Saidullah

Who is Saidullah?

Saidullah was a Pashtun fakir and religious mendicant whose Pashto name translated to "God-intoxicated" as a reference to his religious convictions and his belief that he was capable of miraculous powers. In response to the British occupation of the North West Frontier Province of modern day Pakistan, and the division of Pashtun lands by the 1,519 mile long Durand Line, Saidullah declared a jihad against the occupying British Empire and led from 10,000 to 100,000 Pashtun tribesmen in an uprising which began with the siege of Malakand from July 26 to August 2, 1897 against British forces under Brigadier-General William Hope Meiklejohn, and Major-General Sir Bindon Blood.