GK
Shikhi

Lesson 2/45 min

Titumir and the Faraizi movement

In October 1831 Titumir built a bamboo fort at Narikelbaria. On 19 November that year he was killed in battle with the Company's forces.

Titumir

  • Real name Syed Mir Nisar Ali; born 1782 in the Barasat subdivision of the 24 Parganas
  • He was a lathial in his early life; protesting landlords' oppression brought clashes with local Hindu landlords, and the anti-British struggle grew from that
  • A disciple of Syed Ahmad Shahid (at Mecca, according to the book)
  • The bamboo fort stood at Narikelbaria; his chief aide Golam Masum planned it
  • The fort was destroyed by Lieutenant Colonel Stewart (both books); Titumir died on 19 November 1831
  • The first Bengali to take up arms against the English and die a martyr

Watch out: The birthplace is disputed: one book gives Chandpur village (some say Haidarpur). So there is no quiz on it; the fort's place, Narikelbaria, is certain.

Haji Shariatullah and the Faraizi movement

  • Faraizi means the movement to perform farz (duties); the name comes from ‘farz’; it was mainly a religious reform movement
  • Founder Haji Shariatullah (1781–1840); born at Shamail village, Madaripur
  • He counted grave and pir worship and prostration to persons as shirk; as a boy he ran away to Calcutta
  • The book says he was the first to see the deep decline of Bengal's Muslims after Plassey
  • Shariatpur district is named after him, but the main centre of the movement was Faridpur
  • Dar-ul-Harb means a land at war/ruled by unbelievers; he advised not to hold Friday and Eid prayers there
  • Maulana Keramat Ali Jaunpuri declared the Faraizi doctrine ‘Kharijite’

Dudu Miyan

  • Real name Muhsinuddin Ahmad; born 1819, died 24 September 1862; buried at Bangshal in Dhaka
  • Shariatullah's son; took over after his father's death
  • Turned the movement into an armed struggle and a political movement
  • His declaration: ‘collecting rent from land is against God’s law’
  • He built an organisation with ‘khalifas’ in different areas, stood up to oppressive landlords and set up his own justice system
  • After his death the Faraizi movement grew weak

Watch out: One book dates the start of the Faraizi movement to 1818, other sources to 1818 or 1819, so no quiz on the year. The founder is Haji Shariatullah and Dudu Miyan gave it a political form — that is certain.

Check yourself

‘Collecting rent from land is against God’s law’ — whose declaration?

At a glance

  1. 1

    Titumir's real name was Syed Mir Nisar Ali; his bamboo fort was at Narikelbaria (1831).

  2. 2

    Titumir was killed on 19 November 1831; Lieutenant Colonel Stewart destroyed the fort.

  3. 3

    The founder of the Faraizi movement was Haji Shariatullah (1781–1840); its main centre was Faridpur.

  4. 4

    Dudu Miyan (1819–1862) gave the Faraizi movement a political form.

  5. 5

    ‘Collecting rent from land is against God’s law’ — Dudu Miyan (14th BCS).

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