Upheaval in hills days after 1857 revolt still a matter of debate; Jutogh, Kasauli cantonments witnessed resistance, say historians

Indian Express

10-05-2025

As the nation commemorates the 168th anniversary of the 1857 revolt —also known as India's First War of Independence—on Saturday, May 10, it is important to remember that Himachal Pradesh, which was then part of undivided India and divided among several princely estates, was not untouched by the upheaval that was predominantly reported in the vast plains.
At least two key British army cantonment areas in the hilly terrains of what is now Himachal Pradesh — Kasauli and Jutogh — witnessed acts of resistance by Gurkha soldiers. Additionally, Shamsher Singh, the ruler of the princely state of Rampur Bushahr, stood among the rare hill leaders who openly defied British authority during the uprising.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Shimla-based noted historian Raja Bhasin said, 'The Gurkha soldiers, part of the then Nasiri Battalion stationed at Jutogh (later renamed the Gorkha Battalion), were so enraged by their low salaries, poor care of their families by the British authorities at that time that rumours spread they intended to wipe out the British civilian population in Shimla.'
'The panic among the British community was so intense that many sought refuge under the protection of Sansar Sen, the ruler of the Keonthal princely state, who sheltered them in his palace at Junga. At that time, General George Anson served as commander-in chief of the Shimla hills, overseeing the British cantonments, while Lord William Hay held the post of deputy commissioner of Shimla. The timing of their resistance coincided with the 1857 mutiny, which was largely confined to Meerut, Delhi, Indore and other plain areas. Before Jutogh, soldiers turned rebels at Kasauli,' said Bhasin.
Bhasin said that almost all the princely estates at that time had sent their troops to assist the Britishers in suppressing the revolt by Indian soldiers, and Shimla had become a haven for the Britishers who wanted to escape from the plains to the hills to avoid the anger of rebel soldiers.
The 1857 mutiny began when Indian soldiers in the British army at Meerut refused to use greased cartridges on May 10. This action triggered widespread rebellion across the country, particularly in Delhi, Kanpur, Jhansi, and Lucknow.
'Himachal Pradesh at that time was part of undivided Punjab and divided among many princely estates, most of which were pro-British,' said Prof B K Verma, head of the department of history at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla, adding that the mutiny had a direct impact on at least two British army cantonments — Kasauli, now in the Solan district, and Jutogh, now part of Shimla district.
'Documented records suggest that approximately 80 soldiers, most of them Gurkhas under Subedar Bhim Singh, looted the government treasury and marched toward Jutogh, where soldiers of the Nasiri Battalion had also revolted. These events unfolded just days after the uprising broke out at Meerut on May 10,' said Prof Verma.
'There is a long discussion among historians about whether the resistance by the soldiers was due to patriotic spirits or due to some other reasons, but the fact is clear that the mutiny had also sparked the atmosphere of these silent hills.' said Verma, adding that there is no evidence that the rebel Gurkha soldiers harmed any Briti h civilians during that time.
'But it is well documented that the British population of Shimla was panicked when rumours spread that the rebels from the two cantonments were joining forces and marching on the town. Sansar Sen of Keonthal provided crucial help to the British at his Shimla and Junga palaces during this crisis,' Prof Verma said.
He said that at a time when most local rulers remained loyal to the British and distanced themselves from the revolt, Shamsher Singh of Rampur Bushahr stood apart.
'His resistance was not necessarily driven by patriotic fervour but stemmed from resentment over taxes imposed on his princely estate by the British. While almost all the rulers in the hilly terrains assisted the British in crushing the revolt, Shamsher Singh withheld cooperation, marking a significant, if isolated, act of defiance.'
Ankush Bhardwaj, associate professor of history at HPU Shimla, said, 'There are many authentic records and books, including The Crisis in the Punjab: From the 10th of May Until the Fall of Delhi by Frederick Cooper, that document the impact of the 1857 uprisings in the hilly terrains, largely corresponding to present day Himachal Pradesh. Moreover, there are dedicated chapters in our university syllabus covering these uprisings. But sadly, there is not a single memorial in Shimla commemorating these incidents, which means future generations may remain unaware of the local history connected to the 1857 revolt.'
'It is always sad to see this. Indeed, the Britishers inhabited Shimla, but 78 years have passed since the British Raj was gone. Authorities should look into this aspect,' he added.
Meanwhile, a visit to Jutogh Cantonment, which is situated near the village of Totu in Shimla, suggests that although authorities have erected a Samarak Sathan (Memorial pillar) in memory of martyred soldiers who even died in the British army, there is no sign belonging to the 1857 uprising. Even the official website of the Himachal Pradesh government mentions the impact of the 1857 uprising in the state.
'The revolt or first Indian war of independence resulted due to the building up of political, social, economic, religious and military grievances against the British. People of the hill states were not politically alive as the people in other parts of the country. They remained more or less aloof and so did their rulers with the exception of Bushahr. Some of them even rendered help to the Britishers during the revolt. Among them were the rulers of Chamba, Bilaspur, Bhagal and Dhami. The rulers of Bushars acted in a manner hostile to the interests of British. However it is not clear whether they actually aided the rebels or not,' reads the official website of Himachal Pradesh.