Titumir Biography 
Titumir was a rebel from Bengal, British India who stood against British colonial system and Zamindars in the early 19th century. He lived during the period, 1782 – 1831 and lost his life at the age of 49 for the struggles against British. Bamboo fort (Bansher-Kella) built by him is very famous. This great leader has been a source of inspiration in the liberation for Bangladeshi people. In 2004, BBC's Bengali service listed his name at 11th position in a list of 20 "Greatest Bengalis."
He was born in Chandpur, North 24 Parganas district of present-day Bengal. He belonged to a martial family and was trained too. He did his school education at his village school and later joined a local Madrassa. He became a Hafiz (bi-hearted Quran) by the age of 18 and became a scholar of Hadith and Islam traditions too. He started his life as a small cultivator. When he lost his land, he turned to crime and moved to Kolkata where he spent some time as a professional wrestler. Later he played the role of a lathial, a ‘big-stick man’ or enforcer for a landlord and also worked as a bodyguard for a minor member of the Mughal royal family in Delhi. It gave him opportunity to visit holy Mecca.
Once returned he organized the Muslim peasants of his native village against the landlords as well as British colonists. He trained local people martial arts as a part of his movement against Zamindars and British. Titu Mir formed a "Mujahid"force and also taught them, lathi and a few more fighting techniques like sword and spear. More than 15,000 people trained under him. They built a fort of bamboo at Narikelbaria, Barasat. Bamboo walls were mud cladded. Titu Mir declared independence of the districts, 24 Parganas, Nadia and Faridpur from the British. But British attacked the fort and Titumir’s force was defeated.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 16, 2014
