Orissa Review * August - 2008

Orissa in the Great Revolt of 1857

Balabhadra Ghadei

In the year 1857 witnessed a great armed significant role in the sensational drama of the Great uprising against the known as the Great Revolt of 1857 in Orissa. A Panda of the Revolt of 1857 or Sepoy Mutiny or the First War Jagannath temple at he used to visit up- of India's Independence. The Revolt which broke country military stations to induce the Sepoys to out at Barrack pore had its shadow cast in visit this sacred shrine. During his such visit he different parts of India including Orissa. Of those came in close contact with the Sepoys of the 13th great patriots of Orissa who actively participated Bengal Native Infantry (B.N.I.) which revolted in the Great Rising, special mention may be made at Lucknow. On account of this, he was arrested of Ramakrushna Samanta Singhar, Chakhi on suspision. After the declaration of amnesty, Khuntia, Surendra Sai and a few others. Chaki Khuntia was released on 15th November, Ramakrushna Samanta Singhar, the heir of 1858. Chakhi Khuntia, however, has become a great poet Abhimanyu Samanta Singhar was born popular legend in Orissa. in Burran Paragana under Jajpur Police station of In the spirit of the rebellion was District. He happened to be the Ex- most fierce under the leadership pf Surendra Sai. Zamindar of Balia. On account of the Sunset Law It was thirty years before the Rising of 1857 that introduced by Lord Cornwallis, he along with Surendra launched a resistance movement against many Zamindars was deprived of Zamindari. So the British over a succession issue. In 1827, the in August 1857, he organized the Khandayats Raja of Sambalpur, Maharaj Sai died, leaving under his banner to rise against the British. behind him his Rani Mohan Kumari and two Dinabandhu Mahapatra and Upendra Jena were daughters but no male heir. Local custom and two other leaders. Bombs and swords were seized tradition did not permit Rani to ascend the Gadi. from them and police oppression was carried out. On the other hand, Surendra being a direct agnate They were arrested and Ramakrushna and his of the royal family had legal claim to the Gadi. allies were sentenced to five years rigorous This was also admitted by the officiating imprisonment. After the declaration of amnesty Commissioner of Cuttack, R.N. Shore But by the Brirish Government in November, 1858 defying the established local custom, the Political Ramakrushna and his associates were released. Agent of Chhotnagpur installed Rani Mohan Chakhi Khuntia, also called Chandan Kumari on the Gadi, hoping that she would be Hajuri was another popular leader who played a puppet and the British Government would manage

10 Orissa Review * August - 2008 everything on her behalf. Naturally her accession Commissioner of Chhatnagpur who sent it to the was challenged by Surendra in the form of an Government of Bengal on 30th October armed rising Meanwhile, the British authorities recommending the commutation of sentences on pensioned off the Rani and sent her to Panchgarh condition that both the brothers would reside in Khurdha with a pension of Rs.600/- per month, either at Cuttack or at Ranchi, But he ruled out The British authority chose one Narayan Singh, the installation of Surendra Sai as the Raja of the Zamindar of Barpali as the successor to Mohan Sambalpur. In the meantime, in anticipation of Kumari and thus he was the Raja of Sambalpur rebellion the British Government brought more on 11 October, 1833. Surendra Sai along with troops to Sambalpur. The residents of Surendra his brother Uddant Sai and uncle Balaram Singh Sai anticipated trouble and fled to the Khinda challenged the accession in the form of Revolt in village where his brother Uddant was staying. On 1837 but they were captured and confined in the night of 31st October, 1857 some prominent Hazaribag Jail in 1840. tribal Zamindars and Gauntias (village headmen) It was on 10th September, 1849 that at this moment extended help to Surendra Sai. Narayan Singh died issueless. In December, 1849 Thereafter the rebellion took a serious turn. The the State lapsed and the widow Rani sent off to whole of the district of Sambalpur and a part of Cuttack with a pension of Rs.100/- p.m. Eight Bamra State were in flames. Surendra Sai made years later it was on 30th July, 1857 that at a small hillock near the village Kudapoli his Hazaribagh the mutinieers broke open the jail gate headquarters from where he directed his and forcibly set Surendra Sai and his brother operations and Sambalpur's road connection with Uddant free along with 32 other prisoners from Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Cuttack and Nagpur were the province of Cuttack and other Tributary for sometime cut off by the rebels. Meanwhile Mahals. the insurgents obstructed the Dak Road to Bombay and burnt down two of the Dak Stations. After the incident Surendra Sai and his The British authorities failed to control the situation brother reorganized the tribal people and the as it was impracticable on the part of the troops Zamindars. Captain Leigh, the Senior Assistant to carry on operations against the rebels in the Commissioner in charge of Sambalpur got jungles. Two British Medical Officers, Dr. T. alarmed at the approach of Surendra and very Moore and Dr. D. Hanson who were proceeding soon brought some new forces from Cuttack to to Sambalpur to give medical aid to the soldiers meet the situation. As Surendra Sai reached were assaulted by the rebels at Jujomara. Dr. Sambalpur in the middle of September, 1857 the Moore was killed on 17th November, 1857. Dr. people gave a rousing reception and they Hanson escaped with much difficulty by hiding promised to fight the British under his leadership. himself in the Jungle and was rescued after two On October, 1857 Surendra Sai accompanied days by the British troops. He was brought back by his friends and followers made a representation to Rampur. to Captain Leigh for remission of the sentence of imprisonment on him and for his installation as Having received the report of the agonizing Raja of Sambalpur. Captain Leigh forwarded his incident, Captain Leigh visited the spot where he representation to Captain T.E. Dalton, the and party were his attacked by the insurgents.

