NEW DELHI: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan not too long ago stirred a debate by claiming that the enduring slogans ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Hind’ had been first coined by a Muslim, Azimullah Khan. He additionally questioned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP if they’d abandon the slogan of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai.’ The ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ web site commemorating India’s freedom wrestle portrays Azimullah Khan as a pivotal determine of the 1857 revolt, emphasizing his position in fostering unity between Hindu and Muslim communities by spirited songs.
A snippet from a track shared on the web site highlights Azimullah Khan’s contribution, noting {that a} revolutionary track penned by him was revealed within the newspaper ‘Payam-e-Azadi,’ underneath the patronage of Nana Saheb. Notably, a duplicate of this track is archived within the British Museum, in London.
Birth And Upbringing
Azimullah Khan, born on September 17, 1830, rose to prominence because the chief secretary and later Prime Minister of Nana Saheb II, the Maratha Peshwa. His upbringing noticed publicity to English and French languages, facilitating his employment as a secretary to British officers.
Moreover, Azimullah held a major advisory position for Nana Saheb, who entrusted him with main a diplomatic mission to England to deal with a pension dispute with the British authorities. Despite Azimullah’s endeavours, the federal government remained unmoved, exacerbating his disillusionment with British imperialism.
Historians counsel that this setback fueled Azimullah’s resentment in the direction of the British Empire, culminating in his lively involvement within the 1857 rebellion. His return journey from London marked a turning level as he turned satisfied of the British vulnerability. During this era, he made notable connections in Turkey and engaged in intelligence actions with the Turkish and Russian spies.
Azimullah’s strategic prowess was evident in his alleged position within the seize of English Major General Sir Hugh Wheeler, orchestrated by Nana Saheb. Amid escalating British atrocities, retaliatory actions claimed the lives of roughly 900 British male officers. Consequently, the British resorted to burning villages in retaliation.
While narrowly escaping dying in a single such incident, Azimullah’s demise stays shrouded in thriller. Conflicting accounts counsel that he perished both in a bid to evade British pursuit or succumbed to sickness. Nevertheless, his legacy as a pivotal determine in India’s wrestle in opposition to colonial oppression endures.
