When in 1857 the war of independence spread out, Rajasthan did not remain unaffected. When in 1857 the fire of war of independence spread in Rajasthan, the British government became worried. There were mainly 6 army cantonments in Rajasthan. They were at Naseerabad. Neemuch, Devli, Kota, Erinpura and Kherwada.

The main centres of revolt in Rajasthan : 

(1) Naseerabad : In Rajasthan, the 1857 war of indepenence began from Naseerabad. On 28 May 1857 at 4 p.m. in the evening, the soldiers revolted in Naseerabad. There were rumours that the wheat given to soliders and the bullets to be torn by mouth were mixed with cow meat and fat. On 27th May, news broke that from Dausa, European battalion soldiers were reaching Naseerabad to take place of soldiers placed there.

The news of opposition raised the soldiers’ anger to the extreme, The situation of Naseerabad began to deteriorate. The soldiers revolted but first regment. Mumbai lancers did not side with the rebels and obeying the British command fired on them but light Grenadler company refused to fire bullet. Brigadier Machael was compelled to stay away alongwith European friends. Other than this, Col.

Penny who was core commander died at the incident location. The reason for this was probably panic. Two other British officers also died, two were injured and with this, Naseerabad went in the hands of revolutionaries. Next day, the revolutionaries destroyed Naseerabad cantonment and proceeded towards Delhi.

In the leadership of Lieutenant Matter and Lieutenant Hathcoat, almost 1000 soldiers of Mewar purchased the revolutionaries but they were unable to catch them. May be the reason for this was that the feudal lords of Mewar and Marwar easily allowed the agitators to pass through their state. This fact is an indication that Mewar and Marwad were lenient towards revolutionaries.

Dissastisfaction in soldiers again : On 12 June 1857 from Orissa the first batch of European soldiers reached Naseerabad and on 10 July 1857 the agent of Governor General sent this batch to Neemuch. This incident gave birth to dissatisfaction among Naseerabad based soldiers. 12th native infantry soldiers were enthusiastic, but they were quickly deweaponised.

On 10th August 1857, the soldiers of Mumbai Cavalry refused the order to kill their commander and asked other associates to introspect on their part but British government took tough steps. One soldier was instantly killed with bullets. Some soldiers were hanged and rest of all other Indian soldiers were deweaponised. This way the revolt was quickly handled before it could spread any farther in Naseerabad.

The Neemuch Revolution : The second centre of revolt was Neemuch. On 2nd June, Colonel Abbot made Hindu and Muslim soldiers pledge by Ganga and Quran that they would remain loyal to British rule. Colonel Abbot himself kept Bible in his hands and took pledge by which they could get full support from soldiers under them, the but on 3rd June 1857 the revolt of Naseerabad news of reached Neemuch and same day at 11 p.m. in the evening, revolt erupted.

The rebels captured the cantonment and put it on flames. Brigadier Major’s bungalow was set on fire. The soldiers stationed at the bungalow refused to fire at the revolutionaries and later, they also joined them. It is believed that two women instantly died and many children who were rounded perished into the flames of fire. British men, women and children who were about 40 in number, were rounded off by the revolutionaries.

On 5th June, the revolutionaries moved to Agra and from there, left for Delhi. They released all prisoners imprisoned in Agra and looted ₹1 lakh, 26 thousand from the government treasury. The market of Agra remained safe. The revolutionaries of Neemuch reached Delhi and set the cantonment on fire. It is believed that the Delhi Cantonment had already been emptied and from there, and British officers were sent to Jahaazpur town near Mewar.

The revolutionaries compelled 60 people of Delhi cantonment to come along with them. The situation of other nearby places became volatile. The attacks of revolutionaries were increasing at Malwa, Mhow, Salumbar etc. The situation of Kharwada and Salumbar near Udaipur became so sensitive that in Captain Shauney’s thoughts, the safety of these areas became difficult..

On 12 August 1857 second cavalry commander Colonel Jackson called on European soldiers in Neemuch on the basis of the information that there would be agitated Indian army and their strategy was to finish all European officiers. This incident enraged the Indian soldiers based in Neemuch.

In this enthusiasm, one European soldier was killed, 2 other soldiers were injured and Lieutinant Will was injured with the gun of a European. The soldiers refused to obey the orders of Colonel Jackson and the European officials also passed the order related to arguments and with the result, the decision was taken to curb the revolutionaries of Neemuch as more soldiers were called.

Auwa (Marwad) Fort and Thakur Kushal Singh’s leadership : August 1857 revolution’s flames blaze in the entire state. On 21 August, Jodhpur soldiers based in Ellenpura revolted and they refused to obey their superiors with the result that lilutenant Karmoli was pressurised to go with revolutionaries. He was released after 3 days by revolutionaries. Bhil soldiers also sided with the revolutionaries and refused to support the British rule.

