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Contents
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Page No.
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Preface
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A Saga of Heroism
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1
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Tatya Tope, popularly known as 'Tantia Topi', was one of the
greatest military leaders that the revolt of 1857 threw up. His was an
unknown name till then. But the dramatic events of 1857 catapulted him from
complete obscurity into sudden prominence.
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From Obscurity to Fame
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3
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Early Life
Not much is known of Tatya Tope's earlier life. Some facts about him can be
gleaned from the statement he made after his arrest and some from the
deposition made by Ramkrishna Tope, Tatya's step-brother, before the
Assistant Resident of Baroda in 1862.
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The Gathering Strom
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7
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When Tatya appeared on the scene, almost the whole of North
India was aflame. Sepoy mutinies had broken out at Meerut, Delhi and several
other places in U.P. These mutinies had merged themselves into revolts of
civilian populations under local leaders.
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Sitting on a Volcano
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13
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If Capt. Martineau's discerning eyes could clearly see the
writing on the wall, though only just before the storm, the staff at Kanpur,
or for that matter in the entire country, had no such inkling, not even as
late as March or April. Sir George Trevelyan bemoans that "it seems
miraculous indeed that our countrymen in India should not have entertained
any idea of what those months would bring forth.
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Revolt at Kanpur
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21
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That crucial moment came when a European officer in a state of
intoxication fired upon a small patrol of II Cavalry. He was court-martialled
but was acquitted on the plea that the offence was committed in an inebriated
state of mind when he was not responsible for his actions!
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Tatya as a Military Adviser
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32
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With the last trace of British authority having been wiped out
of the city, Nana's dream of revival of the Maratha Empire seemed to have
come true. On june 30 he was proclaimed as the Peshwa amidst splendour and
ceremonies reminiscent of the old days of the Peshwas. People of Kanpur and
the surrounding villages poured into Bithur in large numbers to witness the
grand event.
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Tatya as a General
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40
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After the defeat of the rebel army at Kanpur, the initiative of
the Peshwa's military activity passed into Tatya's able hands. Subsequent
events show that Nana's choice of Tatya as a general was more than justified.
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The Marathon Race
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59
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But, obviously, Sir Huge Rose had not reckoned with the spirit
of the Maratha general, which had remained unbroken. All his guns were lost.
The 'Peshwas's army' was in shambles. He had no foothold anywhere. He was
surrounded by the British forces on all sides. Yet he refused to accept
defeat.
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Capture and Execution of Tatya
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69
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Till the beginning of April 1859 Tatya, the last and the
greatest of all the rebels and 'the leading spirit of the drama', was still
at large. He had defied all attempts to put a noose round his neck. When
military tactics failed, the British took recourse to treachery.
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The End and the Beginning
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75
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With Tatya Tope died the last embers of the rebellion of 1857.
The splendid way in which he carried on the struggle has earned him a niche
in the history of India. His greatness lies in his undying spirit and
devotion to the national cause. And he fought for it with the sang-froid of a
karmayogi.
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Appendix
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80
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Was Tatya Tope really hanged? In other words, was the man who
was hanged really Tatya Tope?
The question has been raised by some writers and students of history who
believe that it was not Tatya Tope who was hanged but another man
impersonating Tatya.
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Bibliography
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85
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Bell, Charles: Indian Mutiny.
Dharaiya, Dr R.K.: Gujarat in 1857.
Dharam Pal: Tatya Tope.
Forrest, G.W.: History of the Indian Mutiny.
Government of Bombay: Source Material for History of Freedom Movement in
India, vol. I, 1818-1885.
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