Rana Beni Madho - Revision history

BrooksPrather: improve details after review and corrected details

2026-03-07T06:19:41Z

improve details after review and corrected details

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:49, 7 March 2026
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	{{Short description\| ~~ruler of Shankarpur estate, leader~~ of the ~~revolt~~ of 1857 ~~in Oudh, India~~}}		{{Short description\|Leader of the Indian rebellion of 1857}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=January 2021}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=January 2021}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2021}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2021}}
	'''Rana Beni Madho''' or Beni Madho Baksh Singh Bais was ~~one of the most~~ important ~~leaders~~ in the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857\|Indian rebellion of 1857]] from the [[Awadh\|Oudh]] region (in the present-day state of [[Uttar Pradesh]]).<ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Singh\|first1=MK\|title=Revolt of 1857\|last2=Singh\|first2=Ravi Ranjan\|publisher=\|year=2021\|location=\|pages=207–210\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Pati\|first=Biswamoy\|title=The 1857 rebellion\|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]\|year=2007\|pages=68–69\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Wolpert\|first=Stanley A\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nTwwAQAAIAAJ&q=Beni+madho\|title=A New History of India\|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]\|year=2004\|~~pages~~=235\|isbn=978-0-19-516677-4\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Mukherjee\|first=Rudrangshu\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TiWNAvhoLkkC&dq=beni+madho+1857&pg=PA130\|title=Awadh in Revolt, ~~1857-1858~~: A Study of Popular Resistance\|publisher=[[Permanent Black]]\|year=2002\|pages=130\|isbn=9788178240275\|language=English}}</ref> He belonged to the [[Bais (Rajput clan)\|Bais]] clan of [[Rajput]]s and was the ruler of Shankarpur estate in modern-day [[Raebareli district\|Rae Bareli]] part of the old [[Baiswara]] region in ~~the~~ Oudh.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Chakraborty\|first=Kaushik\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WH0MAQAAMAAJ&q=Beni+Madho\|title=Decolonising the revolt of 1857: : Colonial Order, Rebel Order, Rebel Vision, and the Shakespearean Weltanschauung of the Bengali Babus\|publisher=\|year=2007\|~~pages~~=178\|isbn=9788187891703\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Stokes\|first=Eric\|title=The Peasant and the Raj: Studies in Agrarian Society and Peasant Rebellion\|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]\|year=1978\|~~pages~~=133}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal\|last=Chanana\|first=Priyanka\|title=Colonial Remodeling of Land Rights After the Uprising of 1857: Conferment and Resumptions in Baiswara Region\|date=2012\|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44156269~~?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Ac47a26f588dbd986c5c92544dc6670e3&seq=4#metadata_info_tab_contents~~\|journal=[[Proceedings of the Indian History Congress]]\|publisher=[[Indian History Congress]]\|volume=73\|pages=737–746\|jstor=44156269~~\|via=JSTOR~~}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Sharma\|first=SL\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jpkBAAAAMAAJ&q=shankarpur+Rajput\|title=The Indian Freedom Struggle Centenary, ~~1857-1957~~: Souvenir\|year=1957\|~~pages~~=152\|language=English}}</ref>He led a ~~big army~~ against the British forces in 1857.<ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Jafri\|first1=Saiyid Zafar Husain\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c9312fKPqgC&q=Beni+madho\|title=Transformation in Indian History\|last2=Asthana\|first2=Pratima\|publisher=\|year=2009\|pages=388–390\|isbn=9788179752616\|language=English}}</ref> His son was married to the ~~grand daughter~~ of another prominent revolutionary leader [[Kunwar Singh]] of Jagdishpur.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Gandhi\|first=Rajmohan\|title=Revenge and Reconciliation understanding south indian history\|publisher=[[Penguin books]]\|year=1999\|~~pages~~=133\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Gandhi\|first=Rajmohan\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NHeRaW-zDBYC&dq=Beni+madho&pg=PT210\|title=A tale of two Revolts- India 1857 and the American Civil War\|publisher=[[Penguin India]]\|year=2009\|pages=\|isbn=9788184758252\|language=English}}</ref>		'''Rana Beni Madho''' or Beni Madho Baksh Singh Bais was an important leader in the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857\|Indian rebellion of 1857]] from the [[Awadh\|Oudh]] region (in the present-day state of [[Uttar Pradesh]]).<ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Singh\|first1=MK\|title=Revolt of 1857\|last2=Singh\|first2=Ravi Ranjan\|publisher=\|year=2021\|location=\|pages=207–210\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Pati\|first=Biswamoy\|title=The 1857 rebellion\|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]\|year=2007\|pages=68–69\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Wolpert\|first=Stanley A\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nTwwAQAAIAAJ&q=Beni+madho\|title=A New History of India\|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]\|year=2004\|page=235\|isbn=978-0-19-516677-4\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Mukherjee\|first=Rudrangshu\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TiWNAvhoLkkC&dq=beni+madho+1857&pg=PA130\|title=Awadh in Revolt, 1857–1858: A Study of Popular Resistance\|publisher=[[Permanent Black]]\|year=2002\|pages=130\|isbn=9788178240275\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book \|last=Metcalf \|first=Thomas R \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ByTWCgAAQBAJ \|title=Aftermath of Revolt: India 1857–1970 \|publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] \|year=2015 \|page=70 \|isbn=9781400876648 \|language=English}}</ref> He belonged to the [[Bais (Rajput clan)\|Bais]] clan of [[Rajput]]s and was the ruler of the Shankarpur estate in modern-day [[Raebareli district\|Rae Bareli]], part of the old [[Baiswara]] region in Oudh.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Chakraborty\|first=Kaushik\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WH0MAQAAMAAJ&q=Beni+Madho\|title=Decolonising the revolt of 1857: : Colonial Order, Rebel Order, Rebel Vision, and the Shakespearean Weltanschauung of the Bengali Babus\|publisher=\|year=2007\|page=178\|isbn=9788187891703\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Stokes\|first=Eric\|title=The Peasant and the Raj: Studies in Agrarian Society and Peasant Rebellion\|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]\|year=1978\|page=133}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal\|last=Chanana\|first=Priyanka\|title=Colonial Remodeling of Land Rights After the Uprising of 1857: Conferment and Resumptions in Baiswara Region\|date=2012\|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44156269\|journal=[[Proceedings of the Indian History Congress]]\|publisher=[[Indian History Congress]]\|volume=73\|pages=737–746\|jstor=44156269}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Sharma\|first=SL\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jpkBAAAAMAAJ&q=shankarpur+Rajput\|title=The Indian Freedom Struggle Centenary, 1857–1957: Souvenir\|year=1957\|page=152\|language=English}}</ref> He led a rebellion against the British forces in 1857.<ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Jafri\|first1=Saiyid Zafar Husain\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c9312fKPqgC&q=Beni+madho\|title=Transformation in Indian History\|last2=Asthana\|first2=Pratima\|publisher=\|year=2009\|pages=388–390\|isbn=9788179752616\|language=English}}</ref> His son was married to the granddaughter of another prominent revolutionary leader [[Kunwar Singh]] of [[Jagdishpur estate]].<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Gandhi\|first=Rajmohan\|title=Revenge and Reconciliation understanding south indian history\|publisher=[[Penguin books]]\|year=1999\|page=133\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Gandhi\|first=Rajmohan\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NHeRaW-zDBYC&dq=Beni+madho&pg=PT210\|title=A tale of two Revolts – India 1857 and the American Civil War\|publisher=[[Penguin India]]\|year=2009\|pages=\|isbn=9788184758252\|language=English}}</ref>
			{{Infobox royalty
	{{Infobox ~~Royalty~~
	\| name = Beni Madho Baksh Singh		\| name = Beni Madho Baksh Singh
	\| title = Rana of Shankarpur estate <br> Sirmaur Rana Bahadur Diler Jung		\| title = Rana of Shankarpur estate <br> Sirmaur Rana Bahadur Diler Jung
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	\| successor = Raghuraj Singh		\| successor = Raghuraj Singh
	\| death_date = 1859		\| death_date = 1859
	\| death_place = [[Dang District, Nepal\| Dang Valley]], [[Nepal]]		\| death_place = [[Dang District, Nepal\|Dang Valley]], [[Nepal]]
	\| spouse = Rani Chandralekha		\| spouse = Rani Chandralekha
	\| house = [[Bais Rajput]]		\| house = [[Bais Rajput]]
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	}}		}}

