#Thread
Surendra Sai was born in Sambalpur village.
He was quite popular among tribal groups of Gonds and Binjhals.
His father Dharam Singh, was a descendant of Aniruddha Sai, the fourth Chauhan ruler of Sambalpur.
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Surendra Sai was born in Sambalpur village.
He was quite popular among tribal groups of Gonds and Binjhals.
His father Dharam Singh, was a descendant of Aniruddha Sai, the fourth Chauhan ruler of Sambalpur.
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https://twitter.com/IndicIdeas/status/1498150418358366208
When Maharaja Sai passed away in 1827 AD, Surendra Sai presented his legitimate claim to the throne of Sambalpur, as the Maharaja had no male heir.
The British however thought of Surendra as a trouble maker. Hence the British throned Maharaja's widow Mohana Kumari.
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The British however thought of Surendra as a trouble maker. Hence the British throned Maharaja's widow Mohana Kumari.
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Because of her inexperience in this field, several people rebelled against this decision of British.
To calm the rebellion, the British sent Mohana Kumari to Cuttack and throned their puppet ruler named Narayan Singh.
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To calm the rebellion, the British sent Mohana Kumari to Cuttack and throned their puppet ruler named Narayan Singh.
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Surendra, supported by his 6 brothers, all Zamindars, the Gonds all rebelled against this move of the British.
Zamindars were fed up of the British oppression and their indiscriminate taxes.
A follower of Narayan Singh murdered a Zamindar and the British arrested Surendra Sai.
Zamindars were fed up of the British oppression and their indiscriminate taxes.
A follower of Narayan Singh murdered a Zamindar and the British arrested Surendra Sai.
Surendra spent 17 years in the prison.
In the 1857 revolt, rebels broke his prison and released him. Immediately the British authorities kept a bounty on him.
Surendra didn't miss this opportunity of his release and revolted against the British.
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In the 1857 revolt, rebels broke his prison and released him. Immediately the British authorities kept a bounty on him.
Surendra didn't miss this opportunity of his release and revolted against the British.
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It was termed as a tribal revolt and several joined Surendra Sai in the guerilla war against the British.
Surendra organized the rebels into different groups, & soon they began to cut off all the routes of communication used by the British to Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Cuttack.
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Surendra organized the rebels into different groups, & soon they began to cut off all the routes of communication used by the British to Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Cuttack.
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The dawk road to Bombay was blocked by them & the British by now had completely lost control over Sambalpur.
Veer Surendra Sai regularly harassed the British with his guerilla attacks, & it became difficult for British to venture into the thick forests.
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Veer Surendra Sai regularly harassed the British with his guerilla attacks, & it became difficult for British to venture into the thick forests.
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The British realized the power of Surendra Sai & deployed powerful forces in Sambalpur.
One of Surendra's brothers was hanged without trial. Several Zamindars were captured & hanged.
Despite all this, the British found difficult to capture Surendra Sai.
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One of Surendra's brothers was hanged without trial. Several Zamindars were captured & hanged.
Despite all this, the British found difficult to capture Surendra Sai.
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The British believed in the carrot and stick approach and hence announced an amnesty policy for those rebels who surrendered.
Several Zamindars and Surendra's brothers surrendered.
By this time, the food supply of his soldiers was cut off.
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Several Zamindars and Surendra's brothers surrendered.
By this time, the food supply of his soldiers was cut off.
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Surendra surrendered after an assurance that the British will pay a pension to all his soldiers.
Surendra and his brothers were arrested and sentenced to deportation for life.
They soon transferred him to a Nagpur prison as the British considered him as a threat in Sambalpur.
Surendra and his brothers were arrested and sentenced to deportation for life.
They soon transferred him to a Nagpur prison as the British considered him as a threat in Sambalpur.
An inspiring leader of the tribals in Western Odisha, spent 37 years in prison.
His aim was to drive the British out of his native Sambalpur, though he could not succeed in his goal, his revolt established peace & stability in Sambalpur.
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His aim was to drive the British out of his native Sambalpur, though he could not succeed in his goal, his revolt established peace & stability in Sambalpur.
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The restrictions imposed by the British were abolished especially the bethi and begari systems.
Surendra died in the prison but he became an inspiration to several freedom fighters in Odisha & Jharkhand.
12/End
Surendra died in the prison but he became an inspiration to several freedom fighters in Odisha & Jharkhand.
12/End
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