The historic Babu Jagat Singh Kothi in Varanasi witnessed a significant event on Friday with the unveiling of the seventh annual Revolutionary Calendar for the year 2026. The calendar, meticulously prepared by the Matribhumi Seva Sanstha, spotlights the sacrifices of lesser-known heroes from India's freedom struggle.
A Push for National Recognition
Speaking at the event, Padma Bhushan awardee Ram Bahadur Rai emphasized the urgent need to grant national monument status to Babu Jagat Singh Kothi. He connected this call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal on the 75th anniversary of Independence, urging the nation to identify and honor anonymous revolutionaries. Rai stressed that substantial research is required to unearth these hidden chapters of history.
Rai highlighted a little-known fact: a war of independence was fought in Kashi (Varanasi) as early as 1799. He elaborated that Babu Jagat Singh, who held fort in his Kothi during this rebellion, was not just a revolutionary but also a champion of religious harmony. Rai credited him with the significant act of identifying the ancient site of Sarnath for archaeological exploration.
Unearthing Hidden Histories
Echoing the sentiment for deeper research, Rakesh Kumar, founder and secretary of Matribhumi Seva Sanstha, stated that honoring anonymous freedom fighters requires dedicated exploration. "This mission can only be complete when we reach the homes of these revolutionaries," he said. He cited the example of Babu Jagat Singh, whose history was brought to light by researcher Pradeep Narayan Singh, who traced and presented the legacy of the revolutionary's sixth generation.
Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ravindra Jaiswal, who was present at the launch, assured his full support and contribution to the cause of preserving this revolutionary heritage.
The Legacy of Babu Jagat Singh
Historian and author Hamid Afaq Qureshi, who has written a book on Babu Jagat Singh, provided detailed insights into his research. He portrayed Singh as a multifaceted personality endowed with all virtues, whose resistance in 1799 saw him holding his Kothi against the British for two months before his eventual arrest.
The unveiling of the Revolutionary Calendar 2026 serves as more than just a yearly publication; it acts as a catalyst for a larger movement. The event has successfully reignited the demand to preserve a crucial historical site and has underscored the continuous need to research and celebrate the countless unsung heroes who shaped India's journey to freedom.
