Moulvi Muhammad Baqir

Moulvi Muhammad Baqir (1780–1857) was a scholar, Indian independence activist and journalist based in Delhi. He was the first journalist to be executed following the Indian rebellion of 1857. He was arrested on 16 September 1857 and executed by gunshot two days later without trial. He was the founder and editor of Delhi Urdu Akhbar.

Early life Baqir was born in 1780 in Delhi. He received his early education from his father. In 1825, he went to Delhi College for further studies. After completing his education, he was appointed as a teacher in Delhi college in 1828, where he served for six years.

Imambara Azad Manzil In 1843, Maulvi Muhammad Baqir built an Imambara in Delhi near Kashmiri Gate. This was a very inclusive place of gathering where not only Shia Muslims but also Sunnis and Hindus gathered to commemorate the events of Karbala. Great poets like Ibrahim Zauq and Momin Khan Momin also participated in reciting elegies. He also built a mosque near Panja Sharif. In 1834, he also started publishing a religious magazine, Mazhar-e-Haq (مظہر حق), which published news on Shia world and also essays on Shia religious topics.

Dehli Urdu Akhbar In 1834 when the government allowed publication after amending the "Press Act", he entered the field of journalism. In 1835, he started taking out his newspaper under the name of the weekly "Dehli Urdu Akhbar"(دہلی اردو اخبار). A page of Dehli Urdu Akhbar, the first Urdu newspaper from Delhi. Maulvi Baqir made full use of his newspaper to generate public opinion against British rule during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The rebellion against the British was sparked by mutinying sepoys in 1857 and the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was given the leadership of the revolution by all the rebel leaders. Journalist Maulvi Baqir renamed his newspaper on 12 July 1857 to lend his support " Akhbar Uz Zafar ".

Journalist Maulvi Baqir, a staunch supporter of Hindu Muslim unity on 4 June 1857, printed articles in his newspaper appealing to both communities - "Don't miss this opportunity, if missed, no one will come to help, this is a good opportunity for you to get rid of British rule.

Death

Maulvi Muhammad Baqir was arrested on 14 September 1857 for revolt. On16 September 1857, he was tied to the mouth of a cannon which was then fired by Major William S.R. Hudson.