The Lost Village of Pindra

The year 1857 will always be linked to the beginning of India's First War of Independence, during which patriotic citizens from across the country fought to destabilize the British Empire. However, only a few of these regions were given their due importance. Pindra, located 51 kilometres from present-day Satna district in Madhya Pradesh, is one of those villages whose involvement has not been acknowledged. In Pindra, Thakur Ranmat Singh summoned the revolutionary Kunwar Singh and his younger brother Amar Singh from Bihar to fight the British forces. This triggered a new awakening among the villagers, leading to the formation of a revolutionary group. Amar Singh took the lead and taught the group warfare tactics. However, when the battle erupted, the warfare skills of the locals could not match the well-prepared British forces. Despite this setback, nearly 135 brave fighters successfully staged an armed protest against the enemy on that day by crossing the Payaswini River. The following day, the British intensified their attacks by ruthlessly slaughtering the villagers and setting the entire village on fire. The persistence and endurance of the courageous villagers held up, and they eventually prevailed in the long drawn-out battle. This empowered them to the extent that they participated in other freedom movements. However, the heroism of the Pindra villagers has received little recognition throughout history, except for a pillar known as the ‘Shaheed Stambh’. The names of all the 135 martyrs who perished in 1857 have been carved on it.