THE MUSLIM RELIGIOUS REFORMERS

TITU MIR(SYED MIR NISAR ALI)

BIOGRAPHY:
1. Syed Mir Nisar Ali commonly known as Titu Mir was a great West Bengali freedom fighter.
2. He was a peasant leader who resisted the oppression of the local zamindars and British
domination.
3. Titu Mir was well-versed in Islamic education and had memorized the holy Quran at an early
age.
4. In 1822 Titu Mir went on a pilgrimage to Makka where he came in close contact with the great
Islamic reformer and revolutionary leader Syed Ahmad Barelvi.
5. In 1827 Titu Mir returned to Bengal and preached pure Islam amongst the Muslims.
6. Syed Ahmad Barelvi inspired him to free his fellow countrymen from unislamic practices and
foreign domination.

RELIGIOUS CONTRIBUTIONS:
1. He led the Muslim religious reform Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya Movement in West Bengal.
2. When a Hindu land lord imposed beard tax in his area, he urged Muslims not to pay this nasty
tax.
3. Titu Mir proclaimed himself king and organized a Mujahid force of 15,000 followers to overcome
the force of the landlords.
4. He had built a bamboo fort at Narkelbaria in October 1831 and defeated British forces sent to
destroy it.
5. An English contingent was sent from Calcutta. Lord William Bentinck sent a regular army against
Titu Mir under Lieutenant Colonel Stewart consisting of 100 cavalry, 300 native infantry and
artillery with two cannons.
6. The English attacked the mujahids on 14 November 1831. The mujahids failed to resist the
English army outfitted with modern arms and took shelter inside the bamboo fort.
7. Titu Mir along with many of his followers died on 19 November 1831.

EXPECTED QUESTIONS:
Q. 1. Who was Titu Mir? [4 Marks]
Q. 2. Why did Titu Mir start his Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya Movement in West
Bengal? [7]

COMPILED BY: SHAHID UR REHMAN CHAUDHRY

PhD (Sc), M Phil (Gold Medalist) Mass Communication & Media Studies,
M A History, Pak. Studies, Islamiyat, Bachelor of Education, L L B (Punjab)