Muḥammad Mazhar Nanautawi (1821–1885) was an Indian Muslim scholar and a freedom struggle activist who played a crucial role in the development Mazahir Uloom.
[5] Mazhar was appointed the head teacher of Arabic department of the Government College in Varanasi by Aloys Sprenger.
[8] Mazhar participated in the Indian freedom struggle and fought alongside Imdadullah Muhajir Makki in the Battle of Shamli.
[10] He joined the Nawal Kishore Press as a copy editor and worked there for more than seven years.
[11] In February 1867, Mazhar joined the Mazahir Uloom; where he taught the subjects including tafsir, hadith, fiqh, literature and history.