	== Early ~~Life~~==		== Early life==
	Rana Beni Madho became Rana of Shankarpur estate after the death of Rana Shiv Prasad Singh who had adopted him. He was married to Princess Chandralekha of Kamiar estate and had a brother named Jugraj Singh who ~~did~~ participated in the revolt. He was one of the leaders of [[Bais ~~(Rajput clan)\|Bais]]~~ clan of [[Rajputs]] in [[Baiswara]] region of South Oudh. He controlled four forts at Shankarpur, Pukbiyan, Bhikha and Jagatpur. The Shankarpur Fort owned by him was one of the strongest in Oudh.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Nevill\|first=H.R.\|url=https://www.indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/rai-bareli-gazetteer-being-valume-xxxix-district-gazetteers-united-provinces-agra-and-oudh\|title=Rae Bareli - District Gazetteer United Provinces Agra and Oudh Volume XXXIX\|publisher=\|year=1905\|pages=151\|language=English}}</ref> He was religious man and an ardent ~~worshipper~~ of Goddess [[Durga]]. He was given the title of Nasim ~~under~~ Nawab [[Wajid Ali Shah]]~~. He fought~~ for Nawab on many occasions and ~~enjoyed~~ the title of "''Sirmaur Rana Bahadur Diler ~~jung~~".''<ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Asthana\|first1=Pratima\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c9312fKPqgC&q=Beni+madho\|title=Transformation in Indian History\|last2=Jafri\|first2=Saiyid Zaheer Hussain\|year=2009\|~~pages~~=386\|isbn=9788179752616\|language=English}}</ref>		Rana Beni Madho became [[Rana (title)\|Rana]] of Shankarpur estate after the death of Rana Shiv Prasad Singh who had adopted him. He was married to Princess Chandralekha of Kamiar estate and had a brother named Jugraj Singh who also participated in the revolt. He was one of the leaders of the Bais clan of Rajputs in the Baiswara region of South Oudh. He controlled four forts at Shankarpur, Pukbiyan, Bhikha and [[Jagatpur, Raebareli\|Jagatpur]]. The Shankarpur Fort owned by him was one of the strongest in Oudh.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Nevill\|first=H.R.\|url=https://www.indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/rai-bareli-gazetteer-being-valume-xxxix-district-gazetteers-united-provinces-agra-and-oudh\|title=Rae Bareli – District Gazetteer United Provinces Agra and Oudh Volume XXXIX\|publisher=\|year=1905\|pages=151\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book \|last=Metcalf \|first=Thomas R \|url=https://archive.org/details/landlandlordsbri0000metc/page/n9/mode/2up?q=Beni+madho \|title=Land, landlords and the British Raj: northern India in the nineteenth century \|publisher=[[University of California Press]] \|year=1979 \|pages=178–182\|language=English}}</ref> He was a religious man and an ardent devotee of Goddess [[Durga]]. He was given the title of ''Nasim'' by [[Nawab]] [[Wajid Ali Shah]] of Oudh, fighting for the Nawab on many occasions, and also had the title of "''Sirmaur Rana Bahadur Diler Jung".''<ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Asthana\|first1=Pratima\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c9312fKPqgC&q=Beni+madho\|title=Transformation in Indian History\|last2=Jafri\|first2=Saiyid Zaheer Hussain\|year=2009\|page=386\|isbn=9788179752616\|language=English}}</ref>

	== ~~Revolt of~~ 1857 ==		== Role in the 1857 rebellion ==
	During the revolt of 1857, he was one of the powerful ~~leader~~ and was appointed as the administrator of Jaunpur and [[Azamgarh division\|Azamgarh]] ~~region~~ by the newly ~~appointed~~ [[Nawab of Awadh]] [[Birjis Qadr\|Birjis Qadar]]. This has been established from the proclamation of Birjis Qadar on ~~17th~~ August 1857 which explains:		During the revolt of 1857, he was one of the most powerful revolutionary leaders and was appointed as the administrator of the [[Jaunpur district\|Jaunpur]] and [[Azamgarh division\|Azamgarh]] regions by the newly proclaimed [[Nawab of Awadh]], [[Birjis Qadr\|Birjis Qadar]]. This has been established from the proclamation of Birjis Qadar on 17 August 1857 which explains:

