William Stephen Raikes Hodson (19 March 1821 – 11 March 1858) also known as "Hodson of Hodson's Horse"was in charge of irregular light cavalry during the great Indian rebellion of 1857 that started off in Meerut Cantonment and over a short period engulfed many parts of north Indian states. Hodson was primarily instrumental in the introduction of the first khaki uniforms in the Indian army that was suitable to the tropical country and the terrain.
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| Hodson grave, Lucknow, UP. wiki.fibis.org |
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| Lucknow, India Hodson's tomb. ranasafvi.com |
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| Hodson's grave, Lucknow. Wikipedia |
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| William Hodson who killed last 3 Mogul princes, Delhi.upload.wikimedia.org |
What is quite irksome and repulsive was the way he apprehended the last Mogul ruler Bahadur Shah II and made him surrounder and then how he captured his princes and treated them. It was the most despicable act ever undertaken by a young army man against the last descendents of the Mogul dynasty in India. No mercy and no compassion his target was to arrest the ruler's two sons and grandson who were hiding in Humayun's tomb and humiliate them along with the Mogul ruler. Mogul king having been surrendered the army was after the princes who were hiding on the outskirts of Delhi.
Hodson, after long persuasion convinced his senior officer Colonel (later General) Archdale Wilson and got permission to ride out to the place where the enemy was encamped to avoid arrest. Hodson rode to the enemy camp,despite the presence of rebels who outnumbered his troop - just 40 to 50. He made the young princes Bahadur's sons Mirza Mughal and Mirza Khizr Sultan, and his grandson Mirza Abu Bakr surrender to him after promising their safety and put them on a bullock cart with their hands tied.en.wikipedia.org
When the cart was nearing the Khooni's gate (Khooni Darwaza) Hodson ordered the three princes to get off the cart and to strip off their top garments. before winking one's eyes he whipped out a carbine from one of his troopers and shot them dead point blank before stripping them of their signet rings, turquoise arm bands and bejewelled swords. He had their bodies displayed in front of a kotwali / police station, and left there to be seen by all. The gate near where they were killed is still called the Khooni Darwaza, or "Bloody Gate" and still it is a notorious place.
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| Hodson with last Mogul king Bahadur Shah zafar II. m.facebook.com |
Above image: Without any shame or compunction cap. Hodson is standing behind the last Hogul ruler.
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| 1857.Hodson arresting last Mogul Emperor, de;hi.en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: "Capture of the king of Delhi Bahadur Shah Zafar by by Captain William Stephen Raikes Hodson " from The Indian Empire (1857) by Robert Montgomery Martin. The ruler was exiled to Rangoon where died in obscurity. He was buried without any trace of evidence. The Indian Govt. found his grave in Rangoon and restored it some years back....................
Though there were some dissenting voices, highly critical of the arbitrary killing of harmless princes without any proper hearing there were many senior military officers like General Hugh Gough and politicians including the prime minister and the secretary of state for India who showered praises on Hodson for his heroism in a tight situation. The Prime Minister Earl of Derby, and the Secretary of State for India Lord Stanley on 14 April 1859 in the parliament paid glowing tribute to Hodson for ending the Delhi siege. Never was he criticized for his cold murder of young Indian princes in Delhi and wiped out the Mogul dynasty in India. Goah said of him, "A finer or more gallant soldier never breathed. He had the true instincts of a leader of men; as a cavalry soldier he was perfection; a strong seat, a perfect swordsman, quick and intelligent" Anyway, a majority of the people in the administration felt that public execution of honorable Mughal princes by Hodson had been "dishonourable". To the Indian rebels it was a repulsive and sickening act and can never be pardoned..
The Prime Minister Earl of Derby, and the Secretary of State for India Lord Stanley on 14 April 1859 in the parliament paid glowing tribute to Hodson for ending the Delhi siege. Never was he criticized for his cold murder of young Indian princes in Delhi and wiped out the Mogul dynasty in India
Bahadur Shah II was put on trial and was exiled to Rangoon, Burma, where he died in obscurity in November 1862 at the age of 87.
A Lucknow Group in May 2017 demanded change in description on graves of British officers in UP: because they killed Indians’ “They (1857 Nationalist Forum) could not go inside the La Martiniere College, where William Hodson’s grave lies.
According to writer and former Congress leader Amaresh Mishra “These people are described as persons who did pious work. The reality is that these people killed hundreds of Indians. We would carry a plaque to put beside the one placed at his grave so that people can now about Hodson’s role in killing so many people,”
Nationalist Forum's demand for changing the description on the graves (epithet on the tombstone) of British officials killed during 1857 revolt appeared to be reasonable. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath never responded to the letters written by Mishra and he and his group had a plan to march to The Residency in Lucknow to the graves of Henry Lawrence and Brigadier JGS Neill (ADC to the Queen) and to Alambagh where rests Henry Havelock, all officers in the British Indian Army.
Mishra along with others had a plan to increase their campaign with a demand for apology and compensation from the British government. Neither the British government nor the British Royal family would come to senses and tender apology.
https://www.navrangindia.in/2016/11/william-hodson-killer-of-last-mogul.html
