Lucknow is home to numerous memorials dedicated to the victims of the 1857 rebellion. One such memorial, located within Raja Jialal Singh Park at Hazratganj, holds a unique history. After regaining control in 1858, the British erected memorials to their fallen, including the “Victims of the Rebellion Memorial” in Hazratganj. This cenotaph lists British individuals killed by Indian rebels, with inscriptions like “Sacred to Memory of I.G.P. Carew Esquire, Mrs. Greene, Miss Jackson and others. Europeans and Natives, Faithful Servants of Government, Victims of 1857,” and other names such as Sir Mountstuart Jackson, Captain Patrick Orr, Lieutenant Burns, and Sergeant Morton.
An old picture of the memorial in the park – 1870s
The memorial as it stands today in Lucknow
Ironically, the British executed Raja Jialal Singh, a rebellious landholder from Atraulia, at this very spot. An IPS officer, Pratap Gopendra Yadav, even authored a book on Raja Jialal Singh’s exploits, published by Lokbharti Prakashan in 2022.
Raja Jialal Singh (1803–1859) was a pivotal commander in the Awadh forces during the Indian Rebellion, serving as Commander-in-Chief under Begum Hazrat Mahal. He was instrumental in early victories in Lucknow and in mobilising military support. His strategic leadership was crucial for the five-month seizure of the Lucknow Residency and the subsequent nine-month resistance against the British.
Jialal Singh was captured by the British and he faced trial on charges of murder, inciting rebellion, and assisting Nana Sahib during the revolt. He was denied any opportunity for appeal, sentenced to death, and subsequently hanged till death on October 1, 1859, marking a tragic end to his revolt against the British under the forces of Begum Hazrat Mahal.
Statue of Jialal Singh
Despite his significant contributions, which are central to several historical accounts, his role has often been overlooked. The British, keen to immortalize their dead, even placed a cenotaph in Lakshman Park, noting that the “miscreant Raja Jialal Singh” supervised the killing of captives.
It took over 165 years for Lucknow to establish memorials for those who opposed the British. The Lucknow Development Authority has since developed the Amar Shaheed Raja Jialal Singh Park at this location. Notably, they have preserved the original British memorial, which has been consistently maintained by successive Indian administrations.
