Titumir: The Gretest Rebel Against British in History

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Titumir, whose real name was Syed Mir Nisar Ali(born on January 27, 1782, 14th Magh, 1182 Bengali calendar, and died on November 19, 1831). He was a prominent anti-British figure in Bengal.

Titumir was a ruler of a small independent state called “Bangala Amirat” and played a significant role in resisting British rule and opposing the oppressive Hindu landlords aligned with the British. He is particularly famous for his legendary bamboo fort, which became a symbol of resistance against British tyranny. Titumir died in battle against the British forces while defending his bamboo fort.

When Titumir Born:

Titumir was born on January 27, 1782 (14th Magh, 1182 Bengali calendar) in the village of Bagjola in the Hazaripur Panchayat (later Chandpur Panchayat in the Bagerhat district) under the Bishorhata police station of the Bagerhat district. His father’s name was Syed Mir Hasan Ali, and his mother’s name was Abida Ruqaiya Khatun. The people of Titumir’s family claimed to be descendants of Hazrat Ali.

One of his ancestors, Syed Shahadat Ali, came from Arabia to Bengal for the purpose of spreading Islam. Syed Shahadat Ali’s son, Syed Abdullah, was appointed as the chief qazi of Jafarpur by the Sultan of Delhi and was honored with the title “Mir Insaaf.” The descendants of Shahadat Ali used both the titles “Mir” and “Syed.” Titumir received his primary education at the village school.

Later, he studied at a local madrasa. At the age of 18, Titumir became a Hafiz of the Quran and gained knowledge in Hadith. Simultaneously, he learned Bengali, Arabic, and Persian languages. After his birth, Titumir fell seriously ill once, and for that illness, the doctor prescribed a very bitter medicine. Initially, the child refused to take the medicine, but eventually, he consumed it with a smile. Due to this incident, he was initially called “Teto,” then “Titu,” and finally, he became known as “Titumir.”

Early Life of Titumir:

In 1822, Titumir went to Mecca with the intention of performing Hajj. There, he became a disciple of Syed Ahmed Shahid, one of the pioneers of Arab independence, and was inspired by Wahhabi ideology. Returning from Mecca in 1827, Titumir organized a movement against the landlords and British indigo planters, particularly in collaboration with the oppressed farmers in his village.

He and his followers, known as “Titumir’s warriors,” initiated a movement against the atrocities of the contemporary Hindu landlords, adopting the practice of wearing a type of clothing called ‘Tahband’ as a protest against the oppression. Titumir opposed the discriminatory ‘Daṇḍīr Khājana’ imposed by the Hindu landlord Krishnadeb Roy and the vehement opposition to the mosque tax.

Tensions escalated between Titumir and his followers and the local landlords and British indigo planters. Before gaining notoriety as Titumir, he had previously worked as a supervisor for landlords.

Titumir trained his followers, and their numbers grew, reaching around 5,000 at one point. They prepared for armed struggle. In 1831, on October 23, near Barasat, about 10 kilometers away from Baduria, in the village of Narikelbaria, they constructed a bamboo fort. Using bamboo and cane, they built a two-tiered distinctive fort.

War in Barasat and Titumir’s Death:

Titumir and his followers declared independence for the present 24 Parganas, Nadia, and the extensive region of Faridpur, rallying against British rule. Titumir appointed himself as ‘Badsah’ (King) named Mainuddin and designated his disciple Golum Masum as the commander-in-chief.

They engaged in a fierce armed conflict with both local landlords and the British forces. The Battle of Barasat was one of the notable clashes.

Titumir’s warriors faced severe resistance, and their bamboo fort was repeatedly attacked. William Hunter mentioned that around 83,000 peasant soldiers fought for Titumir in the rebellion. The struggle, however, ended in repeated defeats for Titumir and his followers.

In the final confrontation, Titumir fought courageously but was eventually overwhelmed. On November 19, 1831, during the Battle of Barasat, Titumir succumbed to death.

Titumir’s legacy as a symbol of resistance against oppression and colonial rule remains significant in the history of Bengal.

Finally, on November 13, 1831, the British forces surrounded Titumir and his followers from all sides. Titumir declared independence, saying, “Brothers, very soon the English army will attack our fort. Victory or defeat is inherent in battles, and we should not be afraid of it.

To die for the country is a great honor. However, this battle is not our last. With the inspiration we gain from this, the people of this country will one day liberate the nation. We started this fight, and following this path, one day the country will be free from oppression.”

On November 14, under the leadership of Colonel Harding, the British army attacked Titumir and his followers with heavy weapons. Titumir and his warriors, armed with ordinary swords and light weapons, could not stand against the modern weaponry of the British army.

On November 19, Titumir and forty of his associates were martyred. Masum Khan, the chief of his army, was hanged, and the bamboo fort was demolished.

Analysis:

Titumir’s historical struggle is often interpreted from both a communal and religious perspective because he primarily waged war against Hindu landlords. It is true that Titumir united the common people under the banner of religion and jihad. Historians like Bihari Lal Sarkar and Kumud Nath Mallik have described Titumir as fanatical and anti-Hindu.

Examples such as the attack on oppressive Hindu landlords like Krishna Deb Roy, the killing of Devnath Roy, and the killing of Goo illustrate this perspective. On the other hand, Amalendu De suggested that Titumir’s goal and path were based on full faith in Islam and opposition to the assistance provided by the English to the oppressive landlords and indigo planters.

Titumir’s attacks targeted not only Hindu peasants but also wealthy Muslims. According to the historical account of Suprokash Ray, Titumir’s struggle was a genuine peasant uprising against the oppressive landlords and indigo planters.

The Bamboo Fort:

From Titumir’s experience in warfare, it is evident that to fight against the British government, preparation and appropriate military training were necessary. Feeling the need for self-defense, he deeply felt the necessity of constructing a fort. In response, he constructed a fort or stronghold in Narikelbaria, near Kolkata, known as the Bamboo Fort.

Honors and Recognition:

Titumir’s contribution to the liberation war of Bangladesh has served as a source of inspiration for freedom fighters. In 1971, Muhammad Ali Jinnah College was named after him as Government Titumir College. Buet has a student dormitory named Titumir Hall in his honor. According to BBC’s survey, he was ranked 11th among the greatest Bengalis.

The Bangladeshi Navy established a jetty named ‘Banuja Titumir’ in 1974, and a naval ship was named BNS Titumir. Additionally, a local train service named ‘Titumir Express’ operates between Rajshahi and Nilphamari stations. The central bus terminal in Barasat city in 24 North Parganas, West Bengal, is named after Titumir as Titumir Central Bus Terminal.

Source: Quora