The town of Azamagarh in Eastern Uttar Pradesh has not had a particularly good
run as of late, being infamously stereotyped for terrorism. Just a few days back, in fact, key Modi aid,
Amit Shah, a man who was once barred from entering Gujarat due to the murder cases on
against him, had
described the town as a “base of terrorists”.
Azamgarh’s past, though, isn’t as bad as Shah might think. Given
that today is the 157
th anniversary of the Revolt of 1857—it was on
this day that the sepoys of Meerut had
revolted, riding immediately to Delhi to
gain the Mughal Emperor’s support—it might be worthwhile to recall a remarkable
document which was published in the town during the Revolt. Called the
Azamgarh
Proclamation (
Azamgarh Ishtahār) this decleration
was issued (most probably) by Firoz Shah, a grandson of the Mughal Emperor who
fought in Awadh, and aims to set out a manifesto for what the rebels were
fighting for.
The ishtahār is secular
and largely democratic in tone, appealing to “both Hindoos and Mahommedans” who
are “being ruined under the tyranny and oppression of the treacherous and
infidel and treacherous English”. Moreover, its main appeal is to economic
sentiment, laying out in great details how the British had ruined each class of
citizen—zamindār, merchant, civil servants, soldiers, artisans and even the
clergy—and promising them a better deal after the revolution.
While the Revolt is often criticised as being driven by concerns
such as elite privilege and religion (all true to some extent), it is
worthwhile to remember that the Azamgarh Declaration shows an indigenous
modernity was also at play, tying together the combatants of North India in a
very "contemporary" struggle for social, economic and political freedom.
Moreover, the fact that a Mughal prince was trying to
drum up support in the name of the “people of Hindustan” maybe show the underpinnings
of a democratic consciousness, which might seem commonplace today, but was noteworthy
for its age.
The original document, published in Urdu, has been lost to
us. However, an
English translation published by the British in the Delhi
Gazette on 29 September 1857 survives. Here is the entire text:
It is well known to all, that in this age the people of
Hindustan, both Hindoos and Mahommedans, are being ruined under the tyranny and
oppression of the treacherous and infidel and treacherous English. It is
therefore the bounden duty of all the wealthy people of India, especially of
those who have any sort of connexion with any of the Mohammedan royal families,
and are considered the pastors and masters of their people, to stake their
lives and property for the well-being of the public. With the view of effecting
this general good, several princes belonging to the royal family of Delhi, have
dispersed themselves in the different parts of India, Iran, Turan, and
Afghanistan, and have been long since taking measures to compass their
favourite end; and it is to accomplish this charitable object that one of the aforesaid
princes has, at the head of an army of Afghanistan, &c., made his
appearance in India-and I, who am the grandson of Abul Muzuffer Sarajuddin
Bahadur Shah Ghazee, king of India, having in the course of circuit come here
to extirpate the infidels residing in the eastern part of the country, and to
liberate and protect the poor helpless people now groaning under their iron
rule, have, by the aid of the Majahdeens, or religious fanatics, erected- the
standard of Mohammed, and persuaded the orthodox Hindoos who had been subject
to my ancestors, and have been and are still accessories in the destruction of
the English, to raise the standard of Mahavir.
‘ Several of the
Hindoo and Mussulman chiefs who … have been trying their best to root out the
English in India, have presented themselves to me, and taken part in the
reigning Indian crusade, and it is more than probable that I shall very shortly
receive succours from the west. Therefore, for the information of the public,
the present Ishtahar, consisting of several sections, is put in circulation,
and it is the imperative duty of all to take it into their careful
consideration and abide by it. Parties anxious to participate in this common
cause, but having no means to provide for themselves, shall receive their daily
subsistence from me; and be it known to all, that the ancient works both of the
Hindoos and the Mohammedans, the writings of the miracle-workers, and the
calculations of the astrologers, pundits and rammals, all agree asserting that
the English will no longer have any footing in India or elsewhere. Therefore it
is incumbent on all to give up the hope of the continuation of the British
sway, side with me, and deserve the consideration of the Badshahi, or imperial
government by their individual exertion in promoting the common good and thus
attain their respective ends…
‘No person, at the
misrepresentation of the well-wishers of the British government, ought to
conclude from the present slight inconveniences usually attendant on
revolutions, that similar inconveniences and troubles should continue when the
Badshahi government is established on a firm basis; and parties badly dealt
with by any sepoy or plunderer, should come up and represent their grievances
to me and receive redress at my hands; and for what-ever property they may lose
in the reigning disorder, they will be recompensed from the public treasury
when the Badshahi government is well fixed.
‘Section I -
Regarding Zemindars.-It is evident the British government, in making zemindary
settlements, have imposed exorbitant jummas, and have disgraced and ruined
several zemindars, by putting up their estates to public auction for arrears of
rent, insomuch, that on the institution of a suit by a common ryot yet, a
maidservant, or a slave, the respectable zemindars are summoned into court
arrested, put in goal, and disgraced. In litigations regarding zamindaries, the
immense value of stamps, and other unnecessary expenses of the civil courts,
which are pregnant with all sorts of crooked dealings, and the practice of
allowing a case to hang on for years, are all calculated to impoverish the
litigants. Besides this, the coffers of the zemindars are annually taxed with
subscriptions for schools, hospitals, roads, &c., Such extortions will have
no manner of existence in the Badshahi government; but, on the contrary; the
jummas will be light, the dignity and honour of the zemindars safe, and every
zamindar will have absolute rule in his own zemindary. The zemindary disputes
will be summarily decided according to the Shurrah and the Shasters, without
any expense; and zemindars who will assist in the present war with their men
and money, shall be excused for ever from paying half the revenue. Zemindars
aiding only with money, shall be exempted in perpetuity from paying one-fourth
of the revenue; and should any zemindar who has been unjustly deprived of his
lands luring the English government, personally join the war, he will be
restored to his zemindary, and excused from paying one-fourth of the revenue.