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Fighting under the cover of the dense jungles, they Colonel Forster, Surendra Sai, the leader of the killed a few and wounded several man of his rebellion, still remained at large. detachment. This was the darkest hour for the In April 1861, Major Impey was appointed British. On 30th December 1857, Captain Wood Deputy Commissioner of Sambalpur in place of made a surprise attack on the rebels at Kudopali. Colonel Forster, He believed that only conciliatory A skirmish followed, in which 53 rebels including measures would induce the rebels including the Chhabila Sai, the fifth brother of Surendra Sai leader Surendra Sai to surrender. In September were killed. But Surendra Sai managed to escape. 24, 1861, amnesty was proclaimed for all except Meanwhile Major Bates reached Surendra Sai, his brother Uddant Sai and his son Sambalpur on 7th January, 1958 and assumed Mitrabhanu. The next Proclamation, issued on overall command of the troops. He occupied the 11th October, 1861 extended amnesty to these Jharghati Pass, situated at a distance of 14 miles rebel leaders. The Proclamation attracted a large north of Sambalpur on Ranchi-Sambalpur Road number of rebels who were tired of forest life and which was blocked by Uddant Sai, the brother wanted to settle peacefully with their family and of Surendra Sai. He next destroyed the village of friends. Mitrabhanu, the only son of Surendra Sai Kolabira, which had been stronghold of rebels, surrendered to Major Impey on 7th January, and shortly afterwards the Gauntia and 13 of the 1862. On the 3rd May, 1862 Surendra Sai wrote most influential men gave themselves up. The to Impey that he was prepared to surrender if his estate was confiscated, and the Gauntia, convicted claim to the throne be considered but Impey of treason, was hanged. refused to accept his demand and assured him that he would be given liberal pension for that. On February 12, 1858 Captain Surendra Sai then asked for financial aid to pay Woodbridge and Captain Wood besieged the the arrears to his soldiers. Major Impey at once fort of Paharasirgida, but the rebels shot Captain sent him a sum of Rs.500/-. Thereafter he Woodbridge dead. Two days later, the naked surrendered to Major Impey on the 16th May, and headless body of Woodbridge was 1862. Subsequently the amount of pension of recovered by Ensign Warlo. It seems that Surendra Sai was recommended to be raised to Surendra Sai avenged the death of his brother Rs.1200/- per annum. Chhabila Sai. In March, 1863, when Sir Richard Temple, In March, 1858, Colonel Forster took the Chief Commissioner of charge of the Sambalpur district from Captain visited Sambalpur, some prominent persons of Leigh and adopted stern measures to put an end the district made a representation and that" final to the rebellion. The Rajas and Zamindars were tranquility would never exist at Sambalpur till a severely dealt with. The Raja of Patna was fined Chauhan restored to the Gadi". But Mr Temple 1,000 rupees as he was suspected of giving help rejected this demand. It was suspected that and shelter to Ujjal Sai, a brother of Surendra Surendra Sai instigated the people to make such Sai. In order to have the fine remitted, the Raja representation. The British officers put pressure arrested Ujjal Sai and made him over to Colonel on Major Impey for the arrest of Surendra Sai Forster who hanged him. In spite of all efforts of but he did not like to do so on flimsy ground.

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Major Impey died at Sambalpur in There were yet a few other veteran leaders December, 1863 and with his death the political of Sambalpur region whose significant role in the situation underwent a vast change. His successor Indian Mutiny of 1857 cannot be ignored. Madha Cumberledge reversed Impey's policy. It was on Singh the Zamindar o Ghens and his three sons 23rd January, 1864 that Surendra Sai, his son namely Kunjal Singh, Hatee Singh and Bairi Singh and close followers were arrested in his own house took active part in fighting against British rule. One at Khinda. His brother Uddant Sai and Medini of the British Commanders named Woodbridge Sai were also captured from a distant place. Some was killed in a battle. Their attack was so trumped up charges were brought against them, formidable that after the suppression of the Revolt and on the basis of such charges, the commissioner in other parts of India, they concentrated their of Chhattishgarh sentenced them to deportation efforts and subdued them. Madha Singh was for life. The accused filed an appeal against the captured and hanged to death in 1858. In 1865, order of the Commissioner of Chhattishgarh in the three brothers were arrested. Of them Hatee the Court of Judicial Commissioner, John Scarlet Singh was sentenced to transportation for life and Campbell. After a proper investigation into the died in Sambalpur. The rebellion in Sambalpur matter Campbell gave the verdict that the police was suppressed ruthlessly. Although the mutiny had leveled such charges being unable to capture in India collapsed in 1858, fighting in Sambalpur Kamal Singh and other dacoits. continued up to 1862 and this was the last district Inspite of the verdict of the Judical in India where the members of rebellion took a Commissioner, Surendra Sai and six other considerably long time to cool down. prisoners were detained at Nagpur under Thus, Orissa made significant contribution Regulation III of 1818. They were kept in the to the Great Revolt of 1857. The anticolonial up Nagpur Jail and thereafter sent to the fort of risings under the leadership of its valiant sons Asirgarh. Surendra Sai's brother Medini Sai died became source of inspiration and patriotism to in Asirgarh fort in 1876. Mitrbhanu, son of the succeeding generations of Indian people in Surendra Sai was released. But Surendra Sai was their fight for freedom. kept in Jail till the end of his life. The details about the last days of Surendra Sai in the Asirgarh Jail are not known. He is, however, reported to have Balabhadra Ghadai is the Principal of M.K. College, passed away on 28th February, 1884. Khiching in the district of Mayurbhanj.

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