Hanumangarhi at Ayodhyā in 1870 from Carnegy’s book.
Agha Ali Khan, who was the Nãzim of Sultanpur and Faizabad, tried to control the agitated Sunni zealots, and Raja Man Singh pacified the assuaged feelings of the Hindus. However, this incident ignited the communal tension in a great part of North India and engulfed the Awadh State into crisis. The claim that the Begum of Bhopal sent an elephant and sufficient fund for maintaining 300 jehadis does not appear to be correct because the travel account of the Begum does not indicate that at all. Similarly, the financial support to the Hindu zealots by the Maharajas outside Oudh is not proved by official documents.
(3) Land-grants to Abhayarama
How this rumour of the existence of a mosque on the site of Hanumangarhi was false and fabricated is well proved by two farmans of land grant issued in favour of Bairagi Sadhu Abhayarāma Das by Mughal King Abul Fatah Nasiruddin Muhammad Shah in December 1722 and July 1723 during the Governorship of Sa’adat Khan, the Nawab of Oudh. The following is the content of one land grant:
“It was issued specially for Faqir (Bairagi) Abhayarama in perpetuity, with an order of exemption from taxes. It is imperative for the Faqir (Bairagi) Abhayarãma to build residential houses for his fellow Faqirs (Bairagis) on the mound and remain engaged in praying for the perpetual glory, grandeur and good fortune of the Sultan. The present officers and employees and the future ones should not claim royal dues or civil claims from the mentioned land and should not demand the sanad for renewal every year.”
Bairagi Sadhus’ residences are in the vicinity of Hanuman-garhi. The Mughal Emperor or rather the Nawab Saadat Khan gave the land to Abhayarama to build residential houses for his fellow Bairagis on the mound. Here the word ‘mound’ (tila) is important. It indicates that this mound was vacant at that time. Had there been any existing or ruined mosque on that site, the Mughal Emperor or the Awadh Nawab would not have given the mound for the construction of residential houses for the Bairagi Sadhus.
(4) Constitution of a commission of Enquiry headed by the Governor Agha Ali Khan
Nawab Wajid Ali Shah took a correct decision by constituting a Commission of Enquiry to probe whether any mosque had existed beneath the Hanumangarhi site. The commission was headed by the Governor Agha Ali Khan. Raja Man Singh and the British officer Captain Alexander Orr, in charge of the Oudh Frontier Force posted there, were made members of the commission. But this did not pacify the Muslims. Sayyíd Ali Deoghatavi, the Imam of Faizabad visited the mosque during the investigation and gave a speech which was not to douse the communal flame. In Lucknow also religious leaders of both Sunni and Shia sects wanted firm action against the infidels. However, the Shia administrative officers were largely concerned with the maintenance of law and order.
After the investigation the Commission gave the finding that there was no existence of any mosque at the site. This finding infuriated both Muslim clergy and the laymen. They accused Aga Ali Khan of accepting bribe from the Hindus for deciding the case in Hindus’ favour. There was uproar everywhere in the Muslim community at Lucknow, and they started forming groups to take action on their own. A militant Maulavi Ameer Ali of Amethi declared holy war against the Hindus and started collecting his jehadi followers. Before the findings of the Commission were received the Nawab, under the pressure of the Muslims, had proposed to disband the Commission and refer the matter to the chief Shia Kazi Sayyid Muhammad Nasirbandi. But it was vetoed by the Resident Outram who called on the Chief Minister Ali Naqi Khan on 30th August, 1855 and suggested that the matter should be decided by the King himself and not by the Chief Qazi.
(5) Negotiation between the King and Ameer Ali Amethavi
The King Wajid Ali Shah had earlier called Ameer Ali Amethavi and tried to pacify him by offering a robe of honour and pledging to send Rs. 15,000 to Mecca on his behalf. But the Maulana curtly replied that he was not a revenue collector who would accept a robe of honour. Ameer Ali left the King’s palace in protest. Wajid Ali Shah took certain decisions to solve the contentious issue. He suggested that a small mosque should be built beside the Hanuman-garhi temple with a door on the other side. It was rejected by the Bairagi Sadhus lock, stock and barrel. Then he tried to involve the clergy by soliciting rulings on certain issues. The government solicited the guidance of the Chief Shia Qazi as to what action should be taken against those who were going to Faizabad to wage jehad against the Hindus. The Chief Kazi replied that without the participation and aid of the customary law ruler, i.e. the King and Islamic-law ruler, i.e. the Imam ‘such actions are in no way permissible’ and, when perssured further, he said, ‘God knows best’. But in a later ruling the Chief Qazi softened his stand and replied:
“Under these circumstances the order for waging the jehad does not apply; but the sovereign has the right to build the mosque and the Hindus should not disobey it.”
