Tatya Tope
Encyclopedia
Ramachandra Pandurang Tope (1814 – 18 April 1859), popularly known as Tatya Tope , was an Indian leader in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
and one of its finest generals. He was a personal adherent of Nana Sahib
of Kanpur. He progressed with the Gwalior contingent after the British reoccupation of Kanpur and forced General Windham to retreat from Kanpur. Later on, he came to the rescue of Rani Laxmi Bai. However he was defeated by General Napier's British Indian troops after the betrayal of his trusted friend Man Singh. He was executed by the British Government at Shivpuri
on 18 April 1859.
, he was the only son of Pandurang Rao Tope and his wife Rukhmabai. In 1814, when James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie deprived Nana Sahib of his father's pension, Tatya Tope also became a sworn enemy of the British.
's close associate and general. During the Siege of Cawnpore
in 1857, Nana Sahib's forces attacked the British entrenchment at Kanpur in June 1857. The low supplies of food, water and medicine added to the misery of the British Forces who decided to surrender in return for a safe passage to Allahabad. Nana Sahib agreed to this and made arrangements as best as he could. However, under ambiguous circumstances, the evacuation of the British from Cawnpore turned into a conflict at the Satichaura Ghat. Though controversy surrounds what exactly happened next at the Satichaura Ghat, and who fired the first shot, it is known that soon afterwards, the departing British were attacked by the rebel sepoys. After the conflict began, Tatya Tope allegedly ordered the 2nd Bengal Cavalry unit and some artillery units to open fire on the British. Many of General Wheelers men were either killed or captured. The surviving British women and children were moved from the Savada House to Bibighar "the House of the Ladies", a villa-type house in Kanpur.
Nana Sahib decided to use the captives for bargaining with the East India Company. The Company forces from Allahabad, under the command of General Henry Havelock
, advanced relentlessly towards Cawnpore. Two forces sent by Nana Sahib to check their advance were defeated. When it became clear that the bargaining attempts had failed, an order was given to murder the women and children imprisoned at Bibighar, on July 15. The details of the incident, such as who ordered the massacre, are not clear. The sepoys refused to kill the captive women and children, but some of them agreed to remove the women and children from the courtyard, when Tatya Tope threatened to execute them for dereliction of duty. Begum Hussaini Khanum, the in-charge of Bibighar, termed the sepoys' act as cowardice, and asked her lover Sarvur Khan to finish the job of killing the captives. Sarvur Khan hired some butcher
s, who murdered the surviving women and children with cleavers
.
The Company forces reached Cawnpore on July 16, and captured the city. Both Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope escaped from the city. While Nana Sahib fled to an unknown place, Tatya Tope continued the fight against the British. In November 1857, he gathered a large army, mainly consisting of the rebel soldiers from the Gwalior contingent, to recapture Cawnpore. By November 19, Tatya Tope's advance guard of 6,000 dominated all the routes west and north-west of Cawnpore. However, his forces were defeated by the Company forces under Colin Campbell
in the Second Battle of Cawnpore
, marking the end of the rebellion in the Cawnpore area. Tatya Tope then joined Rani Lakshmibai
.
and Narmada River
regions and in Khandesh and Rajasthan
. He took shelter for some time in Nadiad ni haveli
with Bhausaheb Desai of Nadiad. The British forces failed to subdue him for over a year. He was however betrayed into the hands of the British by his trusted friend, Man Singh, Chief of Narwar while asleep in his camp in the Paron forest. He was defeated and captured on 7 April 1859 by British General Richard John Meade's troops and escorted to Shivpuri where he was tried by a military court.
Tope admitted the charges brought before him saying that he was answerable to his master Peshwa
only. He was executed at the gallows on April 18 1859. There is a statue of Tatya Tope at the site of his execution near the present collectorate in Shivpuri
town in Madhya Pradesh
.
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
and one of its finest generals. He was a personal adherent of Nana Sahib
Nana Sahib
Nana Sahib , born as Dhondu Pant, was an Indian leader during the Rebellion of 1857. As the adopted son of the exiled Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II, he sought to restore the Maratha confederacy and the Peshwa tradition....
of Kanpur. He progressed with the Gwalior contingent after the British reoccupation of Kanpur and forced General Windham to retreat from Kanpur. Later on, he came to the rescue of Rani Laxmi Bai. However he was defeated by General Napier's British Indian troops after the betrayal of his trusted friend Man Singh. He was executed by the British Government at Shivpuri
Shivpuri
Shivpuri is a city and a municipality in Shivpuri district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is in the Gwalior Division of northwest Madhya Pradesh and is the administrative headquarters of Shivpuri District. It is situated at an altitude of above sea level.-History:Shivpuri is an ancient...
on 18 April 1859.
Early life
Born in a village called Yeola in MaharashtraMaharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, he was the only son of Pandurang Rao Tope and his wife Rukhmabai. In 1814, when James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie deprived Nana Sahib of his father's pension, Tatya Tope also became a sworn enemy of the British.
Role in the 1857 uprising
Tatya Tope was Nana SahibNana Sahib
Nana Sahib , born as Dhondu Pant, was an Indian leader during the Rebellion of 1857. As the adopted son of the exiled Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II, he sought to restore the Maratha confederacy and the Peshwa tradition....
