The name of Sayyid Ahmad of Rai-Bareli appears in quite diverse formats. The point of this short note is to clarify it to new students of history.
First of all, it should be noted that Sayyid Ahmad (1786-1831) has name similar to Sayyid Ahmad Khan (1817 – 1898), the later was also titled "Sir" by the British Govt., hence popularly known as "Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan". So one must be able to distinguish these two personalities.
Sayyid Ahmad (1786-1831) belonged to Rai-Bareli, a region near Lucknow. There is another region with similar name Bans-Bareli (or Bans-Bareilly). Both of these are located in presented day Utter Pradesh, India. A religious sect of Sunni Muslims appeared from Bans-Bareli (or Bans-Bareilly), who later became popular as "Barelvi", due to the name of their homeland. This is a common practice in Urdu language, e.g. people of Lahore are called Lahori etc. Thus, the word "Barelvi" became synonymous to a religious sect, where infact it was in essence a symbol of relation with one's homeland "Bans-Bareli (or Bans-Bareilly)".
As Sayyid Ahmad (1786-1831) belonged to Rai-Bareli, on similar linguistic pattern explained above, he is sometimes referred to as "Sayyid Ahmad Barelvi". Thus, people of Rai-Bareli and Bans-Bareli are commonly called "Barelvi" due to affiliate with their homeland and linguistic pattern of Urdu Language. Religious affiliation with "Barelvi" (sectarian ideology) is not compulsory in this case.
Moreover, the Barelvi sect came to appearance after the religious scholar Ahmad Raza Khan (1856 - 1921) of this area. Sayyid Ahmad (1786-1831) precedes this era, hence, he is called Barelvi irrespective of any religious ideology.
It is also proposed by some contemporary scholars that with Sayyid Ahmad (1786-1831) we can place the suffix "Rai-Barelvi" to distinguish his origins from Bans-Bareli.
The term "Shaheed" is an Urdu word for "martyr" especially based on Islamic ideology. Since Sayyid Ahmad lost his life in a battle against East India Company and their allies (Sikhs), he is commonly referred to as "Shaheed", A symbol of respect and acknowledgement of his efforts in Colonial period.
Hence, it would be more historically correct to write his name as "Sayyid Ahmad Rai-Barelvi (or RaiBarelvi)".
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Overview of the Movement by Sayyid Ahmad RaiBarelvi
Sayyid Ahmad RaiBarelvi (1786 - 1831) was among the pioneers for social reformation in Colonial era of East India Company's hostility. He launched an "anti-colonial" struggle aginst British East India Company and its allies specially Ranjit Singh, who ruled the Sikh regime at that time.
The British and Sikhs (Ranjit Singh) were in alliance since 1809 A.D. This alliance allowed Ranjit Singh to strengthen his rule in Punjab while all other major political powers were being crushed by East India Company in Sub-Continent. While British became able to have Punjab established as a buffer region, in case of any hostile move from French-Russian alliance, although this alliance lasted for a short period of time. Moreover, British sent their mission in Afghanistan to further deepen their diplomacy in that region.
Sayyid Ahmad was among the foremost visionaries who realized the scale of British conspiracies and diplomacies, and launched a systemic struggle to counter the effects. He communicated with political figureheads of that time to make them realize of British intrusion. He also worked for social reformation of Muslim communities in far-off places in subcontinent.
Sayyid Ahmad traveled throughout the Subcontinent, into Afghanistan and North West region of Subcontinent to create awareness for the cause. He eventually lost his life in a battle against sikh army at Balakot in May 1831.
Much has been written on his personality and movement since then. British East India Company launched a propaganda to establish his ties with Wahabi movement of Arabia, which was already disliked in Subcontinent. The purpose was to discourage the spread of ideology of Sayyid Ahmad into general public, Similarly various scholars have written about this movement from various contexts. The personality and movement of Sayyid Ahmad is among highly discussed topics in history of subcontinent.
Recently a concise yet indepth inquiry has been made by Mohsin Khawaja, regarding Social Reformation and Anti-Colonial Struggle by Sayyid Ahmad Raibarelvi and its Circumstances and Implications, It contains an indepth literature review that is published on Sayyid Ahmad and provides insights on Sikh & British alliance established at that time and how British pursued their colonial agenda in India.
The British and Sikhs (Ranjit Singh) were in alliance since 1809 A.D. This alliance allowed Ranjit Singh to strengthen his rule in Punjab while all other major political powers were being crushed by East India Company in Sub-Continent. While British became able to have Punjab established as a buffer region, in case of any hostile move from French-Russian alliance, although this alliance lasted for a short period of time. Moreover, British sent their mission in Afghanistan to further deepen their diplomacy in that region.
Sayyid Ahmad was among the foremost visionaries who realized the scale of British conspiracies and diplomacies, and launched a systemic struggle to counter the effects. He communicated with political figureheads of that time to make them realize of British intrusion. He also worked for social reformation of Muslim communities in far-off places in subcontinent.
Sayyid Ahmad traveled throughout the Subcontinent, into Afghanistan and North West region of Subcontinent to create awareness for the cause. He eventually lost his life in a battle against sikh army at Balakot in May 1831.
Much has been written on his personality and movement since then. British East India Company launched a propaganda to establish his ties with Wahabi movement of Arabia, which was already disliked in Subcontinent. The purpose was to discourage the spread of ideology of Sayyid Ahmad into general public, Similarly various scholars have written about this movement from various contexts. The personality and movement of Sayyid Ahmad is among highly discussed topics in history of subcontinent.
Recently a concise yet indepth inquiry has been made by Mohsin Khawaja, regarding Social Reformation and Anti-Colonial Struggle by Sayyid Ahmad Raibarelvi and its Circumstances and Implications, It contains an indepth literature review that is published on Sayyid Ahmad and provides insights on Sikh & British alliance established at that time and how British pursued their colonial agenda in India.
Book Information
Title: Social Reformation and Anti-Colonial Struggle by Sayyid Ahmad Raibarelvi: Circumstances and Implications
Pages: 120
Publisher: Tameer-e-Fikr Academy, Lahore, Pakistan.
Author: Mohsin Khawaja
Edition: 1st (2016)
Price: 300 PKR (Hard Cover)
----- to be updated further.....
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