Tatya Tope, originally known as Ramchandra Pandurang Tope, was a prominent hero of the 1857 Revolt, often referred to as India’s first war of independence. Tatya Tope was born in 1814 AD in the present day Nashik district of Maharashtra. His father Pandurang Rao Tope was a noble in the court of Peshwa Baji Rao Second. At a very young age he developed close and friendly relations with Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa. Tatya openly opposed the British for the injustice done to Nana Saheb. Tatya Tope served as the major army general of Nana Saheb during the 1857 Revolt. He got some success at the initial stage of revolt at Kanpur. But Indian forces could not maintain the momentum and the British forces led by General Havelock regained the lost grounds and forced Nana Saheb and Taya Tope to leave the city.
But Tatya Tope didn’t lose hope and continued his fight against the British. He again developed an army with his supporters and many rebel soldiers from Gwalior to challenge the British forces at Kanpur. But British General Colin Campbell unfortunately defeated the Indians in the second battle of Kanpur in the great Revolt. Tatya remained free from the British and continued. His fight. He joined Rani Laxmi Bai, an icon of Indian bravery and resistance in the 1857 Revolt. The British again emerged winner on the battlefield as Rani Laxmi Bai met her martyrdom on the battlefield. But Tatya Tope continued his relentless fight against the British forces. His resistance could not survive too long as the British forces finally crushed the Revolt and he was killed in April 1859 AD. In brief, he fought against the British till his last breath. He was undoubtedly the great Indian hero of the 1857 Revolt.
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