	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
	''" As I am fully bent upon populating the land, securing off conveniences for its people and betterment of its inhabitants. I now therefore, decided to exterminate the cruel, ill behaved kaffir ( the unbelieving) Firangis from my hereditary dominion both old and new. Consequently, I have nominated the brave Raja Beni Madho Singh for the administration of the ilagas of Jaunpur and Azamgarh and order that in the obedience to the instructions of the said Raja, you should capture, put to the sword and annihilate the entire group of these perverted unbelievers and make every effort to extirpate them from this country. Considering the said Raja a permanent Amil of this part of the country, you should do your very best for the collection of revenue and betterment of the ryot. You will, consequently, be rewarded with the favours."''~~</blockquote>~~ <ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Asthana\|first1=Pratima\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c9312fKPqgC&q=Beni+madho\|title=Transformation in Indian History\|last2=Jafri\|first2=Saiyid Zaheer Hussain\|year=2009\|~~pages~~=388\|isbn=9788179752616\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Taylor\|first=P.J.O\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uituAAAAMAAJ&q=rana+beni+madho\|title=A Companion to the "Indian Mutiny" of 1857\|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]\|year=1996\|pages=43, 45, 267\|isbn=978-0-19-563863-9\|language=English}}</ref>		''" As I am fully bent upon populating the land, securing off conveniences for its people and betterment of its inhabitants. I now therefore, decided to exterminate the cruel, ill behaved kaffir ( the unbelieving) Firangis from my hereditary dominion both old and new. Consequently, I have nominated the brave Raja Beni Madho Singh for the administration of the ilagas of Jaunpur and Azamgarh and order that in the obedience to the instructions of the said Raja, you should capture, put to the sword and annihilate the entire group of these perverted unbelievers and make every effort to extirpate them from this country. Considering the said Raja a permanent Amil of this part of the country, you should do your very best for the collection of revenue and betterment of the ryot. You will, consequently, be rewarded with the favours."'' <ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Asthana\|first1=Pratima\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c9312fKPqgC&q=Beni+madho\|title=Transformation in Indian History\|last2=Jafri\|first2=Saiyid Zaheer Hussain\|year=2009\|page=388\|isbn=9788179752616\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last=Taylor\|first=P.J.O\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uituAAAAMAAJ&q=rana+beni+madho\|title=A Companion to the 'Indian Mutiny' of 1857\|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]\|year=1996\|pages=43, 45, 267\|isbn=978-0-19-563863-9\|language=English}}</ref></blockquote>He led one of the largest armies in 1857 numbering around 25,000 troops and 28 guns against the [[Bengal Army\|British forces]].<ref>{{Cite journal\|last=Chanana\|first=Priyanka\|title=Colonial Remodeling of Land Rights After the Uprising of 1857: Conferment and Resumptions in Baiswara Region\|date=2012\|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44156269\|journal=[[Proceedings of the Indian History Congress]]\|publisher=[[Indian History Congress]]\|volume=73\|pages=740\|quote=Forsyth wrote to Edmonstone that, 'Benee Madho is having large force estimated at 25000 men and 28 guns, scattered all over Salone district and he is constantly moving about'\|jstor=44156269}}</ref> He had a good rapport with his tenants as well as village [[zamindar]]s who remained loyal to him during the rebellion.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Metcalf \|first=Thomas R \|url=https://archive.org/details/landlandlordsbri0000metc/page/n9/mode/2up?q=Beni+madho \|title=Land, landlords and the British Raj: northern India in the nineteenth century \|publisher=[[University of California Press]] \|year=1979 \|pages=183–184\|language=English\|quote= On Beni Madho's estate, Charles Wingfield noticed, the village Zamindar 'warmly sympathized' with the rebel Taluqdar and "paid him not from fear but from attachment" }}</ref> In one of the sharp encounters that took place at Rae Bareli (then Salon district), the revolutionaries under Beni Madho killed a British officer named Major Gall.

