The 1857 War of Independence was fought with unique revolutionary fervour and sense of national identity. One of its many remarkable features was the participation of a large number of Muslim divines and thinkers who not only issued edicts in favour of the war against the British, but also often fought as combat soldiers in the national army. Among those who tok part in the battle of Shamli in Muzaffarnagar District of Utar Pradesh was the great sufi and saint, Shah Imdadullah Muhajir Makki: one of his companions in arme was a 25 years old scholar Muhammad Qasim, of Nanauta in Saharanpur District of Uttar Pradesh later to become famous all over the Islamic world as the founder and the guiding spirit of the Darul-Uloom at Deoband (Distt. Saharanpur).

Founded in 1866, with the inspiration of Shah Imdadullah Muhajir makki, Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi and other great muslims of the time, the Darul-Uloom began to attract students and scholars from far and wide even during the brief life span of Maulana Muhammad Qasim. The institution kept up its tradition of unflinching devotion to the laws and learning of Islam in their pristine purity, strong nationalist bias and total independence of Government aid. It became, in the words of late President Rajendra Prasad, " a stronghold of freedom". During its 114 years of existence, it has not accepted any grant or aid from any Government body and yet has been able to educate to the highest level more than 15,000 scholars in Islamic laws, theology, philosophy and medicine. Students have come to it from as far as the USSR, China, Africa, and even Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen.

At present its enrolment exceeds 1,800; the number of rsident teachers and men of learning is almost 400; its budget for the year 1978 was about Rs. 29 lakhs. Among those who have taught or studied at the Darul-Uloom are some of the greatest names in the world of Islamic learning during the last one hundred years. The Darul-Ulom has stood over the years as a citadel of the ideals of fredom and self-determination against European imperialism all over Asia and Africa. Maulana Muhammad Qasim died at the early age of 48 in 1880, almost a hundred years ago.

The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a special stamp to commemorate DArul-Uloom, the institution that is his everlasting memorial.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India