Kalu Singh Mahara: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 02:00, 16 March 2026

Kalu Singh Mahara was an Indian freedom fighter and Kumaoni leader who rose to prominence during the first Indian Rebellion of 1857. He is regarded as the first major freedom fighter from the state of Uttarakhand (then part of the United Province).

Early life[edit | edit source]

Kalu Singh Mahara was a Thakur from Bisung Patti, near Lohaghat, in district Champawat.

The rebellion[edit | edit source]

On receiving a cryptic confidential letter from Oudh, Awadh,^[1] inviting him and other followers to join the brewing rebellion against the British. The letter from the government of Awadh proposed that after regaining power from British, the hill area would be given to the pahadi locals whereas Tarai (plain area) below the hills will be governed by Oudh.

Kalu Singh Mahara accepted and began a campaign of local youth named "Krantiveer" which gained wide-spread support in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Skirmishes across the area of Kali, Sui, Gumdesh and adjoining areas, frustrated the British. His militiamen composed mainly of riflemen Bandukchi ambushed and harassed the British forces on several occasions.

He once commanded a group of young fighters and set fire to the British Barracks in Lohaghat, which caused the British army to retreat. In retaliation to which Commissioner Ramsey sent military contingents from Tanakpur and Lohaghat to ambush the freedom fighters. Kalu Mahara and his men fought fiercely against the British in Bastia, but were forced to retreat.^[2]

Mahara was kept in many jails during this time. While, two other revolutionaries Anand Singh Fartyal and Bishan Singh Karayat were shot by the British.

However, in the end the British quashed the rebellion across northern India. But it led Queen Victoria to declare India as no longer a company territory transforming it into what is known as British India. (see Indian Rebellion of 1857)

Legacy[edit | edit source]

In 2007, Pawan Maati program was organized from his ancestral house.

In 2010, in the presence of the then DM, Lohaghat intersection was named after him.

Kalu Singh Mahara is revered as a hero in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand. In 2009 a statue of this freedom fighter was installed in Dehradun the capital of Uttarakhand.

Recently^[when?] the Uttarakhand postal department released a new first day cover to honour him ^[3]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Arun K. Mittal (1986). British Administration in Kumaon Himalayas: A Historical Study, 1815 – 1947. Mittal Publications - Kumaon Himalaya – p 17, of 249 pages
↑ Tyagi, Alka (13 October 2021). "उत्तराखंड: स्वतंत्रता सेनानी कालू सिंह माहरा के सम्मान में डाक विभाग ने जारी किया लिफाफा". Amar Ujala.
↑ "Uttarakhand postal dept releases special envelope on Lalu Mahara". Outlook India.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

