NEW DELHI: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan just lately stirred a debate by claiming that the enduring slogans ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Hind’ have been first coined by a Muslim, Azimullah Khan. He additionally questioned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP if they might 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 function in fostering unity between Hindu and Muslim communities by means of spirited songs.
A snippet from a music shared on the web site highlights Azimullah Khan’s contribution, noting {that a} revolutionary music penned by him was printed within the newspaper ‘Payam-e-Azadi,’ underneath the patronage of Nana Saheb. Notably, a replica of this music is archived within the British Museum, in London.
Beginning 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.
Furthermore, Azimullah held a major advisory function for Nana Saheb, who entrusted him with main a diplomatic mission to England to handle a pension dispute with the British authorities. Regardless of Azimullah’s endeavours, the federal government remained unmoved, exacerbating his disillusionment with British imperialism.
Historians recommend that this setback fueled Azimullah’s resentment in the direction of the British Empire, culminating in his energetic involvement within the 1857 rebellion. His return journey from London marked a turning level as he grew to become satisfied of the British vulnerability. Throughout 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 function within the seize of English Main Normal 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.
Whereas narrowly escaping loss of life in a single such incident, Azimullah’s demise stays shrouded in thriller. Conflicting accounts recommend that he perished both in a bid to evade British pursuit or succumbed to sickness. Nonetheless, his legacy as a pivotal determine in India’s wrestle towards colonial oppression endures.
