Blood trail from the 1857 war to a flight down South
- August 20, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Blood trail from the 1857 war to a flight down South
Subject: History
Section: Modern India
Introduction
- Uncovering Descendants of 1857 Ajnala Massacre Victims
- The Ajnala massacre occurred during India’s 1857 first War of Independence.
- Event led to significant migration of families from northern India to the southern regions.
- Victims were from the 26th Native Bengal Infantry Regiment
Analysis of Remains from Ajnala
- In 2014, amateur historian Surinder Kochhar discovered skeletal remains of 282 soldiers in a well beneath a gurdwara in Ajnala, near Amritsar, Punjab.
- Remains accompanied by artifacts like bullets, epaulets, and coins of the East India Company.
- Scientific analysis of certain markers in the remains indicated their origin from the Gangetic plains.
- Current DNA data includes mitochondrial DNA from 50 martyrs.
- Plan to enhance information through nuclear DNA analysis, offering more comprehensive insights.
Forced Migration and Descendant Search
- After the massacre, British forces harassed families of soldiers, leading to their displacement.
- Families migrated from places like Dumtahar, Rae Bareli in northern India to Tamil Nadu in the south.
Historical Context: Ajnala Massacre of 1857
- Location: Ajnala, Amritsar district, Punjab.
- Sipahis of the 26th Native Infantry stationed in Mian Mir, Lahore.
Sequence of Events and Inhumane Treatment
- May 13, 1857:Sipahis disarmed due to army-wide outbreaks.
- July 30, rebellion breakout after killing officers, camped at Ravi banks.
- British troops led by Tahsildar Pram Nath attacked, killing 150 sipahis.
- Remaining escaped sipahis surrendered to Deputy Commissioner Frederic Cooper.
- Transported to Ajnala and imprisoned.
- August 1: 237 sipahis tied and shot by firing squad without trial.
- 45 detained sipahis died in unventilated prison from suffocation and heat stroke.
- Bodies disposed of in a local well.
Rediscovery and Memorial
- February 28, 2014: Local amateur archaeologists found the well.
- Well named Shaheedan da Khu (Well of Martyrs).
- Memorial constructed to honor the martyrs’ memory.