THE DAUGHTER OF PESHWA NANASAHEB |||इतिहास की एक अनसुनी कहानी

 

MAINA KUMARI

THE DAUGHTER OF PESHWA NANASAHEB

इतिहास की एक अनसुनी  कहानी 

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

 

British East India Company won in the third Anglo-Maratha war in 1818, defeating  Bajirao Peshwa II.  With this, British took over political supremacy, and they destroyed the Maratha confederacy. Defeated Baji Rao signed the surrender treaty, accepting the British Government's pension. Far away from Maharashtra, he was required to reside in Bithoor located close to Kanpur, as per the provisions of the agreement. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Bajirao II, succeeded as the next Peshwa.  But, the British did not recognize Nana Saheb as a Peshwa and rejected his pension

Mainavati, the daughter of Nana Saheb, lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her father with a lot of affection and care. By the time she turned  14, Mainavati had already learned the traditions and customs of her family. Living in the Peshwa family's residence at Bithoor, located within the British camp area, she was brought up alongside the daughters of British officers. As a result, she became proficient in the English language, and was speaking it fluently.

In 1857, the uprising began, and the Peshwa took control of Kanpur. As part of the rebellion, soldiers took control of  the rest of the area from the British, setting fire to places such as Bibika Ghar and Satichaura. In the heat of the struggle, some British women and children were also captured along with officers,  and imprisoned, with the intent of using them as leverage. However, Nana Saheb Peshwa rejected such a move; adhering to the Maratha tradition of honouring women in war rather than harming them. He entertained the captive British officers and their families for two days, and then entrusted his daughter, Mainavati, with the responsibility of ensuring  safe passage  of women, and children to the British camp.

Unfortunately, circumstances took an adverse turn at this juncture.

The uprising of 1857 was finally suppressed by the British army with a decisive victory in Kanpur and Bithoor became their next target. Nana Saheb Peshwa was forced to flee.

Maina  refused to go with his father because she feared that she might be a burden to her father in the absconding stage, and considered it appropriate to stay in the Bithoor palace.

The British government had announced a reward on Nana Saheb and as soon as they came to know that Nana Saheb was out of the palace, the British government surrounded the palace, where they found only Maina Kumari along with some soldiers.

On seeing the British soldiers, Maina Kumari hid herself in the secret place of the palace. The British officer Outram ordered the palace to be blown up with a cannon and after doing so he went away from there but left some of his soldiers on guard. He thought all residents of the Palace may be dead.

At night, when Maina felt that everyone had left, she came out, and tried  to escape. However--  two soldiers  on guard, saw her, caught,  captivated  and presented her before Outram.

Mainavati was subjected to torture in an attempt to extract Nana Saheb’s whereabouts. But she refused tom tell.

Outram first tied Maina to a tree, tortured her,  and then wanted to know from Maina the secret information about Nana Saheb and the revolution but she did not open her mouth.

Outram even threatened to burn Maina Kumari alive, but she said that she is the daughter of a revolutionary and is not afraid of death.

Seeing and hearing  this, Outram became furious and he ordered Maina Kumari to be burnt alive. Fire were set on the tree, and it’s dry branches caught fire. Maina burned to death  so that the torch of revolution never gets extinguished.

It was the day of 11th (  date is disputed ) September 1857, when Maina Kumari sacrificed her  to keep the TORCH OF INCILAB ALIGHT.

NEHRUVIAN ISLAMIST SECULAR CABALS BURIED SIMILAR SACRIFICES IN THEIR ‘KABRE’.

MY SALUTE TO THAT SOUL. JAY HIND!

 

Sources:-

1.0  https://hindi.scoopwhoop.com/artandculture/maina-kumari-the-brave-daughter-of-nana-saheb-who-sacrificed-for-the-country-at-the-age-of-13/

2.0  https://www.breakinguttarakhand.com/maina-kumari-daughter-of-nana-saheb-peshwa-who-was-burnt-alive-by-the-british-army-at-the-age-of-13-tied-to-a-tree-in-bithoor-on-3-september-1857/

3.0  https://cmsadmin.amritmahotsav.nic.in/district-reopsitory-detail.htm?15626

4.0  Images:-- Google: The authors are acknowledged.