The untold story of Vizagapatam’s 1780 mutiny Premium

Occurring 77 years prior to the First War of Indian Independence (1857), the ‘forgotten rebellion’ of 1780 sheds light on a fascinating chapter of Visakhapatnam’s colonial history and deserves its just place in the annals of history

In an era where numerous national and regional political parties prioritise renaming historical sites and monuments, often disregarding the rich history and cultural heritage they possess, a significant event that occurred approximately 243 years ago in Visakhapatnam goes entirely unnoticed. This event fails to secure a spot in history books, lacks a commemorative monument, and, most significantly, remains unknown to many, including local leaders and politicians.

The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, which began on May 10, 1857 in the garrison town of Meerut, is widely regarded as the First War of Indian Independence. This was the first major rebellion of local sepoys against the oppressive rule of the East India Company or the British Crown.

However, according to the district gazetteer of Vizagapatam, as Visakhapatnam was known then, the first revolt by the local sepoys against the English forces of East India Company, was on October 3, 1780, in the inconspicuous, nondescript town of Vizagapatam.

Remarkably, this mutiny, known in historian circles as the ‘forgotten rebellion’, predates the widely-known Sepoy Mutiny of Meerut by 77 years. In fact, if we consider major sepoy rebellions that transpired during British rule prior to 1857, the revolt in Vizagapatam can be regarded as the earliest instance in which native sepoys rose up against the British Raj, as stated by Professor (Retd.) Kolluri Suryanarayana, former Head of the Department of History at Andhra University.

This was not the only uprising prior to 1857 that has been lost to history. There have been others, such as the 1806 rebellion in Vellore, Tamil Nadu and the 1824 revolt at Gorakhpur in 1824, Prof. Satyanarayana adds.

It is worth noting that the Santhal Rebellion, a significant uprising where tribal communities rebelled against the British Crown, took place in 1855 within the forested regions of what is now the State of Jharkhand. This rebellion also serves as a prominent example of indigenous resistance against British rule, as emphasised by Professor Suryanarayana.

In addition to being referenced in a few paragraphs within the district Gazetteer, the Sepoy Rebellion of 1780 in Vizagapatam also received coverage in Hicky’s Bengal Gazette. Notably, Hicky’s Bengal Gazette holds the distinction of being the first English newspaper printed in India during colonial rule. The inclusion of this rebellion in such a publication provides further historical documentation and recognition of the event.