Bhopal : Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan paid homage to the immortal martyrs of 1857, Raja Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah, on their day of sacrifice. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan garlanded their portraits in the auditorium at his residence. Recalling the sacrifices of the immortal martyrs, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan, in a message to the media at Smart Park, said that today is the sacrifice day of Raja Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah. They had sacrificed themselves for the freedom of their country. Due to betrayal by some people, the plans of the revolutionaries were leaked out ahead of time. Later they were arrested and they were gunned down after being tied to the mouths of cannons. But before that they were asked what their last wish was. They expressed the desire to read the poem of revolution the flames of which were burning all around then. They gave the supreme sacrifice of their lives while reciting this poem with a smile on their faces. We are celebrating the 75th year of independence. Today, a programme has been organized in Jabalpur on the sacrifice day of Raja Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah is attending the programme.
The poem
Moond mukh dandin ko, chugli ko chabai khai.
Khoond daar dushtan ko, shatru sanharika.
Maar angrej,rej kar dei maat chandi.
Bachai naahi bairi-baal bachhe sanharka.
…
Sankar ki raksha kar, das pratipal kar
Deen ki pukar, sun aye maat kalka.
Khaile malechhan ko, der naahi karou maat
Bhachhan kar tachhan bhour maat kalika
Brief information
It may be noted that Puva village, which has become a part of Jabalpur city at present, was the residence of Raja Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah. Staying here, they secretly inspired the soldiers to take part in the revolution in the Great War of 1857. The soldiers of the 52nd Regiment of Jabalpur often used to visit the house of Raja Shankar Shah in this regard. Together with their revolutionary comrades and the soldiers of the 52nd Regiment, the father and son planned the revolution. But a traitor passed on this secret information to the British. On 14th, September 1857, 13 people including the king and his sons and followers were arrested as soon as the information was received from the intelligence. The king’s house was searched in which they found several documents of Kranti Sangathan along with a poem written by Raja Shankar Shah. Both the revolutionary father and son were taken captive and detained in the military jail. The arrest of Raja Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah increased resentment among the soldiers and the public. Immediately a formal military court of the deputy commissioner and two British officers was set up.
A drama of justice ensued in the court and finally, death sentence was awarded to Raja Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah for writing anti-national poetry. On 18th September 1857, a parade was held in Jabalpur. Raja Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah were brought from prison and tied to the mouth of cannons. As soon as the cannon was fired, the bodies of the martyrs were blown up in all directions. The British wanted to extinguish the fire of revolution by blowing up Raja Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah. But the fire only caught up with this incident.