The book "The Last Hero of Banaras," written by historians Dr. Hamid Afak Qureshi and Shreya Pathak, discusses the rebellion in Kashi against British rule in 1799. It highlights the underlying resentment towards British authorities and a directive from the then Governor-General issued on December 24, 1798, which ordered the British officer Cherry to transfer Wazir Ali to Kolkata. Wazir Ali was opposed to this transfer, and local zamindars were also displeased with the actions being taken against them.
An interesting incident occurs when Babu Jagat Singh meets Wazir Ali. One day in 1798, Jagat Singh's son, Lakshmi Narayan, while out on horseback, crossed paths with Wazir Ali, who was also out for a ride. Impressed by the young man’s family and status, Wazir Ali gifted him a necklace. Lakshmi Narayan informed his father about the encounter, and Jagat Singh interpreted the necklace as a hidden message indicating that Wazir Ali wished to form a good relationship with him. Jagat Singh requested a meeting with Wazir Ali, and they became close friends.
As their meetings continued, the rebellion against British rule began to take shape. While Wazir Ali was openly confronting the British, Jagat Singh operated from the shadows, organizing people, providing funds, and strategizing. Babu Jagat Singh had been waiting for five years for an armed struggle, which was set to commence on January 14, 1799.
For the success of the plan on that day, Jagat Singh arranged to obstruct the British forces stationed at Betabur and the cavalry at Manduadih. He managed to gather 12,837 soldiers, including 1,300 infantry and 42 horses in the city and additional forces from the surrounding areas. Such a rapid mobilization demonstrated Jagat Singh's efficiency and leadership.
On the evening of January 13, a servant of Cherry informed Jamadar Chain Singh that Wazir Ali was invited to breakfast with Cherry on January 14. On that day, Wazir Ali, along with his followers, arrived at Cherry's residence, armed and ready. After some pleasantries, the conversation turned to Wazir Ali's impending transfer to Kolkata. Tensions escalated when Waris Ali shouted to attack, leading to a violent confrontation. Wazir Ali grabbed Cherry and struck him, prompting others to join in the assault, resulting in the deaths of seven British officers.
The British government was stunned by this massacre. Following the attack, Jagat Singh was arrested for aiding Wazir Ali and orchestrating the rebellion. "The Last Hero of Banaras" sheds light on this prelude to the First War of Independence of 1857, detailing how Babu Jagat Singh planned and executed the armed uprising.
On July 22, 1799, Jagat Singh was sentenced to death by the local court, which was later commuted to life imprisonment by the Governor's Council. He was imprisoned in the Chunar fort and later transported to Kolkata. On August 10, 1799, he was taken under guard to Fort William prison. On October 18, 1799, the Governor's Council decided to exile him to Saint Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic.
On October 19, he was shipped out, but as they neared the sea at the Ganges delta, he chose to leap overboard into the waters, preferring death over exile, leaving behind the events of the Kashi rebellion forever etched in history.
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