‘Section II.
-Regarding Merchants.- It is plain that the infidel and treacherous British
government have monopolised the trade of all the fine and valuable merchandise,
such as indigo, cloth, and other articles of shipping, leaving only the trade
of trifles to the people, and even in this they are not without their share of
the profits, which they secure by means of customs and stamp fees, &c., in
money suits, so that the people have merely a trade in name. Besides this, the
profits of the traders are taxed with postages, tolls, and subscriptions for
schools, &c. Notwithstanding all these concessions, the merchants are
liable to imprisonment and disgrace at the instance or complaint of a worthless
man. When the Badshahi government is established, all these aforesaid
fraudulent practices shall be dispensed with, and the trade of every article,
without exception both by land end water, shall be open to the native merchants
of India, who will have the benefit of the government steam-vessels and steam
carriages for the conveyance of their merchandise gratis; and merchants having
no capital of their own shall be assisted from the public treasury. It is
therefore the duty of every merchant to take part in the war, and aid the
Badshahi government with his men and money, either secretly or openly, as may
be consistent with his position or interest, and forswear his allegiance to the
British government.
‘Section III. -
Regarding Public Servants.-It is not a secret thing, that under the British
government, natives employed in the civil and military services, have little
respect, low pay, and no manner of influence and all the posts of dignity and
emolument in both the departments, are exclusively bestowed upon Englishmen;
for natives in the military service, after having devoted the greater part of
their lives, attain to the post of subahdar (the very height of their hopes)
with a salary of 6Or. or 70r. per mensem, and those in the civil service obtain
the post of sudder ala with a salary of 5OOr. a-month, but no influence,
jagheer, or present. But under the Badshahi government like the posts of
colonel, general, and commander-in-chief, which the English enjoy at present,
the corresponding posts of pansadi, punjhazari haft-hazari, and sippah-salari,
will be given the natives in the military service; and like the post of
collector, magistrate, judge, sudder judge, secretary, and governor, which the
European civil servants now hold, the corresponding posts of wuzeer, quazi,
safir, suba, nizam, and dewan, &c. with salaries of lacs of rupees, will be
given to the natives of the civil service, together with jagheers khilluts,
inams, and influence. Natives, whether Hindoos or Mohammedans, who fall
fighting against the English, are sure to go to heaven; and those killed fighting
for the English, will, doubtless, go to hell, therefore, all the natives in the
British service ought to be alive to their religion and interest, and, abjuring
their loyalty to the English, side with the Badshahi government and obtain
salaries of 200 or 300 rupees per month for the present, and be entitled to
high posts in future If they, for any reason, cannot at present declare openly
against the English, they can hearti1y wish ill to their cause, and remain
passive spectators of passing events, without taking any active share therein.
But at the same time they should indirectly assist the Badshahi government and
try their best to drive the English out of the country.
‘All the sepoys and
sowars who have for the sake of their religion, joined in the destruction of
the English, and are at present, on any consideration in a state of
concealment, either at home or elsewhere, should present themselves to me
without the least delay or hesitation.
‘Foot soldiers will
be paid at the rate of three annas, and sowars at eight or twelve annas per
diem for the present, and afterwards they will be paid double of what they get
in the British service. Soldiers not in the English service, and taking par in
the war against the English, will receive the daily subsistence-money.
according to the rate specified below for the present; and in future the foot
soldiers will be paid at the rate of eight or ten rupees, and sowars at the
rate of twenty or thirty rupees, per month and on the permanent establishment
of the Badshahi government, will stand entitled to the highest posts in the
state, to jagheers and presents -
Matchlockmen 2
annas a-day.
Riflemen 2 1/2 do.
Swordsmen l 1/2 do.
Horsemen, with large horses
8 do.
Do. with small
do. 6 do.
‘Section IV. -
Regarding Artisans. - It is evident that the Europeans, by the introduction of
English articles into India, have thrown the weavers, the cotton-dressers, the
carpenters, the blacksmiths, and the shoemakers, &c., out of employ, and
have engrossed their occupations, so that every description of native artisan
has been reduced to beggary. But under the Badshahi government the native
artisan will exclusively be employed in the services of the kings, the rajahas,
and the rich; and this will no doubt insure their prosperity. Therefore the
artisans ought to renounce the English services, and assist the Majahdeens…
[religious freedom fighters] engage in the war, and thus be entitled both to
secular and eternal happiness.
‘Section
V.-Regarding Pundits, Fakirs, and other learned persons.- The pundits and
fakirs being the guardians of the Hindoo and Mohammedan religions respectively,
and the European being the enemies of both the religions, and as at present a
war is raging against the English on account of religion, the pundits and
fakirs are bound to present themselves to me, and take their share in the holy
war, otherwise they will stand condemned according to the tenor of the Shurrah
and the Shasters ; but if they come, they will, when the Badshahi government is
well established, receive rent-free lands.
‘Lastly, be it known
to all, that whoever, out of the above-named classes, shall, after the
circulation of this Ishtahar, still cling to the British government, all his
estates shall be confiscated, and his property plundered, and he himself, with
his whole family, shall he imprisoned, and ultimately put to death.'
