Echoes of Sepoy Mutiny, 1857 in the Barak Valley

Ranjan Kumar Padmapati

(The writer can be reached at rkpadmapati@yahoo.co.in)

India celebrated its Independence Day. Now the celebration of "Azadi Ka Amrit Mohotshov" is going on to mark the 75 years of independence. Many patriots had sacrificed their lives for the motherland. The following is a story of the First War of Independence, comparatively lesser-known, less publicized but needs research.

The defeat of Siraj-Ud-Daulah in the hands of Robert Clive in the battle of Plassey in 1757 marked the beginning of British rule in India. The Barak Valley was ruled by the Koch king after a military expedition by Chilla Rai. But the kingdom disintegrated after the downfall of the Koch dynasty. It came under the control of Kachari Chief Tularam Senapati, the hilly tracts of the land (present Dima Hasao) and the British annexed the territory after the death of Tularam Senapati in 1854. The plains of the valley were ruled by Govinda Chandradwaja Narayan Hasnu, the ruling chief. After his assassination by Gambhir Sing, the king of Manipur in the year 1832 the territory came under the East India Company. After one hundred years of British rule Indians awakened to freedom first in the year 1857, in the form of a mutiny known as Sepoy Mutiny 1857, a term assigned by the British. Mangal Pandey first ignited a spark in the quest for freedom on 29th March 1857. This fire took a shape of a wildfire, spreading to different parts of the country. The revolt of the sepoys stationed at Meerut garrison on 10th May is reckoned as the date of Sepoi Mutiny, 1857. It was the Mutiny of the soldiers of the 3rd Bengal Light Infantry. The flame reached the Barak valley of Assam too.

It was the 18th of November 1857, three hundred soldiers of the 34 Native Infantry Regiment of the East India Company stationed at Chittagong refused the orders of the British officers. The mutineers broke open the jail freed the inmates, looted the treasury. They looted Rs 2,7,267 from the district treasury, took possession of three elephants, arms and ammunition. The mutineers first marched towards Decca so that they could join with 73 Native Infantry and intended to march towards Delhi. As they heard the road leading to Delhi was blocked by Europeans, the mutineers changed the course turning eastward, targeting Manipur for shelter. The mutineers after crossing Sleingajeah near Pratapgarh for Latu (Ron Tila, Malegarh) were intercepted by RPV Byng of Sylhet Light Infantry in the morning of 19th December 1857. A letter dated 22nd December 1857 of Captain Stewart reveals that the mutineers took to the jungles of Hilltippra intending to push into Manipur. As soon as Mr Allen came to know the movement of the mutineers as mentioned above, he directed Major Byng commandeer of the Sylhet Light Infantry to intercept them. Byng reached Pratapgarh with 160 men. He then night marched, reached Latu the next morning. The rebels nearing 200 were sitting for breakfast when the firing started from both sides. Major Byng fell in the fight along with his six sepoys and 26 mutineers died on the spot. Their bodies were buried there (Ron Tila). It is known that a pistol, a shoe and a sword were found at that place. The rebels were led by Subedar Ayodhya Prasad Singh, Sher Khan, Rizbul Khan. Subedar Ayodhya Prasad Singh showed brilliant warfare skills, the British force was defeated. The Chittagong mutineers entered Cachar on 20th December 1857. As Byng was killed the mutineers gave a call to the fellow Hindustanis of the British force. "Now we have killed the sahib. Come and join us," failing which called them "Kristan –ka- Kutta and goolams."

A great role was played by Narendrajit Singh, a descendent of expelled Manipuri prince, in the mutiny in Cachar. After the fall of Byng in the battle, the Cachar administration arrested 6 princes of Manipur residing in Cachar, Sangie Thappa, Kunnai Singh, Mypha, Kher Singh, Hawjaw and Khoirakpa, later on, they were rescued by Narendrajit Singh on 10th January 1858 by plotting a conspiracy. The British could not arrest Narendrajit Singh as he had gone underground much before… Narendrajit Singh was harbouring anti-British sentiment for a long... Entering Cachar the mutineers did not follow the usual path to Panchgram as Lt. Ross was stationed there with his men but followed the most treacherous path through Sarespore hills. Lt. Ross reported that mutineers divided into 3-4 small groups, proceeded to Bhuban hills near Cachar - Manipur border for the rest, and they were guided by Narendrajit Singh. He reorganized the groups with numerous Manipuri people around, recruitment was done at Luckipur. On the way to Bhuban Hill, the mutineers were confronted by Lt. Ross, 18 mutineers lost their lives with two soldiers of Lt. Ross' force at Binnacandy (Cachar). The encounter was recorded by R. Stewart "indeed the prince and his party made preparations with mutineers and in the morning of 12th January 1858 the united force came out of the hills to exterminate the British Raj from Cachar." By now altogether 185 mutineers lost lives due to various reasons such as diseases, food shortages, wounds etc., and their strength reduced considerably. The stories of heroic battle passed on to the people as ballads and songs, now occupies a special place in the folklore of that area. In the battle, Narendrajit Singh was injured and he lost battle, his followers carried him inside Manipur jungles for treatment but captured by the Manipur Army, handed over to the British by Chandrakiti king of Manipur. The arrested mutineers were executed at a British camp. The British banished Narendrajit Singh to Andaman. The trial court dated 25th June 1858 recorded "Narendra Singh having been tried under Act No XIV of 1857 having been found of guilty of criminal offence ought not to be treated as a state prisoner. Honourable President in Council agrees with Lieutenant Stewart in thinking that it would be inexpedient to sentence the prisoner capitally, if imprisoned for life it can only be transportation beyond seas." A few relics achkon (dress), wooden chandal, horoscope, his handwritten copy of the Srimod Bhagawat Gita are preserved in the house of his descendent Birendrajit Singh in Agartala. Though the king of Manipur did not support the mutineers the people stood behind the rebels, his subjects refused a rally of recruitments to the Army of Manipur Regiment designed to control the upsurge of the mutiny. The mutineers deserted the Chittagong camp with their family and children, even their wives took arms. It is known that one mutineer Rajib Ali Khan and his wife received serious injuries, took to the jungle, probably died of starvation. Similarly, mutineers and other family members were either imprisoned or banished and many perished in jungles.