Surendra Sai and the Revolt of 1857 in Odisha

While the Great Revolt of 1857 is primarily associated with North India, its echoes in Odisha produced one of the most remarkable resistance fighters — Surendra Sai of Sambalpur. Born into the Chauhan dynasty that had rightful claim to the throne of Sambalpur, Surendra Sai fought the British for over three decades (1827–1864) in a relentless struggle combining legitimate dynastic claims with popular anti-colonial sentiment.

Background: The Chauhan Dynasty of Sambalpur

Balaramadeva, scion of the Chauhan dynasty of Patnagarh, established the kingdom of Sambalpur in the second half of the 16th century. The dynasty’s turbulent history with successive rulers set the stage for conflict:

Period | Ruler/Event

16th century | Chauhan dynasty established at Sambalpur

Maratha period | Jayanta Singh and son Maharaja Sai imprisoned by Bhonsles of Nagpur

1804 | British occupied Sambalpur; defeated Maratha Governor Tantia Pharnavis

1817 | Third Anglo-Maratha War — Sambalpur surrendered to British

1817-1820 | Jayanta Singh restored to throne

1820 | Maharaja Sai placed on throne (died 1827 without son)

1827 | Rani Mohan Kumari nominated as ruler by British

1828 | Surendra Sai challenges Mohan Kumari’s claim

1833 | Narayan Singh placed on throne by Captain Wilkinson

1840 | Surendra Sai captured; sent to Hazaribagh jail

1849 | Narayan Singh dies; Doctrine of Lapse applied — Sambalpur annexed

About Surendra Sai

Surendra Sai was born at village Khinda in Sambalpur. He was a descendant of Raja Madhukara Sai, the fourth Raja of the Chauhan dynasty.

Family: Six brothers — Udanta, Dhruba, Uliala, Chhabila, Jajjla, and Medini; one sister — Anjana.

His accomplishments and bearing made him immensely popular among all sections of people, including the tribal communities — Gonds and Binjhals. He rose to prominence in 1828 when he challenged Rani Mohan Kumari’s claim to the throne.

First Phase of Revolt (1828-1840)

Supported by zamindars of Khinda, Barapali, Sonepur and Gauntias, and his brother Udanta, Surendra revolted against Queen Mohan Kumari. Captain Wilkinson failed to quell the rebellion and ultimately removed the queen, placing Narayan Singh (an old man of the Chauhan dynasty) as king in 1833.

Key events of this phase:

• September 1837: Balabhadra Deo killed in skirmish at Debrigarh hills; Surendra escaped

• Surendra attacked Durjaya Singh of Rampur (who supported Narayan Singh), killing his father and son

• 1840: Surendra, brother Udanta, and uncle Balarama Singh captured and sent to Hazaribagh jail as political prisoners

• Balarama Singh died in jail

The Doctrine of Lapse and Annexation (1849)

When Raja Narayan Singh died on 10 September 1849 without a male successor, Lord Dalhousie applied the notorious Doctrine of Lapse to annex Sambalpur under direct British control.

J.H. Crawford became Agent to the Governor-General. Under British administration:

• Revenue settlements increased taxes drastically

• Villages were settled in favour of Europeans

• Natives were given no preference in administration

• All sections — Gonds, Binjhals, feudal chiefs, business community, common people — became hostile to British rule

Release and the Great Revolt (August 1857)

When the mutinous sepoys of 1857 reached Hazaribagh, they broke open the two jails and liberated prisoners in August 1857. Surendra Sai and brother Udanta were among those released.

They fled to Sambalpur where they received a hero’s welcome from their relatives and the people. Captain R.T. Leigh, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Sambalpur, tried to capture them but the majority of the 40th Regiment Native Infantry defected to Surendra Sai.

Negotiations and Declaration of Revolt

7 October 1857: Negotiations between Surendra and Captain Leigh. Surendra’s conditions:

• Cancel remaining terms of imprisonment for himself and Udanta

• Recognise him as King of Sambalpur

Leigh agreed to the first but deferred the second. When the Commissioner of Chhotanagpur rejected his claim and suggested he remain a political prisoner, Surendra read the situation clearly.

On 1 November 1857, Surendra Sai declared open revolt against the British.

The Guerrilla Campaign (1857-1862)

Strategy

Surendra stationed supporters at two strategic positions — Jharghati and Khinda. Tribal zamindars of Ghens, Kolabira, Paharsirgira, Laida, Lakhanpur, Machida, Kodabaga, Bheden, Patkulanda joined his cause.

