India has witnessed many agitation against the British and its heinous rule. It influenced our State too. We all know of First War of Indian Independence, which has swallowed many Indian lives but still brought some changes in their rule.
However many are unaware of the agitation started in the Bagalakote District of North Karnataka. The tribals who bravely stood against the Britishers.
The British Government enacted the Disarmament Act after the first War of 1857. Similarly, the company’s Government decides to seize the arms/weapons of all Indians by convincing or frightening. But the Bedas were not afraid and fought the British aggression. A fierce battle took place, that night. Moreover the arms/weapons were very much needed to the Nayaka community people for their livelihood i.e for hunting, not for fighting. However the company’s demand of returning the arms to Government was terribly shocking to Nayaka (Beda) community people. Of-course they opposed this domination. They were encouraged by the Maratha soldier Babaji Nimbalakar to rebel against the British.
The British Government attacked on November 26 1857 at midnight, with 600 horse soldiers. First Assistant Magistrate William Henry Heavlock was killed in the attack of Bedas. Frightened by this, Colonel Nettenker asked for more troops. The next day there was an even more fierce battle, with great casualties on both sides. Fearing the brave fight of the Nayaka community, the British army set fire in midnight. The British army shot and killed the Beda people who were trying to rescue their children and cattles, mercilessly with fierce firing. The Beda leaders of the village Jadaga-Bala could not take over the British army, though they fought hard.
The interesting part of the agitation is that the famous Mudhol Hound was part of this agitation.
