Question
Give an account of the revolt of Titumir.
Answer
In Bengal, the Barasat Revolt (1831) of Titumir took place for political and religious reasons. Titumir (Mir Nishar Ali 1782-1831) took an active role in spreading the movement in Bengal. During this time, his nephew Commander Golam Masum and his colleague Moinuddin were his main associates. Many lower caste Hindus also joined the forces of Titumir. He constructed a bamboo fort or banserkella in a village called Narkelberia, ten kilometres from Baduria police station, and started collecting taxes by ignoring the British Administration. Titumir and his 600 followers defended the fort with green wood apples, brick bats, bows-arrows, spears etc., but was defeated by the British army and the bamboo fort was reduced to ruins. When Lord Bentinck forbade him to do so, a fierce battle was raised between the two groups. They attacked the British forces from the bamboo fortress on 19th November 1831. At the instructions of Bentinck, they bombarded the bamboo fortress with cannon shells and most of the soldiers perished. This incident came to be known as the ‘Barasat Revolt’
