Amar Shaheed Gangu Mehtar
Brief background of 1857 first freedom struggle:-
As per Forward to Dalit Dastavej Hindi book, by Shri Panna Lal president Dalit Sahitya Prakashan Sanstha New Delhi wrote that as many as7782 Indian brave hearts sacrificed their lives from ( 1857-1947) for the sake of Indian freedom. Among them were 5319 (68. 3%) Shudras (Now SCs, STs, OBC), 1084( 14%) Muslims and 1379 (17.7%) from other upper castes. Many of them got killed in active wars, for rebellion acts many were arrested put in jails, some died in jails others hanged after summery trials. The Caste Hindus did never support giving clean job employment to untouchable. But initially the British had no such restrictions on recruitments of untouchables. It was low caste soldiers recruited by British who fought for British to defeat Peshwas. During Peshwa Rule the Dalits faced sever caste atrocities. Later Dalits gave sever blows to British during 1875 rebellion. The major factor was joint revolt of Dalit solders with caste Hindu soldiers. In Barakpur Military Cantonment one sepoy Mangal Pandey due to caste hate Reprimanded Mata Din Bhangi taking water from his pitcher. On this taunting rebuke Mata Din Bhangi told Mangal Panday about why the Hindu soliders were not opposing the British for putting covering made from cow and pig fat over ammunition rounds. This fat cover was to be cut with mouth before firing the cartridge. This discloser worked to arouse religious hurt both in Hindu and Muslim religion persons. This became sparking point of sepoy’s rebellion ignited by Dalit Mehtar in which both Mangal Panday and Mata Din with other sepoys came out of parade on 1st March,1857, and Mangal Pandey fired on the Europeans. They were arrested, summarily tried and done to death by handing. Mangal Pandey was hanged in Barrackpore cantonement near Calcutta now, Kolkata West Bengal on March 29, 1857. Many more got killed among whom were Chet Ram Jatav, Billu Mehtar who were tied alive with tree branched before shooting them by gun shots.
But among the various factors for failure of 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, the major were disunity among Indian rulers, Zamindars due to their varied self interests .So some supported and joined this rebellion and those remained out. Also “ The Doctrine of Lapse” endangered future of Indian rulers who if die as natural heirless could not nominate any of the relative of their choice to occupy his kingdom, instead the kingdom will be annexed by the Company regime. Between 1803 to 1858 over 30 states were annexed by the Company under this doctrine. So many effected rulars, their heir apparent revolted. The Low caste people had no interest other than the interests for mother land and standing loyal to their employees. When the British came to know support of Low Caste people in the Sepoy Mutiny against them. The British had change of heart and planned to cause damage to these Low Caste Tribes. As the main stake of Dalits was military service to British. So the recruitment policy for armed forces was changed by the British some time in 1880. The British divided Indians ethical races into martial and non- martial races. The majority of untouchables were classified as non martial races (Ashley Eden Commission 1879) under terms of the Criminal Tribes Act 1871 . This made the life conditions of Dalit Tribes miserable as they were asked to remain present in their local areas and to prove, they had to report periodically into respective police stations. It was result of British thinking that during 1857 sepoy Mutiny , Low Caste Hindu Soldiers fought with Indian rebellions and caused maximum damages to the British forces. At the time of Indian independence in 1947, thirteen million people divided in 127 communities faced search and arrest if any member of the group was found outside the prescribed area . Largely this divide for recruitment was based on social class and loyalty to the British Raj ( Ethinic group recruitment in Indian Army by Omar Khalid). Non Dalit castes in majority