Orissa Review * January - 2006

Vir Surendra Sai The Indomitable Hero of Orissa

Braja Paikaray

The heroes who fought against the Britishers to the British Government installed the widow queen keep the prestige and dignity of Mother shall Mohan Kumari on the throne of be remembered by the countrymen for ever. Vir without caring for the legitimate right of Vir Surendra Sai who was a great Surendra Sai. Though queen revolutionary has glorified the Mohan Kumari was pages of Indian history for his completely unfit for the deep patriotism, rare courage, managing the State indomitable spirit and relentless Administration, she was struggle against the foreign appointed as the ruler of Sambalpur as because she rulers. could play to the tune of the The First War of Britishers. But on the other hand Independence, better known the British rulers had known it as the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, pretty well that Vir Surendra Sai broke out all of a sudden. was not the person to follow the However the rebellion could dictum of the British not be sustained for long. But Government. The selection of it was Vir Surendra Sai who queen Mohan Kumari as the could sustain the flame of successor of Sambalpur throne revolution till 1864 due to his irked many Adivasi Zamindars uncommon mental strength and unique guerrilla who revolted against the decision of the British warfare. Government and it was Vir Surendra Sai who took the leadership of those Zamindars and fought Vir Surendra Sai was born on 23rd January against the foreign rulers to the last drop of his 1809 in Chauhan royal family in village Khinda blood. situated at a distance of thirty Kms, on the Surendra Sai spent 37 years of his life inside northern side of Sambalpur town. He had married the prison and had fought relentlessly against the the daughter of Hatibadi Zamindar of the-then Britishers for 20 years i.e. from 1827 to 1840 in Gangpur state and had become the father of a the first phase and from 1857 to 1864 in the son named Mitrabhanu Sai and one daughter. In second phase but had never bowed down his 1827 the King of Sambalpur died issueless and head before the enemies.

1 Orissa Review * January - 2006

'Surendra Sai was an able general whose In 1861 Major Impey was appointed as unique organizing capacity and sound military the Deputy Commissioner of Sambalpur. He knowledge had become a constant source of followed the policy of peace instead of war and headache for the British rulers. The British stopped fighting with Surendra Sai. The mutineers Ramgad Battalion stationed at Sambalpur under who surrendered themselves were pardoned and the command of Captain Higgins could not be their confiscated properties were restored to able to face Vir Surendra Sai as he was an expert them. in guerrilla warfare. In order to crush the rebellion, When the brothers and only son of Vir another battalion of British soldiers rushed to Surendra Sai surrendered, Major Impey treated Sambalpur from Hazaribag of Bihar. Though the them with respect and dignity and allowed them rebelllion was crushed to some extent it could not to stay at their village Khinda. On 16th May 1862 be wiped out completely. Hence, the British Surendra Sai met Major Impey inside the dense Government under compulsion of the situation forest at night and surrendered himself. He was dethroned queen Mohan Kumari and installed also allowed to stay in his village. Narayan Singh, a distant relative of Sambalpur royal family as the ruler of Sambalpur. Once again In 1863 Major Impey expired and after the rebellion erupted at Sambalpur. his death the political situation of Sambalpur completely changed. In place of Major Impey, In 1837 Surendra Sai, Udanta Sai, Balaram Captain Cumberledge became the Deputy Singh and Balabhadra Deo, (the Zamindar of Commissioner of Sambalpur. He did not prefer Lakhanpur assembled together at Debrigada to to follow the policy of peace. In order to crush decide the future course of action. But the rebellion from the bud, Captain Cumberledge unfortunately all of a sudden the British Soldiers conspired with Captain Stewart and Mr. Berryel reached at the spot and killed Balabhadra Deo and ransacked the hide out of Vir Surendra Sai mercilessly. Fortunately Surendra Sai and his on 23rd January 1864 at midnight while he was followers escaped from the clutches of the asleep with his relatives and made them captives. Englishmen. They were taken to Rayapur at the dead hour of In the year 1840, Surendra Sai, and the night. Later on Vir Surendra Sai and his family Udanta Sai along with their uncle Balaram Singh members were sent to Jail and finally to were caught and imprisoned at Hazaribag Jail as Asirgad Fort in the year 1866. On 28th February life convicts with rigorous imprisonment. 1884 Vir Surendra Sai breathed his last inside In 1849 when Narayan Singh expired Vir the Asirgad Fort prison. Surendra Sai was still a prisoner at Hazaribag Jail. On 30th July 1857 at the time of Sepoy Mutiny, the rebellious sepoys forcibly dashed inside the Hazaribag Jail and freed Surendra Sai along with 32 prisoners. Surendra Sai returned to Sambalpur Braja Paikray is an Addl. Govt. Pleader, and organised the people to fight against the Court and he lives at 342/B, Jagamara (Barabari), Britishers. Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar-30

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