Thakur Zorawar Singh Barhath (12 September 1883 — 17 October 1939) was an Indian revolutionary and independence activist. He is known for the assassination attempt on the Viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge, by throwing a bomb at him during a procession in New Delhi.

Thakur Zorawar Singh was part of the Barhath family of Shahpura, Bhilwara, several of whose members were prominent opponents of the British Raj. Zorawar Singh spent the last three decades of his life living under the pseudonym Sadhu Amardas Bairagi.

Early life

According to K. C. Yadav, Zorawar Singh was born in the hamlet of Khaira, near to Shahpura, Bhilwara, in 1875;^[1] other sources say 12 September 1883 in Devpura (Shahpura State) to father Thakur Krishna Singh Barhath. The Barhath family were affluent jagirdars of Rajputana In Udaipur, he received primary education and completed secondary education in Jodhpur. Zorawar Singh's childhood was spent in close company of the aristocratic families of Shahpura, Udaipur, and Jodhpur. He was married to Anop Kanwar, the daughter of Thakur Takhtsingh of Atraliya thikana in Kota State.^{[2][need quotation to verify][3][need quotation to verify]}

Kamdar of Maharani of Jodhpur

After the death of his father,^{[citation needed]} Zorawar Singh joined the Marwar royal court as the Kamdar of the Maharani of Jodhpur.^[4] It was here that Zorawar Singh met Bhai Balmukund who worked as a tutor for the princes.^{[2][page needed][need quotation to verify][3][page needed][need quotation to verify]}

Turn to revolution

His elder brother, Thakur Kesari Singh, encouraged Zorawar to join the revolutionaries in Delhi, accompanied by Master Amir Chand and Rash Behari Bose.^[5]

Delhi conspiracy case, 1912

In December 1912, Lord Hardinge, the new Governor-General of British India, arrived in Delhi. A royal procession presided by Hardinge was announced to celebrate the shifting of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. A plan was hatched by revolutionaries, headed by Rash Behari Bose and Thakur Kesari Singh, to assassinate Hardinge. Zorawar Singh was in close touch with revolutionaries such as Bose and was part of the conspiracy to kill Hardinge during the procession, taking responsibility, along with his nephew, Pratap Singh, to throw a bomb. On 23 December 1912, Zorawar Singh and Pratap Singh went to the roof of the Marwari College^{[clarification needed]} building in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. From there, Zorawar Singh threw a bomb directed at Hardinge, who was riding on the back of an elephant along with his wife and guards.^{[citation needed]}

Injuries caused by the assassination attempt led to unfounded rumours of Hardinge's imminent death. He suffered from neuritis and hearing loss even months later.^[6] A bodyguard died on the spot.^{[citation needed]}

Aftermath

After the bombing, both Zorawar Singh and his nephew, Pratap Singh, fled into hiding.^[4] Bose, who co-planned the conspiracy, also disappeared, hiding in Nuddea (West Bengal).^{[citation needed]} Kunwar Pratap Singh and his brother-in-law, Ishwar Dan Ashiya, were arrested but released due to lack of evidence. Awards were announced for those who could give any clues about Zorawar Singh and Pratap Singh.^{[7][clarification needed]}

The princely State of Kota put a reward of Rs.500 for the capture of Zorawar Singh in the Pyarelal^[who?] Murder case. He was never arrested or found.^[4]

Arrah conspiracy case/Nimej murder case

After the Delhi conspiracy case, revolutionaries led by Zorawar Singh committed many dacoities in the United Provinces and Bihar to obtain funds. One of these became known as the Arrah Conspiracy or Nimej murder case, in which Singh was the principal accused. Revolutionaries led by him had attacked a Jain upasar located in Arrah (Bihar) in which a mahant was killed in the encounter. The mahant was believed to be a close confidant of British authorities. A person named Shivnarayan turned informer for the British government. British authorities released a warrant & later kill at sight order for Singh but he evaded them.^[8][2][3]

Ravines of Central India

Sensing the heat of the Colonial Police force around him increase, Zorawar Singh left for the ravines of Central India and Rajasthan. He made his residence in this region and remained there for the remaining 27 years of his life.^{[9][clarification needed]}

He had changed his name to Sadhu Amardas Bairagi^[3] and lived in the guise of a sage.^[9]

In the latter years, he lived mostly in Sitamau State.^{[citation needed]}

Death

In 1937, for the first time, Congress won provincial elections in multiple states across British India and formed governments. It was opportune moment so Congress leaders and Thakur Kesari Singh, who had been released from prison in 1920, made efforts to nullify the death warrant issued against Zorawar Singh in Arrah Conspiracy. He met Purshottam Das Tandon, the Bihar Chief Minister Shri Krishna Sinha and the Home Secretary Anugraha Narayan Sinha to cancel the warrant. Zorawar Singh became ill with pneumonia and without proper treatment, he died in 1939 before this could happen.^[10][11]

Legacy

Shaheed Mela

Since 1974, every 23 December sees a celebration in memory of the Barhath family, that being the anniversary of the attack on Hardinge. A fair is organised in their hometown at Shahpura and the event takes place at Shahid Trimurti Memorial, which has statues of Thakur Kesari Singh, Thakur Zorawar Singh, and Kunwar Pratap Singh.^[12]

Portraits in Delhi Assembly

In January 2019, the three Barhath revolutionaries were placed in the gallery of Delhi Assembly.^[13]

Barhath Haveli of Shahpura

The "Haveli of Late Shri Kesari Singh Barhath" located in Shahpura, Bhilwara, is a State Protected Monument under the Government of Rajasthan.^[14] It is now a national museum, in which the family's weapons and armaments are displayed.^[15][16]