			Rana Beni Madho was then pursued by four senior commanders of the British columns — [[Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde\|Lord Clyde]], [[Hope Grant]], [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)\|Brigadier]] Evelegh (commanding the [[20th Regiment of Foot]]) and [[Alfred Horsford]] (commanding the [[Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)\|Rifle Brigade]]).<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Lord Clyde \|date=1859-04-12 \|title=India\|page=3 \|work=The Sydney Morning Herald \|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13023613 \|access-date=2023-08-16}}</ref> They cornered him at Dundi Khera ([[Unnao district]]) where his forces fled, reducing his numbers to 12,000.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Kavanagh \|first=T. Henry Esq. \|date=1860 \|title=How I Won the Victoria Cross: Chapter 23 \|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/britishraj/Kavanagh/chapter23.html \|access-date=2023-08-16 \|website=www.ibiblio.org}}</ref> However he managed to successfully escape to the north of the [[Ghaghara\|Ghaghara river]]. The great revolt in South Oudh formally ended only after he moved out of the Oudh region.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Mukherjee \|first=Rudrangshu \|title=Awadh in Revolt, 1857–1858: A Study of Popular Resistance \|publisher=[[Permanent Black]] \|year=2007 \|pages=136–139, 158 \|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Asthana\|first1=Pratima\|title=Transformation in Indian History\|last2=Jafri\|first2=Saiyid Zaheer Hussain\|year=2009\|pages=386–400\|language=English}}</ref>

	He led one of the largest army in 1857 consisting of around 25000 troops and 28 guns against the British forces.<ref>{{Cite journal\|last=Chanana\|first=Priyanka\|title=Colonial Remodeling of Land Rights After the Uprising of 1857: Conferment and Resumptions in Baiswara Region\|date=2012\|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44156269?read-now=1&refreqid=~~excelsior%3Ac47a26f588dbd986c5c92544dc6670e3&seq=4#metadata_info_tab_contents\|journal~~=~~[[ Proceedings of the Indian History Congress]]\|publisher~~=~~[[Indian History Congress]]\|volume~~=73\|pages=740\|jstor=44156269\|via=JSTOR}}</ref> In one of the sharp encounters of revolutionaries against British forces at Rae Bareli an officer Major Gall was killed. Rana Beni Madho was pursued by four senior commanders of British columns — [[Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde\|Lord Clyde]], [[Hope Grant]], Evelegh and [[Alfred Horsford\|Horsford]] but he had successfully escaped. The great revolt in South Oudh formally ended only after he moved out of the Oudh region. He was killed in the fighting against [[~~Gurkha\|~~Gurkha]]s of Nepal.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Mukherjee\|first=Rudrangshu\|title=Awadh in Revolt, ~~1857-1858~~: A Study of Popular Resistance\|publisher=[[Permanent Black]]\|year=2007\|pages=128–131\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Asthana\|first1=Pratima\|title=Transformation in Indian History\|last2=Jafri\|first2=Saiyid Zaheer Hussain\|year=2009\|pages=386–400\|language=English}}</ref>		==Death==
			He was killed in the fighting against [[Gurkha]]s of [[Nepal]] in late 1859.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Mukherjee\|first=Rudrangshu\|title=Awadh in Revolt, 1857–1858: A Study of Popular Resistance\|publisher=[[Permanent Black]]\|year=2007\|pages=128–131\|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book\|last1=Asthana\|first1=Pratima\|title=Transformation in Indian History\|last2=Jafri\|first2=Saiyid Zaheer Hussain\|year=2009\|pages=386–400\|language=English}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==
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	[[Category:Revolutionaries of the Indian Rebellion of 1857]]		[[Category:Revolutionaries of the Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
	[[Category:Indian independence activists from Uttar Pradesh]]		[[Category:Indian independence activists from Uttar Pradesh]]
	~~[[Category: Rajput rulers]]~~

