The first freedom struggle of India, launched in 1857, has essentially become synonymous with figures like Mangal Pandey, Nana Saheb, Tatya Tope, Rani Laxmibai, and Veer Kunwar Singh.
However, being a widespread movement of massive proportions, many of its heroes have been lost in oblivion. One such prominent leader of the 1857 Mutiny was Maulavi Liyaquat Ali, hailing from Allahabad, UP.
During the Revolt, Maulavi Liyaquat Ali led the movement in Allahabad and managed to keep the British forces at bay from June 6, 1857 to June 16, 1857.
Maulavi Liyaquat Ali was an eminent Islamic scholar, and was also highly respected. After being fired from his job, he returned to his village, visiting Delhi, Bhopal, and Tonk and met Sayyid Ahmad Shaheedi who was waging a guerrilla war against British.
This probably pushed the Maulavi towards armed struggle. In his village, he opened a madrasa for children. Meanwhile, he began organising local peasants in their struggle against the persecution of the Company Bahadur and his loyal native rulers, especially in rural areas. Popular with small zamindars, talukdars and common people in Allahabad, Mirzapur and Pratapgarh, he soon emerged as a local hero in Rohilkhand, Awadh and Kanpur.
His influence soon extended to the Panda community, the Pragwal Brahmins, and Muslim majority villages also.
As a result of his efforts, the people of Allahabad were at the forefront in 1857.
