VEER KUNWAR SINGH OF BIHAR AND REVOLT OF 1857: BPSC MAINS EXAM.

वीर कुंवर सिंह की जयंती पर कविता

कहते हैं एक उमर होती, जीवन में कुछ कर जाने की। गर बात वतन की आये तो, हर रुत होती है मरने की...... source: This poem is taken from the internet.

• 1st revolt in Bihar on 12th June 1857 in Rohini village, Deoghardistrict where the army revolted against their own establishment.
• Kunwar Singh ( 177-26 April 1858) was a notable leader during the Indian Rebellion of  1857. He belonged to a royal house of Jagdishpur currently a part of the Bhojpur district of Bihar India.  At the age of 80 years, he led a selected band of armed soldiers against the troops under the command of the British East India company. He was the chief organizer of the fight against the British in Bihar. He belongs to the Ujjainiya Rajpoot clan. 

• Role of Veer Kunwar  Singh in Bihar Revolt:

Singh led the Indian rebellion of 1857 in Bihar. He was nearly 80 and in failing health when he was called upon to take up arms. He gave a good fight and harried forces for nearly a year and reminded invincible until the end. He was an expert in the art of guerilla warfare. His tactics left the British puzzled. Singh assumed command of the soldiers who had revolted at Danapur on 25 July.

two days later he occupied Arrah the district headquarters. Major Vincent Eyre relieved the town on 3 August, defeated Singh's forces, and destroyed Jagdishpur.

During the rebellion, his army had to cross the Ganga river. Douglas's army began to shoot at their boats. one of the bullets shattered Singh's left wrist. Singh felt that his hand had become useless and that there was an additional risk of infection due to the bullet shot. He drew his sword and cut off his left hand near the elbow and offered it to the river Ganga.

Singh left his ancestral village and reached Lucknow in December 1857. In march 1858 he occupied Azamgarh, however, he had to leave the place soon. Pursued by brigadier Douglas, he retreated towards his home in Arrah, Bihar.

On 23 April, Singh had a victory near Jagdishpur over the force led by captain Le Grand. On 26 April 1858, he died in his village.

1. Kunwar Singh adopted a unique method of attacking the weakest point of the English while keeping his men mobilized for any eventuality.
2. The mantle of old chief now fell on his brother Amar Singh ii, who despite heavy odds, continued the struggle and for a considerable time, running a parallel government in the district of Shahabad. In October 1859, Amar Singh joined the rebels in the Nepal Terrain.   
3. A play of Jagdish Chandra Mathur titled as "Vijay ki vela" is based on the later part of Kunwar Singh"s life. He is also mentioned in the poem "Jhansi ki rani" by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.

Significance of Revolt of 1857:

• Modern nationalism was unknown in India yet the revolt of 1857 played an important role in bringing Indian people together and imparting to them the consciousness of belonging to one country. it had seeds of nationalisms and anti-imperialism but the concept of common nationality and nationhood was not inherent to the revolt of 1857. one may say that revolt of 1857 was the first great struggle of Indians to threw off British rule which was to pave the way for the modern national movements.
• Hindu-Muslim unity factor- during the entire revolt, there was complete cooperation between Hindu Muslims at all levels- people, soldiers, leaders.
• The revolt was written about and discussed not only within the confines of India but also in England, France, and Germany.
• Benjamin Disraeli in the House of Commons on 27th July 1857 "is it a military revolt or is it a national revolt?'
• According to  Marxist historians, the 1857 revolt was the struggle of the soldiers, peasants democratic combine against foreign as well as feudal bondage.

Changes introduced after 1857 revolt:

1. After the revolt, the English East India company's rule comes to an end by Act of the government of India Act 1858, declaring Queen Victoria as the Sovereign of British India. The administration of India was taken over directly by the British crown.
2. The governor-general of India was given the title of Viceroy and was the representative of the crown. By the special Act both, the board of Directors and the Board of control were abolished. In their place, the office of the secretary of state for India was created. He was assisted by an Indian council of 15 members.
3.  The army was thoroughly reorganized.  it had higher proportion of Europe in it.
4. The policy of ruthless conquest in India was given up. The British realized the mistake of antagonizing the rules of the Indian states. Under the proclamation, also known as the "Magna Carta of Indian People." 
5. Indian princes were given to right to adopt. It marked an end to the policy of annexation and establishment of almost feudal like relations between the crown and the native princes.
6. The proclamation declared that All Indians would be eligible to enter the Administrative services on the basis of their education and ability, irrespective of race and creed. These changes are also visible in executive, legislative and judicial through Indian council act 1861, Indian high court act 1861, Indian civil services act 1861.
7.   The beginning of elective representation of Indians in politics, which created competition amongst the various communities, can be traced back to the post-revolt period.
8. Unconditional pardon except who involve in the murder of officials. In aftermath of the revolt, India was made to bear the entire financial burden of the outbreak and suppression of the revolt. The public debt of India increased by nearly 98miillion sterling which added 2 million sterling to annual interest charges.

During 1857 revolt and Bihar:

• 1st revolt in Bihar on 12th June 1857 in Rohini village. Deoghar district where Army revolted against their own establishment. 
• At Patna, there was an uprising led by Pir Ali (A bookseller) and His associates.
• The Army mutiny at Danapur.
• The revolt led by Vir Kunwar Singh - declared the supremacy of the English and Company is at an end, and it is now Kunwar Singh's reign.
• Raja Arjun Singh of Singhbhum along with many local leaders was keen to fight against the British.
• Area of Bihar under the influence, Danapur, Arrah. Singhbhum, Manbhoom, Chotanagpur, Palamau, etc.