remained loyal to the British so enjoyed their favours. As this divide was unnatural so had to be modified time and again when exigencies so demanded. With broking out WWI ( 1914) and WWII( 1939) British needed more die hard solders so lifted the ban on recruited against Low –Caste Hindus and utilized them for their benefits. After WWI Dalits were again eased out of the British belt forces in large number. When British again needed these brave warriors during WWII so recruited them. Advocate S. L. Virdi from Phagwara( Pb) in his Punjabi Book “ Dalit Shaheedan Da Itihaas” writes on page 190, “In case in the freedom struggle had Brahmins and Savarnas also revolted against the British there must have been “ Criminal Brahmin Act” and Criminal Savarna Act”. Absence of any such Act clearly indicates that these people had earned good will of ruling British and never wanted to lose it by revolting against their masters. Many Hindu kings, princes, knights Hindu Zamindar did not revolt but sided with Europeans. High caste politician, rich business or religious heads either sided with Europeans of kept silent which became a major cause of defeat of Indian rebellions. They also kept criminal silence to say a word against Criminal Tribes Act 1871 , which effected only poor Low Caste Indians Hindus. Hindu atrocities on untouchables continues unabated during all foreign invaders( 711 to 1947 AD) reigns including Europeans. It is not out of place to mention that British had a change of heart after 1857 rebellion but for betterment of upper caste Hindus. In the year 1855 CSC ( Civil Services Commission) was started later renamed ICS on the basis of competition. However at that time no Poor- Low- Caste could dream to enter education Institution, what to talk appearing for high grade competition examinations like ICS. Shri Satyendranath Tagore (1842 –1923) Bengali Brahmin Zamindar was first Indian to succeeded in ICS ( Indian Civil Services) in 1863. Formation of Federal Public Service Commission, created avenues to enter superior services by Indian. But this facility was solely for Caste Hindus only as no Dalits could dream to entry into these services as Manu have debarred them from entering any Education institution. Also Naoroji ( 1825-1917) , a Gujrati Parsi became the first Indian MP in 1892 in the British Parliament. M.K. Gandhi wrote to Naoro ji in a letter of 1894 that "The Indians look up to you as children to the father. Despite my best efforts, I have failed to lay hand, if any of these persons inducted in superior services ever opposed the in human acts of British against Low Caste Hindus. In such circumstances one can draw the conclusion that the upper castes were hand in globe with British in perpetuation of miseries on Low caste Hindus.
Dalit
Martyr Gangu Mehtar
One among numerous Unsung Rebels Of 1857 sepoy Mutiny also called First War of Indian independence was Amar Shaheed Gangu Mehter, who killed with the assistance of his wrestling disciples hundreds of the British soldiers. Gangu Mehter was born in village Akbarpura then in in Kanpur District. His ancestors worked as menial workers including job of Bhangies ( Sweepers,Scavenger). Due to exploitation, inhuman treatment and Begar ( Work without wages) of untouchables by upper caste Hindus, Gangu’s ancestors migrated to Chunni Ganj also in Kanpur District . Gangu Mehter was also named as Gangu Bhangi due to job parameters of cleaning, Gangu Din as he was disciple of a Muslim wrestler, Gangu Ustad as he himself had many wrestler disciples in his Akhara (gymnasium). He was strong but kind hearted. He remained ever ready to help a needy person.
Being a Dalit so he had no right to education, so he remained illiterate. He adopted the job of cleaning as his ancestors did. So at time he had to carry even human excrete ( night soil )basket on his head. This practice was reported existing in Lucknow by TOI 20 May, 2003.The "manual scavenging" is now illegal in all Indian states. Gangu was strong, brave and got observed in the army of Nana Sahib( 1824-59 AD).
