Veer Surendra Sai, led a long tribal revolt against the British rule in Sambalpur
Source: – @GabbarSanghi / Twitter
Belated tribute to Veer Surendra Sai, born on the same day as Netaji, led a long tribal revolt against the British rule in Sambalpur, harassing them to no end. Again outside of Odisha not much is known about him. pic.twitter.com/9O83MboUDp
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
A born rebel, Surendra, hailed from the small village of Khinda, and was a Rajput belonging to the Chauhan clan of Khinda-Rajpur. His father Dharam Singh, was a descendant of Aniruddha Sai, the fourth Chauhan ruler of Sambalpur.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
When Maharaja Sai passed away in 1827 AD, Surendra Sai presented his legitimate claim to the throne of Sambalpur, as the Maharaja had no male heir.The British however found Surendra too much of an independent thinker for their own good.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
Predictably they were looking for some one more pliable, and their first choice was the Maharaja’s widow Mohana Kumari.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
The British had already occupied Sambalpur in 1804 AD after their victory in the 3rd Anglo Maratha War, when Odisha was one of the territories ceded by the Marathas.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
The British allowed Mohana Kumari to rule over the State, the decision however led to a lot of resentment between her and other claimants to the throne. With Mohana Kumari proving herself to be incapable, the people themselves revolted against her.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
The British put down the rebellion, deposed Mohana Kumari, and sent her to Cuttack in 1833 AD, where she lived as a pensioner. The British then placed another puppet ruler Narayan Singh, one of the offspring on the throne.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
However Narayan, by then was already too old, not capable of handling the responsibilities of the state, and soon there was an outright challenge from other members of the Rajpur-Khinda Chauhan clan.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
Surender was backed by his uncle Balaram Singh( brother of his father), on the grounds that being the direct descendants, they had a legitimate claim over the throne.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
The Gond tribals in Sambalpur too revolted against Narayan Singh, who died in September 1849 with no male heir.Under the Doctrine of Lapse, Lord Dalhousie annexed Sambalpur, and Surendra Sai, revolted against the British.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
Surendra felt he had a legitimate claim to the throne, however the British were wary of his popularity and strong personality. Aware that he would not be the puppet ruler they wanted him to be, the British did their best to keep him away from the throne.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
And thus began an intense and epic struggle against the British, that in fact had it’s genesis much earlier in 1827 AD. Since 1827, Surendra backed by his uncle Balram, had repeatedly laid claim to the “Gadi” of Sambalpur as the legal heir apparent.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
However with the British ignoring his claim, Surendra decided to go down the path of total revolt. His 6 brothers Udyanta, Ujjala, Chabila, Jajjala and Medini too supported him, as did all the local Zamindars and Gauntias.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
However with the British ignoring his claim, Surendra decided to go down the path of total revolt. His 6 brothers Udyanta, Ujjala, Chabila, Jajjala and Medini too supported him, as did all the local Zamindars and Gauntias.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
When Narayan Singh’s men killed the Gond Zamindar of Lakhanpur, Balabhadra Deo, the furious Gonds too supported Surendra in his revolt. Some of them murdered the unpopular Zamindar of Rampur, Durjaya Singh, a camp follower of Narayan Singh.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
Though Surendra had no role in it, the British neverthless implicated him in the case, and he was arrested along with his uncle Balaram and his brother Udyanta Sai. Sent to Hazaribagh jail in 1840 AD.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
Surendra spent as many as 17 years in prison, till the 1857 Revolt, when the mutineers, broke down the prison. His uncle Balaram Singh who was his guiding force and mentor, however died in prison itself.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
In the meantime, the Zamindars of Sambalpur, as well as the ordinary people, were fed up with some of the oppressive measures taken by the British, after they annexed the state. The British indiscriminately raised the revenue to be paid by the Zamindars as well as the Gauntias.
— Ratnakar Sadasyula(రత్నాకర్ సదస్యుల) (@GabbarSanghi) January 25, 2018
