Remembering India’s First War of Independence: Meerut’s Historic Memorials

India has had a rich history and the land has been ruled by several empires from the Mughals to the British. The British slowly took over the country and began taking over the power and resources of the country. They had their army and in that there were many sepoys who were of Indians. The affairs were being conducted under the auspices of the East India Company which in turn was working on behalf of the British crown. 

 

The army which was being controlled by the British introduced in the year 1853 the Enfield cartridges. It were these cartridges which eventually sowed the seeds for the first war of independence. The sepoys were to break open the greased cartridges from their mouths before loading them. There were talks that these had been greased with animal fat. 

 

 

Exhibit 1: The Enfield Cartridges 

 

In March 1857 one of the heroes of the first war of independence, a sepoy named Mangal Pandey attacked the military garrison in Barrackpore. Mangal Pandey was a part of the 34th Bengal native infantry.

He was executed in early April and towards late April the sepoys in the city of Meerut refused to make use of these cartridges and this led them to being humiliated and jailed. The comrades were angered by this action and so were the men. 85 members of the 3rd Bengal light cavalry had been jailed for refusing the use of these cartridges. They took the use of the Enfield cartridge to be a violation of their religious beliefs. The comrades had helped them break out of prison and they then ransacked the nearby military station and they started killing every European they could find.

The first war of independence had started in the city of Meerut and it is in this city where while tracing the historical trail of the first war of independence that one can find the 1857 war memorials. These Indian freedom struggle war memorials are a testimony of the heroic deeds and sacrifices of the many heroes and heroines who valiantly fought against the British and laid down their lives.

This article endeavours to trace the heritage and history of the historical sites in Meerut amongst which are the 1857 war memorials of India. Some of these Indian freedom struggle memorials are the places from the pre-independence era of 1857 where the planning and execution of the first war of independence took place while there are some which are a post-independence testimony to the 1857 rebellion of India. These historic sites in Meerut commemorate the valour and courage of the fighters from the first war of independence.

 

1. Kali Paltan Mandir (Black Platoon Temple):-

 

The Indian soldiers around the time of the first war of independence were called the black platoon or the kali paltan. The paltan would often convene for discussions at the Augarnath Temple. It was here at this very temple that the discussions for the first war of independence were set in motion. The soldiers who gathered for worship and devotion contributed towards Meerut’s history. There are inscriptions which credit the ruler Krishnadevaraya from the Vijaynagar empire as having built this temple, while the priests at the temple believe that the Marathas had gotten this temple constructed.

The Meerut cantonment had around 2,234 Indian sepoys. They had further been subdivided into the 11th native infantry and the 20th native infantry. Along with these there was also a cavalry regiment. This Temple was at a crossroads between the two infantry lines.

In April 1857 a fakir came to this temple and he is believed to have been associated with the ‘sanyasi and fakir movement’ which is believed to have started in Bengal. The historical records unfortunately have not recorded the name of this fakir. He is believed to have come from Kalka and while on his way to Meerut he had even witnessed the uprising in the Ambala cantonment.

The soldiers often came to this Meerut memorial to have water from the well in the complex. However one day this fakir didn’t allow them to partake water as he felt that they had become impure by biting into cartridges which had been greased with animal fat. This led to the soldiers discussing amongst themselves and it was from here that the motivation for the Indian rebellion 1857 was fanned. Encouraging words were even sent to Delhi where the sepoys were encouraged to revolt.

From this vantage point the events were set in motion for the first war of independence with the Indian sepoys attacking the Britishers who were out to shop and stroll in the Sadar bazaar in Meerut on the evening of the 10th of May 1857. They began killing every British officer they could find and this also led them to what is another Meerut memorial from 1857 and this is St. John’s Church.

 

 

Exhibit 2: The Kali Paltan or The Black Platoon Temple

 

1. St. John’s Church:-

 

The St. John’s Church is the oldest church in not just Meerut but in the whole of north India. Also known as St. John’s the Baptist, this is a parish church which is within the diocese of Agra. This Meerut memorial which witnessed the first war of independence was built between 1819-1821. This Meerut memorial eventually became a flashpoint for the revolt. The Indian rebellion of 1857 witnessed the church coming under attack from the Indian sepoys. This church which has enriched Meerut’s history is a classic example of the classic gothic revival architecture. Since its construction its tall spine has dominated the skyline of Meerut.

