Puran Singh Koli
Puran Singh Koli (also spelled Pooran Singh Koli or Puran Kori), a valiant soldier from the Koli (or Kori) community—a Dalit caste traditionally associated with weaving and labor in northern India—played a crucial role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against British colonial rule. As an artilleryman in the army of Rani Lakshmibai, the iconic queen of Jhansi, he fought fiercely to defend his homeland. Best known as the devoted husband of Jhalkari Bai, another legendary figure of the revolt who disguised herself as the Rani to aid her escape, Puran Singh embodied the spirit of resistance among marginalized communities. Though historical records focus more on his wife's exploits, his contributions as a frontline defender highlight the collective bravery of ordinary soldiers in India's first major war of independence. Born in the early 19th century near Jhansi (exact date unknown), he lived and died as a patriot, with his legacy intertwined with the larger narrative of anti-colonial struggle.
Early Life and Background
Details of Puran Singh Koli's early years are sparse, as colonial-era records often overlooked the lives of lower-caste soldiers. He was born into a humble Koli family in the Jhansi region of present-day Uttar Pradesh, around the 1820s or early 1830s—a time when British East India Company influence was expanding aggressively into princely states. The Koli community, facing social discrimination and economic hardship, instilled in him a sense of resilience and loyalty to local rulers. Growing up amid feudal tensions, Puran Singh likely honed his skills in marksmanship and artillery through informal training or community militias, common in the volatile Bundelkhand region.
By his early adulthood, he had enlisted in the military forces of the princely state of Jhansi under Raja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, Rani Lakshmibai's husband. After the Raja's death in 1853 and the adoption of a successor (which the British contested under the Doctrine of Lapse), Puran Singh rose to become a trusted gunner in the artillery unit. His proximity to the royal court allowed him to forge strong bonds with fellow soldiers and the Rani herself, who valued competent warriors regardless of caste.
Marriage and Partnership with Jhalkari Bai
Puran Singh's personal life became legendary through his marriage to Jhalkari Bai, a woman of remarkable courage and striking resemblance to Rani Lakshmibai. Born on November 22, 1830, in Bhojla village near Jhansi to Sadovar Singh and Jamuna Devi (also from a Koli family), Jhalkari married Puran Singh in her early teens, around 1845–1846. The union was arranged within their community, but it blossomed into a partnership of equals, united by shared hardships and a growing anti-British fervor.
Puran Singh introduced his wife to Rani Lakshmibai's durbar (court), where Jhalkari's sharp wit, horsemanship, and combat skills impressed the queen. Under the Rani's patronage, both honed their martial abilities—Puran Singh in artillery operations and Jhalkari in sword fighting and disguise tactics. Dalit oral traditions and later writings, such as those by historian Mata Prasad, portray Puran Singh as a supportive husband who encouraged Jhalkari's ambitions, defying caste norms that confined women to domestic roles. Their home near the Jhansi fort became a hub for plotting resistance, fostering a network of Koli fighters loyal to the Rani.
Role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Revolt of 1857 erupted in May when sepoys in Meerut mutinied, spreading to Jhansi by June. Puran Singh Koli emerged as a key defender when British forces, under Commissioner John Malcolm Erskine, besieged the city after the controversial massacre of European officers (allegedly ordered by the Rani, though disputed). Stationed at the main gate of Jhansi Fort—a strategic chokepoint—Puran Singh commanded artillery batteries, raining cannon fire on advancing British troops. His unit, comprising mostly local recruits including Kolis, held the fort against overwhelming odds for weeks.
As the siege intensified in March–April 1858, Puran Singh participated in daring sorties alongside Rani Lakshmibai's forces. Historical accounts note his leadership in a contingent under Bhaubakhshi (a military commander) and himself, which ambushed British supply lines and repelled assaults at Gwalior. Jhalkari Bai's famous impersonation of the Rani on April 4, 1858—allowing the queen to flee—occurred under Puran Singh's protective watch at the fort gates. He reportedly urged his wife to fight "for Jhansi and the motherland," embodying the couple's shared resolve. Though the British eventually captured Jhansi on April 3, 1858, Puran Singh escaped with remnants of the army, continuing guerrilla warfare in the Bundelkhand hills.
His role extended beyond combat; as a Koli representative, he mobilized marginalized communities, drawing on caste networks to swell rebel ranks. Unlike elite leaders, Puran Singh's fight was grassroots—fueled by grievances over land rights, forced labor, and cultural erasure under British rule. Eyewitness sketches from the era, preserved in Dalit folklore, depict him as a steadfast gunner whose cannons symbolized indigenous defiance.
Later Life and Death
Post-revolt, the British reprisals were brutal; many Jhansi survivors, including Puran Singh, faced capture, execution, or exile. Historical gaps suggest he evaded arrest initially, possibly joining Rani Lakshmibai in her final stand at Gwalior on June 17, 1858, where she died in battle. Puran Singh is believed to have perished shortly after, either in combat or during the ensuing crackdown, around 1858–1859, at approximately 30–40 years old. No grave or official records mark his end, reflecting the erasure of subaltern heroes in colonial historiography.
Legacy and Honors
Puran Singh Koli's story, preserved through oral traditions, folk songs, and 20th-century Dalit literature, underscores the Revolt's inclusivity across castes. He is celebrated as a symbol of spousal solidarity and Koli valor, often invoked in narratives reclaiming suppressed histories. Statues and memorials in Jhansi honor him alongside Jhalkari Bai, and his tale features in books like Jhalkari Bai: The Warrior Queen and regional plays. In 2021, the Uttar Pradesh government recognized Koli contributions to 1857, indirectly saluting figures like Puran Singh.
Today, he inspires movements for caste justice and women's empowerment, reminding us that freedom struggles were waged not just by kings and queens, but by devoted soldiers like him. While Rani Lakshmibai remains the icon, Puran Singh Koli's quiet heroism—guarding gates, loving fiercely, and firing for liberty—ensures his place in India's pantheon of forgotten patriots.
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