People and Personalities of Simdega District

The big stories often make the headlines of our historical narratives, but history is not only about the landmark events - it finds shape and character in the myriad events that led up to a flashpoint of change. An attempt to discover and document stories of people, events, and places linked to the freedom struggle of India at the micro level of the district has led to the creation of a Digital District Repository. Stories in this section can be broadly classified under - People & Personalities.

Jagabandhu Patnaik

Jagabandhu Pattnaik alias Jagu Dewan as he was popularly known by the Kohl tribe of Singhbhum estate, was the Dewan of Raja Arjun Singh of Porahat. He was the main adviser of Raja Arjun Singh on whose advice he declared war against the British government, though initially after the outbreak of revolt in other parts of India, the Raja was in a dilemma about whether to join the revolt or not. After the Raja of Singhbhum acknowledged British sovereignty in 1818, the British government exercised direct control over some of the Kohl Pirhs, which angered them. They, therefore, revolted against the government in 1831, which was the outcome of the inspiration and instigation of Jagabandhu Patnaik. They therefore rallied behind him or Jagu Dewan as he was popularly known among them to rise against the government. Because of his influence over Kohl's tribe, they stood behind Arjun Singh and assisted in his war effort. When Arjun Singh after being snubbed by Lt Birch and Capt Davies declared war against the government, Jagu Dewan asked him to flee to Porahat from Chakradharpur palace. After Arjun Singh vacated the palace along with his family, the killa was guarded by Jagu Dewan. When Chakradharpur was invaded by Lt Birch, Jagu Dewan offered a terrible resistance but at last, he was captured and hanged.

Arjun Singh

Arjun Singh was the zemindar of Porhat near Chakradharpur in Jharkhand whose territory roughly covered the modern district of undivided Singhbhum. During the popular revolt of 1857, he displayed exemplary valour, courage and leadership quality and commanded respect of all zamindars and their army of Chota Nagpur area and the Kohl tribe in his own estate who stood with him in his fight against the British government. The exact date of birth of Arjun Singh is not known but the circumstantial evidence suggests that he could have been born between 1828 and 1830. He was the son of Chakradhar Singh who died at a young age in 1840 when Arjun was a minor. The state was therefore placed under court of wards. When Arjun became major the throne was restored to him. From 1845 to 1857 his estate seems to be peaceful. The 1857 revolt of the Indian sepoys and traditional ruling chiefs of other parts in India had also its impact on Chota Nagpur areas. The British army stationed in Hazaribagh also rose into rebellion on 13 July 1857. A contingent of troops was sent from Ramgarh to suppress the revolt but they also became hostile to the government and joined the Hazaribagh army in the revolt. Thus this sparked the fire in other zemindary estates in Chotanagpur division as a result of which the zamindars and their army revolted against the British government. They marched to Ranchi where the army serving directly under the British government stationed there also joined them. When they were prepared to march to Chainbasa to attack the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Singhbhum, the troop of other zamindars who were sent to obstruct their march also joined them which strengthened their number. They and some of their zamindars were expecting Arjun Singh to lead their revolt. This unnerved the Assistant Commissioner who after provisionally handing over the charge of his office to Chakradhar Singh, the Raja of Saraikela, a trusted ally of the British government, fled from the town. Though initially Arjun Singh was not hostile to the British government, he was not prepared to accept any order or parwana with regard to suppression of revolt from the Raja of Saraikela who hereafter started issuing orders to all zamindars on behalf of the Assistant Commissioner. Raja Arjun Singh took it as an offence whose family was traditionally in loggerhead with the Raja of Saraikela, an estate which was created by them in their own territory and given to one of their family members. But subsequently they became disloyal to the Raja of Singhbhum. Nevertheless his Kohl army intercepted the rebellious army’s march to Chaibasa to whom they defeated and captured about one hundred of them and detained them in Chakradharpur palace, near Porahat. They also recovered all wealth looted by the rebellious army. Thereafter Arjun Singh sought an appointment with Lt Birch, the new Assistant Commissioner of Chaibasa, but the latter suspected his loyalty and declared him as rebel and confiscated his estate. He also declared a prize of Rs 1000 for his capture. Arjun Singh thereafter went to Ranchi and met Captain Davies, the English army officer deployed to suppress the revolt in Chotanagpur. He handed over to him all one hundred rebellious sepoys captured by him and the money and the weaponry looted by them. But Capt Davies was not prepared to trust him. Rather he was discourteous to him and asked him to surrender to Lt Birch for his trial. This humiliation deeply disappointed him who realised the futility of expecting any justice from the British government. He therefore became hostile to them and launched war against the government in which he was well advised and assisted by his brother Kumar Baidyanath Singh and Jagabandgu Pattnaik alias Jagu Dewan who was his dewan. Thus with their support and the loyalty of the Kohl army he started war against the British government. The Kohls were also disgruntled with the British government for a number of reasons. Though the British army attacked his base he successfully escaped from them with his family and made a counter attack on them. Meanwhile the British army however were successful in storming the palace in Chakradharpur and captured Jagu Dewan who was in charge of the Killa and hanged him publicly. The British government’s war with Arjun Singh continued from 1857 to 1859 but he could not be captured. At last the government pressured his father in law Jadunath Bhanja, the Raja of Mayurbhanj to convince him to surrender. This diplomatic pressure worked as on Jadunath Bhanja’s advice Arjun Singh surrendered and was sanctioned a monthly pension of Rs 4,00 and deported to Varanashi where he resided and died in 1890.

Bindrai Manki

Bindrai Manki was an important figure during the Kol Insurrection (1831-32) which was a revolt by the tribal people of the Chotanagpur region in the Singhbhum district of the then Bengal Presidency in the British Raj. It particularly included the Mundas, Oraons, Kols, Bhils and Hos who were deprived of a life of basic dignity and were treated unfairly. The British policies rendered them estate-less and forced them to provide begar or unpaid labor.

Bindrai Manki accurately drew attention to these ground realities. He emphasized how the tribal communities were pushed to the margins and devoid of any means to live a decent life. There circumstances made it inevitable for them to aggressively rebel, and it took shape of a crucial event in the Indian freedom struggle. 

Bindrai Manki along with Singhrai Manki, Budhu Bhagat and Joa Bhagat led the Kol Insurrection. They attacked the company officials and money lenders, took over the King’s palace, and formed their own government, though the rebellion was ultimately suppressed. Later, Bindrai Manki also led the Ganga Narain Revolt (1832-33) in Singhbhum and Manbhum against the British administrators and predatory landlords. He was eventually captured by the British authorities and imprisoned in the Hazaribagh Jail.

Gonoo - The Tribal Revolutionary

Gonoo, an Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter, was the leader of Bar Pir, a region in the Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. The attack of British troops in the region was met with resistance from Gonoo’s tribe. During the years 1857-1858, Gonoo was involved in several attacks and battles against the British. Being an extremely popular leader among his tribe, he encouraged the tribals to join forces with him and fight against the British. Singhbhum was located to the South of Porahat and came under the authority of the Raja of Porahat. Gonoo declared his loyalty to the Raja of Porahat. Gonoo supported the Raja’s attack on the British force at Jayantgarh, a region in Singhbhum. He also killed many members of the Jayantgarh police force. Owing to his popularity, Gonoo was also regarded as the Chief of Singhbhum.

Gonoo played a prominent role in getting the Adivasis to be part of the Freedom Movement in India. His fierce loyalty, principles, and vision of a free India makes him an important figure in the history of the Indian Independence Movement.

Source :

• Indian Culture Portal
• Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav