July 16, Patna: Zulfiqar Ali, an unsung hero of 1857, the first struggle of freedom movement was a passionate freedom fighter who fought against the Britisher’s army during the period. While addressing a seminar on the topic of “unsung heroes of first freedom struggle- 1857: Zulfiqar Ali”, organised here on Sunday in Kashi Prasad Jaiswal Research, Institute Press Information Bureau (PIB) -Patna Deputy Director Sanjay Kumar, an officer of Indian Information Services (IIS) said that Zulfiqar Ali, a lesser known freedom fighter was a valorous leader and was one of the most trustworthy associate of the Babu Kunwar Singh, the great warrior of the first freedom struggle. Following the order of Babu Veer Kunwar Singh, Zulfiqar Ali had accepted the role of commander. Zulfiqar Ali, an expert diplomat had set up his personal intelligence team of patriotic heroes and operated it. Following his such traits, Babu Kunwar Singh had a sense of great respect for him and admired him. While marching towards Delhi, Zulfiqar Ali had a clash with Britisher’s army in which he was killed. As his body could not be found and the exact date of his martyrdom is not available. He said that Kazi Zulfiqar Ali, who belonged to Nagma of Kako had constituted Jehanabadi regiment which took up guerrilla warfare against the British army in Meerut, Ghazipur and Ballia. Kumar said that babu Veer Kunwar Singh got three letters written in the name of Zulfiqar Ali in Kathy script by Jaswant Singh which has become a historical fact and the letters exhibit the passion of Zulfiqar Ali towards freedom movement. Kumar said that the descendants of Zulfiqar Ali came from Balkh Russia. Qazi Anwar Ahmed, a descendant of Zulfikar Ali, is alive, he said adding that unfortunately such unsung heroes are not remembered. Presiding over the seminar, former Head of the Department of History, Patna University, Patna, Prof. (Dr.) Sumant Niyogi said that publicising such unsung heroes of the freedom movement would be the real tribute to them. Director Kashi Prasad Jaiswal Research Institute, Kumari Lalita said that getting information about the anonymous warrior Zulfikar Ali is wonderful. On this occasion, Qazi Anwar Ahmed, a descendant of Zulfiqar Ali said that it is the responsibility of the people to bring forward the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. Former director of Kashi Prasad Jayaswal Research Institute Atiya Begum said that information about the unsung heroes of 1857 was available in Farsi language but in Hindi and in English they are known less.
