Panjab University researchers trace roots of 1857 martyrs

Bhartesh Singh Thakur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 2

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A research by Panjab University has traced the origin of martyred soldiers of the 1857 revolt, whose skeletal remains were found in a well in Ajnala, near Amritsar.

The research has endorsed historical accounts that the soldiers of the 26th Native Bengal Infantry Regiment had come from West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Awadh (presently in Uttar Pradesh) and parts of Meghalaya and Manipur and other northeastern states.

JS Sehrawat, Assistant Professor, Anthropology Department, said: “We have sought a list of martyred soldiers from the British authorities. We will try to identify them and locate their families so that their last rites can be conducted in a proper manner.”

The research has found that the remains belonged to adult males, who were not locals, but share a common geographic area. The injuries on the skull confirmed that the sepoys were killed in volley fire.

“The soldiers were in the age group of 20-50, had good dental health and healthy dietary habits,” said Dr Monika Singh, who completed her PhD while studying the remains.