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The First War of Independence

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Begum hazrat mahal The First War of Independence (1857-58) was the first general widespread uprising against the rule of the British East India Company. The Doctrine of Lapse, issue of cartridges greased with animal fat to Indian soldiers, introduction of British system of education and a number of social reforms had infuriated a very wide section of the Indian people, who rose in revolt at a number of places all over India. The East India Company was brought under the direct rule of the British Crown as a result of this uprising.

Of the very large number of freedom fighters, who led the struggle, four are being commemorated through the present series, which is a part of the larger series on India's Struggle for Freedom. Wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Hazrat Mahal was also known as the Begum of Avadh. In addition to being gifted with irresistible physical charm, she had an inborn genius for organization and command. After her husband had been sent away in exile to Calcutta, she with the cooperation of a zealous band of supporters, like Sarafad-daulah, Maharaj Bal Krishna, Raja Jai Lal and above all Mammon Khan worked incessantly to revive the fortunes of Avadh. She seized control of Lucknow in association with the revolutionary forces and set up her son, Prince Birjis Qadr, as the King of Avadh. Hazrat Mahal worked in association with Nana Saheb but later escaped from Lucknow and joined the Maulvi of Faizabad in the attack on Shahjahanpur. She was driven from pillar to post, but she made her retreat with fortitude. She rejected with contempt the promises of allowance and status held out to her by the British against whom her hatred was unrelenting. In the end after bearing misfortune and misery throughout the period of resistance, she found asylum in Nepal where she died in 1879.

Kunwar singh

Babu Kunwar Singh was nearly eighty and in failing health when he was called upon to take up arms. The great warrior that he was, he gave a good fight and harried British forces for nearly a year and remained invincible till the end.[1] Kunwar Singh assumed command of the soldiers who had revolted at Danapur on July 5. Two days later he occupied Arrah, the district headquarter. Major Vincent Eyre relieved the town on August 3, defeated Kunwar Singh's force and destroyed Jagdispur. Kunwar Singh left his ancestral village and reached Lucknow in December 1857. In March 1858 he occupied Azamgarh.[2] However, he had to leave the place soon. Pursued by Brigadier Douglas, he retreated towards his home in Bihar. On April 23, Kunwar Singh had a victory near Jagdispur over the force led by Captain Le Grand, 26 April 1858 he died in his village. The mantle of the old chief now fell on his brother Amar Singh 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 rebel leaders in the Nepal Terai

Babu Veer Kunwar Singh

(1777 – 1858) belonged to a Rajput royal house of Jagdhishpur, currently a part of Bhojpur district, Biharstate, India. At the age of 80 years, during India’s First War of Independence (1857-58), he actively led a select band of armed soldiers against the troops under the command of the British Raj, and also recorded victories in many battles. In his last battle, fought on 23 April1858, near Jagdishpur, the troops under the control of the British Raj were completely routed. To honour his memory and his contribution to India’s freedom movement, the Republic of India issued a commemorative stamp[1]on 23rd April, 1966. Kunwar Singh, zamindar of Jagdishpur near Arrah in the state of Bihar, one of the leaders of the Indian rising of 1857. He assumed command of the soldiers who had revolted at Danapur on 5th July. Two days later he occupied Arrah, the district headquarter. Major Vincent Eyre relieved the town on 3rd August, defeated Kunwar Singh''''s force and destroyed Jagdishpur. Kunwar 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 Bihar. On 23 April, Kunwar Singh had a victory near Jagdishpur over the force led by Captain Le Grand, 26 April1858 he died in his village. The mantle of the old chief now fell on his brother Amar Singh who, despite heavy odds, continued the struggle and for a considerable time ran a parallel government in the district of Shahabad. In October 1859 Amar Singh joined the rebel leaders in the Nepal Terai.

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