Ahmadullah Shah

Ahmadullah Shah
Born
Sikandar Shah

1787
Vijigapattan, Carnatic Sultanate[citation needed]
Died5 June 1858(1858-06-05) (aged 70–71)
Shahjahanpur, North-Western Provinces, Company India
Other namesMoulvi, Danka Shah, Nakkar Shah
Known forLeadership in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
FatherGhulam Hussain Khan

Ahmadullah Shah (1787 – 5 June 1858) famous as the Maulvi of Faizabad, was a famous freedom fighter and leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah was known as the lighthouse of the rebellion in the Awadh region.[1] 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.[2][3] Thomas Seaton describes Ahmadullah Shah as:

A man of great abilities, of undaunted courage, of stern determination, and by far the best soldier among the rebels.

— Thomas Seaton, [4]

Being a practicing Muslim, he was also an epitome of religious unity and Ganga-Jamuna culture of Faizabad. In the rebellion of 1857, royals like Nana Sahib and Khan Bahadur Khan fought alongside Ahmadullah.[5]

The British could never catch the Maulvi alive. The price of 50,000 pieces of silver was announced to capture him. Finally the king of Powayan, Raja Jagannath Singh killed Maulvi, beheaded him and presented his head to the British for which Raja Jagannath was paid the announced prize.[6] Next day, the head of the Maulvi was seen hanging at the kotwali.[7]

  1. ^ "Maulavi Ahmad Ullah Shah and Great revolt of 1857". National Book Trust, India website (Book by Rashmi Kumari). Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  2. ^ "History of the Indian Mutiny, 1857-1858". George Bruce Malleson (1858). 1878.
  3. ^ "Muslim Freedom Fighters Missing in the Indian History Books". 15 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  4. ^ The Conspirators, Indian Mutiny of 1857 (Ahmadullah Shah) The Annexation of Oudh."[1]"
  5. ^ "1857 The First Challenge: The Rising". The Tribune (India newspaper). Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference DailyStar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference IndianMuslimLegends was invoked but never defined (see the help page).