Key Military Actions

Date | Event

Nov 1857 | Attack on Captain Knocker at Jharghati; one sepoy killed

Nov 1857 | Postal communications cut on Cuttack-Nagpur-Bombay road

17 Nov 1857 | Dr. T. Moore killed near Jujumura by rebels under Madhu Gauntia and Srikrishna Bora

Dec 1857 | 1,500 rebels gathered at Sambalpur; Captain Saxton (Surveyor General) attacked

17 Dec 1857 | Combined British attack by Lt. Hadow, Lt. Chisttlen, Hannath Singh

30 Dec 1857 | Captain E.G. Wood attacks at Kudopali; kills 53 rebels; Chhabila Sai shot dead

7 Jan 1858 | Major Bates besieges Jharghati Pass

12 Feb 1858 | Captain Woodbridge killed by insurgents at Paharasirgida hills

British Officers Deployed Against Surendra

The scale of British response shows how seriously they took the threat:

• Commissioner G.F. Cockburn (Cuttack)

• Captains Wood, Woodbridge, Sweeny, Valiance

• Major Wyndham

• Colonel Forster (replaced Leigh, March 1858)

• Major Rattray

• Major A.B. Cumberledge

Colonel Forster’s Repression (March 1858 onwards)

• Arrested people at random

• Court-martialled suspected rebels

• Confiscated zamindaries of Kolabira, Karkutta, Bheden, Khorsal, Patkutunda, Rampur

• Rewarded collaborator Rai Rup Singh Bahadur

• Surendra fled to Central Provinces (1860)

Amnesty Proclamations

Major H.B. Impey (succeeded Forster, April 1861) adopted a conciliatory policy:

• Restored confiscated zamindaries

• 24 September & 11 October 1861: Proclamations of amnesty — pardons for all who surrendered

• Rajas of Bamara, Sarangagarh, and Patna switched to British side

Surrender (16 May 1862)

After Major Rattray’s December operations broke rebel morale, Surendra wrote to Impey offering to surrender if his claim to the throne was considered. Impey denied the claim but assured “liberal provision for maintenance.”

On 16 May 1862, Surendra Sai with 40 followers surrendered before Major Impey, who guaranteed free pardon.

Settlement: Pension of Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 4,600/year for family; required to live in village Bargaon.

Betrayal and Arrest (1864)

After Impey’s death, Major A.B. Cumberledge became Deputy Commissioner — a man who had no faith in conciliation. Influenced by Captain Stewart and J.N. Berrill who alleged Surendra was planning war against the British, Cumberledge surrounded Surendra’s house at Bargaon on the night of 23 January 1864.

Surendra escaped but was captured at Sambalpur through the treachery of Dayanidhi. His son Mitrabhanu, brothers Dhruba and Udanta, and associate Dharanidhara Misra were also arrested.

Trial and Imprisonment

The trial began at Raipur Sessions Court on 23 June 1864. Judge J.B. Balmain convicted Surendra of treason — transportation for life with confiscation of property.

However, on appeal, Judicial Commissioner John Scarlett Campbell delivered his judgment on 18 August 1864, completely reversing the Sessions Court verdict and finding it “unacceptable.”

Despite this acquittal, Chief Commissioner Richard Temple justified the arrest under administrative grounds. Under Regulation III of 1818, Surendra and six prisoners (Udanta, Dhruba, Medini, Mitrabhanu, Khageswer Deo, Lokanath Panda) were detained in Nagpur jail.

Petitions through Attorney M.T. Pearson to the Governor-General (1866, 1871, 1876) were all rejected. Medini Sai and Lokanath Panda died in prison.

Death in Captivity

On 28 February 1884, Surendra Sai died in his cell at Asirgarh Fort — never having regained his freedom despite being judicially acquitted. He had spent a total of nearly 37 years in imprisonment.

Legacy and Results

The revolt of Surendra Sai had far-reaching consequences:

• Administrative reforms: Bethi and begari abolished; regular land revenue settlement introduced in Sambalpur

• Transfer of Sambalpur: Moved to Central Provinces (1864), then back to Odisha Division (1905) due to ethnic and linguistic differences

• Tribal consciousness: The Gonds, Binjhals, and other tribal communities who supported Surendra developed strong anti-colonial political awareness

• Symbol of resistance: Surendra Sai became an enduring symbol of Odia resistance to British imperialism

His story reveals the true character of British “justice” — a man acquitted by their own courts, yet kept imprisoned until death through executive fiat.

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This article is part of the DailyIAS Odisha History series for OPSC preparation. For detailed revision notes, check our Notes section.