I-Day Special: 14 rebels from ‘Shaheedo ki Bhoomi’ were martyred post Sepoy Mutiny of 1857

Tucked away in a corner of Hapur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Dhaulana Village is more popular by the name of “Shaheedon ki Bhoomi” (Martyrs’ land) among locals here. When Indian freedom struggle had just started, at least 14 revolutionaries hailing from this village were martyred by the Britishers. The heroism of the martyrs continues to inspire the people of the hamlet.

During the Sepoy Mutiny (also known as Indian revolt of 1857) that was launched in Meerut, villagers from Dhaulana, under the leadership of Lala Jhanku Mal, also attacked a local police station on May 12, informs social worker Shiv Shankar Sharma, a retired teacher. “The British SI was not present at that time. Another police officer ran away to save his life,” he describes and adds,  “For many weeks, Dhaulana and nearby area remained free of British control, but later Britishers sent thousands of troops to suppress the rebellion. None of the valiant revolutionaries from the village tried to hide. They all were arrested and hanged on November 29, 1857.”