The Tale Of A Dreaded Daku

There were kings and paupers, police officers and robbers, and many other personalities roaming the streets of colonial India, waiting for someone to narrate their tale. While some of them survived, many of them also faded away into oblivion. Although many of the stories have been forgotten through time, one that has survived is that of the infamous Sultana Daku.

Sultana Daku: A film starring Dara Singh and Helen; Image Source: YouTube- Cinecurry Classics

When one enters the Raj Bhawan of Nainital, they can see a well-decorated wall with deadly weapons. These belong to none other than the famous madcap and an adventurous dacoit named Sultana Daku. We grew up hearing the rebellious tales of Robin Hood, a robber from the fourteenth century who lived in the woods of Sherwood in County Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom.

Along with his fierce companions, he would go around stealing money and other valuable items from the wealthy and aristocratic people and distributing the wealth among the poor. He, too, was a regular citizen, leading a happy life, until one day, everything changed. His land was taken away forcibly by the Sheriff of Nottingham, after which he began robbing the rich people. Many novels and films have been created about it, yet it is still debatable whether it happened in reality or not.

When someone visits India, another tale is told fervently in the country, which is quite similar to that of Robin Hood. When one goes a hundred miles to the east of Delhi, they can find the famous town of Moradabad. After India gained independence, Sikh farmers came and settled in this area. However, before independence, a dacoit roamed the streets of Jim Corbett. Even after searching for this devil for years, the British officers couldn't track him down. Such was his terror and impression, parents would pray that their kids never became anything like Sultana.

People living in the Terai and Bhabar regions of India have heard of this terrifying name, but no one knows about Sultana. Numerous indigenous films and books have been written that highlight the life of this bandit, yet the veil of mystery has never been lifted from this tale. Sultana's adventure started with the Bhantu community, who claim to be the descendants of the sixteenth-century ruler of Mewar, Maharana Pratap.

However, his rule ended when he lost his kingdom to the mighty Mughal ruler, Akbar. According to the folklore narrated by the Bhantu community, it is said that they moved out of Mewar and went on to live in different regions of India. They were dedicated to Mewar and its king and believed their leader would one day take them back to their land. However, the British considered them a criminal tribe and often kept a stringent eye on them and their activities. Indeed, Gulphi, the Bhantus' most renowned progenitor, was the most skilled of all burglars. Sultana was born in this environment. Sultana's grandfather, too, was a famous thief and people called a reincarnate of Gulphi.

Sultana might not have been destined to become a robber, but his circumstances forced him to become one. When absolute poverty took over the Bhantu tribe, Sultana escaped to the Najibabad Fort, where Mukti Fauj, a sanitization camp, was conducted for the Bhantu tribe. It was believed that regular labour in the fields, imprisonment in the centre and massive doses of Christian faith would reform them. Those who demonstrated excellent behaviour for a few years were assigned to fields outside the camp. However, the death of a man named Adjutant Anand drove Sultana crazy, and he escaped from the base. He then settled in the forests where Jim Corbett used to live. He soon formed a gang consisting of people from the Bhantu clan. Following which, Sultana raided baniyas, who earned by deceit, and concealed their wealth under the kitchen counter. He also obbed the Thakurs and the ruling classes, and played hide and seek with the cops.

The British officers were irritated with the hide-and-seek game they had to play with Sultana and his gang. Finally, the responsibility of capturing Sultana Daku was given to Freddy Young, the fattest police officer from England. Young spent a lot of time collecting information about Sultana and found that he always helped the underprivileged people who didn't have any finances to support themselves. Sultana, too, was adored by the poor people and was hailed as a messiah. He also had assistance from the police department, which alerted him of their plans. of the forces against him. Young was impressed by the actions of Sultana and tried to convince the British to pardon him, but it didn't work. The British officers decided to hang him at the Haldwani Jail.

Little did the officers know about a secret that Daku possessed. He had a son whom he kept away from all the negativity of his life. To save his son, Sultana confessed everything to Freddy. Sultana then requested that Young raise his kid like a 'Sahib,' which would confer honor and respect on him. The British officer was true to his word and even sent the boy to England for further studies. He took Sultana Daku to Agra jail, where he was tried along with 13 persons. Sultana and the others were sentenced to death by hanging. Many members of his group were sentenced to life in jail, including Kala Pani. His entire confession to Freddy was recorded and published in a book named The Confession of Sultana Daku, written by Sujit Saraf. His bravery is often talked about in high regard even today. Though he hated the British in India and other wealthy people, his intentions were never wrong. His tale is one of trials and tribulations, and it is still narrated with reverence.