Glimpses of the Untold History of the Indian Freedom Struggle - Part 20

Kashibai and Sundarbai slipped away from the place with their horses the moment Dulherao was taken into custody by their companions, ensuring that no one there would notice their departure. Following the map provided by Ramdin Valmiki, they set out toward Smith’s camp through a difficult forest route.

This was the only path that could take them to Smith’s camp quickly. Kashibai had learned about this route from some elderly villagers who had once hunted in those forests. She had extracted the information by offering them strong Mahualiquor and listening patiently to their stories of past hunting exploits. The task of serving them the liquor and getting them to speak freely had been carried out by Lalabhau Bakshi, and before him by Sardar Manjunath Pahadi.

Because of this, both Sardar Manjunath Pahadi and Lalabhau Bakshi immediately realized where Kashibai and Sundarbai must have gone. However, they outwardly remained calm, because Kashibai had hidden nothing from them. Both of them knew very well that attacking Smith’s camp with a large group was impossible.

Brigadier Smith was extremely cunning and shrewd. After the death of Rani Lakshmibai, he had moved his camp to a place where he could remain very secure. It was a small valley surrounded by four hills, and around his camp fifty soldiers patrolled day and night on all sides. Each patrolling soldier carried a rifle, and their commander i.e., the kotwal, carried a telescope. These arrangements ensured that no one could descend from the hills even during the night.

Kashibai had discovered the reasons behind these arrangements through the wife of a man from Dulherao’s village who delivered daily supplies to Smith’s camp. This man was Dulherao’s most trusted companion and had accompanied Smith during the attack on Rani Lakshmibai. It was he who had suggested to Smith the idea of shooting the horse Badal in the legs. Because of this, Smith trusted him even more than Dulherao.

While talking casually with village women and elders, Kashibai learned that Dulherao had distanced himself from this man, Shambhurao, for that very reason, and a silent rivalry had begun between them.

Through her conversations with Shambhurao’s wife, Kashibai gathered all this information.

Along with the two women’s horses, a third horse followed behind them. On that horse rode Shambhurav himself, with his mouth and limbs tightly bound. He was to be sacrificed before Smith himself.

The night of the full moon had been deliberately chosen for both operations — to take advantage of the darkness of night while also ensuring that the moonlight would allow everyone to witness the punishment clearly.

Carrying out the act during the day would have been dangerous, as escape afterward might not have been possible. Waiting any longer would also have risked some traitor informing the Company government about their plans.

Just before dawn, the two women reached the mountain pass that almost formed the entrance to Smith’s camp. A pass is a narrow path between two hills. As soon as they arrived, Kashibai took out the telescope she had seized from Shambhurao. The moment the patrolling soldiers came directly before the pass, the two women charged downhill on horseback, firing their rifles.

Their aim was precise, and their determination and thirst for revenge were fierce. The flame of the freedom struggle burning in their hearts gave them strength. The memory of Rani Lakshmibai’s final moments filled their minds and hearts with boundless courage and valor.

Before they had even descended the pass completely, all fifty patrolling soldiers had been sent to their deaths. This was because Sardar Manjunath Pahadi and Lalabhau Bakshi had followed the women by tracking the marks of their horses’ hooves and had arrived at the crucial moment with rifles of their own.

Together, the four of them launched a direct assault on Smith’s camp. Smith’s soldiers awoke abruptly from deep sleep. But before they could dress themselves and arm themselves properly, the four attackers had already killed the guards outside Smith’s tent and dragged Smith out by the legs while he was sleeping with a prostitute.

Right before Smith’s eyes, they beheaded Shambhurao.

In his powerful mountain voice, Sardar Manjunath Pahadi shouted to Smith’s soldiers, “If anyone dares to act, four hundred of our soldiers hidden in the surrounding hills will shoot you. We want only Brigadier Smith. No harm will come to anyone else.”

Hearing this, the soldiers remained silent. None of them were in a state of mind to make a move.

Kashibai had already tied a rope around Smith’s leg. As Smith screamed for help, the other three relentlessly trampled him under their horses’ hooves.

With every kick from the horses, Smith’s screams grew louder, and those cries only strengthened the resolve of the four attackers.

Sardar Manjunath Pahadi then stabbed Smith repeatedly with spears and forced him to stand upright against a tree.

Kashibai dismounted from her horse and bound Smith tightly to the tree with her rope.

Sundarbai then dismounted and fired four bullets into each of Smith’s legs, shouting loudly with each shot, “Victory to Rani Lakshmibai! Victory to Badal!” The other three joined her in the cries.

Finally, Lalabhau Bakshi fired four bullets into each of Smith’s hands.

Their intention was not to kill Smith immediately. They did not want him to die easily. It was necessary that he die slowly in agony so that the entire British army and all Indian traitors would know of his fate.

The four then mounted their horses again. Kashibai slashed a deep wound across Smith’s back with her sword — the same way Rani Lakshmibai had been wounded.

All four of them felt an immense calm. Before their eyes, they saw Rani Lakshmibai everywhere.

Just as they were about to turn back, a British soldier shouted, “I have confirmed that there are no soldiers on the surrounding hills.”

At that very moment, the rifles of all the soldiers fired simultaneously. The four attackers, riddled with bullets across their bodies, somehow managed to retreat into the forest and galloped desperately in the opposite direction.

Nearly an hour later, they encountered their fellow Lamani companions who had been searching for them. As they explained what had happened, the four heroes died one by one.

Smith’s soldiers did not pursue them. They were occupied with saving Smith, and the British soldier who had ordered the firing admitted openly that he had lied when he claimed there were no soldiers on the hills. He had done so to secure their own safety and Smith’s.

Their Lamani companions carried the bodies of the four heroes deep into another forest valley with thick vegetation.

As their funeral rites were performed, no one could hold back their tears. Motibai and Gangabai lit the funeral pyre for the four. This time, Ramchandrarao was not there to recite the Bhagavad Gita.

Afterward, Motibai made a decision. The group divided into smaller parties and set out to meet Tatya Tope. Motibai alone departed for Kashi, carrying with her the ashes of six people — Rani Lakshmibai, Moropant, and the four fallen heroes.

(The story continues......)