Who was Seth Amar Chand Banthia? 'Mangal Pandey of Rajasthan' who fought the Revolt of 1857 without using arms

The freedom to walk out and about in your city, to exercise your national rights and call yourself an 'Indian' is a luxury that not everyone has had. Years ago, when India was colonised by the Britishers, calling oneself an 'Indian' or 'Bharati' was a dream that coursed through the blood of the freedom fighters who fought for it with their lives. While some were able to etch their names into the books and minds, others quietly paved the way for revolution and their names remain buried in the hushed whispers of every citizen's freedom.

One such mercenary was Amar Chand Banthia. The first freedom fighter from Rajasthan who fought the Revolt of 1857 and came to be known as the 'Mangal Pandey of Rajasthan'.

Who was Amar Chand Banthia?

Amar Chand Banthia was born in the city of Bikaner in 1793 to a Jain business family. As per legend, his forefathers, known as Oswals, were known to distribute wealth among the poor for which they got the name 'Banthiya', the one who distributes a lot.

Due to the expansion of his family business he often moved to and from Gwalior. At 10, his family left Bikaner and shifted to Gwalior due to a loss in business and settled in the Bullion market. 40 years later, Banthia was making a good name for himself with his financial management and business. The tales of his monetary prowess reached the ears of Dewan Rao, an influential minister of the 10th Scindia ruler Maharaj Jayajirao Scindia.

Impressed by Banthia's work, the maharaja made him the chairman of the Scindia Treasury called 'Gangajali'. Scindia rulers were known as 'Peral Kings' and their treasury was famed to be full of wealth, diamonds, jewels and more. Soon, Banthia was crowned as the 'Nagarseth' due to his exemplary ability to manage the Gangajali.

The coming of the British

But while Banthia's influence in Gwalior was increasing, the British were expanding territories under their oppression. The anger against the suppression was bubbling in the entire country and the rising of 1857 was in its full youth.

Unfortunately, the then Scindia princely state was a friend of the British. Often, there would be discussions on how people should take up arms against the British. An officer is believed to have told Banthia that he as well should give up non-violence and take up arms. However, he replied that while he cannot take up arms, when the time comes, he will do something that will immensely help the revolutionaries.

In 1858, Jhansi's Rani Lakshmibai along with Tantia Tope, Nawab of Banda and Rao Saheb declared war against the British and captured Gwalior by opening a front. By then, the queen's army was suffering from an acute shortage of funds and soldiers had not received salaries for months. Food and water were also running out.

This is when Banthia handed over the keys of Gwalior's Gangajali buried in the Gwalior fort to the queen as financial aid. Not only this, but he also donated his own wealth amassed through his business for free use in the war. He did his part for the country's independence while also sticking to his principles.

On 16 June 1858, a decisive battle took place at Murar near Gwalior where the Rani, Tantya Tope and her army fought against Hurose and his Englishmen. "Khoob ladi mardani woh toh Jhansi wali rani thi," is how Rani Lakshmibai is remembered now. While the army was defeated on the battlefield, the fight was a tough one and is still noted as the first uprising against British oppression.

The death of a freedom fighter

When the British occupied Gwalior, the treasury was recovered but it was largely empty. Soon it came to light that Banthia was responsible for emptying the treasury. The British tried him for treason and hanged him on June 22, 1858.

He was hanged on a neem tree for three days in the Sarafa Bazar near his residence to instil fear of the administration in the hearts of the people. In the same bullion market where he spent his entire life growing up and contributing to the city's economy.

Today, Seth Amar Chand Banthia is memorialised with a statue in Gwalior's Bullion market. His sacrifice for his country is celebrated every year by the residents of the city on June 22nd. Many locals also believe that he was the first martyr of the Marwar region of Rajasthan who fought against the British.