Rao Tula Ram

An Emperor of Rewari, Haryana

A Veteran Warrior against British Colonial Forces

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Rao Tula Ram (9 Dec 1825 - 23 Sep 1863) in the well known Rao family in village Rampura, Rewari, Haryana.

His father was Rao Puran Singh and his mother’s name was Rani Gyan Kaur. In November 1839, Rao Tula Ram ascended the throne after death of his father.

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Rao Tula Ram was one of the prominent leaders of the Indian Uprising of 1857 against the colonial British forces.

His story is one of rebellion and guerrilla warfare against the stronger and better-equipped imperialist forces of the British Army.

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In 1857 on hearing the news of rebellion at Meerut & other places, the people of Rewari rose up to support the uprising. In the Rewari area, lead was given by Rao Tula Ram. His cousin Gopal Dev also stood by him. The forefathers of the Raos had helped the Marathas in1803

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In the Second Anglo-Maratha War.

The British confiscated their land and gave instead an ‘istamarari’, or grant, of about 58 villages. This was a great blow to the Raos, who were itching to fight the British Raj at the first available opportunity.

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On l7 May 1857, Rao Tula Ram went to the ‘tehsil’, or headquarters, at Rewari with four to five hundred followers and took all the government buildings in their possession. For their headquarters, they chose Rampura, a small fortified village, one mile south-west of Rewari.

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Tula Ram became Raja and Gopal Dev his Commander. After assuming charge, Rao Tula Ram organized the revenue department and collected revenue and taxes. He raised a force and set up a large workshop in the fort of Rampura for guns, carriages & ammunition were manufactured

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Law and order was enforced. At this time, Delhi was under attack from the British forces, so Rao Tula Ram helped the emperor Bahadur Shah in their fight against the British. But this help could not protect Delhi which fell to the British on September 20, 1857

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Soon after Brigadier-General Showers led out a column (from Delhi) of 1,500 men with a light field battery, 18 two-pounder guns and two small mortars, “to attack and destroy Rao Tula Ram and his followers and to raze his fort (at Rewari).”

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The situation was serious and the Rao foresaw that a fight with the British forces in the mud fort of Rampura, after the fall of Delhi, would result in the complete destruction of his army without any serious loss to the British. So he left his fort before Showers’ arrival

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The fort of Rewari was taken by the British without any opposition on October 6th. Immediately after the occupation of Rewari, Brigadier-General Showers sent a messenger to Tula Ram telling him that if he submitted along with guns and arms, he would be treated on merits.

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But Tula Ram turned down the inducement and sent a strong column comprising about 1,500 troops under Colonel Gerrard, an officer of conspicuous merit on November 10, 1857. The column reached Rewari three days later. They occupied the abandoned fort of Rampura.

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After a few days rest at Rewari (Rampura), on Nov-16, Gerrard marched to Narnaul. The column reached Nasibpur, a small village, two miles northwest of Narnaul and halted for a short rest. The rebel force, having abandoned their strong fort in the town pounced on them.

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Rao Tula Ram’s first charge was irresistible and the British forces scattered before them. The Patiala Infantry and the Multani Horse on the British side were completely disheartened.

But at this juncture, the Guides & Carabineers came to rescue & saved the situation.

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The British artillery was too much for the rebels. But soon the situation took unexpected turn when Col. Gerrand was mortally wounded by a musket ball

With this, the British too, were demoralized. Rao Tula Ram took advantage of the circumstances, swooped down upon them

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The British could not stand the charge and the Multani Horse fled away in bewilderment. They recaptured their guns and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. The right and the left wings of the British forces were thrown into confusion.

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Appreciating the gravity of the situation Major Caulfield, British Commandant, ordered his artillery to start bombardment & his infantrymen to charge straight on with full force in to their front ranks.
Rao Tula Ram’s forces fought back furiously and stood their grounds

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The British artillery fire, nevertheless, Rao Tula Ram and his army got defeated in this war first time, but Rao Tula Ram was managed to flee to safety. His escape frustrated the British.

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The battle of Narnaul was undoubtedly one of the most decisive battles of the Uprising of 1857. The English felt jubilant over their success in this confrontation, for it marked the “beginning of the end” of the crucial period of the struggle in the Haryana & Rajasthan.

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After battle, Rao Tula Ram moved into Rajasthan
then joined Tatya Tope’s forces for one year

Later the British issued the promise of unconditional pardon and amnesty to all the “mutineers” except those who directly or indirectly took part in the murder of British subjects

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Rao Tula Ram knew that with the blood of many British soldiers and subjects on his hands, this did not include him. He left for Iran in 1862

Once the uprising of 1857 was over, the wrath of the British was unleashed. People of Rewari, Narnaul were shot, villages burnt

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In Iran, he plotted revenge against the British. From Iran he travelled to Afghanistan, where tragically, in the winter of 1862,

On 23 Sep 1863, he died after illness in Kabul at the young age of 38.

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The Legacy
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Rao Tularam Memorial Hospital, Jaffarpur Kalan, Delhi
Rao Tularam Market, Nihal Vihar, Nangloi, Delhi
Rao Tularam Market, Mohan Garden, Hastsal, Delhi
Rao Tularam Govt. Sarvodaya School, New Delhi
Shri Tula Ram Public School, Sultanpuri, Delhi

Rao Tularam Stadium, Rewari, Haryana
Shahid Rao Tularam Park, Near LIC office, Chandausi, Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh
Rao Tularam Marg, Delhi
Rao Tularam Chowk, Khera Village, Gurgaon
Rao Tularam Chowk, Friends Colony, Mahendergarh

Rao Tularam Chowk (Naiwali Chowk), Rewari
Rao Tularam Memorial Park, Rewari
Rao Tularam National Prograce Sen. Sec. School, Bikaner
Rao Tularam Model Collage, Gurgaon
Rao Tularam Circle (Jail circle), Alwar
Rao Tularam Fountain Park, Gurgaon