TNI Bureau: Bargarh MP Pradeep Purohit has demanded national recognition for Shaheed Madho Singh of Ghens and his family for their contribution to India’s freedom struggle. Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, he called for research on the Ghens rebellion and the establishment of a national memorial in their honour.

Madho Singh, a zamindar of Ghens in Bargarh district, opposed British rule and joined the armed rebellion at the age of 71. He fought the British at several places, including Singhoghat, until January 19, 1858. He was later hanged by the British authorities in Sambalpur on December 31, 1858.

His four sons — Sate, Kunjal, Bairi, and Airi — also joined the freedom struggle and continued fighting the British until 1864. Sate was sent to the Cellular Jail (Kalapani), Kunjal was hanged, Bairi was sentenced to life imprisonment, and Airi was brutally killed.

Purohit urged the government to honour their rare sacrifice by setting up a national memorial, conducting authentic research on the Ghens rebellion, and naming national schemes and institutions after Shaheed Madho Singh.