A farmer in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, uncovered a surprising find while plowing his field - a hidden cache of historical weapons believed to date back to the 1857 Indian Rebellion. District authorities have secured the weapons, which are now stored in a safe repository, and have reached out to the Archaeological Department for further examination.
District Magistrate Dharmendra Pratap Singh shared the details on Friday, “Babu Ram, a farmer from Dakhia Parvezpur in Nigohi police station area, was plowing his field recently when he discovered an iron sword-like object beneath the soil. As he continued digging, he uncovered several more weapons buried underground.”
According to Singh, as the excavation continued, more weapons emerged from the soil. In total, the field yielded 23 swords, remnants of 12 matchlock rifles, one spear, and a dagger. The rifles discovered are heavily deteriorated, with only the barrels and some metal fragments intact, suggesting that termites may have consumed the wooden parts over time. Given the style of the gun barrels, experts believe they are indeed matchlock rifles.
Upon learning of the discovery, district authorities dispatched a team led by the sub-divisional magistrate to the site. The recovered weapons have since been moved to the Nigohi police station for safekeeping.
Dr. Vikas Khurana, Head of the History Department at Swami Shukdevanand College in Shahjahanpur, suggested that the weapons may be linked to the 1857 Indian Rebellion. “These weapons appear to have characteristics of Rohilla culture. It is possible that when the British forces advanced after defeating the rebels in 1857, the freedom fighters retreated to the forest and may have buried their weapons to avoid capture,” Dr. Khurana explained. “Victorious armies typically do not hide their weapons, so it is likely these were hidden by the revolutionaries who were in retreat.”
Experts believe this discovery could provide valuable insights into the local history of the 1857 rebellion. Dr. Khurana further said:, “If confirmed, these weapons could serve as a crucial link to the area’s involvement in the first war of Indian independence. They offer a tangible connection to the courage and struggle of those who fought in the 1857 revolt.”
The district administration has written to the Archaeological Department to initiate a detailed analysis of the artifacts, which could confirm their historical significance and possibly shed light on the events of the 1857 rebellion in the region.
