The uprising against British rule created a sense that the British Empire might collapse in India. For the first time, the people of India loudly opposed the mighty British. The public was essential in the struggle against the British and was willing to lay down their lives for their country.
The Indian Revolt of 1857 was a pivotal event in Indian history, often termed the “First War of Independence” by historians. Key figures include Rani Lakshmi Bai, Bahadur Shah, Nana Saheb, Tantya Tope, Kunwar Singh, and Surendra Sai. Political, economic, social, and religious factors drove the Revolt, which started in Barrackpore and spread across India, including Orissa.
This blog highlights Orissa’s role in the “First War of Independence.” Veer Surendra Sai played a notable part in this Revolt. Kamal Singh Dau, son of Balabhadra Singh, joined Veer Surendra Sai in his fight against British rule when Sai was denied the Sambalpur throne in 1827. This marked the beginning of an uprising against British occupation.
Kamal Singh Dau was born in Lakhanpur during the fierce struggle for India’s independence from British colonialism. He was a prominent leader among the rebels who opposed the suppression of tribal people and the anti-peasant policies during the British Raj. With his father and Surendra Sai’s guidance, he organized the tribal people. He formed a potent guerrilla force, deploying them strategically at Debrigarh and Barapahar, in the Barapahar terrains and Gandmaru hill near Alekhpur village. Armed with traditional weapons, they fought in numerous battles.
Another Nationalist, Oriya Rama Krushna Samanta Singhar, the Zamindar of Balia, also dedicated his life to the Revolt. Raja Arjun Singh of Parhat and his wife, Dewan Jagu, also actively participated in the anti-British activities. British authorities in Orissa have taken steps to prevent disturbance.
Thousands of Pandas at Jagannath temple traveled nationwide to find followers and make money. They often visited military bases to get Sepoys to come to the temple. A particular focus was on those visiting during the car festival. Disbanded Sepoys from the 19th and 34th Bengal Native Infantry visited Puri before heading home. The Commissioner advised the Puri Magistrate to have the police check these Sepoys’ activities. The District Magistrate reported that around fifty Sepoys visited Puri, most of whom have since left.
Commissioner of Orissa, Cockburn, ordered strict monitoring of all devotees. The Government of Bengal instructed all Magistrates to submit weekly reports on the state of affairs during the Revolt. During this period, police officers were empowered to arrest individuals on suspicion. Additionally, the Commissioner ordered the Zamindars of Orissa to relinquish their arms and ammunition. The Orissa Government implemented comprehensive preventive measures in response to the Revolt of 1857.
During the crucial period of the mutiny, some Sepoys came from Bengal to Puri. One hundred sixty-seven sepoys from Jalpaiguri and Berhampur came to Puri in August and November of 1857.
The police at Puri thoroughly searched all the spies, and their activities were carefully examined. One incident related to Chakhi Khuntia during the Great Revolt is remarkable. Chakhi Khuntia’s original name was Chandan Hajuri, a Sepoy Panda of Puri. He was suspected of being a “rebel” as he had good relations with the Sepoys of Northern India. Chakhi Khuntia was probably at some northern military station when the Revolt broke out. He remained absent in Puri for a long time, which naturally created suspicion in the minds of the British authorities. It was also rumored that he was directly involved in the Revolt. It’s also said that Chakhi Khuntia had kept direct contact with Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhanshi during the mutiny. His property was confiscated. He was arrested at Gaya but was released soon after the Queen of England’s Proclamation in 1858.
The Tributary Mahals of Orissa became silent during the Revolt of 1857. The kings of Tributary Mahals supported the British Government. Rajas of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar provided exemplary service to the British during the mutiny of 1857. The British government rewarded the ruling chief of the two native states with the title of “Maharaja.”
The 1857 Rebellion seems to be the end of a series of processes. Focusing more on Orissa, Surendra Sai’s movement is relatively well known. However, some features that are generally ignored need to be highlighted.
The British took over Sambalpur from Marathas in 1817. This implied interference, and when the raja, Maharaja Sai, died in 1827, the widowed Rani was allowed
to succeed. Surendra Sai, who claimed chief Ship as the descendant of the fourth chief of Sambalpur, Madhukar Sahai, was deprived of succeeding him to the throne. This
The contest witnessed some discontent. Surendra’s support from the Gond and Binjhal tribes, including their Zamindars, is usually not mentioned. The Zamindars were unhappy because they were losing their land to Hindu settlers. This process had pre-colonial origins but was reinforced considerably by the region’s colonization and was encouraged by the Rani. This led to a spell of rebellions in the form of guerrilla warfare in the hill tracts. The British intervened through Captain Wilkinson by hanging some leaders deposing the Rani and replacing her with Narayan Singh. The Gonds rebelled again, basing themselves in the Barapahar hills, and Surendra continued to claim the throne for himself. In 1840, his brother Udwant Sahai and Uncle Balaram Singh murdered the son and father of Darayo Singh, Zamindar of Rampur. They were arrested and were sent off to Hazaribagh jail as life prisoners.
