Nana
Sahib was born as Dhondu Pant, a paramount leader in Indian Mutiny. He was a
Maratha soldier and led the Kanpur rebellion during the battle of 1857. He had
in himself inbuilt leadership qualities which led to the breakout. The best
thing about him was that he was spontaneous, vigilant, agile and a strong
decision maker. He never had to plan any move or any trick in advance. These
things were never taught to him but were inside him. He led a big team of
soldiers.
Childhood
He
was an adopted child by Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II. He was born on May 19, 1824
as Nana Govind Dhondu Pant to Narayan Bhatt and Ganga Bai. But following his
defeat in the Third Maratha War the East India Company had exiled Baji Rao II,
the last Peshwa of the Maratha Confederation, to Bithoor near Cawnpore (now
Kanpur), where he maintained a large establishment paid for in part out of a
British pension. In childhood he had friends named Tantya Tope, Azimullah Khan
and Rani Lakshmibai.
The
freedom struggle of 1857
He
played a very important role in the Indian freedom struggle. A Maratha, one of
the leaders of the First War of Independence, Nana Saheb was born to Narayan
Bhatt and Ganga Bai. In 1827 his parents went to the court of the last Peshwa
Baji Rao, who adopted Nana Saheb, thus making him heir-presumptive.
According
to Doctrine of Lapse treaty, after the death of Baji Rao, Nana Sahib was denied
to take the throne as he was not the direct heir to Baji Rao. Nana Sahib stood
against this statement of British Government and launched attack on their
entrenchment at Cawnpore (now Kanpur). He was defeated by General Henry
Havelock and in December 1857 by Sir Colin Campbell. He appointed a nephew, Rao
Sahib, to give orders to Tantia.
At
the End
It
is believed that after his defeat in the revolt of Kanpur, Nana Sahib took
shelter in Nepal to safeguard himself and his family. He was spotted by people
in the Nepal hills, where he is thought to have died
