Kumar Bahukhandi
Agony rose deep and asunder
Even the British knew they’d blundered
Bloodshot eyes of soldiers woke
As chains of silence finally broke
A mutiny sparked for a brother’s life
Grief strengthened into righteous strife
Bonds were forged, shackles broken
Barrackpore with pride was spoken
On a May evening they marched ahead
Tired, but courage led
Steps that carried hope so far
Till they met the Sultan’s gaze like a star
You may wonder what stirred this flame
Why all of India rose against the same
Listen now, thou must hear
This tale begins in 1857
A young soldier, only twenty-two
Stood against rule unjust, untrue
Mocked, disgraced, his faith betrayed
The holy cow in cartridges was laid
He rose not out of hate or greed
But for his God, his soul, his creed
Mangal Pandey, his cry took a flight
And then spreading like wildfire into the night
Leaders rose, for whom we now pray
United, fearless, led the way
Together they stood, one voice, one aim
For dignity, freedom, and Pandey’s name
Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi stood tall
A warrior history still recalls
Sir Hugh Rose, struck by her might
Called her the only man in fight
Her roar shook forts, her blade flashed bright
Making empires tremble in her fight
Kunwar Singh joined, unbroken and brave,
Turning rebellion into a wave
Bakht Khan led the rebel guns
Steadfast till the last was done
British trembled, for courage thin,
Victories hollowed from within
India burned a funeral pyre
Yet from its ash sprang stronger fire
The Badshah waited behind cold bars
In Rangoon, beneath unfamiliar stars
His sons were killed in ruthless might
A crown greeted by endless night
Then Rani Lakshmi too gave up her breath,
Not defeated—only crowned by death
For though the revolt was forced to halt,
It taught a nation how to revolt
In 1857, the seed was sown
What India learned was never done alone
The writer is a student of Class XI , DPS Bhilai ( Chhattisgarh)
