.

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 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:[11]

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.[6]

— G. B. Malleson

The brother of The king of 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.[6] The head of Maulvi was hanged at kotwali next day. Another revolutionary of 1857 Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi witnessed the death of maulvi.[7]

The to be constructed mosque in Ayodhya as per the verdict of Supreme Court of India in Babri Masjid demolition case, could be named after Ahmadullah Shah.[12]

• Malleson, George Bruce (1880). History of the Indian Mutiny 1857-1858. 3 (2st ed.). pp. 590–591.
• Malleson, George Bruce (1889). History of the Indian Mutiny 1857-1858. 5 (2st ed.). p. 274.