The Resident Outram objected to the above ruling of the Chief Qazi S.M. Nasirbandi that the government would build the mosque. In October, 1855 he gave a warning to the King Wajid Ali Shah that the King would be held personally responsible, if any mosque was built or Hindus were attacked by Muslims. He and Dalhousie cautioned the King that he would lose his kingdom if the jehad escalated. They made it clear that he and not the Britishers would have to fight jehadis. Thus, Wajid Ali Shah had no option but to act against the jehadis.
Ameer Ali had given one month to the King to build a mosque. But he and Nasirbandi saw that under the British pressure the King was neither taking action against the Hindus nor was he building the mosque. The Resident’s clear view was that the Hindus had acted under self defence; so they should not be prosecuted. The problem with Ameer Ali was that most of his followers were from lower-middle classes. They had sold all their establishments to join the jehad. They were putting pressure on him to march early. Meanwhile, the King had obtained fatwas that jehad could not be carried out in a state ruled by a Muslim King and it was the duty of everybody to obey a legitimate king. Meanwhile, many Muslim leaders were sent to convince the protesters that their march was totally unwarranted. Bolstered by the support of the Muslim clergy, the King, after making a proclamation, proscribed the jehad and ordered the confiscation of all properties of the jehadis. Maulavi Ameer Ali made an appeal to the King and “sent in his pugree (turban) to the King in token of submission and proferring his readiness to come in on a promise being given that the mosque should hereafter be built.... The King refused to give any such promise.”
Meanwhile, the King had directed all the subordinate zamindars to demonstrate solidarity with him. He was apprehensive that Muslim land-holders would support the jehad, though none came in open support. On the contrary, the Shia Raja of Mahmudabad sent a contingent of a deputy with five hundred men and four cannons to support the royal army. Similarly, another Shia zamindar sent five hundred men to assist the royal army which mainly contained Shia soldiers and Hindu fighters. On 20th October, even a group of Sunni Ulemas, who were supporters of the government, went to convince Ameer Ali about the futility of his exercise. However, many Sunni religious leaders were supporting him for jehad. Thus, there was a clear split in the stand of the Sunni clergy. Moreover, the followers of Ameer Ali were in no mood to reconcile. Therefore, the march was inevitable.
On Nov. 7, 1855 when Ameer Ali’s request was rebuffed by the King and the former’s followers threatened him with death, he made a march toward Faizabad where Awadh troops with cannons were waiting for those jehadis. Practically, all those marchers who came in front were killed and the number of the dead was between three and four hundred. Thus, ended the jehad which was for a non-existent cause.
It exposed the cleavages in the society of Awadh. Cole, J.R.I. has opined that the conflict caused a split within the ruling Shia establishment also. He has written:
“The Usuli ulama and their followers supported Amethavi’s demands even deploring his vigilante tactics. The central officers of the state in Lucknow and Faizabad, on the other hand sought
compromise. Barred from that course by British support for the Hindus, they acquiesced in the resident’s demand that they destroy Amethavi’s movements.” (Roots of North Indian Shi’ism in Iran and Iraq: Religion and State in Oudh, 1722-1829)
Michael H. Fisher, too, has given a good account of the events in his book ‘Clash of Cultures Awadh, the British and the Mughals’. However, it is surprising to note that an avid reader of documents like him has been confused and the assault on the Hanuman-garhi has been presented to be that on the Rāma janma-bhūmi site.
(6) Correspondences between the Resident, the King and the Governor
The correspondences between the Resident, the King and the Governor are available in the National Archives of India. I am quoting a few for better understanding of the then prevailing situation. Since these documents are handwritten and photocopies are very faint, reading them correctly has been a tough task. But to the best of our ability and sincerity we have tried to read and produce them correctly. If there are errata in reading somewhere; that is regretted.
