Freedom Fighters

The role of Rajputs in the Indian Independence Movement has often been overlooked or misrepresented in mainstream discourse. While some historians and commentators have questioned their participation in anti-colonial efforts, historical records and incidents reflect significant contributions made by various Rajput individuals and communities. From early zamindar uprisings in the 18th century to the armed revolts of 1857 and the revolutionary activities of the 20th century, Rajputs played a crucial role in challenging British rule across regions.

Revolutionary Movements and HSRA Involvement

Ram Prasad Bismil

Ram Prasad Bismil, founder of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), is remembered for his poetry and revolutionary zeal. Often socially misidentified, Bismil was a Tomar Rajput from Barwani village in Morena. He earned the title “Pandit” due to his literary and poetic prowess. Interviews with his Tomar Rajput family were published by The Hindu in 2013 and 2018.

Despite attempts by certain sections of society to question his caste identity and the broader role of Rajputs in the freedom struggle, Bismil remains a prominent figure who was hanged for his involvement in the Kakori Conspiracy alongside Thakur Roshan Singh.

Mahavir Singh Rathore

Mahavir Singh Rathore, a member of HSRA and the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, was imprisoned in the infamous Cellular Jail of Andaman alongside figures like Savarkar. At the age of 29, he died during a hunger strike protesting inhumane jail conditions, following brutal beatings by prison staff.

Early Zamindar Uprisings

Raja Narayan Singh Chauhan

The first major zamindar uprising in Bihar against the British took place in 1781, led by Raja Narayan Singh Chauhan of Aurangabad. He initially expelled a British ally from the fort and later refused to pay taxes during a famine in 1770. In retaliation, the British destroyed his Pawai fort in 1778. Collector Reginald Hand referred to him as “the first enemy of the British” in his 1781 book Early English Administration.

The 1857 Rebellion and Rajput Leadership

Rajput Participation in Sepoy Mutiny

According to historian Saul David, a significant portion of the Bengal Native Infantry—about one-third—comprised Rajput soldiers from Bihar and Awadh. Many names of martyrs from the rebellion were either Kshatriya or Muslim.

Contemporary observers also noted Rajput involvement:

Colonel G.B. Malleson stated in his 1858 book The Mutiny of the Bengal Army that Rajput villages across Bihar, Doab, Rohilkhand, and Awadh challenged British control and turned the rebellion into a national movement.
A.R. Young observed that in Shahabad, the entire Rajput population rose in support of the rebellion.

Kunwar Singh Parmar and the Bhojpur Revolt

In Bhojpur, Kunwar Singh Parmar, along with his brothers Amar Singh and Harekṛṣṇa Singh, led the rebellion. He took command of mutinying troops in Danapur and captured Arrah. In March 1858, he successfully captured Azamgarh and repelled early British attempts to reclaim the region.

British politician and author Sir George Trevelyan noted that the rebels at Arrah were neither cowards nor traitors, and that the British were fortunate Kunwar Singh was not forty years younger.

Thakur Dayal Singh Raghuvanshi (Jaunpur)

Upon hearing of the revolts in Ghazipur, Azamgarh, and Benares, Thakur Dayal Singh organized local Kshatriyas and attacked British establishments in Kirakat Tehsil. He and 21 others were hanged from a mango tree by the British in retaliation, an incident now commemorated.

Raja Sangram Singh

A prominent rebel leader in 1857, Raja Sangram Singh continued his resistance for 15 years. In 1862, he killed a British Superintendent in Jaunpur. He was never captured and remained a lifelong rebel.

Gautam Rajputs of Fatehpur

Jodh Singh Gautam and Thakur Dariyav Singh Gautam led a successful revolt in Fatehpur district, freeing it from British control. After a month, the British returned, captured, and executed the revolutionaries by hanging them from an Imli tree—now the site of the Bawan Imli Memorial.

Babu Bandhu Singh (Gorakhpur)

Zamindar Bandhu Singh Srinet launched guerrilla warfare against the British. He was captured and hanged on 12 August 1858 at Alinagar Chauraha in Gorakhpur, where his memorial still stands.

