Port Blair, Feb 11: AllamaFazalHaqKhairabadi(1797-1861) was a renowned philosopher, poet and a religious scholar, but was most remembered as a freedom fighter in these islands. He was born in 1797 in an affluent family in Kahirabad (Old Oudh) in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh.
In 1831, MaulviKhairabadi resigned from the Government job and spent most of his time in the scholarly work in the midst of the intellectuals like MirzaGhalib, Mufti SadruddinAzurda and Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. Due to Islamic, rational and poetic excellence, MaulviKhairabadi was especially very close to the court of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Besides being a scholar of Islamic studies and theology, he was also a literary persona, especially of Urdu, Arabic and Persian literature. A large number of couplets in Arabic are attributed to him. He edited the first Diwan of MirzaGhalib on his request. He had a phenomenal memory and memorized the Quran in a little over 4 months. He also completed the curriculum in Arabic, Persian and religious studies by the age of thirteen. On account of his deep knowledge and erudition he was called Allama and later was venerated as a great Sufi. He was also bestowed with the title Imam Hikmat and Kalaam (The imam of logic, philosophy and literature). He possessed a great presence of mind and was very witty. There are many stories about his repartee with MirzaGhalib and other contemporary eminent poets, writers and intellectuals.
AllamaFazalHaqKhairabadi played the most active role in the Indian mutiny of 1857. He also mobilised the Muslim masses and other people in general through ‘Fatwa-e-Jehad’ (religious decrees) to wage war against the British Government. It is also said that he had prepared a temporary constitution for the rebel Government of Delhi and was also a member of the military council, which was practically controlling all the rebel administration. After the re -occupation of Delhi by the British, Maulvi continued his anti-British activities by joining the revolutionaries of Lucknow and Awadh. In the last, MaulviKhairabadi surrendered and after a short trial, he was transported to Andaman Islands for life imprisonment. He reached Port Blair by a ship known as “Fire Queen”on 8thOctober1859.
Khairabadi wrote two classic books in Arabic in the prison titled ‘Al-Surat-ul-Hindiya’ and ‘Al-fitnat-ul-Hindia’ The contents of these books, he wrote on his clothes and papers with soft coal and pencil, sent to his son through a released convict, are fine source of knowledge regarding the Indian revolts and the conditions of prisoners in the Andaman Islands. These books are the best writings on the topic of Indian uprising by any Indian Islamic scholar. These books, particularly, deal with the socio- political conditions of that time and the cruelties committed by the British on Indian population.
MaulviKhairabadi also criticised those sepoys who had left the battlefield and returned to their homes in lack of salary and proper wages. He was equally against both the Hindus and Muslims who were supporting the British forces at the time of crisis.
He was a true patriot and lover of his motherland. Undoubtedly, his role during the revolt of 1 857 and his books are the testimony of his patriotism and devout for India.
The illustrious son of MaulviKhairabadi, tried his level best to prove him innocent. Eventually, he became successful in his efforts as the British Government freed AllamaFazalHaqKhairaadi. The happy son moved to Andaman to get his father released from the prison, but when he arrived in Andaman on 12 February 1861, he saw a funeral procession was moving towards a nearby graveyard. When he enquired he found that it was the last journey of his father, who had freed himself not only from the prison, but from the paining earthly bondages.
His grave site now Mazaar or say Dargah located at sea shore at South Point is visited by a large number of people regardless of caste, creed or religion. The Mazaar stands as a main pilgrimage centre where Hindu –Muslim and other religious people of the islands gather and unite themselves, pray to ‘Mazaar Baba’ and have feast together. .
Today on this day the A&N Waqf Board in memory of the great scholar and freedom fighters has organised various socio-cultural programmes in the city and conveys the message to the islanders to follow his path of selfless life and his messages for the welfare of people and harmonious relationships in the islands.
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