Mohammad Sher Ali,

MOHAMMAD SHER ALI

Date of Birth: 1842 and Date of Death: 1872

            Mohammad Sher Ali, an embodiment of anti-British spirit, was born in 1842 at Peshawar, presently in Pakistan.  He was inspired by the Wahabi movement that arose against the British in his younger age.  He migrated to Ambala from Peshawar in 1863.  He was sentenced to death on 2^nd April, 1868, as he was proclaimed an offender by the British court in a case of personal rivalry.  However the death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment because of his good behaviour in the jail and transferred him to the jail in Andaman.  He was worrying in the Jail for his inability to do anything to the fellow countrymen.  He was planning to take revenge against the British.  He carefully designed a plan to reach his goal.  He took the prison officials into confidence with his balanced behaviour and could secure an appointment of hair cut work of the co-prisoners.  Mohammad Sher Ali was given material which can be used for hair cutting work, in which there was a sharp knife, which he wanted to use to avenge the enemy.  While he was waiting for an opportunity, the British Viceroy Lord Mayo visited the Andaman Jail on 8^th February, 1872.  Sher Ali was eagerly waiting to take revenge.  He was awaiting the arrival of British official Lord Mayo.  While the Viceroy was inspecting prison cells, Sher Ali suddenly jumped over and assaulted the Viceroy with his knife.  Thus he killed the Viceroy within no time.  Later, he openly admitted his crime in the trial and said, ‘I left all hopes on my life when I entered in the movement for freedom of my country.  I could at least eliminate one of our enemies.  I could perform my duty.  All of you would be the witness for my noble duty in the court of God’.  Mohammad Sher Ali was again sentenced to death for killing the Viceroy.  Before being hanged, Sher Ali said that ‘he was not repenting for his deed, rather felt proud’.  He was hanged on 11^th March, 1872 at Viper Island.  Historian Shantimoy Roy paid glowing tributes to him saying that ‘Martyr Mohammad Sher Ali had become the role model for his next generation of revolutionaries, who fought against the British, as they were inspired by his gallantry, patriotism and commitment towards the cause of the country’.