Awadh Rebellion

Raja Rana Devi Bakhsh Singh Bisen and Raja Rana Beni Madhav Singh Bais

The main leaders of the Awadh rebellion were Raja Devi Bakhsh Singh of Gonda and Raja Beni Madhav Singh Bais of Rae Bareli. Responding to a call from Begum Hazrat Mahal, both raised arms and led the regional resistance.

Beni Madhav Singh maintained four forts and commanded an army of 25,000 men and 28 guns. He helped Hazrat Mahal escape to Nepal and resisted British attempts at pacification, ultimately dying in battle against Gurkha allies of the British in 1859. Posthumously, his lands were awarded to a descendant of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Devi Bakhsh Singh also fiercely resisted the British using artillery on the Sarayu riverbanks. He died in Nepal, and his properties were confiscated.

Raja Lal Pratap Singh Bisen

Aided Begum Hazrat Mahal in Awadh and rebelled against British taxation. He died young in the 1858 Battle of Chanda. A postage stamp was issued in his honor by the Government of India on 17 December 2009.

Raja Dariyaw Chand Gaur (Kanpur Dehat)

Zamindar Dariyaw Chand Gaur attacked the British administration and looted their offices. After his execution, several of his allies were publicly hanged, and his fort was demolished.

Cultural Suppression and Propaganda

In recent times, some intellectuals and filmmakers have downplayed or misrepresented Rajput participation in the independence struggle. For instance:

Historian Harbans Mukhia, in a 2018 BBC Hindi article, claimed that Rajputs played little role in the independence movement.
Filmmaker Javed Akhtar, in 2017, controversially stated that Kshatriyas never fought the British.

Such narratives have contributed to cultural bias in academia and the Indian film industry.

Participation in Peasant and Regional Revolts

Western Uttar Pradesh Uprisings

While the Kshatriya role in the Sepoy Mutiny and Eastern UP revolution is well documented, they also participated in agrarian revolts in Western UP. Historian Eric Stokes in his book The Peasant and the Raj describes the uprisings of Pundir Rajputs in Saharanpur, Tomar Rajputs in Hapur, and Gahlot Rajputs in Gautam Buddh Nagar.

Vindhya Revolts (1812)

Historian A. U. Siddiqui, in his book Indian Freedom Movement in Princely States of Vindhya Pradesh, narrates the battles of Sathni and Itar (1812) where Sengar Rajputs defeated British forces. Thakur Ranmat Singh Baghel and his commander DalThamman Singh Kalchuri terrorized British forces in battles at Nagod, Vidisha, Chitrakoot, Naugaon, and Kevti.

Early Anti-British Actions

Rao Madhukar Shah Bundela (1836–1843)

In March 1836, British officers abducted an Indian woman. Rao Madhukar Shah Bundela revolted and freed her. He was captured and hanged in 1843.

Kunwar Chain Singh Parmar (1824)

On 24 July 1824, Kunwar Chain Singh Parmar of Narsinghgarh and 41 companions fought the British in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh. His memorial lies near Lothia river, marking this significant early act of defiance.

1857 Uprising and Contributions

Thakur Bakhtawar Singh Rathore

In October 1857, Bakhtawar Singh Rathore of Amjhera launched attacks on Sardarpur and Malpur-Gujri cantonments. He was captured and hanged in Indore on 10 February 1858.

Raja Mardan Singh Sisodia

Raja Mardan Singh Sisodia of Bhanpura allied with Rani of Jhansi and took over Lalitpur railway station. He fought in Chanderi, Banpur, and Lalitpur, was arrested in 1858, and died in Mathura jail in 1879.

Veer Surendra Sai Chauhan & Thakur Vishwanath Shahdeo

Surendra Sai Chauhan, ruler of Sambalpur (Odisha), rebelled against the Doctrine of Lapse from 1827 to 1862.
In Jharkhand, Thakur Vishwanath Shahdeo of Barkagarh started a rebellion in 1855 and was executed in 1858.