Parcha no. 1
“Fort William the …
354 (contd.) Man Singh was unable to attend the meeting of the Committee this morning. Tomorrow at an early hour I trust the depositions of those persons who preferred having seen the masjid and having ever prayed in it; will be verified. These depositions had been taken by Molvees Mohlood… and Hafizollah and submitted by them to the Committee.
(1) On August 10, 1855 Major General Outram, Resident to the King of Oude, wrote a letter to him (the king):
“After compliments
The Resident begs to inform His Majesty that he has this day received information that very many Mahomedans are leaving the capital clandestinely; in twos and threes, and assembling when they have passed out of the City, and are hastening off towards Fyzabad. Tomorrow numerous Pathans from Maleabad Khalifoor and Bhangarempore and from other quarters are also hurrying off to that direction. Maulvee Amer Ali of Amethee and Moulvee Ramzan Ali, who were recently staying in the Karbela or masjid, have been collecting there from Bijnor and Maleabad and from other places and have created the standard of the Prophet and last night they all marched off to Amethee and it is very probable that thence they will move on to Fyzabad.
Inasmuch as it is highly expedient that the outrageous acts of these men should be at once put a stop to, but the result might involve the bloodshed of thousands, the Resident earnestly entreats His Majesty to impose stringent injunctions to His Majesty’s servants to cause in the best way they can the stopping of the Pathans and others who are bent on proceeding to Fyzabad and especially to cause the arrest of two maulvees and their recall to His Majesty’s Capital.
The Resident strongly hopes that no delay might be allowed to take place, otherwise nothing but remorse will be the result as was the case on a former occasion.”
N.B. About the same time that the above was dispatched the following was received from the King:
(7) Parcha No. 2
Parcha from the King of Lucknow to the Resident dated 10th August, 1855:
“After Compliments
The King wishes to inform the Resident with reference to the strife which recently has broken out, between the Hindoos and Musalmans at Ajudhya that it appears from the newswriter’s report that numerous Hindoos and Musalmans are flocking into that place from all sides and that many more are determined to join them. The King is most anxious to put an end to this rupture and therefore entreats the Resident to be good enough to add up the various magistrates of adjacent districts to prevent bodies of armed devotees, whether Hindoos or Mohomedan, from entering Oude and to take steps to forbid their coming.”
N.B. Copies of the above were immediately dispatched to the Magistrates enumerated in the margin, requesting they would adopt precautions to prevent “armed parties crossing their frontier into Oude.”
(8) Parcha No. 3
N.3. Parcha from the King of Oude to the Resident dated 11th August, 1855.
“After compliments, His Majesty begs to inform the Resident that prior to the receipts of his letter dated 10th instant the King has taken all the required steps at the various quarters of the city to prevent the assembly of men and the departure of armed individuals. Orders have been issued all throughout the districts in order warning His Majesty’s subjects from assisting either party, Hindoos or Mahomedans.
Immediately on the receipt of the news from Amethee His Majesty directed the Governor of Hydar and of Gozaigmye(?) to proceed forthwith and remonstrate with the people assembled at Amethee. They have since arrived at Amethee and have succeeded in preventing the people from leaving that place. Legal opinions from Muslims at Lucknow have likewise been sent for their information in order to dissuade them from their design. A copy of their reports has been sent through the Residency Vakil for the Resident’s information. From reports received from Rajah Man Singh, it appears that peace has been restored at Fyzabad and all there are anxious to prevent any further disturbance. Moulana Whasim Ahmad is about to be deputed to pacify the people and to explain to them how they should act. As immense endeavours have been made to put down this disturbance it will speedily cease to exit(?) but the future is in the disposal of God. With reference to what the Resident wrote relating to the arrest of Maulavee Amir Ali and others, the King does not deem such a course prudent as it would inevitably lead to bloodshed and will lead to a collision with the King’s troops, should however the Resident on further consideration deem their capture expedient the King will issue the necessary orders to his Majesty’s troops.”
After the commission of enquiry had been constituted with the consent of the concerned parties the King, under the pressure of the Muslim clergy, added names of certain persons to the commission in excess of the names sent already. The resident objected to it in the following official note to him.
(9) Parcha No. 4
Official note from the Resident at Lucknow to the King of Oude dated August 15, 1855.