As already narrated above many Indian Princely States were annexed by the British under “ The Doctrine of Lapse” After defeat of Marathas the last Peshwas ruler Bajirao-II( 1775-1851) surrendered before Sir John Malcolm( 1769-1833) East India Company administrator who exiled him in 1818 to Bithur near Kanpur . He was also promised an annual pension of £80,000 (£100,000 according to some sources). Bijarao- II had married 11 times, 6 after coming to Bithur. Still he remained issueless. So he adopted Nana Saheb ( 1924-59) as his heir apparent. Ahter BijaraoII died in 1851the British refused to recognize Nan Saheh as heir. Nana Saheb decided to fight against British to retain his adopter’s state. For this he raised his armed force where Gangu Mehter was got recruited. In earlier days of his service Gangu was made Bugle blower. Later due to his hard work and superior qualities of head and heart he was absorbed in main army. When Sepoy Mutiny erupted from Barakpur chowani on 24th May,1957 all effected Indian rulers joinedand Nana Saheb also joined the rebellion against the East India Company forces. A fierce bettle was fought near Kanpur between Nana Saheb and European. At first Nana’s forced had some wins but subsequently the superior armory and training of Europeans so Nana Saheb faced reverses. After reverses Nana Saheb disappeared and was said to have gone to Nepal Hills in 1859. Gangu with his many disciples killed hundreds of European soldiers which increased worries of the British commanders.
The British had ordered to catch Gangu alive . This was to give severest punishment in public view to Gangu and his other associates to create fear psychopy among Indian forces, so as to demoralize them. Gangu an expert horse rider fought for many days but was captured by the British forces. He this battle continued for somr more days the British were sure to get reverses.
On being caught alive he was tied behind a horse and given a full round of Kanpur. There after ne was chained and put in a cell. The British carried a summery court trial of fabricated and false charges of killing infants and women, against Gangu. The court sentenced Gangu to death by hanging. Therefore on 8th Sepember 1857 Ganu Mehter was hanged in a Kanpur Chowk in full public view. This way this brave Dalit attained Martyrism . The main slogan of Ganu while challenging British Forces was “Bharat Ki Mitti Mai Hamare Purvajon Ka Khoon wa Kunbani Ki Gandh Hai,Ekk Dinn Yeh Mulak Azad Hogga” Meaning : The Bhartiya soil emits fragrance of Martyrism and blood of our ancestors . One day this country will get freedom.
Supreme Martyr Gangu sacrificed his life for freedom of his mother land. But the biased minded upper caste historians did not mention any thing along with thousands of other low caste martyrs. The history makers were made history less persons by ignoring them with their useful contributions in history book. While describing biased attitudes of history writers in general Jean Henri Fabre (1823-1915) a French entomologist, physicist, chemist and botanist said that history recorded names of the royal bastards, but could not tell us the origin of wheatl The Low caste people were barred to get education due to Hindu Religion Law Codes/books. After education facilities were made available to Dalits, they studied many old records, research history papers written by Europeans and some other fair minded persons and found out many hidden facts about Dalit contributions for welfare of their Samaj, country. Many even get killed in actions or were sacrificed for small faults with any mention ant where. The Dalit writers analyzed and searched records in libraries, museums, facts behind legendry, hearsay tales and rewrote large number factual history books. The hate against low caste people continues even in Independent India but in a modified ways by some hard minded religious sycophants.Describing the contribution of Indians for Indian soil and people urdu poet Rahit Indori said “सबका खून शामिल है वतन की मट्टी में, किसी के बाप का हिन्दुस्तान नहीं है’” Meaning:- The Indian soil contains mixture of blood of all Indian, so it does not belong to a few but all. Here in India not only history writers but even government agencies seem biased as this Dalit Hero sacrificed his life but the government had failed to raise any befitting memorial in his honour, not even a post stamp.
My respectful salutes to the memory of revered Gangu Mehter supreme sacrifier for a sacred cause.
Compiled by Er H.R.Phonsa
Note:-I will apologise hand down to anyone who gives written proof of any existing memorial in the name of Amar Shaheed Gangu Mehter anywhere in India.
Material sourse
1. गंगू मेहतर: अंग्रेजों के खिलाफ विद्रोह करने वाले एक गुमनाम क्रांतिकारी!
---By Murari Tripathi ‘s write up dated 24 sep.2018 ( Hindi)
2. Dalit Shaheedan Da Itihas by S.L. Virdhi Advocate. ( Punjabi)
3.Dr. Ambedkar and His Associates by Er.H.R.Phonsa( English)
4.Google
a) heritage times. in
b)shivia.com
c)www.youtube
