The Bhagwantrao Nilkanthrao Koli (also spelled Bhagwant Rao or Bhagvantrao Koli) was a Koli chieftain and ruler of the Peth Jagir (alternatively spelled Peint Jagir or Penth Jagir), a feudal estate or sansthan comprising about 24 villages in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, India, during the mid-19th century. Bhagwantrao Nilkanthrao Koli was born around 1822, he was the son of Nilkanthrao Koli Raje and held authority over local Koli communities, who were traditionally involved in agriculture, raiding, and resistance against external impositions like taxes and disarmament policies. The Kolis in the region were known for their turbulent history of uprisings against various rulers, including the Mughals, Marathas, and British, often driven by grievances over land rights, disarmament acts, and economic exploitation.
Role in Koli rebellion of Peth in 1857
Raja Bhagwantrao Nilkanthrao Koli played a significant leadership role in the Koli uprising during the broader Indian Rebellion of 1857 against British East India Company rule, an event locally known as the "Peth Disturbances." Koli Raja was a correspondent and ally of Nanasaheb Peshwa (Nana Sahib), and Koli Raja's Dewan of Peint Jagir to plan the revolt, which was organized weeks in advance. The uprising was fueled by British policies such as the Disarming Act, which restricted the Kolis' traditional right to bear arms, along with forest land acquisitions, revenue reforms, and economic disruptions that eroded feudal structures.
The Koli rebellion erupted in December 1857 in Nashik district. On December 6, around 2,000 Koli rebels plundered the Harsol (or Harsul) market, destroyed mamlatdar (revenue office) records in Peth Jagir, besieged government buildings, and captured British officials, including Lieutenant Glasspool and about 30 of his men. They also attacked and captured the treasury of Dharampur State and clashed with Thane police, causing casualties. British forces, led by officers like Captain Nuttall and Mr. Boswell, responded with military action, disarming efforts, and pursuits into jungles and neighboring areas like Dharampur, where many Koli rebels fled. A notable battle occurred on December 22 at Basivkheda, 44 km from Peth jagir, where the British prevailed.
Arrest, Trial, and Execution of Bhagwantrao Nilkanthrao Koli
Raja Bhagwantrao Nilkanthrao Koli was suspected of orchestrating the Koli attacks and arrested by British authorities on charges of sedition, disloyalty, and conspiracy to overthrow colonial rule. After a swift trial, he and his 15 officials of Peth Jagir were sentenced to death. Sources vary slightly on the execution date: some indicate December 19 or 28, 1857, at Nashik (near Ranatala), while one mentions May 20 (likely 1858, possibly due to a typographical error given the December timeline of events). His brother, Koli Ramrao Raje (born 1827), was also tried and hanged alongside him. Additionally, around 25 other Peth jagir's Koli residents faced trials for similar charges, receiving sentences of transportation for life, with many dying in jail.
Aftermath and Legacy
Following the Koli Raja's suppression, Bhagwantrao Nilkanthrao Koli's property and 24 villages were annexed by the British government, with revenues redirected to the government. The Koli rebellion highlighted tribal Koli resistance to colonial policies and contributed to the broader narrative of the 1857 revolt as India's First War of Independence, as described by historians like V.D. Savarkar. It reflected a mix of feudal defense, anti-colonial sentiment, and emerging nationalism, with oral traditions in tribal communities portraying leaders like Raja Bhagwantrao Nilkanthrao Koli as freedom-loving heroes. The event is documented in works like "Who's Who of Indian Martyrs" and regional historical analyses, emphasizing its role in marginalizing Koli communities, who were forced into settled agriculture amid ongoing disarmament.
Complete history of Koli rebellion of Peth Jagir (Peint Jagir, Penth Jagir)
In December 1857, the Nashik district of Maharashtra was affected by the Indian independence movement, and the Koli Jagirdar's Peth Jagir became the center of Koli rebellious activities. On December 6, the rebellious Kolis looted the Harsol market and attacked and captured the British Mamlatdar. Following this, the British government sent Lieutenant Glasspool with 30 British officers to investigate, but the Koli rebels also kidnapped Lieutenant Glasspool and his 30 British officers.
Due to these anti-British incidents, the British government became suspicious of the Koli Raja Bhagwantrao of Peth, and using British force, Koli Raja Bhagwantrao was arrested. One reason for the Koli Raja's arrest was that the Koli Raja Bhagwantrao was in close contact with Nanasaheb Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. After the trial in the British court, it was revealed that the Koli community was fighting against the British at the behest of Bhagwantrao, the Koli Raja, the Koli Rani, and their Dewan had hatched a plan to incite the Koli rebellion months earlier. The British convicted the Koli Raja of treason and sentenced Bhagwantrao, his Diwan, and fifteen officials to death. They were hanged on December 28, 1857. Since Bhagwantrao had no son, the Peth estate was annexed to British India.
In response, the Kolis attacked the British court, killing everyone present there, and then paid homage to the Koli Raja at his funeral pyre. It was later revealed that the kings of the Dharampur state had cooperated with the British government in the capture of Koli King Bhagwantrao, after which the Kolis looted the treasury of Dharampur, a British ally. The British government subsequently arrested two prominent Koli rebels who had looted the treasury of the Dharampur king. A clash then ensued between the Koli revolutionaries and the British Army, in which an arrow pierced the chest of a British Army officer and a Koli rebel was shot in the stomach.
Following this battle, British officer Mr. Boswell imposed the Disarming Act on the Kolis to disarm them, requiring them to seize all weapons. A strong contingent of the British Army was stationed in Peth Jagir to protect the British treasury and prevent further unrest. The Kolis were displeased with the Disarming Act and declared an open war against the government. Following this, the British government sent a large force to Peth, forcing the Koli rebels to retreat to the nearby forest. On Thursday, Lieutenant Glasspool arrived with the British army to attack the Kolis. However, the British army was unable to fight the Kolis in the forest, nor was it able to defend the court and the city. For almost a week, Lieutenant Glasspool planned to fight the Kolis near the forest with the British army.
Lieutenant Glasspool requested more troops from the British government, after which Captain Nuttall arrived with more British troops from Trimbak Fort. The forest was now surrounded by British troops, and the Koli rebels lacked sufficient weapons to fight the British army for long, forcing the Kolis to retreat south. The Koli rebels continued to attack British troops stealthily for a few days. The British army suffered heavy losses, but the Kolis, almost out of weapons, dispersed and hid in various villages. Gradually, they were tracked down and captured.
Many Koli rebels had gone into hiding in the Dharampur State. When Maharana Ramdevji Vijaydevji of the Dharampur State came to know about this, the Maharana immediately ordered the Dharampur army to capture the Koli rebels. After which the Dharampur army searched and captured the Koli rebels throughout the state. After capturing all the Koli rebels, they were handed over to the British Government. After which all the rebels were tried in the court and after the atrocities were proved, all of them were hanged.
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