Sufi Amba Prasad (Aged 59) born on 1858 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, without his right hand. He later became a journalist in Moradabad and was involved in the emerging nationalist movement. Prasad was a key figure in the agrarian unrest in Punjab in 1907 and later in the revolutionary movement for Indian independence. He was the editor of Peshwa at the time, and his editorials were known for their sarcastic and unrelenting criticism of Punjab government policies. In 1897, he was imprisoned twice. Prasad became involved in the emerging agrarian movement in Punjab in 1900, where he worked with associates such as Sardar Ajit Singh (Bhagat Singh’s uncle), Mahasha Ghaseeta Ram, Kartar Singh, and Lala Lajpat Rai.
Prasad was a founding member of the Bharat Mata Society in 1906, but a crackdown in 1907 forced him to flee to Nepal, where he was granted asylum. He later fled to Persia from India. In 1910, Indian nationalist groups, particularly pan-Islamic ones, were gaining traction in the Ottoman Empire and Persia, led by Sardar Ajit Singh and Sufi Amba Prasad, who had begun their work there in 1909. Young radicals like Rishikesh Letha, Zia-ul-Haq, and Thakur Das were among those who joined these groups. By 1910, British intelligence had become aware of these groups’ activities and their publication, the Hayat.
However, Ajit Singh’s departure in 1911 effectively ended Indian revolutionary activities, and British representations in Persia successfully quelled any remaining activity in the country. During World War I, Prasad re-entered the Hindu-German Conspiracy and was associated with Indian revolutionaries such as Har Dayal and Mahendra Pratap. He collaborated with Berlin Committee revolutionaries in Mesopotamia and the Middle East, spreading propaganda among Indian expeditionary force troops.
Prasad’s efforts were aimed at organizing Indian troops into a nationalist force for incursions from Persia, through Baluchistan, to Punjab. His troops were involved in the capture of the frontier city of Karman and the detention of the British consul there, as well as successfully harassing Percy Sykes’ Persian campaign against the German-aided Baluchi and Persian tribal chiefs. While fighting the rebels, the Aga Khan’s brother was killed. The insurgents also successfully harassed British forces in Afghanistan, confining them to Karamshir in Baluchistan before moving on to Karachi. According to some reports, they took control of the coastal towns of Gawador and Dawar.
After declaring independence from British rule, the Baluchi chief of Bampur joined the Ghadarites. It wasn’t until the Ottoman Empire’s position in Europe deteriorated and Baghdad was captured by British forces that the Ghadarite forces were finally driven out, their supply lines cut off. They retreated to Shiraz to regroup, where they were eventually defeated after a bloody siege. Although Amba Prasad Sufi was killed in this battle, the Ghadarites continued to fight guerrilla warfare alongside Iranian partisans until 1919. Prasad’s works had a significant influence on Bhagat Singh. He passed away on January 21, 1917, in Shiraz, Iran.
Sufi Amba Prasad
(1858 – 1917) – (Uttar Pradesh)
Sufi Amba Prasad (Aged 59) born on 1858 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, without his right hand. He later became a journalist in Moradabad and was involved in the emerging nationalist movement. Prasad was a key figure in the agrarian unrest in Punjab in 1907 and later in the revolutionary movement for Indian independence. He was the editor of Peshwa at the time, and his editorials were known for their sarcastic and unrelenting criticism of Punjab government policies. In 1897, he was imprisoned twice. Prasad became involved in the emerging agrarian movement in Punjab in 1900, where he worked with associates such as Sardar Ajit Singh (Bhagat Singh’s uncle), Mahasha Ghaseeta Ram, Kartar Singh, and Lala Lajpat Rai.
Prasad was a founding member of the Bharat Mata Society in 1906, but a crackdown in 1907 forced him to flee to Nepal, where he was granted asylum. He later fled to Persia from India. In 1910, Indian nationalist groups, particularly pan-Islamic ones, were gaining traction in the Ottoman Empire and Persia, led by Sardar Ajit Singh and Sufi Amba Prasad, who had begun their work there in 1909. Young radicals like Rishikesh Letha, Zia-ul-Haq, and Thakur Das were among those who joined these groups. By 1910, British intelligence had become aware of these groups’ activities and their publication, the Hayat.
However, Ajit Singh’s departure in 1911 effectively ended Indian revolutionary activities, and British representations in Persia successfully quelled any remaining activity in the country. During World War I, Prasad re-entered the Hindu-German Conspiracy and was associated with Indian revolutionaries such as Har Dayal and Mahendra Pratap. He collaborated with Berlin Committee revolutionaries in Mesopotamia and the Middle East, spreading propaganda among Indian expeditionary force troops.
Prasad’s efforts were aimed at organizing Indian troops into a nationalist force for incursions from Persia, through Baluchistan, to Punjab. His troops were involved in the capture of the frontier city of Karman and the detention of the British consul there, as well as successfully harassing Percy Sykes’ Persian campaign against the German-aided Baluchi and Persian tribal chiefs. While fighting the rebels, the Aga Khan’s brother was killed. The insurgents also successfully harassed British forces in Afghanistan, confining them to Karamshir in Baluchistan before moving on to Karachi. According to some reports, they took control of the coastal towns of Gawador and Dawar.
After declaring independence from British rule, the Baluchi chief of Bampur joined the Ghadarites. It wasn’t until the Ottoman Empire’s position in Europe deteriorated and Baghdad was captured by British forces that the Ghadarite forces were finally driven out, their supply lines cut off. They retreated to Shiraz to regroup, where they were eventually defeated after a bloody siege. Although Amba Prasad Sufi was killed in this battle, the Ghadarites continued to fight guerrilla warfare alongside Iranian partisans until 1919. Prasad’s works had a significant influence on Bhagat Singh. He passed away on January 21, 1917, in Shiraz, Iran.
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