“After Compliments
The Resident hastens to transmit for His Majesty’s information copy of an official letter from Capt. Alexander Orr duty at Fyzabad embodying the deliberate opinion of the commission as to their future course of proceeding:
The Resident has been surprised to learn that certain individuals have been nominated to the Commission in excess of those who were agreed upon by His Majesty in the Resident’s presence and that they had by their official conduct thwarted the commission.
The Resident trusts that the King will see the expediency of instantly recalling these individuals and of depriving them of all power and authority of interfering in any manner with the acts of the commission.
The Resident earnestly entreats the King to continue to do all that may lay in His Majesty’s power to allay the bitter feeling of irritation which exists amongst his subjects and to ensure the restoration of peace and he gives his majesty full credit for the energetic measures he has already adopted to prevent the departure of armed bodies from this city of the scene of disturbance as well as to allay the excitement throughout the country which measures he trusts will restore confidence and preserve order.
Inasmuch as His Majesty has not deemed it expedient to cause the arrest of the Moulvees at Amethee and as His Majesty asserts that such a course would inevitably lead to bloodshed and to a collision with His Majesty’s troops, the Resident will leave that matter entirely to the King’s discretion as His Majesty is responsible for the peace of his country but the Resident cannot avoid communicating on a fact so discreditable to His Majesty’s good that any of the King’s subjects should presume to dictate terms to His Majesty and should have the audacity to arm themselves in defiance of the King’s authority and openly to assemble for the redress of their assumed wrongs. Under any circumstances however the Resident feels bound to advise His Majesty and on account whatever to permit the moulvees and their armed followers to proceed from Amethee to Fyzabad.”
(10) Parcha No. 5
/>
Parcha from the King of Oudh to the Resident dated 12th August, 1855.
After Compliments
His Majesty hastens to forward for the Residents several documents in original from Hafeezullah Darogah of Fyzabad and from moulvee Nehaluddin and others together with a statement bearing the seals of the principal inhabitants of Fyzabad relating to the disturbance between the Hindoos and Mohamdens.
The King begs the Resident to be good enough to return to His Majesty the documents five in number after the Resident may have inspected them.
The first paper is from Mohammed Nihaluddin deputed by the King to ascertain whether any masjid exists in Hanoomanghiree:
The second is from Hafeezullah Darogah Fyzabad (?)
The third is from Ali Mohamed, the Imam of Fyzabad.
The fourth is a copy of paper sealed with the seal of the Kajee of Fyzabad dated 1735 AD.
The fifth is statement sealed by the principal inhabitants 40 in number.
The purport of these papers is that a mosque was built by one of the former sovereigns of Delhi, that this fact is notorious, that in the days of Borhanool-moolk, Subedar of Oude there was a quarrel of the same kind but the Hindoos subsequently declared that they had no intention of meddling with the mosque. One witness who declares he is 104 years old asserts that he has repeatedly seen the masjid. One Chuprasee Dhumnee Singh a Hindoo declares that he saw the masjid in the time of Hakim Mehudeen who was minister in the day of Kumuruddin Hyder (1827-1837). One chela a Hindoo declares he has often seen the masjid. The tenor of all these papers casts all the blame on the Hindoos and details their atrocities. Two leaves of the Koran which was found on, and of the same is sent for His Majesty’s inspection, they have been trampled upon, burnt and torn. A fence which was erected in the present King’s reign to separate the masjid from the Hindoo place of worship has been torn down. On the day of the burial of the mohamedans who were put into one point, near the door of the masjid about 69 in number, the Hindoos sacrificed a pig in the masjid and blew their shells. They also destroyed the tomb of a martyr Kujah Aullee which was near the masjid. It is notorious that the Byragees are not and were not numerous but they were largely assisted by the followers of Rajah Man Singh and by those of Rajah Kishen Dutt and by those of other Zamindars some 10 or 12000 in number. Great many families have abandoned Awadh and returned to Fyzabad. The Byragees will not allow any mohamedan to approach the masjid. Unless the Government interfere and gives orders for rebuilding the masjid, the Hindoos will become inflated and elated with their sweep and will proceed to other and greater extremeties, all here are waiting and complaining and hoping for redress.
Ayodhya Revisited Page 80