The demand to provide due recognition to Waris Ali, a great freedom fighter of the First War of Independence of 1857 and among Bihar’s first martyrs, has now reached the national capital. A delegation of Anjuman Nida-e-Adab, Muzaffarpur, met Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Muzaffarpur MP Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary “Nishad” at his New Delhi office and submitted a memorandum regarding various demands related to Shaheed Waris Ali.
The delegation demanded that, as per the approved proposal of the Muzaffarpur Municipal Corporation, the road from Mal Godown Chowk through Muzaffarpur Station Road to Motijheel should be named “Shaheed Waris Ali Road.” They also demanded the immediate commencement of the pending memorial construction project dedicated to Shaheed Waris Ali and the organisation of an official tribute programme every year on July 6, his martyrdom anniversary.
The delegation stated that Waris Ali sacrificed his life for the country while fighting against British rule during the 1857 uprising. However, his contribution did not receive due recognition at the national level for a long time. After continuous efforts, his name was included in the “Dictionary of Martyrs” published by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in 2019, following which he was officially recognised as a freedom struggle martyr.
The delegation members said that the sacrifice of Shaheed Waris Ali is an important chapter in Bihar’s glorious freedom movement. Preserving his memory will be a significant step towards connecting future generations with the history of India’s freedom struggle.
Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary listened seriously to the demands of the delegation and assured them that he would discuss the matter with the concerned departments and make efforts towards fulfilling these demands.
The delegation included Aslam Rahmani of Anjuman Nida-e-Adab, Muzaffarpur, Jawaharlal Nehru University research scholar Intikhab Alam, Abdul Waris, and Delhi University research scholar Imamuddin Imam.