Narayan Singh’s death in 1849 saw the Company’s direct involvement in Sambalpur. Since he had no male successor, Sambalpur was taken over under the
provisions of Dalhousie’s ‘doctrine of lapse.’ Systematic increases in land revenue demands through two settlements (in 1849 and 1854), along with the resumption
of elite tenures created a lot of dissatisfaction and anger that exploded during 1857. We’re told about the news of the ‘mutiny’ at Dina Pore reaching Hazaribagh toward the end of July 1857. Very soon after, the treasury was plundered, the jail broken open, and the prisoners released. Surendra and his brother, Udwant Sahai, were among the prisoners. They led a group of ‘mutineers’ and advanced toward Sambalpur amidst rumors of ‘insurrectionary’ movements. When the Sahai brothers entered the district of Sambalpur, they were joined by many supporters. They entered the town of Sambalpur in the middle of September with about 1,400 to 1,600 men and stayed close to the old fort. Interestingly, according to colonial sources, Sahai met the Assistant Commissioner and assured him that he had no intention of taking over the Raj. His only request was to cancel the remaining prison sentences of both him and his brother. The Assistant Commissioner seems to have wanted to buy time since the colonial administration at Cuttack had decided to send in reinforcements from Madras. Sahai was told that his request would be communicated to the government.
On October 31, 1857, Surendra left Sambalpur and joined Udwant at Khinda, where about 1,400 men had gathered. Most probably, the news of reinforcements being moved to the area reached the rebels. What one witnesses after this was large-scale guerrilla warfare. It involved the tribal folk, who effectively fought against the colonial forces. As described in November 1857:
‘At present, the insurgent seems to be a rabble easily dispersed, but who as easily reassemble.’ The initial fears of this movement attracting rebels from distant
Parts of the win-in did prove to be correct. The rebels obstructed the dark road to Bombay and burnt down two dark stations to cripple the communication links of the
Enemy. We’re told about several armed encounters with the rebels, protected by the forests and the hills. Sahai always accompanied 100 people, including women and forty ‘sepoy mutineers…supposed to be’ of the ‘Ramghur Batallion.’
The colonial forces faced reverses and lost many men, including Captain Woodbridge. The rebels’ worries are shown by the fear they caused by destroying villages and hanging people who were thought to be supportive of them. We get references to ‘sorties’ organized to fight rebel forces. The 1857 rebellion continued almost unabated till Surendra was arrested in 1864. The desperate efforts to ‘hunt…down’ Sai for four years and send troops in all directions proved ineffective. The efforts to counter the rebellion also included ensuring that the rebels did not get any supplies and help and rewarding the rajas of Bamra, Baud, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Rairakhol, Sareikalla, Sonepur, propertied sections (viz. the Zamindars of Sambalpur and Bodasambar) and upper castes like Brahmins.
The colonial forces carried out a three-pronged attack on the rebels at Kulunda Ghat in December 1859, which failed to capture Sahai. The colonial government declared a reward of Rs 1,000 for capturing Sahai. These features show both the popularity of the rebellion and its class character. Interestingly, as late as 1863, after Sambalpur had been transferred to the central provinces, the old demand of ‘restoring native rule’ was revived. A petition submitted by ‘landholders, Brahmins and influential people of Sambalpur’ maintained that if ‘Surendra was made the Raja, all would be well and the government, in place of losing by the country, might demand a heavy tribute.’ What seems particularly striking is how Chakara Bisoi faded away by the time the 1857 rebellion touched Orissa, symbolizing perhaps how he ‘merged’ with popular aspirations involved with the anti-imperialist struggle in this phase.
Finally, Surendra Sai was arrested in 1864. In the year 1884, on February 28, Surendra Sai died in the Asirgarh fort, away from his native land, which he loved very much.
In conclusion, it can be said that the 1857 rebellion had a broad base and was much beyond a ‘restorative’ movement involving Surendra Sai. The active participation of marginal people shows this. Alongside this, the involvement of the private sector contributed to the widespread, armed guerrilla
warfare, perhaps for the first time in colonial Orissa. Historians focus on the anti-imperialist aspect of 1857. Nevertheless, given the problems faced by the tribal and
outcasts over the 1804–1857. The 1857 rebellion polarized class and caste considerably, at least in western Orissa.
This is visible in the way that had seen a struggle with internal exploiters, ranging from the rajas and big landlords to the Hindu upper castes. At the same time,
The rebellion united some of the rich and poor with the common people. It showed that they had a common enemy: British imperialism.