>Homogenie: /* Early Life */ lowercase

2022-01-15T07:33:46Z

Early Life: lowercase

New page

{{Short description| ruler of Shankarpur estate, leader of the revolt of 1857 in Oudh, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
'''Rana Beni Madho''' or Beni Madho Baksh Singh Bais was one of the most important leaders in the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Indian rebellion of 1857]] from the [[Awadh|Oudh]] region (in the present-day state of [[Uttar Pradesh]]).<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Singh|first1=MK|title=Revolt of 1857|last2=Singh|first2=Ravi Ranjan|publisher=|year=2021|location=|pages=207–210|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Pati|first=Biswamoy|title=The 1857 rebellion|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2007|pages=68–69|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Wolpert|first=Stanley A|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nTwwAQAAIAAJ&q=Beni+madho|title=A New History of India|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2004|pages=235|isbn=978-0-19-516677-4|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Mukherjee|first=Rudrangshu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TiWNAvhoLkkC&dq=beni+madho+1857&pg=PA130|title=Awadh in Revolt, 1857-1858: A Study of Popular Resistance|publisher=[[Permanent Black]]|year=2002|pages=130|isbn=9788178240275|language=English}}</ref> He belonged to the [[Bais (Rajput clan)|Bais]] clan of [[Rajput]]s and was the ruler of Shankarpur estate in modern-day [[Raebareli district|Rae Bareli]] part of the old [[Baiswara]] region in the Oudh.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakraborty|first=Kaushik|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WH0MAQAAMAAJ&q=Beni+Madho|title=Decolonising the revolt of 1857: : Colonial Order, Rebel Order, Rebel Vision, and the Shakespearean Weltanschauung of the Bengali Babus|publisher=|year=2007|pages=178|isbn=9788187891703|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Stokes|first=Eric|title=The Peasant and the Raj: Studies in Agrarian Society and Peasant Rebellion|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=1978|pages=133}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chanana|first=Priyanka|title=Colonial Remodeling of Land Rights After the Uprising of 1857: Conferment and Resumptions in Baiswara Region|date=2012|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44156269?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Ac47a26f588dbd986c5c92544dc6670e3&seq=4#metadata_info_tab_contents|journal=[[Proceedings of the Indian History Congress]]|publisher=[[Indian History Congress]]|volume=73|pages=737–746|jstor=44156269|via=JSTOR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=SL|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jpkBAAAAMAAJ&q=shankarpur+Rajput|title=The Indian Freedom Struggle Centenary, 1857-1957: Souvenir|year=1957|pages=152|language=English}}</ref>He led a big army against the British forces in 1857.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Jafri|first1=Saiyid Zafar Husain|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c9312fKPqgC&q=Beni+madho|title=Transformation in Indian History|last2=Asthana|first2=Pratima|publisher=|year=2009|pages=388–390|isbn=9788179752616|language=English}}</ref> His son was married to the grand daughter of another prominent revolutionary leader [[Kunwar Singh]] of Jagdishpur.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Rajmohan|title=Revenge and Reconciliation understanding south indian history|publisher=[[Penguin books]]|year=1999|pages=133|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Rajmohan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NHeRaW-zDBYC&dq=Beni+madho&pg=PT210|title=A tale of two Revolts- India 1857 and the American Civil War|publisher=[[Penguin India]]|year=2009|pages=|isbn=9788184758252|language=English}}</ref>

{{Infobox Royalty
| name = Beni Madho Baksh Singh
| title = Rana of Shankarpur estate <br> Sirmaur Rana Bahadur Diler Jung
| predecessor = Rana Shiv Prasad Singh
| successor = Raghuraj Singh
| death_date = 1859
| death_place = [[Dang District, Nepal| Dang Valley]], [[Nepal]]
| spouse = Rani Chandralekha
| house = [[Bais Rajput]]
| father = Ram Narayan Singh of Jagatpur
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}

