As the news of departure of Nana Sahib from Kanpur people got frightened and terrified. There was lawlessness all around. News of inhuma atrocities by British armies in the villages on way to Kanpur were reaching there.
British soldiers set the villages on fire. Escaping of
Hearing those horified news 210 British women and children taken Shelter chised in a house named Bibighar in Kanpur. This small house was constructed by an English for his Indian kept wife.
People asked the guards to kill all of them, but guards refused to do so. But just after some moments a lady alongwith butchers reached there. The butchers had possessed swords. At the hint of Begum they entered and when they came out their swords were dyed in blood. They had killed all children and British. Next day their dead bodies were thrown in a well nearby.
Later British made this place a memento, but after independence in 1957 India Govt. set up a statue of Tantya Tope there.
On the other side General Havloc with his army repressed Kanpur. He possessed a vast army. Reaching here and after getting news of Bibighar murder case British went on rampage. Whosoever Indian came in their sight, fell a victim to their retaliation.
At that time atrocities done by British soldiers over the resident of Kanpur were on its peak.
Thousands of innocents were shooted, hundreds were hanged on trees. White soldiers looted the houses.
This savagery bacome more effective as Brigadier Neil reached Kanpur. Whoever came under subjugation they sent him in Bibighar and ordered him to lick the floor by tongue. If anyone refused to obey this order he was beaten cruely.
Before hanging them beef in Hindu and pork in Muslim’s mouth was put forcibly to defile their religion.
Tatya in command
Havloc handed over the charge of security of Kanpur to Brigadier Neil and set out for Lucknow. Some British were taken hostages in the residency of Lucknow. But he couldn’t reach there. Revolutionaries opposed him boldly on the way.
At the same time Sagar army set out towards Kanpur. This army reached Akbarpur crossing river Yamuna near Kalpi. This army was so brave, but they were leaderless.
The army was well known about the presence of Nana Sahib and Tantya Tope in Fatehpur Chaurasi. They sent a messenger to Nana Sahib and persisted to accept their leadership. Nana Sahib sent Tantya Tope with him.Tantya held the army command after reaching there. It was the first instance when Tantya held the charge of an army independently.
Alongwith army Tantya proceeded further and repressed Sancheri and Shivrajpur. Then they reached Brahmavart where old revolutionary soldiers joined Tantya. Thus Taya’s strength increased. When Brigadier Neil got the news of Tantya’s proceeding towards Kanpur a powerful army with then he sent a messenger to Havloce who was on way to Lucknow. Havlock postponded his march. He returned back and attacked at Tantya’s army proceeding towards Kanpur.
He too had possessed a mighty army. He ordered for bombardment at protection post of Tantya. In retaliation Tantya’s guns too blustered. Revolution army bombard intelligently, which was admired by Havlocic too. Havloc had to retreat. But he was not disheariened. He ordered his force to capture Tantya’s cannons. Thousands of British killed in the attempt. But at last they got success.
Tantya had to retreat of. But ultimately Tantya’s army had to leave Brahmavart. British took in possession Brhamavart even after Kanpur.
British had controlled Kanpur and Brahmavart, but their rule was limited to cities, villages were yet under the influence of revolutionaries. Even after several attempts British reign could not establish their rule over nearby villages.
Reliance at tatya
Revolution army and organisation had scattered and dispersed. Revolutionary leaders of Kanpur felt themselves helpless and feeble, but Tantya was not ready to acknowledge defeat.
To be more glorious in emergency was his unique characterstic.
In these circumstances, Lucknow even was not safe. Earlier British had to go across Kanpur to reach Lucknow, but now when they had set up their power in Kanpur then it became easy for them to conquer Lucknow.
All were convinced with wisdom and intelligence of Tantya.
Then Tantya presented a scheme. According to the scheme he held the responsebility to transmigrate the dead protection post of Kanpur and Nana Sahib and his colleaguses were entrusted to prevent the British armies proceeding towards Lucknow.
All accorded his plan unanimously.
For excution of his plan Tantya proceeded towards Bundelkhand. In real he was in search of such a place where he might sit fearlessly and organise his strength. And for this job he had selected the place.That place was Kalpi.
According to his view Kalpi was most suitable for him. Kalpi is situated on the southern coast of Yamuna. This town is located at a distance of 86 miles from Kanpur and 120 miles from Jhansi. Kalpi fort is famous for its firmness and safety. This fort is secure by compact castles on three sides and one side by Yamuna.
When Tantya Tope decided to make it the centre of his activities, at that time mutinous revolutionaries were in power there. In reality, when news of mutiny in Jhansi Kanpur and other parts of country reached Kalpi then the army residing within the fort revolted and set up their command.
