Raje Umaji Naik
The Revolutionary Extraordinaire
History has strange ways of showing itself. This chance encounter took place a couple of days ago.
The city: Pune
The premise: Mamledar Kacheri and Khadakmal.
The Revolutionery: Raje Umaji Naik.
Born on 7th September 1791 in Bhivadi, a hamlet in Purandar district.
His father Dadaji Khomane was the guardian of Purandar fort. The Ramoshi sect were incharge of many forts during the reign of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Umaji too grew up helping his father at the fort. He learnt the use of weapons such as Gofun, Bhala, Teerkamtha, swords etc. at a very young age.
After his father passed away in 1802, he became a vatandar at the tender age of 11 years. At the time the British were gaining control over the Deccan. During this period the unfortunate Bajirao IInd, was persuaded by the British to divest the fort of Purandar from the Ramoshi, but it was an unsuccessful attempt. In retaliation however, Bajirao IInd, confiscated the land, vatans and claims of the Ramoshi.
Umaji was enraged by this act and he vowed to avenge this insult by the British. Thus began the tryst with his destiny.
He focused on looting the rich ruthless Moneylenders vatandars and jamindars, due to their atrocities towards the poor and distributed the wealth to the down trodden. In a short span of time he collected quite a following.
On on such raid, where he looted the money lender Chanji Matiya, he got arrested and was imprisoned for a year.
Umaji continued his raids after release and was caught again to serve a seven year sentence. This is where he learnt to read and write.
Umaji was a devotee of the deity 'Khandoba' as is apparent through the title of his letters 'Khandoba Prasanna'.
He eventually became the leader of the Ramoshi after his brother Amruta passed away in 1824-25. The Ramoshi band next looted the British Military treasury at Bhamburda. As the complaints against him increased, the British issued decree's and awards for his capture ranging from a 100 to 1200 rupees. The decree stated that anyone aiding Umaji would be killed. No one came forward. The British put up 152 police posts and seem to have taken help from Ramoshi Ranoji Naik from Yavat and Ramoshi Appaji Naik of Rohida but to no avail.
In the mean time his status increased and he self proclaimed himself as 'Raje'. In 1827 placed his demands in front of the Collector of Pune, H.D. Robertson. The Ramoshi would revolt if the demands were not agreed upon.
The collector put out a 5 point decree on 15th December 1827. Umaji countered this with his own decree, which stated that tax from 13 villages will be taken by him. This was a warning bell for the British. They took his wife, two sons and a daughter into custody. Umaji had no option but to surrender. Surprisingly the British pardoned him and gave him a job to maintain peace and order in Pune and Satara.
Umaji however, was not quiet. He amassed a lot of wealth by other means. The British accused him of taking ransom and looting but did not remove him from service. This was also the time when he built up a formidable army.
While taking a ransom from a money lender, Bhaichand Bhimji, he was arrested but escaped to Karhe, continuing his charades with the British.
Alexander Mcintosh was given the command to arrest Umaji. On 23rd Januaary 1831, George Gibbern the collector of Pune issued another decree to which Umaji issued his own. This came to be known as 'The Proclamation of Independence'
1) To kill a European if seen.
2) All citizens whose Vatans and Wages have been stopped by the British should join Umaji. They would be duly returened of their properties.
3) The soldiers and cavalry must not take orders from the Company Sarkar else Umaji's Sarkar would punish them.
4) No villages would pay taxes to the British. If they do the villages will be destroyed.
This message was to go out to all of Bharat. He also issued a letter to the Gadkari Naik sect., to revolt against the British.
As Umaji's power increased he and his band raided the premises of the rich in Kolhapur, Sholapur, Sangli, Satara, Pune and Marathwada.
The final decree and award was issued on 8th August 1831. A reward of 10000 rupees and 400 Bigha (2500 sq. mtrs.) of land would be given for handing over Umaji. As luck would have it, two of his own men, Kalu and Nana delivered Umaji to the British on 15th December 1831.
On 3rd of May 1834 (on the placard at the monument it is given as 3rd February 1832), he was given the death sentence and hanged. It is said that his body was left hanging on the tree for three days as a lesson to those who would dare go against the British.
This was the first hanging of a revolutionary as early as the beginning of the 19th century.
Acknowledgements:
Credits: Marathi vishwakosh.
Photos: Mohini Karkarey
The Pictures below
