University while speaking in a colloquium on 'The Role of Allahabad in Mukti Andolan-1857' at Allahabad Museum on Wednesday.
Earlier, chairman Prof RK Verma informed about the significance of the day as it refers to the time when the British rule was removed from Allahabad for some time. He also informed about starting a lecture-series which could highlight the significance of the city in various aspects.
"We are aware of the role of prominent nationalist leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru but its a pity that we are not aware of the struggle of 1857 which was the first major anti-British movement in India. People belonging to all strata of society participated in the struggle including the elite class. However, North India is credited for the beginning of this struggle where this movement started in Meerut on May 10, 1857," said Prof Farooqui.
Elaborating on the exact dates of the entire episode, Prof Farooqui said, "The movement spread its wings in Allahabad on June 5, 1857 when the Mewati Muslims residing in the area Samda (presently Company Bagh) discussed the issue. Ramchandra finally led the struggle on June 6 while on June 7, Liyaqat Ali came to Allahabad to lead the struggle."
"Liyaqat Ali was also a Sufi saint and had served the East India Company for quite some time.
Later he left the job and came back to his village where he started teaching students. He made Khusrobagh his headquarters and first tried to pacify the chaos and disorder prevalent in the city.
He often distributed pamphlets in which he demanded the unity of Hindus and Muslims. On June 11, Lt Col Neil was sent by Lord Canning from Varanasi to curb the rising in Allahabad.
He took the bridge of Daraganj under his custody on June 12. On June 14, he had a sort of war with Liyaqat Ali and his troops in which Ali won. Neil took recourse to massive massacre of people residing near Allahabad in order to stop them from supporting Ali.
Liyaqat Ali could no longer stay in Allahabad and he left the city with his 3000 supporters and went to Kanpur on June 16 where he met Nana Saheb. Thus the British rule was re-established in Allahabad after June 16, 1857," said Farooqui.
"Liyaqat Ali was arrested in Mumbai in 1870 and brought to Allahabad where he had to face trial. The case was decided on July 24, 1872 and Ali was sent to 'Kalapani' (Andaman and Nicobar islands) where he met with his death in 1892," said Farooqui.
Prof Farooqui also called for the establishment of Liyaqat Ali Chair in Allahabad University and demanded proper conservation of the written documents available about him in Regional Archives.
In his presidential address, Allahabad University VC, Prof Rajen Harshe discussed in detail the capitalist tendencies of the Britishers. He also exhorted the listeners to learn some lesson from the past instead of only dwelling on it.
Ealier in his welcome speech, director Dr SK Sharma announced the opening of the 'Freedom Fighters' Gallery' soon. Sunit Vyas and several other scholars presented their papers in the next session.