Sheikh Bhikhari

Sheikh Bhikhari Ansari
Sheikh Bhikhari Ansari
Born	2 October 1819; Chutupalu, Ranchi district, Chotanagpur, (now in Jharkhand)
Died	8 January 1858 (aged 38); Ramgarh
Occupation(s)	Diwan and Commander
Known for	Freedom struggle in Indian Rebellion of 1857

Sheikh Bhikhari Ansari (1819-1858) was born on 2 Oct 1819 in a weaver Ansari family at Lotwa-Khudia Village located in the city of Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. He fought in the Revolt of 1857 against the British rule in India. Sheikh Bhikhari Ansari was a craftsman who prepared coarse clothes and earned his livelihood by selling them in the local Haat market since childhood.

A Dewan and general of Tikait Umrao Singh he was a combatant in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 .

He prevented East India Company forces from occupying Ranchi by cutting down Chutupalu Ghati trees in order to obstruct their advance prior to engaging Company forces. The British hanged him alongside Tikait Umrao Singh in a banyan tree of Chutupalu Ghati in Ramgarh in January 8 1858. General Mc Doland said at that time “Among the rebels, Bhikhari is the most dangerous and notorious mutineer.”

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Sheikh Bhikhari, who endured many barbaric tortures of the British for the independence of the country and kissed the noose of death smilingly.^[4]

Early life

Sheikh Bikhari Ansari was born to Sheikh Buland Ansari on October 2, 1819 at the Lotwa-Khudia in Chotanagpur (now in Ranchi district, Jharkhand) in a weaver Ansari family. He spent his life in Khudia-Lotwa in Ormanjhi current day Ranchi city.