Maharaja Chait Singh

Revolt of Benares

Hastings came to meet the Raja. The Raja and his men were waiting for such an opportunity. They attcaked and defeated the Company's troops, killed British officers and arrested Hastings. They were advised by Munshi Sadanand (ancestor of Sampurnanand) against killing Hastings. Hastings escaped and left Benaras disguised as a women. This incident gave rise to ,"Godhe Pe Hawda, Haathi pe Jeen, Aise Bhaga Warren Hastings". The Raja gathered a small force. He appealed for assistance against Britishers, from local rulers, who, except Raja Fateh Bahadur Shahi, did nothing. Maharaja Chet Singh's last hope was the Raja of Gwalior who signed a treaty in which maharaja gave him land, protection and troops for making ghats and in return he promised to provide troops when needed but he did not help him and he arrested him and detained him in Gwalior after the battle. In various battles with the company's forces, Chet Singh's troops were defeated, the rebellion crushed with the help of traitors, The state was confiscated and given to Avsaan Singh in reward for his loyalty to the Bristish, but revolt restarted. Then Company was forced to instate the nephew of Maharaja Chet Singh(son of his sister Maharajkumari Padma Kuwar), Rafa'at wa Awal-i-Martabat Raja Sri Mahip Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur on 14 September 1781 and free his father Babu Durgvijay Singh from their custody who was arrested for assisting Maharaja Chait Singh and fighting against the Company. Chet Singh was granted a jagir for a while until it was later confiscated.