's close associate and general. During the Siege of Cawnpore
Siege of Cawnpore
The Siege of Cawnpore was a key episode in the Indian rebellion of 1857. The besieged British in Cawnpore were unprepared for an extended siege and surrendered to rebel Indian forces under Nana Sahib, in return for a safe passage to Allahabad. However, under ambiguous circumstances, their...
in 1857, Nana Sahib's forces attacked the British entrenchment at Kanpur in June 1857. The low supplies of food, water and medicine added to the misery of the British Forces who decided to surrender in return for a safe passage to Allahabad. Nana Sahib agreed to this and made arrangements as best as he could. However, under ambiguous circumstances, the evacuation of the British from Cawnpore turned into a conflict at the Satichaura Ghat. Though controversy surrounds what exactly happened next at the Satichaura Ghat, and who fired the first shot, it is known that soon afterwards, the departing British were attacked by the rebel sepoys. After the conflict began, Tatya Tope allegedly ordered the 2nd Bengal Cavalry unit and some artillery units to open fire on the British. Many of General Wheelers men were either killed or captured. The surviving British women and children were moved from the Savada House to Bibighar "the House of the Ladies", a villa-type house in Kanpur.
Nana Sahib decided to use the captives for bargaining with the East India Company. The Company forces from Allahabad, under the command of General Henry Havelock
Henry Havelock
Major-General Sir Henry Havelock, KCB was a British general who is particularly associated with India. He was noted for his recapture of Cawnpore from rebels during Indian Rebellion of 1857.-Early life:...
, advanced relentlessly towards Cawnpore. Two forces sent by Nana Sahib to check their advance were defeated. When it became clear that the bargaining attempts had failed, an order was given to murder the women and children imprisoned at Bibighar, on July 15. The details of the incident, such as who ordered the massacre, are not clear. The sepoys refused to kill the captive women and children, but some of them agreed to remove the women and children from the courtyard, when Tatya Tope threatened to execute them for dereliction of duty. Begum Hussaini Khanum, the in-charge of Bibighar, termed the sepoys' act as cowardice, and asked her lover Sarvur Khan to finish the job of killing the captives. Sarvur Khan hired some butcher
Butcher
A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat or any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments...
s, who murdered the surviving women and children with cleavers
Cleaver (knife)
A cleaver is a large knife that varies in its shape but usually resembles a rectangular-bladed hatchet. It is used mostly for hacking through bones as a kitchen knife or butcher knife, and can also be used for crushing via its broad side, typically garlic....
.
The Company forces reached Cawnpore on July 16, and captured the city. Both Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope escaped from the city. While Nana Sahib fled to an unknown place, Tatya Tope continued the fight against the British. In November 1857, he gathered a large army, mainly consisting of the rebel soldiers from the Gwalior contingent, to recapture Cawnpore. By November 19, Tatya Tope's advance guard of 6,000 dominated all the routes west and north-west of Cawnpore. However, his forces were defeated by the Company forces under Colin Campbell
Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde
Field Marshal Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde GCB, KSI was a British Army officer from Scotland who led the Highland Brigade in the Crimea and was in command of the ‘Thin red line’ at the battle of Balaclava...
in the Second Battle of Cawnpore
Second Battle of Cawnpore
The Second Battle of Cawnpore was a battle of Indian rebellion of 1857. It was decisive as it thwarted the rebels' last chance to regain the initiative and recapture the cities of Kanpur and Lucknow.-Background:...
, marking the end of the rebellion in the Cawnpore area. Tatya Tope then joined Rani Lakshmibai
Rani Lakshmibai
Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of Jhansi was the queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi, situated in the northern part of India...
.
Capture and Death
After losing Gwalior to the British, Tope launched a successful campaign in the Sagar, Madhya PradeshMadhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
and Narmada River
Narmada River
The Narmada , also called Rewa is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent. It is the third largest river that completely flows within India after Ganges and Godavari...
regions and in Khandesh and Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. He took shelter for some time in Nadiad ni haveli
Nadiad ni haveli
Nadiad ni haveli is also called Bhausaheb Desai ni Haveli was built in Nadiad, Gujarat. Construction for the house started in 1783 and it had 249 rooms and is an architectural wonder with wooden carvings, rain water harvesting, dozens of courtyards and balconies covered with bronze sheets.Tatya...
with Bhausaheb Desai of Nadiad. The British forces failed to subdue him for over a year. He was however betrayed into the hands of the British by his trusted friend, Man Singh, Chief of Narwar while asleep in his camp in the Paron forest. He was defeated and captured on 7 April 1859 by British General Richard John Meade's troops and escorted to Shivpuri where he was tried by a military court.
Tope admitted the charges brought before him saying that he was answerable to his master Peshwa
Peshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
only. He was executed at the gallows on April 18 1859. There is a statue of Tatya Tope at the site of his execution near the present collectorate in Shivpuri
Shivpuri
Shivpuri is a city and a municipality in Shivpuri district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is in the Gwalior Division of northwest Madhya Pradesh and is the administrative headquarters of Shivpuri District. It is situated at an altitude of above sea level.-History:Shivpuri is an ancient...
town in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
.