The Brave women who took down the lives of 30 British officers.
We all know how Britishers tore our country apart. But our country was gifted with great fighters and revolutionist. We fought back. Men, women children and people from all religion, age involved in the freedom struggle.
When it comes to women, we remember Onake Obavva, Kittur RaniChannamma, Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bhai etc… But were these the only women who contributed to the struggle? There are many forgotten women worriers castes that were significant to the freedom struggle that is hardly remembered. Is it because our textbooks didn’t mention them? Or is it because nobody has made the movie on them?
The women born to a Dalit family in Awadh, Uttar Pradesh, Seeing the rising anger of the Indian people against the British rule. She decided to contribute to the cause and went to Begum Hazrat Mahal to seek help, in order to prepare for the battle against the British. Begum Hazrat Mahal was kind and helped Uda Devi form a woman’s army to lead Uda Devi herself.
When Awadh was attacked by the British, Uda Devi and her husband became an important part of the armed defense. Her husband died in the battle. When she heard about her husband’s death, she started her final campaign in full force.
After declaring instructions to her army, she climbed up a pipal tree and began firing at marching British soldiers. Her impact was so strong that on November 16, 1857, a British officer noticed that nearly 30 of the British casualties had bullet wounds indicating perpendicular, downward trajectory. Suspecting a hidden sniper, he ordered his officers to fire at the trees and a rebel who fell to the ground dead. Upon investigation, the sniper was revealed as Uda Devi.
More than 150 years since her passing, the memory of Uda Devi’s sacrifice is kept alive by Dalit communities in Uttar Pradesh who cherish her as a model of fearless Dalit womanhood. In the spirit of independence and liberation, we salute Uda Devi!