== Early Life==
Rana Beni Madho became Rana of Shankarpur estate after the death of Rana Shiv Prasad Singh who had adopted him. He was married to Princess Chandralekha of Kamiar estate and had a brother named Jugraj Singh who did participated in the revolt. He was one of the leaders of [[Bais (Rajput clan)|Bais]] clan of [[Rajputs]] in [[Baiswara]] region of South Oudh. He controlled four forts at Shankarpur, Pukbiyan, Bhikha and Jagatpur. The Shankarpur Fort owned by him was one of the strongest in Oudh.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nevill|first=H.R.|url=https://www.indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/rai-bareli-gazetteer-being-valume-xxxix-district-gazetteers-united-provinces-agra-and-oudh|title=Rae Bareli - District Gazetteer United Provinces Agra and Oudh Volume XXXIX|publisher=|year=1905|pages=151|language=English}}</ref> He was religious man and an ardent worshipper of Goddess [[Durga]]. He was given the title of Nasim under Nawab [[Wajid Ali Shah]]. He fought for Nawab on many occasions and enjoyed the title of "''Sirmaur Rana Bahadur Diler jung".''<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Asthana|first1=Pratima|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c9312fKPqgC&q=Beni+madho|title=Transformation in Indian History|last2=Jafri|first2=Saiyid Zaheer Hussain|year=2009|pages=386|isbn=9788179752616|language=English}}</ref>

== Revolt of 1857 ==
During the revolt of 1857, he was one of the powerful leader and was appointed as the administrator of Jaunpur and [[Azamgarh division|Azamgarh]] region by the newly appointed [[Nawab of Awadh]] [[Birjis Qadr|Birjis Qadar]]. This has been established from the proclamation of Birjis Qadar on 17th August 1857 which explains:

<blockquote>
''" As I am fully bent upon populating the land, securing off conveniences for its people and betterment of its inhabitants. I now therefore, decided to exterminate the cruel, ill behaved kaffir ( the unbelieving) Firangis from my hereditary dominion both old and new. Consequently, I have nominated the brave Raja Beni Madho Singh for the administration of the ilagas of Jaunpur and Azamgarh and order that in the obedience to the instructions of the said Raja, you should capture, put to the sword and annihilate the entire group of these perverted unbelievers and make every effort to extirpate them from this country. Considering the said Raja a permanent Amil of this part of the country, you should do your very best for the collection of revenue and betterment of the ryot. You will, consequently, be rewarded with the favours."''</blockquote> <ref>{{Cite book|last1=Asthana|first1=Pratima|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c9312fKPqgC&q=Beni+madho|title=Transformation in Indian History|last2=Jafri|first2=Saiyid Zaheer Hussain|year=2009|pages=388|isbn=9788179752616|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Taylor|first=P.J.O|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uituAAAAMAAJ&q=rana+beni+madho|title=A Companion to the "Indian Mutiny" of 1857|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=1996|pages=43, 45, 267|isbn=978-0-19-563863-9|language=English}}</ref>

He led one of the largest army in 1857 consisting of around 25000 troops and 28 guns against the British forces.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chanana|first=Priyanka|title=Colonial Remodeling of Land Rights After the Uprising of 1857: Conferment and Resumptions in Baiswara Region|date=2012|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44156269?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Ac47a26f588dbd986c5c92544dc6670e3&seq=4#metadata_info_tab_contents|journal=[[ Proceedings of the Indian History Congress]]|publisher=[[Indian History Congress]]|volume=73|pages=740|jstor=44156269|via=JSTOR}}</ref> In one of the sharp encounters of revolutionaries against British forces at Rae Bareli an officer Major Gall was killed. Rana Beni Madho was pursued by four senior commanders of British columns — [[Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde|Lord Clyde]], [[Hope Grant]], Evelegh and [[Alfred Horsford|Horsford]] but he had successfully escaped. The great revolt in South Oudh formally ended only after he moved out of the Oudh region. He was killed in the fighting against [[Gurkha|Gurkha]]s of Nepal.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mukherjee|first=Rudrangshu|title=Awadh in Revolt, 1857-1858: A Study of Popular Resistance|publisher=[[Permanent Black]]|year=2007|pages=128–131|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Asthana|first1=Pratima|title=Transformation in Indian History|last2=Jafri|first2=Saiyid Zaheer Hussain|year=2009|pages=386–400|language=English}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:19th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:People from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian revolutionaries]]
[[Category:Revolutionaries of the Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category: Rajput rulers]]