Tantia Tope also spelled Tatya Tope (16 February 1814 — 18 April 1859) was a general in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and one of its notable leaders. Despite lacking formal military training, Tantia Tope is widely considered as one of the best and most effective courageous generals in the Indian struggle for independence.
Born as Ramachandra Panduranga Yewalkar to a Marathi Deshastha Brahmin family, in Yeola, (near Nasik). Tantia took on the title Tope, meaning commanding officer. His first name Tantia means General. A personal adherent of Nana Saheb of Bithoor, he progressed with the Gwalior contingent after the British reoccupied Kanpur (then known as Cawnpore) and forced General Windham to retreat from the city. Later on, Tantia Tope came to the relief of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and with her seized the city of Gwalior. However, he was defeated by General Napier's British Indian troops at Ranod and after a further defeat at Sikar, he abandoned the campaign.
According to an official statement, Tantia Tope's father was Panduranga Yewalkar and his mother was Rukhma Bai.Tope was a Maraṭha Vashista Brahman by birth.In a government letter, he was said to be the minister of Baroda, while he was held identical to Nana Saheb in another communication.A witness at his trial described Tantia Tope as "a man of middling stature, with a wheat complexion and always wearing a white chukri-dar turban".
Tope was executed by the British Government at Sipri (now Shivpuri) on 18 April 1859.
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