Bakht Khan | |
---|---|
Born | 1797 |
Died | 1859 (aged 61–62) |
Occupation(s) | Subedar in the East India Company Army, Commander-in-chief of Indian rebels under the Mughal Emperor |
Known for | Indian War of Independence |
General Bakht Khan (1797–1859) was the commander-in-chief of the Indian rebel forces in the city of Delhi during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the East India Company.
General Bakht Khan was born in 1797 and died in 1859. He belonged to the Rohilla whereas his mother was an Awadhi princess. He was born in the region of United Provinces (Rohilkhand) in the district of Bijnor. Later, in the army of the East India Company, he became a subedar who is referred to as the chief native commanding officer. He gained forty years of experience in the Bengal horse artillery. Subedar Bakht Khan was popular among the British Officers before he turned a rebel. Bakht Khan was even familiar with those officers who were to serve against him during the blockade of Delhi in 1857. He was described as the “most intelligent character” by British officers. He suffered a financial crisis during the time of war. After being deported from Delhi, he was wounded by the British during the time of rebellion and breathed his last in the Terai plains of Nepal in 1859. He provided leadership in the first war of independence. A Pakistani film was also picturized in 1979 concerning the Indian rebellion of 1857, titled ‘General Bakht Khan’[citation needed]