Maulvi Alauddin- the other hero

Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party virulently pushes the government to declare September 17 as 'Telangana Liberation Day' and the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi resists it, there are voices that want people to look beyond the immediate past and find heroes from the era of the First War of Independence, 1857.
Among them is activist Pandu Ranga Reddy, former Army captain, who wants the TRS government to honour Maulvi Alauddin, who led the attack on Residency (now Osmania University Women's College in Koti) along with Turrabaz Khan, by naming the proposed Suryapet district after him.
Suryapet is likely to be carved out of Nalgonda with another proposed district, Yadadari (Yadgirigutta).
The story of Maulvi Alauddin highlights a passionate struggle to free one's land from foreign rule. The twists and turns in the tragic tale indicate that the British -- against whom he had taken up arms -- was later convinced of the strength of his character. But his own Hyderabad State did not allow him to return from the Kala Pani Jail.
According to historical records an anti-British soldier Jamedar Cheeda Khan had deserted the First Cavalry stationed in Aurangabad. He arrived in Hyderabad with 13 other soldiers in June 1857 but was captured and sent for trial by the British Resident. When the news spread, people started to protest and demand that Cheeda Khan and his associates be released. The then Nizam, Mir Tahniat Ali Khan (Afzalud Daula) refused to intervene in the case. On July 17 about 500 people, some armed and some unarmed, took out a protest march from Mecca Masjid to Residency that was led by Turrabaz Khan and Maulvi Alauddin. On reaching the Residency, protesters turned violent and attacked the palace of the Resident. The British forces opened fire. The protesters sustained a counter-attack for a few hours but had to retreat thereafter. Turrabaz Khan was arrested, while Maulvi Alauddin managed to flee.
Later, Maulvi Alauddin was arrested in Mangalapalli village, tried and sent to Kala Pani. According to noted historian and archivist Dr Syed Dawood Ashraf a collection of documents found in a file at the State Archives and Research Institute throws light on the miseries Maulvi Alauddin went through. Until this file was located, it was believed that he died in 1884. But documents revealed that he reached Port Blair in 1860 and lived there up to 1889. The file contains a letter which Maulvi Alauddin wrote in Persian to the British government on February 1, 1889 stating how he, unlike other life convicts in Port Blair who are released on completion of 20 years, wasn't freed despite not violating any rule and receiving commendation letters from almost all officers for his 'good conduct.'
He stated that the Indian (British) government had wanted to release him and wrote in that connection to the government of Hyderabad State. But the then prime minister Salar Jung I rejected the recommendation. Later in 1886, Home Secretary Alexander Mackenzie while visiting Port Blair met Maulvi Alauddin and came to know of his case. He promised to follow up on it, on returning to Kolkata, which he did. The recommendation to release Maulvi Alauddin was cleared by the Governor General and his Council and sent to Hyderabad State. Once again Salar Jung turned it down. When Maulvi Alauddin made another appeal to the British government he was told that it cannot be done without the consent of Hyderabad State.
The Maulvi's right hand had been paralysed owing to a gunshot injury he suffered during the Residency Attack. He had also suffered sword wounds on his shoulder and forehead. During his imprisonment he lost his eyesight and was inflicted with rheumatics and double inguinal hernia. In later years he could not walk without support. Given his physical condition he wanted to spend his last days in Hyderabad but his repeated requests for release were turned down by Salar Jung I and later by prime minister Asman Jah. The annexure to his last letter to the Hyderabad State had eight medical certificates on his deteriorating health and 44 testimonials from different British officials declaring that he was an honest man, teacher of Persian, helped in cultivation of land in Port Blair and set up a flour mill and supplied milk to the inhabitants.
Maulvi Alauddin had only wanted was to spend his last days among his people in his own country. Yet, his wish wasn't granted. May be 127 years later, the Telangana government can now restore his place in history through some notable gesture.