Photo courtesy Varun Saini
Who knows that the first war of Indian independence,”The revolt of 1857,” was also fought in the Kasauli hills of Himachal Pradesh? Who knows that it was today the 20th of April, 161 years back?
Yes! The gentle and peaceful hill state shook the mighty East India Company. Kasauli was the first place which joined its strong ’pahadi’ hands to strengthen the first war of independence from Himachal Pradesh .This was the era which was governed by East India Company.A year before the Crown of England took over India in the name.
The information of cartridges being greased with the fat of cow and pig had traveled and reached Ambala cantonment.The first off use, of these bullets, was tried amongst the 1st battalion of the 60th Queen’s Royal Rifles, which was stationed in Meerut.
The information of cartridges being greased with cow and pig fat was passed on with an offending black eye by a British officer himself.He blurted it off by saying,” Your religion will soon be spoilt while talking about the new greasing practice being followed.
Photo courtesy Mukesh Gupta
161 years ago on this very day, half dozen Indian sepoys stationed at Ambala Rifle depot has set the Kasauli riffle depot ablaze in protest.Disturbance in Kasauli shook the East India company as this place was considered their strong base hold.That time the Gurkha regiment(Nuseree battalion) was stationed in Kasauli.The uprising turned tables for the British.In a desperate attempt to curb the revolt, the British started locking up the Indian soldiers by taking the cover of suspicious behavior.This further provoked the Indian community and challenged their patience levels.
The revolt traveled strengthening its hands from Dagshai, Subathu, Kalka to Jutogh.The patriotic waves reached Kangra, Dharamshala, Nurpur, and Sirmour as well in Himachal Pradesh.
In an attempt to reduce the strength, General George Anderson, the commander-in-chief of Shimla instructed the battalions stationed at Juthogh, Dagshai, and Sabahtu to reach Ambala.These orders were again overlooked by the Gurkha guards.Instead, the Gorkha’s threatened the officers sending shock waves till Shimla.The impact was such that expecting an attack by the Indians, the 800 Europeans in Shimla started taking refuge to safeguard themselves.
The Gorkha revolutionaries were so strong that all the European males were armed with muskets(guns) .later on, on the orders of Lord William Hay the muskets were taken back and the European population was asked to leave Shimla to safeguard their lives.
The Gorkhas were joined by the 1st Brigade Bengal Fusiliers and the 2nd Brigade Bengal Fusiliers stationed at Dagshai and Subathu.
One of the senior British officer Colonel W. Welshman wanted to abandon Kasauli and move to Dagshai with all the women and children but before he could do it, he was warned by three army officers who arrived from Shimla that the roads are not safe to travel.
The British treasury was guarded by the Gorkha regiment in Kasauli.The decision was taken to remove the government money form the treasury to a safer place.For this one of the European barracks was shortlisted.By the time only Rs 26,000 was taken out, the situation went out of control.The Gorkhas overpowered, after one of the British officer’s got involved in an altercation with them.The Gorkhas took those Rs 26000 and left Kasauli.
Photo courtesy Varun Saini
It is also said that due to the fear of theft.Foreseeing further trouble, the remaining money was taken by two British officers.They had buried it (near about Rs 20,000) under a tree in the church compound.Though the money was never found and remains a mystery till date.
After this, the Gorkha regiment left for Jutogh.On their way, they also ablaze many British accommodations.The local police stood in their support.Although the Britishers were able to trap and kill some of the policemen.The daroga of police, Budh Singh shot himself before the British could trap him.
The 1857 revolt in Kasauli gave sleepless nights to the Britishers.The women and children at Lawrence asylum (Lawrence school at present) had to stay in the girl’s hostel.While the men spent sleepless nights protecting it.The Britishers had to bring in reinforcements to safeguard their strong base camp Kasauli.
The Gorkha revolutionaries called a secret meeting on May 24 to discuss the future course of action.But in absence of help from Delhi and Ambala, they became weak.All the revolutionaries were caught while they were in village sairii and were sent to the Ambala jail.On May 28, the revolutionaries at Kasauli, Jutogh, Subathu, Dagshai, and Kalka also gave up the struggle.
Therefore, it is a big day.A day to remember the honorable revolutionaries who contributed Himachal’s bit in the first struggle of Indian independence.