The Himalayan Gazetter by E. T. Atkinson
The History of Kumaun by B. D. Pandey

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 {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
 {{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
-'''Kalu Singh Mahara''' was a [[Kumaoni people|Kumaoni(Kumauni)]] leader during [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]. He is known as the first freedom fighter from the state of [[Uttarakhand]], then in the [[United Province]]. He started a campaign named as Krantiveer which was very famous among the [[Kumaoni people|Kumaonis]]<ref>http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091108/dun.htm#2</ref> Mahara is a surname found in Kumaon Division of Uttarakhand. Some people write their surname in it's variant spelling in English as [[Mehra]]<ref>  Monika Krengel (1989). Sozialstrukturen im Kumaon. Steiner Verlag Wiesbaden </ref>
-Kalu Singh Mahara was the leader(Thakur) of the Bisung Patti of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon(Kumaun)]], Karnakarayat in present. This region is situated near [[Lohaghat]], in district [[Champawat]] of Uttarakhand.
+'''Kalu Singh Mahara''' was an Indian freedom fighter and [[Kumaoni people|Kumaoni]] leader who rose to prominence during the first [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]. He is regarded as the first major freedom fighter from the state of [[Uttarakhand]] (then part of the [[United Provinces (1937–1950)|United Province]]).
+==Early life==
+Kalu Singh Mahara was a [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] from Bisung Patti, near [[Lohaghat]], in district [[Champawat]].
 ==The rebellion==
-Mahara received a cryptic letter from [[Oudh]], present-day [[Awadh]],<ref> Arun K. Mittal (1986).  British Administration in Kumaon Himalayas: A Historical Study, 1815 – 1947. Mittal Publications - Kumaon Himalaya – p 17, of 249 pages </ref> inviting the [[Kumaoni people| Kumaoni(Kumauni) people]] and other [[hill people]] to join the rebellion against the British. The government of [[Awadh]] proposed that after regaining the power from the British, the hill area will be returned to [[Kumaoni people|Kumaoni(Kumauni) people]] and the Tarai (plain area) will be taken by [[Oudh]]. Kalu Singh Mahara organised the local people against [[British empire]].
+On receiving a cryptic confidential letter from [[Oudh]], [[Awadh]],<ref>Arun K. Mittal (1986).  British Administration in Kumaon Himalayas: A Historical Study, 1815 – 1947. Mittal Publications - Kumaon Himalaya – p 17, of 249 pages</ref> inviting him and other followers to join the brewing rebellion against the British. The letter from the government of Awadh proposed that after regaining power from British, the hill area would be given to the pahadi locals whereas Tarai (plain area) below the hills will be governed by Oudh.
+Kalu Singh Mahara accepted and began a campaign of local youth named "Krantiveer" which gained wide-spread support in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
+Skirmishes across the area of Kali, Sui, Gumdesh and adjoining areas, frustrated the British. His militiamen composed mainly of riflemen ''Bandukchi'' ambushed and harassed the British forces on several occasions.
+He once commanded a group of young fighters and set fire to the British Barracks in Lohaghat, which caused the British army to retreat. In retaliation to which Commissioner Ramsey sent military contingents from Tanakpur and Lohaghat to ambush the freedom fighters. Kalu Mahara and his men fought fiercely against the British in Bastia, but were forced to retreat.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tyagi |first=Alka |date=13 Oct 2021 |title=उत्तराखंड: स्वतंत्रता सेनानी कालू सिंह माहरा के सम्मान में डाक विभाग ने जारी किया लिफाफा |work=Amar Ujala |url=https://www.amarujala.com/dehradun/uttarakhand-news-postal-department-issued-envelope-in-honor-of-freedom-fighter-kalu-singh-mahara}}</ref>
+Mahara was kept in many jails during this time. While, two other revolutionaries Anand Singh Fartyal and Bishan Singh Karayat were shot by the British.
+However, in the end the British quashed the rebellion across northern India. But it led Queen Victoria to declare India as no longer a company territory transforming it into what is known as British India. (see [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]])
+== Legacy ==
+In 2007, Pawan Maati program was organized from his ancestral house.
+In 2010, in the presence of the then DM, Lohaghat intersection was named after him.
-Skirmishes all across the area of Kali Kumaon(Kumaun), Sui, Gumdesh and the adjoining areas, now in the Champawat district, frustrated the British. His militiamen composed mainly of riflemen ''Bandukchi'' ambushed and harassed the British forces on several occasions.
+Kalu Singh Mahara is revered as a hero in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand. In 2009 a statue of this freedom fighter was installed in Dehradun the capital of Uttarakhand.
+Recently{{when|date=February 2026}} the Uttarakhand postal department released a new first day cover to honour him <ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Uttarakhand postal dept releases special envelope on Lalu Mahara |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/amp/uttarakhand-postal-dept-releases-special-envelope-on-kalu-mahara/2178058 |url-status=dead |website=Outlook India}}</ref>
 == References ==
@@ Line 21: / Line 42: @@
 [[Category:Revolutionaries of the Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
-[[Category:People from Uttarakhand]]
+[[Category:Activists from Uttarakhand]]
-[[Category:History of Uttarakhand]]
+[[Category:History of Kumaon]]
-[[Category:Kumaon division]]
-{{India-bio-stub}}