Rana Beni Madho or Beni Madho Baksh Singh Bais was one of the most important leaders in the Indian rebellion of 1857 from the Oudh region (in the present-day state of Uttar Pradesh).[1][2][3][4] He belonged to the Bais clan of Rajputs and was the ruler of Shankarpur estate in modern-day Rae Bareli part of the old Baiswara region in the Oudh.[5][6][7][8]He led a big army against the British forces in 1857.[9] His son was married to the grand daughter of another prominent revolutionary leader Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur.[10][11]
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 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.[12] 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".[13]
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 region by the newly appointed Nawab of Awadh Birjis Qadar. This has been established from the proclamation of Birjis Qadar on 17th August 1857 which explains:
" 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."
He led one of the largest army in 1857 consisting of around 25000 troops and 28 guns against the British forces.[16] 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 — Lord Clyde, Hope Grant, Evelegh and 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 Gurkhas of Nepal.[17][18]
References
- ↑ Singh, MK; Singh, Ravi Ranjan (2021). Revolt of 1857. pp. 207–210.
- ↑ Pati, Biswamoy (2007). The 1857 rebellion. Oxford University Press. pp. 68–69.
- ↑ Wolpert, Stanley A (2004). A New History of India. Oxford University Press. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-19-516677-4.
- ↑ Mukherjee, Rudrangshu (2002). Awadh in Revolt, 1857-1858: A Study of Popular Resistance. Permanent Black. p. 130. ISBN 9788178240275.
- ↑ Chakraborty, Kaushik (2007). Decolonising the revolt of 1857: : Colonial Order, Rebel Order, Rebel Vision, and the Shakespearean Weltanschauung of the Bengali Babus. p. 178. ISBN 9788187891703.
- ↑ Stokes, Eric (1978). The Peasant and the Raj: Studies in Agrarian Society and Peasant Rebellion. Cambridge University Press. p. 133.
- ↑ Chanana, Priyanka (2012). "Colonial Remodeling of Land Rights After the Uprising of 1857: Conferment and Resumptions in Baiswara Region". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 73. Indian History Congress: 737–746. JSTOR 44156269 – via JSTOR.
- ↑ Sharma, SL (1957). The Indian Freedom Struggle Centenary, 1857-1957: Souvenir. p. 152.
- ↑ Jafri, Saiyid Zafar Husain; Asthana, Pratima (2009). Transformation in Indian History. pp. 388–390. ISBN 9788179752616.
- ↑ Gandhi, Rajmohan (1999). Revenge and Reconciliation understanding south indian history. Penguin books. p. 133.
- ↑ Gandhi, Rajmohan (2009). A tale of two Revolts- India 1857 and the American Civil War. Penguin India. ISBN 9788184758252.
- ↑ Nevill, H.R. (1905). Rae Bareli - District Gazetteer United Provinces Agra and Oudh Volume XXXIX. p. 151.
- ↑ Asthana, Pratima; Jafri, Saiyid Zaheer Hussain (2009). Transformation in Indian History. p. 386. ISBN 9788179752616.
- ↑ Asthana, Pratima; Jafri, Saiyid Zaheer Hussain (2009). Transformation in Indian History. p. 388. ISBN 9788179752616.
- ↑ Taylor, P.J.O (1996). A Companion to the "Indian Mutiny" of 1857. Oxford University Press. pp. 43, 45, 267. ISBN 978-0-19-563863-9.
- ↑ Chanana, Priyanka (2012). "Colonial Remodeling of Land Rights After the Uprising of 1857: Conferment and Resumptions in Baiswara Region". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 73. Indian History Congress: 740. JSTOR 44156269 – via JSTOR.
- ↑ Mukherjee, Rudrangshu (2007). Awadh in Revolt, 1857-1858: A Study of Popular Resistance. Permanent Black. pp. 128–131.
- ↑ Asthana, Pratima; Jafri, Saiyid Zaheer Hussain (2009). Transformation in Indian History. pp. 386–400.