The Times of India
Unity mounts at Kuber Teela
Yusra Husain | TNN | Aug 20, 2017, 01:33 AM IST
Lucknow: It could be a disputed site in the present time, but back in 1858, during the first war of independence, a mound of land barely any distance from the site of Babri Masjid became a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity.
The place was Kuber Teela and the date was August 2, 1858.
Pandit Shambhu Prasad Shukla, the head pujari of the temple at Vasudev Ghat, had challenged the British in Ayodhya with an army of peasant fighters vowing to build a column and mausoleum for the Hindu and Muslim leaders hanged at Kuber Teela earlier in March that year.
It had all started on June 30, 1857 when the battle of Chinhat was fought against the British and won together by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Taluqdaars and farmers, as the first organised battle against the oppressive rulers.
The revolt then shifted to Faizabad where the same 22 Bengal Native Infantry that had showed its heroic feat in Chinhat flagged off another revolt with support from Faizabad's locals and sadhus and maulvis. The city remained free of British rule from June till March 1858, until Lucknow was re-captured on March 3, 1858 and Faizabad on March 17 the same year.
It was then that leaders of the Faizabad revolt, Mahant of Hanumangarhi Mahant Ram Charan Das, Maulvi Amir Ali and Acchan Khan, were hanged by the British at Kuber Teela on March 18, 1858.
The locals revolted against the ruthless action and peasant fighters under Pandit Shambhu tried to build memorials for their lost warriors at the same place on August 2.
"However, they were stopped by the British and while many were killed then, Pandit Shambhu was hanged on November 13, 1858," says historian Amaresh Mishra, the president of 1857 Nationalist Forum. The Forum is on a mission to revive the memories of the first freedom struggle as an identity of India's diverse unity.
According to Mishra, there are parallel narratives, that of 1857 and that of the present in the light of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute, that abound Ayodhya.
"What we get to hear today is just about the clash between Hindus and Muslims over the disputed site. It is largely unknown that apart from being home to cross-cultural monuments and sites, the city had a role to play in the first war of independence with Hindus and Muslims joining hands against the British," he says.
Feeling the need to recall and honour the significance of Kuber Teela, the Forum has decided to organise the first Ayodhya Shaheed Mela this month.
"It would be held on August 27. We will have flags, caps and lion badges inspired from the 1857 movement. A street play will be performed for the story to be re-told to all. A nationwide campaign titled 'Say No To Hatred' will be coming together with us for the Mela in Ayodhya," says Mishra.
June 30, 1857: Battle of Chinhat fought and won against the British and revolt shifts to Faizabad
March 3, 1858 and March 17, 1858: British recapture Lucknow and Faizabad, respectively
March 18, 1858: Revolt leaders Mahant Ram Charan Das, Maulvi Amir Ali and Acchan Khan hanged at Kuber Teela
August 2, 1858: Pandit Shambhu Prasad launches second confrontation and vows to build Hindu and Muslim memorials at the Teela, leading a group of peasant fighters. Overturned by British, mass killings undertaken
November 13, 1858: Pandit Shambhu Prasad hanged to death
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