Kunwar Singh

Babu Veer Kunwar Singh (1777 – 1858) belonged to a Rajput royal house of Jagdhishpur, currently a part of Bhojpur district, Bihar state, India. At the age of 80 years, during India’s First War of Independence (1857-58), he actively led a select band of armed soldiers against the troops under the command of the British Raj, and also recorded victories in many battles. In his last battle, fought on 23 April, 1858, near Jagdishpur, the troops under the control of the British Raj were completely routed. To honour his memory and his contribution to India’s freedom movement, the Republic of India issued a commemorative stamp [ [http://indianpost.com/viewstamp.php/Color/Mineral%20Red/KUNWAR%20SINGH Stemp at Indiapost] ] on 23 April, 1966.

Kunwar Singh, zamindar of Jagdishpur near Arrah in the state of Bihar, one of the leaders of the Indian rising of 1857. He assumed command of the soldiers who had revolted at Danapur on 5th July. Two days later he occupied Arrah, the district headquarter. Major Vincent Eyre relieved the town on 3rd August, defeated Kunwar Singh's force and destroyed Jagdishpur. Kunwar Singh left his ancestral village and reached Lucknow in December 1857. In March 1858 he occupied Azamgarh. However, he had to leave the place soon. Pursued by Brigadier Douglas, he retreated towards his home in Bihar. On 23 April, Kunwar Singh had a victory near Jagdishpur over the force led by Captain Le Grand, 26 April, 1858 he died in his village. The mantle of the old chief now fell on his brother Amar Singh who, despite heavy odds, continued the struggle and for a considerable time ran a parallel government in the district of Shahabad. In October 1859 Amar Singh joined the rebel leaders in the Nepal Terai.

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