HISTORY

WARDHA DURING THE REVOLT OF 1857

What happened in 1857 in India has been variously described by historians as " the Revolt of 1857 ", the Sepoy Mutiny, 1857, and " the War of Independence. [KNPI. P. 542.] The last view that it was a War of Independence is borne out by the fact that it was an attempt to overthrow the Government of the East India Company which was well-established in India. The attempt was sufficiently widespread. Any attempt to overthrow an established foreign rule is universally recognised as War of Independence. An unsuccessful attempt becomes a revolt. In virtue of this definition, what happened in 1857 has to be considered as a revolt to win independence.

There was certainly a favourable background for an uprising in Nagpur and Wardha as the memories of annexation of the Raj of the Bhosles, confiscation of their jewellery and public auctioning of their palace property were yet green in the public mind. The question of adoption to the Nagpur gadi was kept pending as late as 1861.

The Nagpur army and the people learnt with excitement the happenings at Meerut, Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur and Jhanshi. The irregular cavalry at Takli, about three miles from Nagpur, was much agitated by the news of the risings. It consisted mostly of Muslims who were disturbed by the Government proposal to shift their burial place from the vicinity of the city to an outside spot. In co-operation with some civilians they seem to have hatched a plot. On 13th June, at the signal of a fire-balloon, it was decided to attack the Residency. But the plot leaked out and failed. Mr. Plowden, the Commissioner, who had known about the plot ordered a company of the Sitabuldi regiment to move into the city. The irregular cavalry at Takli, was dismayed by this action and gave up the attempt of attack. Major Arrow tried to elicit information from the soldiers about the ring-leaders. But none came forward to give out the names. From Kamptee and Nagpur arms numbering over 5,000 were collected from unauthorised persons as a precautionary measure. After an enquiry of the plot, Dildar Khan, Dafadar of the army, and Inayatulla Khan, Wilayat Khan and Nawab Kadar Khan of the Irregular cavalry were tried and executed.

Bakabai, during the troubled period, summoned all her relations Brahmin, Maratha and Muslim sardars numbering between 400 and 500 and dissuaded them with threats from any action against the Company's Government. This completely chilled the spirit of the public. [ HFM. pp. 71, 72.] In 1858 Tatya Tope's presence was reported in the Melghat, so near to Wardha. He looted Multai. There was no response or agitation in Nagpur or Wardha. Thus, all was quiet in the Wardha-Nagpur region when Nana Peshwa, Rani of Zanshi and Tatya Tope were desperately fighting against the British. Wardha once formed part of the Gond Kingdom of Devgad. A number of Gond zamindars, without caring for their future, had bravely rebelled against the British raj. The zamindars of Chandrapur, Venkatrav from Adapalli and Bapurav from Molampalli revolted. But Wardha was silent. [HFM. p. 85.]

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