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Titumir (Bangla: তিতুমীর) was a rebel against the zamindars and British colonial system in 19th century Bengal, part of British India. He rebelled against rich landlords and colonial British rulers and put up an impressive resistance. Along with his followers, he built a Bamboo fort (Bansher-Kella in Bangla). After a battle with British soldiers, Titumir succumbed to death on November 19, 1831.
Early life
Titu Mir, real name Sayyid Mir Nisar Ali, was born on 27 January 1782 (14 Magh 1182 according to Bangla calendar), in a small village named Chandpur, Bashirhat Thana, Chabbish Parguna district (currently in West Bengal, India). His father was Mir Hassan Ali and mother’s name was Abeeda Rukaya Khatun.
Titu Mir’s initial education was begun in his village school, and after his primary education, he moved to a local Madrassa. By time he was 18 years of age, Titu Mir had become a Hafiz of Qur'an, and a scholar of Hadith. He also became well accomplished in Bengali, Arabic, and Persian.
Freedom fighter
In 1822, Titu Mir went on a pilgrimage to Mecca to perform Haj, and on his return he commenced organizing peasants against Zamindars and the British colonialists.
Titumir opposed a number of discriminatory measures in force at that time which included taxes on beard and mosque. The rift between Titu Mir and his followers on one side, and the local Zamindars supported by the-then British rulers of India on the other side, continued to widen, and armed conflicts surfaced at several places.
The followers of Titumir, believed to have reached 5000 number by that time, readied themselves for prolonged armed conflicts, and they even built a castle, made of bamboos at Narikelbaria, near the town of Barasat. Titu Mir declared freedom from the British, and regions currently comprising districts of Chabbish Parguna, Nadia and Faridpur came under his control. The troops of Zamindars and the forces under the British met with a series of defeats.
Finally, the British forces, armed with superior weapons, mounted a concerted attacks on 14 November, 1831, on Titu Mir and his followers. With their simple swords and spears, Titu Mir and his forces could not withstand the might of modern weapons, and were overwhelmed. The bamboo castle was destroyed, and Titu Mir was martyred along with several of his followers.
Legacy
The saga of bravery of Titu Mir and the bamboo castle continue to be a source of inspiration to freedom loving people, and is also believed to have inspired the freedom fighters of Bangladesh in the liberation war of 1971. Mahasweta Devi wrote a poem called Titumir, and Titumir-er Basher Kella has been a popular play on TV in Bangladesh as well.
Further reading
- Titumirer Bansher Kella (Bamboo Fort of Titumur, 1981) by Rabeya Khatun
External link
"Titumir"