Some of the Britishers were crossing the area of the Sadar Bazar on the evening of 10th of May 1857 from the side of the civilians for the evening Sunday Church service and they were caught unaware when the sepoys launched their attack. That fateful evening with the onset of the first war of independence witnessed the killing of 50 Europeans.

The church was located on what was the European side of the cantonment and today this church is a part of Lekha nagar. This historical memorial in India post the attack on that sweltering May evening fell silent for four months. The situation was tense and this led to the British abandoning the church services for they felt that unsafe situations had emerged in the district. The church which is today a historic site in Meerut was eventually reopened in the first week of October post the fall of Delhi on the 20th of September 1857.

The British officers who were killed in the first war of independence in Meerut were buried in what is today another Meerut memorial from the first war of independence. This is St. John’s cemetery.

 

 

Exhibit 3: St. John’s Church

 

1. St. John’s Cemetery:-

 

Out of the Europeans who were killed in the first war of independence in Meerut there are 32 who have been buried here. Out of those graves today there are only nine which are visible and out of them is a grave of the first officer who was killed, that being Col. John Finnis. Today this catholic cemetery which is reminiscent of Meerut’s history is located in Lekha Nagar. Out of the 350 graves which are a part of the cemetery there are fifty which are of the British.

John Thomas who is an Indian of British origin  has been instrumental in sharing vital information with the British who after many years of the first war of independence come to visit this historical site in Meerut. They come to visit the graves of their ancestors and trace the historical lineage from the time of the first war of independence.

This cemetery has wafts of the fragrance of the Gulmohar trees and is spread across twenty seven acres of land. This Indian freedom memorial also has the presence of snakes.

Some graves at this historical site in Meerut have graves which have laid in a chronological order, however the graves which belong to the soldiers who died on the 10th of May 1857 do not even have epithets. The senior officers were the exceptions in this case. There were still others who were given a hurried mass burial. During the renovations in 2004 some unmarked graves from the time of the Indian mutiny of 1857 were discovered.

The general public needs to seek prior permission to enter the premises. The graves were made from soft material and hence have gotten damaged. There are also some graves which have cemented rather heavily and that results in them becoming unrecognizable. Apart from John Finnis one can find the graves of Vincent Recan and John Henry Taylor.

From the historical landmarks which were the epicenters of the first war of independence, Meerut also has memorials which have been erected in the modern era.

 

 

Exhibit 4: St. John’s Cemetery

 

1. Shaheed Smarak:-

 

The government freedom struggle museum was established in 1997. This museum is located in the compound of the Shaheed Smarak, which is on the Delhi road. Located at a distance of six kilometres from the railways station and around two hundred meters from the bus station, the main aim of the Shaheed Smarak museum is the collection, preservation and even documentation of the cultural properties which are then made use for the purpose of educational purposes. 

Through this the visitors are made more aware of the glorious past of Meerut’s history along with the nation’s history. In the collection of the museum one finds postal cards, stamps, pictures and even memorial coins which are related to the Indian rebellion of 1857. Here at the museum one can even take a trip down the roads of history and read the names of the freedom fighters who fought in the first war of independence. This Indian freedom movement  memorial constitutes facts about Meerut’s history.

This 1857 war memorial in India has the badge of honour of being the only Indian freedom struggle memorial which is dedicated to the first war of independence. Even the archives from Lucknow have contributed close to 1,500 documents. These documents list the names of the villagers who were tried and even sentenced by the British. The endeavour of this museum has helped them in getting posthumous honours.

The documents here at this Meerut memorial also names of the fighters who stood against the British. However many of these documents are in the Persian language. This Meerut memorial with its treasure house of documents has also given authenticity to the legends which have been associated with men such as Alla Diya. He had fought valiantly against the British in Baghpat.

Divided into five aesthetic galleries, the first makes the visitor abrest with the happenings and the events of 1857. The second is dedicated to the other towns of Uttar Pradesh. The 3rd gallery covers events from Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow. The fourth gallery is what covers Rohilkhand, Bundelkhand and Purvanchal and the fifth and the last gallery covers the entire country. The paintings, models and written descriptions are what help in rallying information.

 

Exhibit 5: The Shaheed Smarak Museum

 

The first war of independence and its memory is fresh after 167 years. These Meerut memorials are keeping the spirit of the first war of independence alive. They are a reminder of the sacrifices and heroism of the sepoys and civilians who stood up and raised their voice against the British rule.

 

REFERENCES:

 

1. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/why-did-indian-mutiny-happen
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