Veer Narayan Singh -The 1st Chhattisgarhi freedom fighter

Early Life

A landlord from Sonakhan, Veer Narayan Singh was born in 1795 was the first freedom fighter of Chhattisgarh. In 1857, Narayan Singh led the war of Indian independence in Chhattisgarh. He was hanged to death on December 10 1857 at Jaistambh Chowk of Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

His ancestors were residing in Sarangarh and were from Gond tribal group. They changed their association later and moved from the Gond tribe to Sonakhan in Raipur district. Deewan of Sonakhan was his great grandfather and at the age of thirty five he undertook the landlordship rights from Ram Rai his father. He was the youngest landlord in the region when he became the landlord of Sonakhan.

Facing Of Famine

When Chhattisgarh was in the hold of harsh famine in the year 1856, Narayan Singh could not resist the situation of people dying out of starvation. He attempted to borrow grain from merchants as ‘Barhi’ and eventually, performing the responsibilities of a ‘Kshetra Pramukh’, he planned to take out grain from the warehouse and deliver it to the people, under intimation to the Deputy Commissioner of Raipur Charles Elliot. The British Government arrested Narayan Singh on 24th Oct on the complaint of Makhan, a merchant and sent him to jail at Raipur.

When the fire of revolution raged in the country in 1857, it lit flames in the forest-region of Chhattisgarh. The people cooperatively elected Narayan Singh as their leader who was behind the bars. Narayan Singh ran away from the jail in August, 1857 with the help of soldiers and the public and made it to Sonakhan. Near Sonakhan he organised his trustworthy followers and had met with a fight against the British army. He was moved by the viciousness and the acts of havoc and destruction of the British. To protect the lives of the people he surrendered himself to the British army. The legend was charged with treason and sentenced to death. On 10th December, 1857 was the day when he was publicly executed. Willingly, he sacrificed his life for the country. 

On 18th January, 1858, the army contingent stationed at Raipur and under the leadership of Hanuman Singh the public revolted at Raipur. A British Officer was also killed. The people of Chhattisgarh were all influenced by the brave sacrifice of Veer Narayan Singh and on January 22seventeen of them were sentenced to death in 1858. In the history of Chhattisgarh, the brave hearts like Veer Narayan Singh’s sacrifice and martyrdom, was a memorable event which gave momentum to the freedom movement.

 How He Got The Title Veer

As per the historians the Crown Prince of Sonakhan used for his princely state on a horse. Once during his tour, a person informed Yuvraj that a cannibal lion roaming around the area of Sonakhan has been creating fear among the people.  Hearing this emergency Narayan Singh immediately ran towards the cannibal lion with a sword in his hand.  Within a few moments he killed the lion. The British government was impressed by his bravery and decided to honor him with the title of Veer.  After this incident Yuvraj became popular among the people as Veer Narayan Singh.

Singh was considered as the first martyr from Chhattisgarh in the War of Independence. A cricket stadium Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in 2008 was built and was named after him by the Government of Chhattisgarh. This stadium is known to be the second largest stadium after the Eden Gardens of Kolkata. At a time 65,000 spectators can enjoy the match.

On Veer Narayan Singh’s 130th anniversary to pay tribute to him the government issued Martyr Veer Narayan Singh issued a 60 paise stamp showing Veer Narayan Singh tied to a canon. 

During the first freedom struggle of the country in 1857, Veer Narayan Singh infused the feeling of patriotism among the people of Chhattisgarh. He fought against British rule and sacrificed his life to save the poor from hunger. His bravery, his life, his dedication for the freedom of the country and motherland is something to be always remembered.