Page 8 - NIS English 16-28 Feb, 2026

PERSONALITY | Budhu Bhagat

The Hero of the

Larka Rebellion

Budhu Bhagat, the leader of the Larka rebellion
and a visionary freedom fighter, waged guerrilla
war against the British and moneylenders for
independence. He awakened the people of
the Chorea, Pithoria, Lohardaga, and Palamu
regions to fight for freedom from British rule.
He fought tooth and nail against exploitation
and oppression. He chased the British out of
the forests for many years and taught the tribal
people to fight against injustice. Budhu Bhagat,
an epitome of courage, resistance, bravery, and
Born: February 17, 1792 Died: February 13, 1832 sacrifice, will forever inspire...

udhu Bhagat, the renowned revolutionary at his command. Budhu Bhagat’s military base was
who ignited the spark of the Larka rebellion, located amidst dense forests on the peak of Chogari
Bwas a revolutionary who, armed with an axe, Hill, and this is where strategic planning took place.
confronted the cannons and guns of the British There came a time when, frustrated by his bravery
government. Born on February 17, 1792, in an and courage, the British announced a reward of one
Oraon family in Silagain village of Ranchi district, thousand rupees for his capture, a very large sum in
Jharkhand, Budhu Bhagat is said to have possessed those days.
divine powers, symbolized by the axe he always On February 13, 1832, Budhu and his compan-
carried with him. Seeing Budhu Bhagat’s organiza- ions were surrounded by Captain Impey in Silagain
tional skills, people considered him an incarnation village. Budhu wanted to surrender to prevent
of God. He also organized people in Silli, Chorea, innocent villagers from being killed in the indiscrim-
Pithoria, Lohardaga, and Palamu. inate firing by the British. However, Budhu Bhagat’s
A skilled organizer, he trained his army in guer- followers formed a protective circle. Meanwhile,
rilla warfare. Taking advantage of the dense forests the British captain ordered firing. Indiscriminate
and inaccessible hills, he repeatedly defeated the firing began, and the area was shaken by the ter-
British army. He had practiced swordsmanship and rible screams of the elderly, children, women, and
archery since childhood. He also waged war against young people. Approximately 300 villagers were
the British-backed landlords and intermediaries killed in that bloody massacre. The people’s rebel-
to protect land and forests. Furthermore, with his lion against injustice was forcibly silenced by force
courage and leadership abilities, he initiated the of arms. Budhu Bhagat and his sons, Haldhar and
Larka rebellion against the brutality of British rule in Girdhar, also attained martyrdom fighting against
the tribal areas and led the armed uprising. the British. Even today, people remember the brave
It is said that Budhu Bhagat had immense influ- Budhu Bhagat and his companions in their folk tales
ence in Ranchi and the surrounding areas of Chota and folk songs. This reflects his contribution and
Nagpur. People were ready to sacrifice their lives popularity in the Indian freedom struggle. n

6 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || February 16-28, 2026