Nawab Majju Khan: An Unsung Hero of the Indian Freedom Struggle

By Sahil Razvi, New Age Islam 12 August 2024 Nawab Majju Khan, A Key Figure in The 1857 Revolt, Faced Brutal Torture and Execution by The British. His Body Was Paraded and Desecrated, Yet He Remains a Symbol of Resistance. Main Points: 1. Nawab Majju Khan, a key figure in the 1857 revolt, faced extreme British brutality, including having his body displayed in a gruesome manner after his death. 2. Originating from a family of warriors in Rohilkhand, he played a crucial role in the uprising against British rule. 3. Despite the fierce resistance and leadership of figures like Majju Khan, the rebellion faced severe repression, culminating in numerous executions. 4. His martyrdom is marked by his body being hung from a tree and later buried in a cemetery behind Masjid Pattan, with the tamarind tree still standing as a silent witness. ---- The tree, where Nawab Majju Khan was hanged ------ There are some names from the 1857 revolt that can never be forgotten. The atrocities committed by the British against Indian citizens are still vividly remembered. Many revolutionaries took part in the freedom struggle, and thousands of them were martyred during this movement. One such brave revolutionary was Nawab Majiduddin, also known as Nawab Majju Khan. The British subjected Nawab Majju Khan to horrific treatment, after his death, they threw his body into a lime kiln and later tied his remains to an elephant's leg, parading it through the city in a display of cruelty. Nawab Majju Khan hailed from a family of courageous warriors who had settled in Rohilkhand in the 18th century. On May 10, 1857, when rebel soldiers in Meerut ignited the nationwide struggle for independence, northern India was sweltering under the scorching sun, and British officers were preparing to retreat to the cool breezes of the hills. However, upon receiving news of the rebellion from their loyal troops, the ground seemed to shift beneath their feet. During the 1857 uprising, a person arrived in Moradabad on May 11, 1857, bringing news of the Meerut revolutionaries. This information ignited a wave of enthusiasm and fervor among the supporters of the movement. Brave revolutionaries like Nawab Majju Khan, Abbas Khan, Rashid Khan, Nawab Shabbir Ali Khan, Oulad Nawab Dunde Khan, and Maulana Kifayat Ali Kaafi left no stone unturned in making the movement a success. Maulana Zainul Abidin called for jihad against the British, while Maulana Kifayat Ali Kaafi travelled extensively to issue a fatwa for jihad, rallying support across the region. By April 14, 1858, the intensity of the rebellion in Moradabad had diminished. However, on April 25, British General Johnson arrived in Moradabad with his troops and a Sikh regiment. Following this, the revolutionaries once again raised their voices against the British. During this struggle, the British authorities arrested 20 revolutionaries and had them executed by hanging. In an attempt to capture Nawab Majju Khan, Nicholson sent English troops along with Raghupat Sahai Jat and Nirmal Singh. However, Majju Khan did not surrender. A fierce battle ensued between the two sides, and in the end, Nawab Majju Khan was severely wounded. The ruthless British, after capturing him in his injured state, submerged his body in lime at his residence and then tied the body to an elephant’s leg, parading it throughout the city. On April 25, 1858, his corpse was hung from a tamarind tree in Gallshahid, Moradabad. The British looted everything, leaving Majju Khan's body hanging from the tree for several days. On Friday, the British removed his body and discarded it in an open field. Meanwhile, two individuals arrived from the shrine of Hazrat Shah Mukammal and buried his body in the cemetery behind the Masjid Pattan. Even today, the tamarind tree standing in the cemetery bears silent witness to his martyrdom. ------ 'Sahil Razvi is an Author and Research scholar specialising in Sufism and History and an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-politics/nawab-majju-unsung-hero-indian-freedom-struggle/d/132917 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism