A Single Handed Fight

A black day in India’s history, Veer Kunwar Singh, the country’s military gem who played a major role in the Great Revolt of 1857 passed away at his home in Jagdishpur due to injuries sustained during an encounter.

Veer Kunwar Singh; Source: Wikimedia Commons

The year is 1777, in the severe winter of November, Maharaja Shahabzada Singh and Maharani Panchratan Devi are blessed with a boy who would go down in history as Veer Kunwar Singh.

Born in Jagdishpur, Bihar he belonged to the Ujjainiya clan of Rajputs, from which King Vikramaditya of Bhoj hailed. He got married to the daughter of Raja Fateh Narain Singh who was a rich zamindar and a descendant of Maharana Pratap. Veerta was surely imbibed in his family.

After his father's demise, he started ruling Jagdishpur. A justice-loving ruler like Kunwar kept everything merry in his kingdom but this won't be for long as the political atmosphere in the country was rapidly changing.

It is said that he was an environmentalist. He ordered a large scale tree plantation across his kingdom - a move that would prove pretty fruitful in future.

The year 1857 was a landmark in the country. Every one got united - the rich, the poor, the Hindus, the Muslims - everyone fought tooth and nail against one single enemy - the British. The war of Independence had begun!

When the motherland called, Kunwar Singh was 80 years old and in failing health but as the famous phrase goes, age was just a number for this man. He took charge of the sepoys stationed at Danapur on 25th July and within two days captured Arrah, the district headquarters. A large force under Major Vincent Eyre after intense battle finally managed to recapture Arrah and destroy Jagdishpur.

This wasn't the end. Remember the tree plantation by Kunwar Singh earlier? Those trees by now had grown into a dense forest across the Kingdom. As it was not possible to meet the British openly Kunwar Singh would exploit Shivaji Maharaj's Guerrilla warfare. There were secret paths in those dense trees that only the king and his men knew. The Guerrilla warfare continued for almost a year, rendering the British helpless.

During one such daring raid when Kunwar Singh and his men were crossing the Ganges river, the British started shooting at the boat. Unfortunately, one such stray bullet struck Kunwar Singh's wrist. There was a danger of infection and imminent death which would have left the rebellion leaderless. Kunwar Singh without giving it a thought took out his sword and removed his hand from the elbow, offering it to 'mother' Ganga.

Still pursued by the British he kept on fighting singlehandedly. Then came the fateful day of 23rd April 1858, the battle to win back his home, the fight for Jagdishpur. The young Kunwar Singh fought valiantly against Captain Le Grand. The British troops were routed. Kunwar Singh's one arm was enough to bring down the Union Jack.

He returned to the palace wounded but satisfied. Kunwar's body finally gave up on this day in 1858.

The 80-year-old man who would even put youngsters to shame is lost today in the pages of history. Here, at ThisDay, we make an attempt to revise the histories long lost, one day at a time.