Bakhshish Ali was an employee of the English East India Company, serving as the head of the jail in Jhansi. On June 4, 1857, when the Indian sepoys of the East India Company raised the flag of freedom in Jhansi, Bakhshish Ali emerged as the leader of the group. In a statement made to the court in 1858, Aman Khan testified that Bakhshish Ali, the Jail Darogah, was the principal leader; he was concerned in the murder of the Officers and was the person who took the mutineers to Delhi.”
Bakhshish Ali’s Daring Capture of Jhansi
During the attack on the fort, Indian revolutionaries killed many English officers and captured others. Bakhshish Ali led the charge and personally killed Captain Skene. He then took control of the treasury, using a portion of the funds to support the Rani of Jhansi and sending the rest to Delhi to aid the war effort. The British army, recognising the threat posed by Bakhshish Ali, declared a reward of 2,000 Rupees for his capture.
Bakhshish Ali’s Disillusionment and Departure from Jhansi
After the overthrow of the English government, Bakhshish Ali assumed a leadership role in governing Jhansi. However, his allegiance to the Rani of Jhansi was short-lived. When Bakhshish Ali felt that the Rani was not putting up a strong enough fight against the English, he left her and joined forces with Mardan Singh, the Chief of Banpur, in Lalitpur. The English intelligence reported that Bakhshish Ali had asked the Rani whether she would continue to resist the English, and upon learning that she would not, he decided to withdraw his support and seek employment with the Banpur Chief instead.
Bakhshish Ali’s actions during the 1857 uprising demonstrate his unwavering commitment to the cause of Indian independence.
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