New Delhi, Feb 23 (Indianmuslims.info) Urdu journalists and poets had played the most important role in mobilising public opinion against British imperialism and inculcating a deep sense of patriotism in the public during the first war of Independence 1857, observed Sahitya Akademy president Professor Gopi Chand Narang while presiding over a seminar on “1857 Revolt, Colonial System, Literature and the Independence Movement� at India International Centre here Thursday.

Professor Narang added that ghazals of Mir Taqi Mir and Anees mirrored in particular the feelings and emotions of the masses in a very effective manner.

“The letters of great Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib highlight the excesses of British government and its armies in a straightforward manner. The 1857 Revolt created such a situation which served as the stepping stones for the freedom movement in the later days. And as a result of which within half a century Allama Iqbal, Chakbast, Durga Sahay Soroor, Hasrat Mohani, Josh Malihabadi and other poets gave a clarion call of independence to the people. The very slogan of ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ served as a big weapon during the freedom struggle,� Professor Narang said.

Speaking as Chief Guest, noted historian Professor Irfan Habib of Aligarh Muslim University raised many points worth considering. He conceded that there was no one reason behind the 1857 Revolt against the British; there were several factors like social, economic, cultural and religious ones that culminated into the Revolt. “Christian missionaries had attacked Hinduism as a result of which Dharm Sabha came into existence. Land tax was increased, telling badly upon the farmers. Thus there were several factors that united the Indians against the British,� he further said.

He cited the poetic verses of Muhammad Hussain Azad and Bahadur Shah Zafar to prove that it was an united uprising. “One important feature of this Revolt was that Hindus and Muslims both raised the voice of revolt together.�

He said most of the mutineers were from Bengal Army.

Professor Habib, who is known for his Leftist credentials, noted that although the slogan there was of ‘Deen’ but later ‘Dharma’ was also used along with ‘Deen’, and thus emerged the concept of independence of the whole country.

In his keynote address, noted journalist Ved Pratap Vedic said 1857 was undoubtedly the first war of independence.

“Karl Marx and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar have also called 1857 the first war of independence. The cause of this Revolt was not the cartridges containing cow or pig fat nor was it the case of Deen Dharma. This was the result of exploitation of one hundred years right from the Palasi War 1757 till 1857. The fire of revolt was igniting much before May 10, 1857,� Ved Pratap maintained.

He rejected the idea of calling 1857 a revolt, mutiny or uprising. “It was the first war of independence rather than anything else because Indian citizens cutting across religion, caste or sect lines all participated in it together. And this war was not confined to only Meerut, Delhi, Kanpur and Jhansi but its currents were all over from Peshawar to Karnataka, and from Kutch to Kachar.�

Other scholars who presented their papers include Purshottam Agrawal and Dr Varsha Das. While Dr Das termed 1857 the outcome of conflict between the traditionalist Indians and the British capitalists, Agrawal said according to renowned historian MN Roy this Revolt was in fact the result of powerful expression of social reaction.