CONVICT NUMBER 3807 | PART IV : The Davidson Report

CONVICT NUMBER 3807 | PART IV

The Davidson Report

Hyderabad Residency

17^th July 1857

The Residency was attacked this afternoon. The attack repelled by the troops of escort under the command of Major Briggs, my Military Secretary. We have since been reinforced by a ½ troop of artillery, a squadron of cavalry and 100 Europeans. All is safe for the night.

I will report full by express tomorrow.

I have etc.

Sd/- C. Davidson

Resident

Surg. Major W. Napier Keefer turned the pages of the report, yellowed with age, in the personal file of Maulvi Allauddin.  It was quite a fat file with many letters and representations, and the history sheet of the Maulvi.

Out of curiosity Maj. Keefer checked the descriptive roll of Allauddin. Against the column ‘crime’ it was written ‘Rebellion’.

Against ‘sentence’ it was written ‘Life’.  The date of his sentencing by the Resident’s court, Hyderabad was 25^th August 1859. Keefer checked the calendar;   it was May 1886. He had spent 28 years and 3 months in imprisonment, and 27 years and 10 months in ‘transportation’, meaning in Andamans -- much longer than a common murderer!

During the entire period only four offences were recorded against him: one for “persisting in supplying bad vegetables to the European troops (fined Rs 3/-), and three times for ‘not supplying Dhaie regularly’, ‘short issue’ and ‘of inferior description’.  That was between 1873 and 75. Otherwise his sheet was clean.  The prison rations were strictly regulated, and curds was regularly on the menu as the prisoners expressed their dislike for milk.

Keefer went back to Maj. Davidson’s report addressed to C.F. Edmonton, Esqr., Secretary to Govt. of India, Foreign Department, Fort William (Madras).

It was sent on 18^th July 1857, by express.

“I have the honour to report for the information of the Right Honourable the Governor General in Council that the Hyderabad Residency was attacked by a band of Rohillas and Arabs under Jamadar Toora Baz Khan at 4 o’clock yesterday evening”, it began.

Davidson highlighted the efficiency of his officers saying “The troops as per margin were just seven minutes in turning out ready for action”.

Referring to the defences he said “To Brevet Captain Holmes commanding three guns of Madras Horse Artillery and Capt. Bradley commanding the infantry part of my escort, I feel highly indebted, the former opened fire with his guns at a most critical period and preserved the Residency House itself from being attacked…”, it went on.

“A massacre”, Keefer thought.

In the end Davidson wrote, “Everything now is again quiet. My daughter invited all the ladies of Chadder Ghat to take refuge in the Residency …”.

There was no mention anywhere of the name of Maulvi Alluddin.

The next letter to Edmonton had more details.

“I have the honour … to report that Rohilla Jamadar “Toora Baz Khan” the leader in the attack on the Residency on the 17^th inst. was taken prisoner at Mogulgidda after being wounded and is now in the custody of the Minister in the city.  His wounds are supposed to be mortal and that he cannot live many days”. 

Suddenly Keefer stiffened. The first line of the next paragraph had the Maulvi’s name.

It stated that “The Moulavi “Alla-ud-Din has not yet been apprehended although known to be in the city, which look bad and that it is an object with certain parties to keep him concealed – he is so said to have a paper in his possession with 300 seals attached of those individuals implicated agreeing to join in the insurrection”.

Salar Jung

What Davidson says in the next two paragraphs filled Keefer with dismay. Although dismissing it as childish Davidson says that it was rumoured that the siege of the Residency was a plan of a close relation of the Nizam who wanted to oust Salar Jung and take his place as a minister.  According to the rumour, when Salar Jung fails to control the mobs the relative of the Nizam would step in and disperse them, showing better control over the people and thus lay claim to the ministership.

“Was Davidson justifying his excessive use of force by dismissing this as childish”, Keefer thought.  He knew about the intrigues that were so common in the palaces of the native princes.  “Perhaps the Maulvi was telling the truth: that their aim was only to intimidate Maj. Davidson into releasing Cheeda Khan and other prisoners.

As he turned the brittle pages of the report bits and pieces of information about the Maulvi started trickling in. A ‘contemporary account’ that appeared in the “Englishman” of 1^st August 1857 stated that “Three Moulvies were amongst the ranks of the insurgents. One of them is known to be Moulvie Alla-ood-Deen, a man of extraordinary stature, and who acted as standard-bearer”.     

There were other reports and statements in Urdu about the arrest of the Moulvi later at village Mangalpalli.

With a sigh Maj. Keefer closed the file and rose to go to bed. Was the Maulvi a victim of the crafty Salar Jung? Tomorrow he will get some more information from the Moulvi, and them he will have to write his own report.

