Bandhu Singh

Bandhu Singh (born 1 May 1833, died 12 August 1858) was a prominent freedom fighter and guerrilla leader from Dumari Riyasat, a Shrinet Rajput principality in present-day Uttar Pradesh. He played a significant role during the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, particularly in the Gorakhpur region. A devoted worshipper of Tarkulaha Devi, Bandhu Singh is remembered for his fierce resistance against British colonial rule.

Early Life

Bandhu Singh was born on 1 May 1833 into a noble Shrinet Rajput family. His father was Babu Shiv Prasad Singh, ruler of Dumari Riyasat. He had five brothers: Dal Hamman Singh, Tejai Singh, Fateh Singh, Jheenak Singh, and Karia Singh. Deeply spiritual from an early age, Bandhu Singh held unwavering devotion to Tarkulaha Devi, a local goddess.

Rebellion Against the British

Amid growing British repression, Bandhu Singh renounced his princely life and settled in a forested region near the Gurra river, a place surrounded by dense woods and spiritual solitude. It was here that he built a makeshift shrine to Tarkulaha Devi under a tarkul (palm) tree, from where his rebellion began.

Trained in guerrilla warfare, Bandhu Singh led a campaign of ambushes and targeted attacks against British officials. Known for his fearlessness, he is believed to have beheaded British officers passing through the forests, offering their severed heads at the feet of Tarkulaha Devi as a form of symbolic resistance. One popular account even recounts that he assassinated a British collector and boldly sat on his chair—a direct challenge to colonial authority.

The British were initially mystified by the disappearances of their soldiers in the forest. Once they identified Bandhu Singh as the leader behind the ambushes, they launched multiple campaigns to apprehend him. However, his deep knowledge of the terrain and guerrilla strategies made him almost impossible to capture.

Capture and Execution

Eventually, Bandhu Singh was captured by the British. He was tried and sentenced to public execution by hanging. His hanging took place on 12 August 1858 at Ali Nagar Square in Gorakhpur.

According to local tradition, six attempts to hang him failed, with the noose slipping each time. It was only after Bandhu Singh invoked Tarkulaha Devi in meditation, seeking her permission to embrace martyrdom, that the seventh attempt succeeded. Locals believe this final act was sanctified by divine will.

Legacy and Memorials

Following India’s independence, Bandhu Singh’s contributions gradually faded from public memory. However, his descendant Late Shri Vinay Kumar Singh “Binnu”, a senior political leader, founded the Shaheed Bandhu Singh Smarak Samiti to preserve and honour his legacy. After Binnu’s passing, his younger brother Shri Ajay Kumar Singh “Tappu” continued this mission.

Today, memorials dedicated to Shaheed Bandhu Singh stand at both Ali Nagar Square, the site of his execution, and Tarkulaha Devi Temple, where he worshipped and launched his rebellion. These monuments serve as a reminder of his courage, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion to both his faith and his nation.