Allahabad-born
Maulvi Liaqat Ali
was a distant relative of Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jahnsi. He was active in the freedom struggle even before the revolt of 1857 in the district of Hardoi, now in UP. He won the support of local landlords and other prominent people of the region who gave their full support and accepted him as their leader..
He is best remembered for his leadership role in Allahabad during the sepoy mutiny.
On the night of 06 June 1858, the mess of Sixth Infantry Cantonment of Allahabad was attacked by the rebels of Banaras with help from infantry soldiers. The soldiers shot down their own officers from close range. The city was thrown into anarchy.
The next day, Ali took control of the situation and won the confidence of rebel sepoys. This put an end to the looting and destruction of public property.
The general population of Allahabad including Muslims, Brahmins, Pandas, and Pathans supported of the revolutionaries under the leadership of Maulvi Liaqat Ali, and appreciated his integrity of character and intellect. He made the Khusro Bagh area his operational headquarters and directed the rebellion from there.
However he and his forces had to flee in the face of massive British reinforcements sent from Varanasi and other places. He was caught much later, in 1871 near Mumbai. During his trial, he confessed to his role during the revolt, for which he sentenced to life in prison on Andaman Islands.
He died in 1892.