Raja Deep Singh Gaur (1857)

Ruler of Kaulas Fort (near Nizamabad), Raja Deep Singh Gaur, fought the British and was deported to the Andamans.

British Policy Against Rajputs

Due to continuous Rajput uprisings, the British banned Rajputs from recruitment in British Indian Army for 90 years, fearing rebellion. Despite ample documentation, some historians downplay this due to ideological bias.

Rebellious Rajput Rulers of Princely States

Though princely states were not under direct British control, several Rajput rulers revolted:

Rana Ratan Singh Sodha of Umarkot
Wazir Ram Singh Pathania of Pathankot
Khushal Singh Champawat and Rao Gopal Singh Kharwa of Marwar
Shekhawat Kayamkhani of Sikar

These revolts were exceptions as most princely Rajputs were not under British India. However, Rajputs in British-controlled areas contributed significantly to HSRA, INA, and in extending Congress and RSS’s reach into villages.

Contribution to National Movements

Spreading Congress in Rural India

Rajputs who helped spread Congress in rural regions:

Anurag Narayan Singhji of Bihar
Shubhadra Kumari Chauhan, first woman arrested during Nagpur Satyagraha
Thakur Pyarelal Singh Baghel of Chhattisgarh: labor rights activist, set up cooperatives and Congress offices in all villages by 1946.

Himachal and Revolutionary Movements

Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar: Founder of Himachal Pradesh
Lal Padmadhar Singh Baghel: Martyred student during Quit India Movement

Revolutionary Activities and Guerrilla Warfare

HSRA Revolutionaries

Ramprasad Bismil Singh Tomar
Mahavir Singh Rathore
Roshan Singh Nikumbh

Comrade Arjun Singh Bhadauria

Led Lal Sena (Red Army) in Chambal. Post-independence, aligned with Socialist Party of India, advocating for farmers and workers.

Rajkumar Brajesh Singh Bisen

Joined Communist Party of India in 1928 after meeting M. N. Roy.
Descendant of Lal Pratap Singh Bisen (martyr of 1857) and Raja Rampal Singh Bisen (Congress member).

Comrade Chandra Singhji Garhwali

Defied orders to fire on Pashtuns in Peshawar. Also, Sardar Singhji Raoji Rana, co-founder of Indian Home Rule Society, and Kunwar Mohammad Ashraf, Marxist historian from Hathras, were Rajputs.

Role in Azad Hind Fauj and International Efforts

Bikram Singh Saroya (Assistant Secretary, Provisional Government, INA): Saroya Rajput from Hoshiarpur
Captain Abbas Ali: Solanki Rajput from Khurja, later socialist leader
Shahnawaz Khan (Janjua Rajput): One of the three generals tried in the Red Fort Trials (1945) which catalyzed Indian independence.

Post-Independence Injustice and Erasure

Despite massive participation and sacrifices:

Many Rajputs were killed or executed brutally.
Their lands and wealth were seized and redistributed to urban upper-caste collaborators.
Today, these classes deny or minimize the Rajput role in independence.

This deliberate historical marginalization aimed to:

Psychologically demoralize Rajputs
Obscure the economic and political oppression by elite urban classes
Label princely rulers as collaborators, despite their autonomous administration and separate flags, armies, and courts

Misleading Narratives

Urban elites often misrepresent princely state rulers as "collaborators", but by that logic:

Shivaji’s descendants, Holkars, Gaekwads, and Sikh princely families of Patiala, Kapurthala, Jind would also be "slaves", which is incorrect.

These states had:

Independent flags, armies, judiciary, railways, and schools.
They were not part of British India and had separate treaties.

Hypocrisy of the Urban Elite Class

The urban elite class that dominates the colonial civil services, judiciary, and industry under British rule:

Benefitted the most from British patronage.
Post-independence, they became the ruling class.
Controlled princely state administrations after 1857, further marginalizing Kshatriyas.