Chhattisgarh Sepoy Revolt: the Forgotten Martyrs

Raipur | Correspondent: Are you aware of the Sepoy Revolt that took place in Raipur during 1858?

17 individuals involved in sepoy mutiny who declared rebellion against the British in Chhattisgarh were executed by hanging.

However, most of the martyrs have been forgotten.

Narayan Singh, landowner of Sonakhan was publicly hanged to death on December 10, 1857 at the Jaistambh Chowk by the Britishers assuming they had eradicated every possibility of further rebel within the region.

But, the incident of death sentence instead ignited the slowly smoldering fire of rebellion within the public.

Just 39th days after the execution of Narayan Singh, on January 18, 1958, a soldier revolt occurred within the British 3rd Native Infantry in Raipur.

The hero of this Sepoy revolt was Lashkar Hanuman Singh, the magazine editor for the British Army.

Hanuman Singh killed Sidwell, the Major of his 3rd Regular Regiment and declared a sepoy revolt in Raipur.

This act of Hanuman Singh, a resident of Bainswada, Rajasthan, shocked everyone.

The news spread like wildfire, and under the leadership of Lieutenant C.B. Smith, the rebels were surrounded on all sides.

The rebel soldiers fought for 6 hours but due to depleted ammunition and overwhelming strength of British army they had to face defeat.

Hanuman Singh evaded capture by the British, but 17 soldiers who supported him were caught.

These included artillery havildar, 14 privates and 2 soldiers of regiment.

Raipur District Commissioner Charles Elliot gave instructions to prosecute all of them.

On the 4th day of the Sepoy Revolt, January 22 these 17 freedom fighters were hanged to death publicly.

Rebel Revolutionaries in Sepoy Revolt executed by hanging include:

Ghazi Khan

Balli Dubey

Abdul Hayat

Mullu

Shobharam

Akbar Hussain

Nazar Mohammad

Shivnarayan

Shiv Govind

Lalla Singh

Ballu

Pannalal

Matadin

Thakur Singh

Parmanand

Durga Prasad

Devidin