Sheikh Bhikhari: A Brave Freedom Fighter of Jharkhand

Birth and Family Background

• Born in 1819 in Khudia village, under Ormanjhi police station, Ranchi.
• Father: Sheikh Pahalwan, a landlord of 12 villages.
• Great-grandfather: Sheikh Bundlu.

Early Life and Skills

• Learned horse riding and martial arts from an early age.
• Gained experience in zamindari administration.

Role in Administration

• Later appointed as Diwan (minister) of Khutanga’s King Tikait Umrao Singh.
• Tikait Umrao Singh was a true patriot who actively participated in the freedom struggle, with Sheikh Bhikhari playing a significant role alongside him.

Start of the 1857 Rebellion

• On 31 July 1857, the freedom struggle began from Chutupalu Valley, which was under Tikait Umrao Singh’s zamindari.
• The rebellion was initially led by Madhav Singh and Nadir Ali Khan.
• Tikait Umrao Singh and Sheikh Bhikhari extended full support to them.

Liberation of Doranda Cantonment

• With their help, the rebels marched toward Ranchi and declared Doranda cantonment free from British control.
• This caused British officers like Commissioner Dalton, Deputy Commissioner Davis, and Judge Ox to flee from Ranchi to Hazaribagh via Kanke-Pithoria route.

Rebel Alliances

• Other major rebel leaders in Ranchi joined the movement, including:
  • Thakur Vishwanath Shahdeo
  • Pandey Ganpat Rai
  • Jaymangal Pandey

Expansion of the Movement

• Sheikh Bhikhari established contact with Santhal rebels in the Hazaribagh region.
• Motivated them to rise against British rule.

Hazaribagh Revolt

• On 30 July 1857, the Hazaribagh jail was broken open, and prisoners were freed.
• The revolt created panic, leading the Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribagh to flee to Barhi.

British Suppression

• Governor of Bengal, Edward Adley, ordered a crackdown to suppress the Hazaribagh rebellion.
• The movement was brutally crushed, and around 200 rebels were hanged.

Final Resistance and Arrest

• Tikait Umrao Singh and Sheikh Bhikhari tried to resist, but due to lack of ammunition, they were forced to surrender.
• They were arrested on 6 January 1858.

Execution

• On 7 January 1858, both were sentenced to death.
• On 8 January 1858, Sheikh Bhikhari and Tikait Umrao Singh were hanged.

Legacy

• Sheikh Bhikhari is remembered as a brave freedom fighter who played a key role in Jharkhand’s 1857 revolt, and sacrificed his life in the struggle for India’s independence.