Sitabardi

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

---

Sitabardi (सीताबर्डी) is site of a fort and site of the Battle of Sitabardi in 1817, is located atop a hillock in central Nagpur, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Variants

• Battle of Sitabardi
• Sitabardi Fort (सीताबर्डी किल्ला)
• Sitabuldi Fort
• Sitaburdi
• Sitaburdi hills
• Sitabuldi

History

The fort was built by the British after they won this area. Mudhoji II Senasaheb Subha was allowed to continue ruling Nagpur after the British had won the battles of Sitaburdi, Sakkardara, and Nagpur. Richard Jenkins entered into a treaty with Mudhoji on 6 January 1818, which was later ratified by the Governor General. Article 7 of the treaty stated:

"The two hills of Seetabuldee with the bazaars and land adjoining, to a distance to be hereafter specified, shall be henceforth included in the British boundary, and such Military works erected as may be deemed necessary."

By this treaty, the British occupied the Sitaburdi hills and large areas on all four sides. However no major construction work was erected on it for next two years. The area surrounding the hillock, now known as Sitabuldi, is an important commercial hub for Nagpur. To the south is Nagpur Railway Station and behind it is Tekdi Ganapati, a temple of Ganesha. The fort was a home to the Indian Army's 118th infantry battalion (Territorial Army) Grenadiers till 2019.

During the British Raj

The Nagpur Subsidiary Force was cantoned at Sitaburdi. Large flat area at north side of Sitaburdi hills was leveled and an arsenal for artillery and armament was built. Other units were quartered still north of it in what now called a Chhaoni area. Large areas were marked for tent lines, parade, bazaar, hospital and stables for cavalry.

It was decided to build up a large arsenal as Nagpur was ideal place under British control south of Narmada. It would serve to all armies south and around Narmada. The central part of India was not surveyed in detail by then and only known good roads connected Nagpur to all direction. It was decided to establish another large cantonment on banks of Kanhan River near the village Kamathi. The huts which were present before the battle of Sitaburdi on the east of the hill were burned down on the night of 26 November 1817. Reconstruction was not allowed. The houses in the Mainabai's peth had afforded protection to the attacker Arabs. Hence it was decided to clear that area of all structures so that any attack from that direction would be exposed to fire from the hill fort. The whole area was cleared. Raghuji III, the adopted son of Durgabai widow of Parsoji, died on 11 December 1853 at about 6am after an illness lasting one month. 47 minute guns were fired from Sitaburdi fort equal to his age in years.

British soldiers who died in the battle of Sitabuldi were buried in graves in the fort.

Tipu Sultan's grandson, Nawab Kadar Ali, and his eight associates were hanged by the ramparts of the fort for their role in the 1857 rebellion against the British, and buried in a common pit inside the fort.

Mahatma Gandhi is said to have been imprisoned in the fort from 10 April to 15 May 1923, this however, is not true as Gandhi was in Yerwada during this period. King George V and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom gave audience to the people of Nagpur from the fort during their visit to British India. A pillar to commemorate the event stands in the fort. The royals were greeted by a huge crowd gathered at the area towards the present Nagpur Railway Station.

Current status

In 2019 118 TA Battalion stationed here was moved to Bhusawal to make place for Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat (UMANG) Sub-Area Headquarters of the Indian Army. UMANG Sub-Area Headquarters had shifted from Mumbai to Nagpur in 2018. Since then, it was stationed in Command Works Engineer (CWS) office. The CWS unit was shifted to Sitabuldi Fort where 118 TA Battalion was earlier located.