English: Thakur Dariyav Singh Lodhi^[1] was born in the Singraur branch of Lodhi Rajputs in Khaga village of District Fatepur around 1800 AD. His father's name was Thakur Mardan Singh Lodhi Singraur. He was the talukdar of Khaga. Thakur Dariyav Singh Lodhi was about 57 years old at the time of the 1857 revolution. Some Sengars claim him to be of their caste, although there is nothing to support their statement. His (Thakur Dariyav Singh Lodhi) personality was attractive. His eyes were big with red strings, a vigorous face, broad chest, tall stature, matted hair on the head and beard on the face, a rudraksha garland around the neck, a sword hanging on the right side, a precious white shawl on the body, were proof of his being valiant and religious.

The fort of Thakur Dariyav Singh Lodhi was covered with rare forests in a remote area. The place where his fort was located was famous by the name of Garhwa. Cannons loaded with bullets were always mounted on the walls of his fort. In his army, apart from Lodhi Kshatriya soldiers, there were other Kshatriya soldiers and soldiers of other castes too, but the number of Kshatriyas was more. He also had a female elephant which was used for both riding and fighting. Seeing and hearing the examples of the unethical behavior of the British, he was deeply saddened by the continuously deteriorating condition of the country.

When the revolt of 1857 started in the country, the landlords and talukdars of Awadh played an important role in this great sacrifice of freedom. Among them, the martyrdom of Thakur Dariyav Singh Lodhi, the talukdar of Khaga, is especially noteworthy. When General Richard attacked Khaga from Fatehpur, Thakur Dariyav Singh, along with his son, fought bravely against the English army and pushed back General Richard's army, but after some time, the English took Thakur Dariyav Singh's men to their side and attacked Khaga by deceit. Thakur Dariyav Singh was caught fighting and was put in jail. A Brigadier Karthaya told him that Dariyav Singh, if you accept the subordination of the English, you can be given life. On this, Thakur Dariyav Singh Lodhi, a devoted devotee of freedom, said, "I will not accept slavery of the British till my death." After this, he was given severe tortures in the jail. His son Thakur Sujan Singh was hanged in front of his eyes. Finally, on 6 March 1858, the tyrannical British government hanged him. In this way, Thakur Dariyav Singh of Khaga Talukdar immortalized his name in the freedom struggle by his and his family's martyrdom. Today, no descendant of Thakur Dariyav Singh is alive. Here, the lines of poet Agyaat are coming to mind that, If they show handcuffs and shackles, let them show, Do your duty, there will be a pleasant victory, there will be victory. And considering this victory as his purpose, his aim, he got his name written among those great revolutionaries of the country, whom all Indians salute today.

सन्दर्भ त्रुटि: अमान्य <ref> टैग;

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