A Supreme Act of Courage

Babu Kunwar Singh reached Shivpur Ghat today. Douglas, who was in hot pursuit of Kunwar Singh’s army, arrived at the river bank rather late because the loyal villagers had misled the British about the route taken by the “rebel” leader. So, by the time the enemy arrived, most of the boats carrying Kunwar Singh’s men had crossed the river. However he had time to sink the last of the boats. Something terrible happened at this stage, a stray bullet hit Kunwar Singh’s arm and shattered it! And what followed, left everyone stunned. Without showing the slightest emotion, Kunwar Singh looked at his mangled arm and realised that his only chance of survival was to amputate it. As his followers watched in shock and horror, the old warrior raised his sword in the undamaged hand and in one blow hacked off the wounded arm at the elbow and sacrificed it to the sacred river. Such an act of heroism is indeed unique in history.
Once in Bihar, Kunwar Singh was received by his brother Amar Singh with seven thousand armed villagers and made his way to his ruined home at Jagdishpur.