Next:  Part V - Life in Kala Pani

CONVICT NUMBER 3807-PART III: Unhealed Wounds

CONVICT NUMBER 3807

PART III

Unhealed Wounds

By Francis Xavier Neelam

Surgeon Major Keefer, the Senior Medical Officer in the Ross hospital gazed on his patient. The man was stripped up to the waist. It was obvious that he was once a powerful man, perhaps a wrestler. Now his body was bent with rheumatism. His eyes appeared dim. But there was a genial smile on his face as he lay on the examining table.

Major Keefer  ran his hand gently over the deep sword cut on the right shoulder. 

“How did you get this Maulvi saab?” he asked.

“Oh, that’s a long story doctor”, the man said, in impeccable English, lifting his elbow to show a gunshot wound also.

“I was a young man then, in my twenties…in my home state of Hyderabad”, his voice became hoarse with nostalgia. 

“Those were turbulent times doctor, very turbulent times; I was the Maulvi of the famous Mecca Masjid, built with bricks made from the sacred soil brought all the way from Mecca, about three hundred years ago. We were the subjects of the Nizam, who ruled most of the Deccan. A long line of Nizams ruled the state; some were benevolent; some were despotic.  At about the time of the Great Uprising there was a young inexperienced Nizam on the throne. The real power was in the hands of his Prime Minister, Salar Jung”, the man paused.

“Oh, Salar Jung!”, Major Keefer interjected. “I heard about him. In fact I was in a meeting in Simla, at the Governor General’s residence where he too was present.  He wields a lot of power”.

“Yes, he does”, the man said. It’s because of him I’m here, even after completing the full term of my sentence, without any hope of ever setting foot on my native place, or seeing my people ”. 

There was a tinge of pain in the voice of the Maulvi.  “Perhaps you know what happened at the Residency on 17 July 1857…”.

“I heard about it, but not in detail.  You were trying to storm the Residency and kill all the British, weren’t you?” Keefer said.

“That’s the version of the British”, Maulvi answered.  “What happened there was a massacre of innocent people who wanted one of their men released from illegal confinement by the Resident.  “Of course I led the people, that was my duty. I preached a sermon and led the people to the Residency holding a banner.  Turrebaz Khan, the Rohilla was also with me.  He said we must be prepared to die, if needed. Together we prayed and set out towards the Residency.”

“As a first measure we occupied a two-storeyed house near the residency belonging to two money-lenders, Abban Saheb and Jaya Gopal.  Some men with antique matchlocks and flintlocks went up to the terrace and fired a few shots towards the Residency, just to send a message.

“We were not aware then that there were loaded cannons aimed at the gates. We thought the British may release Cheeda Khan when they see the residency surrounded.  In order to force them we shouted and banged on the gates.  It was then the Arab mounted police of the Nizam charged at us. They were sent by Salar Jung, of course. They slashed at us with their swords.  People scattered, but I stood my ground, holding the banner. I felt a searing pain in my shoulder. Blood streamed down my body. But I stayed on and called on the people to come back.  The people returned with renewed fury at this attack by our own police. They tried to pull the gates off their hinges. 

“It was then the three guns of the horse artillery were quickly moved into position.  Soldiers ran behind them holding lighted port fires.  Captain Holmes aimed their muzzles at the place where the crowd was the thickest and gave the order to fire.  Next moment the guns roared; hot lead and shrapnel tore through the crowd. There was no warning. I felt a ball hit my elbow, tearing the flag from my hands.  By the time the smoke cleared there were many dead and dying around me.  The soldiers now started firing from muskets.  Someone dragged me towards the house of the money lenders.  The British kept a hot fire towards the building for some time. We managed to get out of the building under cover of darkness. I got my wounds dressed by a native doctor. You can see from the scars it was not done properly.  Turrebaz and I parted ways.  I was hidden in some safe houses in the city till my wounds healed and then headed for Mangalampally village where I had some friends.”

“The next morning we learnt that more than thirty people had died and many more injured when the guns opened fire on them. It was the worst carnage in the history of the city.  Do you think, Major saab, that such firing was justified? That too using grape shot. A few warning shots would have driven them away.”

“My dear Maulvi saab, I can’t comment on things that happened so long ago.  But your case file is with me.  Colonel Cadell is preparing a strong case for your release and wants to attach my report on the condition of your health.  I’ll read Major Cuthbert Davidson’s report also tonight. Please come again tomorrow so that I can examine your other complaints and finalise the report. Khuda Hafiz”.

“Ah, I forgot, please send some good curds for my wife. She wants to make some Indian dishes”.

“Sure doctor.  You know I supply the best dahi in Port Blair, for the officers and the prisoners alike. I’ll send it right away. Khuda Hafiz”, Maulvi Allauddin said, as he limped out of the hospital.

(Next: Davidson’s report)