Ayodhya mosque complex to be named after 1857 freedom fighter Faizabadi

Following the November 9, 2019 historic verdict of the Supreme Court favouring construction of a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, it was also decided that a mosque and a hospital would be set up at Dhannipur village at Ayodhya.

An artist's impression

The Indo Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) set up by the Sunni Waqf Board announced that it will name Ayodhya’s Dhannipur mosque complex after freedom fighter Ahmadullah Shah Faizabadi, who had fought the colonials British rulers during the famous revolt of 1857.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya and directed the Centre to allot an alternative five-acre plot to the Board for a new mosque at a prominent place in UP.

The UP government allotted a five-acre land in Dhannipur, Ayodhya and the blueprint of the mosque has been also unveiled. 

Notably, the IICF trust had taken a decision not to name the mosque after Mughal emperor Babur. The Babri Masjid at Ayodhya was brought down during the temple movement on December 6, 1992.

The trust has already submitted the building plan of the mosque to the Ayodhya Development Authority for approval. 

Under the project, IICF sources say a 300-bed super-speciality hospital, a community kitchen and a research centre will be built. 

The mosque will also have enough space to accommodate around 2,000 people at a time.

The entire project comprises a mosque, hospital, museum, research centre and community kitchen for the poor.

Faizabadi was known as the 'lighthouse of Independence' for keeping Awadh free of British dominance for over two years after the revolt. 

The IICF has said that "even 160 years after the first war of Independence, Faizabadi is yet to get his due in the annals of Indian history".

During the 1857 mutiny, Faizabadi fought along with royalties like Nana Sahib and Khan Bahadur Khan. He was killed in 1858 by the king of Powayan Raja Jagannath Singh.

The book, 'History of Indian Mutiny' penned by British officers George Bruce Malleson and Thomas Seaton refers to valour of Faizabadi and spoke about his bravery and the royal battle. 

Ram Temple: Ayodhya

Historian Ram Shankar Tripathi had said that despite being a practicing Muslim, Faizabadi was also the epitome of religious unity and the Ganga-Jamuni culture of Ayodhya.

Kunwar Singh of Arrah also also his trusted friend and an associate. Faizabadi's  22nd Infantry Regiment was commanded by Subedar Ghamandi Singh and Subedar Umrao Singh in the famous Battle of Chinhat.