They captured many British citizens and families and took them in their custody. After some time, they were also released. Thereafter Auwa’s Thakur Kushal Singh also began to support the revolutionaries. The reason behind this was that for the last few years the personal relations of Thakur Kushal Singh and Jodhpur Maharaja had been tensed and in contemporary circumstances, the former wished to take benefit from the opportunity.

Is On 9th Semptember 1857, Maharaja’s soldiers and revolutionaries supported Auwa Thakur’s soldiers fought a battle at Vidoda and Chilawaas near Pali. The soldiers of Maharaja not only had to face see the defeat but most of their weapons also came in the hands of revolutionaries. The fort keeper of Jodhpur, Anar Singh and many trusted supporters of Maharaja helped in this war.

Even lieutenant Heathcoat who was sent to Rajasthan by British agent Governor General Lawrence could save himself with lot of difficulty. His entire wealth was looted by revolutionaries. While understanding these serious circumstances, General Lawrence, himself decided to march towards Auwa. Near Beawar, he prepared an armed batallion and left for Auwa on 18th September. In the leadership of General Lawrence, the British soldiers unsuccessfully targeted Auwa.

The revolting soldiers not only foiled the attack but many British officers among which Jodhpur based British political agent Mike Mason and one European official were included, were foiled. Alongwith this, many Jodhpur soldiers were killed at the hands of revolutionaries. Revolutionaries beheaded Mike Mason in the fort which was a symbol of their success.

General Lawrence had to move back and take shelter in a village three miles away From Auwa. Thereafter he came back to Ajmer. General Lawrence’s defeat was taken seriously by British government. The reason for this was that this incident could affect whole of Rajasthan. The British government gave orders that the Auwa Thakur must be supressed at any cost.

On the other hand, revolutionaries like Kisaldar Abdul Ali Abbas Ali Khan, Sheikh Mohd. Baksh and Hindu and Muslim soldiers appealed the people of Marwar and Mewar that they help them in whatever form. Thakur Kushal Singh sought from Mewar’s biggest landlord Thakur Sammad Singh an agreement to help against Britishers. Thakur Sammad Singh and many main landlords of Marwar assured the support of four thousand soldiers.

On 9th October 1857, Aasop’s Thakur Chand Singh, Pulniari’s Thakur Ajit Singh, Tulgiri’s Thakur Bhagat Singh, Bhogara’s Thakur Jodh Singh, Banto Thakur Prem Singh, Banswara’s Thakur Chand Singh in order to take suport from Delhi government left for Delhi. Thakur Sammad Singh also sided with the friendly landlords.

On January 1858, a group of soldiers from Bombay reached Naseerabad to support British soldiers and on the way, the fort handed over to Thakur of Sirohi for his services was attacked and destroyed, and on 19 January 1958, this group reached Auwa. In order to support this army, Jaipur’s working British political agent Major Morrison reached Auwa. From the other side under Colonel Holmes’ leadership, Bombay native infantry reached Auwa.

Thereafter on 19 January in the leadership of Colonel Holmes, the Auwa fort was laid seige but 23 on January 1958 under the cover of darkness, rain and thunder, Auwa revolutionaries escaped away. British soldiers chased revolutionaries and 18 of them were trapped and put to death and 7 were taken into custody. From Auwa village, 124 people were made captive and they were soon made target of bullets.

The native place of Auwa Thakur was laid to ground and in this manner on 24 January 1858, the British soldiers captured Auwa. It is believed that during army action, many unarmed citizens were killed and their bodies were found lying in the lanes. British army also incurred heavy losses and at least ten soldiers were wounded. British soldiers in Auwa committed terrible atrocities.

Bertha, Bhimaliye, and Lambiya villagers were destroyed and in this way the terror was spread among people and British army surged ahead towards Naseerabad. On 15 September 1857, Major Burton received orders to take the role of British political agent in Kota. Thereafter Kota Maharao’s advocate Major Burton was to be taken from Neemuch. On 5th October, Major Burton alongwith his two sons left for Kota.

Major Burton’s wife, daughter and 3 sons had halted at Neemuch and on 12th October, Major Burton reached Kota. The next day Kota Maharao came to meet British political agent at his residence and the same day in the night political agent alongwith his two sons went to meet Maharao. It is believed that during talks, the political agent requested Maharao to relieve his own main associates from the post.

But on 15 October, the two ministers of Kota Maharao revolted against Britain and Major Burton, his two sons, one assistant surgeon and one native Christian doctor were killed. Not only this, Major Burton was beheaded and revolutionaries took the head with them. The revolutionaries were supported by common people and this was given the form of public movement. In Kota’s independence, Jaidev Mathur and Mehrab Khan played main roles.

British Soldiers had to move back and for five months, the rule of revolutionaries remained in Kota. . Other states’ contribution: In Jaipur, Tonk, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Dungarpur states the anti British emotions were high. The army of Bharatpur, Gujjars and other people openly participated in the revolt. The people of Jaipur insulted the British army that was walking on the roads by shouting anti British slogans. The Nawab of Tonk refused to pay taxes and left for Delhi.