Tantia Bhil (Aged 47) also known as Tantya Bheel, Tundra or Tandra, and Tantya Mama, was born in 1842 in an Indian tribal Bhil community in the Pandhana village in Nimar district of Nagpur Kingdom. He was a freedom fighter who was active in India between 1878 and 1889. While British-era accounts describe him as a criminal, Indians recognize him as a heroic figure, often referring to him as “Indian Robin Hood”.
Tantya Bhil used to plunder the treasuries of the British government and the wealth of their supporters, distributing it among the poor and needy. He was popularly called Mama by people of all age groups. This address of Tantya became so popular that the Bhils still feel proud to be addressed as “Mama”. He miraculously helped those who were in need of financial help and was the Messiah of the have-nots. According to one modern account, he began his way of life after the harsh measures taken by the British following the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Tantia was first arrested around 1874 for “bad livelihood” and after serving a year’s sentence, turned to more serious crimes of theft and kidnapping. He was arrested for the second time in 1878 by Haji Nasrullah Khan Yousufzai, a British army officer, and jailed at Khandwa. However, he escaped after only three days and from there took up his life as a dacoit, using the money to support his local community. The money he used was originally looted by the British in India.
Ultimately, Tantya was arrested due to the treachery of Ganpat, the husband of his formal sister. He was kept in the Central India Agency Jail in the British Residency area at Indore. Later, he was taken to Jubbulpore under strict police guard, heavily chained, and kept in the Jubbulpore jail where British officers tortured him inhumanely, perpetrating all types of atrocities on him. The Sessions Court in Jubbulpore sentenced him to be hanged until death on 19 October 1889.
The news of Tantya Bhil’s arrest was prominently published in the 10 November 1889 issue of the New York Times, where he was described as the “Robin Hood of India”. Finally, on 4 December 1889, Tantia was tried and hanged at Jubbulpore jail.
Tantia Bhil
(1842 – 1889) – (Madhya Pradesh)
Tantia Bhil (Aged 47) also known as Tantya Bheel, Tundra or Tandra, and Tantya Mama, was born in 1842 in an Indian tribal Bhil community in the Pandhana village in Nimar district of Nagpur Kingdom. He was a freedom fighter who was active in India between 1878 and 1889. While British-era accounts describe him as a criminal, Indians recognize him as a heroic figure, often referring to him as “Indian Robin Hood”.
Tantya Bhil used to plunder the treasuries of the British government and the wealth of their supporters, distributing it among the poor and needy. He was popularly called Mama by people of all age groups. This address of Tantya became so popular that the Bhils still feel proud to be addressed as “Mama”. He miraculously helped those who were in need of financial help and was the Messiah of the have-nots. According to one modern account, he began his way of life after the harsh measures taken by the British following the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Tantia was first arrested around 1874 for “bad livelihood” and after serving a year’s sentence, turned to more serious crimes of theft and kidnapping. He was arrested for the second time in 1878 by Haji Nasrullah Khan Yousufzai, a British army officer, and jailed at Khandwa. However, he escaped after only three days and from there took up his life as a dacoit, using the money to support his local community. The money he used was originally looted by the British in India.
Ultimately, Tantya was arrested due to the treachery of Ganpat, the husband of his formal sister. He was kept in the Central India Agency Jail in the British Residency area at Indore. Later, he was taken to Jubbulpore under strict police guard, heavily chained, and kept in the Jubbulpore jail where British officers tortured him inhumanely, perpetrating all types of atrocities on him. The Sessions Court in Jubbulpore sentenced him to be hanged until death on 19 October 1889.
The news of Tantya Bhil’s arrest was prominently published in the 10 November 1889 issue of the New York Times, where he was described as the “Robin Hood of India”. Finally, on 4 December 1889, Tantia was tried and hanged at Jubbulpore jail.
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