2020-01-23 Thu

Surendra Sai was an India freedom fighter who fought relentlessly against the British. The brave son of Odisha, he gave the British a really tough time when they tried to capture Sambalpur. He spent a total of 37 years in jail out of the 75 years that he lived.

Surendra Sai was born on 23rd January 1809 in a village called Khinda in Sambalpur, Odisha. He was a direct descendant from Madhukar Sai, the fourth Chauhan king of Sambalpur and therefore was eligible as a candidate to be crowned as king of Sambalpur after the demise of King Maharaja Sai in 1827. But he was not acceptable to British power and ignored his claim for succession. This is when began the ‘resistance’ movement in Odisha and Surendra Sai’s journey of becoming a hero for all of us.

Veer Surendra Sai, an epitome of endless courage and determination fought against British raj with a handful of brave warriors. He began protesting against the British at the age of 18 in 1827, moved operations to the hilly tracts of Odisha in 1857 and continued until he surrendered in 1862 and went to Hazaribagh Jail.

He died on 23rd May 1884 in the prison of Asirgarh fort. But this valiant son of the soil would be remembered forever for his heroic activities. To honor him India Postal Department has issued commemorative postage stamps of 50 Paise in the series of ‘India’s Struggle for Freedom’.

Visit philamart to view and purchase variety of stamps from all over the world.