Lest we forget 25th September 1857

Lest we forget 25th September 1857 A Bridge hard to conquer Battle of Charbagh –Naka Hindola, If one visits Naka and the area around it, it is full of mobile repair shops, eateries, jostling crowds, and endless traffic jams. So one can be excused for missing a bridge/culvert over a big drain which only few will recall is still officially called the Haidar Canal. Even a very close examination of this will not reveal any commemorative plaque or reminder of what this canal crossing has seen. And time erases memory. This nondescript bridge was the most solid barrier erected by the rebels to protect the city. The battle of this now almost unseen culvert over the Haidar canal was a talked about event in the 19th Century, illustrations were published and a picture of this still finds its place in an international museum. The biggest proof of the efficacy of this defense was that when the British again attacked in November 1857 and March 1858, they never dared to follow this route again. Lucknow from one side was shielded by Gomati and on the other side (towards Kanpur, from where the attack was imminent) Haidar canal was buttressed with guns and cannons. This was the only crossing on the canal. Charbagh was a huge garden at that time, a congregation of four gardens, a pretty extensive garden with many large wells, whose water was conducted everywhere by conduits and fountains. And the British after capturing Alambagh and resting for a day, moved through this dense foliage and faced stiff resistance. It was 25th September 1857, Delhi was already lost a few days back and Lucknow was the only remaining hope in this first war for Independence. G.B. Malleson (The Indian Mutiny), describes the strategy of freedom fighters to defend this bridge, “The position of the rebels, indeed could scarcely have been stronger. The Charbagh bridge was defended on its farther side by an earthen rampart about seven feet high, stretching completely across it, but having in the center an opening through which only one man could pass on foot. On this parapet were mounted 6 guns, two of them twenty-four pounders. To the right of the bridge, on the side of the canal by which the British were advancing, were some enclosures occupied by the rebels. The duel between Maude’s guns and those of the rebels had raged for some time. The enemy had all the advantage of fighting under the cover, and they had made deadly havoc with Maude’s gunners. At the end of half –an –hour Maude recognized he was making no impression. Then he called out to young lieutenant Havelock that he could not fight his guns much longer and begged him to do something.” The British were stalled. Indian guns on the bridge were roaring. But sometimes chance favors the other side. Arnold, Havelock (Junior) and Tytler moved to the bridge along with a posse. Rebels fire took Arnold who was shot through both thighs. Tytler’s horse was killed and he was shot through the groin. Out of the 28 men who rushed forward, only two remained who were not killed or wounded. It was fortuitous that Havelock survived as a shot had pierced through his hat. It was only he and a soldier who survived the rebels’ defense unscathed. But they marched ahead. And following them Madras Fusiliers dashed, cleared the bridge, and stormed the barricade. Fierce fighting continued but once the breach was made, the bridge was gone. Mir Najaf Ali (In-charge of Artillery) Mirza Imam Ali Beg (Subedar of Artillery) and Raja Tajammul Khan along with hundreds of Indian soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice. ‘Illustration from Cassel’s History of England (special edition, AW Cowan, c 1890)’ has an illustration from this battle showing Lieutenant Havelock carrying the day. There is a picture of this bridge as Havelock Bridge in the National Gallery of Canada. Havelock’s army too suffered serious losses so that even though they reached the residency, they were neither able to recapture Lucknow nor even meet the limited target of relieving the British trapped in the residency. Britannica records,” Havelock had lost so many troops that he considered it too risky to attempt to evacuate the civilians.” When we look at the bridge now, lying forlorn and forgotten, what to say of a monument, there is not even a single sign to remind us of the fierce battle fought by freedom fighters to protect our city. Our only homage to those who sacrificed their lives for freedom can be that when we pass through Naka, to take a pause from the cacophony around us and remember the ultimate sacrifice of freedom fighters who fought to their last breath. Pic. 1 Illustration of Havelock on the bridge Pic 2 Havelock bridge National Gallery of Canada (ROBERT C. TYTLER HARRIET C. TYTLER, HAVELOCK’S BRIDGE, CHAR BAGH GARDEN, LUCKNOW c. 1857-1858, printed 1859)