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| Sher gate or Neil's gate, Lucknow kapoorphotoimages.com |
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| Sher gate or Neil's gate, Lucknow, UP oldindianphotos.in |
Above images: Sher gate or Neil's gate, Lucknow where Gen. Neil of EIC was shot dead on 26th Sept. 1857.( Photo credit: Darogha Abbas Ali). Sher Darwaza, at the southern end of Globe Park in Qaisarbagh is painted white and red, the thick enclosure has a pair of tigers seated on its top, thereby giving it the name of Tiger Gateway..................
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| Sher Darwaza, Lucknow, UP Flicker.com |
Sher darwaza or Neil's gate, close to the Telegraphic office within the Residency complex that forms the second gate after the main entrance behind the old palace of Chattar Manzil / the Kaiserbagh palace, there stands a historical site in Lucknow city, UP. An important monument that encloses the tombs of a dozen Imams of high repute, it was used to be an active place decades ago. Now, it wears a deserted look and the site bore witness to several historical events in this city. The British also seized the Nawabi kingdom using false excuses.
During the first war of independence in 1857-58 against the EIC's repressive rule and land grabbing binge Lucknow like Kanpur and Allahabad became center of intensive battle between the English and the rebel Indian soldiers. As the English military officers overstepped on the religious freedom trayed them with contempt. Outraged rebel Indian Soldiers went on a rampage. EIC army reattacked the city to free the siege from the rebels. The British army was led by Commander Brig. James George Neil of Madras army -‘Madras Fusiliers’, a European unit, who was on special duty to put down the revolt as it had gained an upper hand. Major Neil was attacking with full force backed by reinforcement army.
Commander Neil already got a bad name and was responsible for many mass killing between June and September, 1857 in violation of higher army command's orders On September 25. 1857, it was a fateful day for Major Neil whose luck was on the decline.
When he was passing in front of Sher Gate, records mention that the valiant but revengeful and remorseless Neil was shot dead by a rioter who had been waiting for his arrival to put an end to his atrocities against the natives. He fell dead as he was shot in his head in the close range.
Sher gate, as it was known then, was later known as Neil gate as this butcher of Allahabad met his death here. The edit of god is such that man who taught violence and vigilante justice fell as a victim to violence. During the heyday of the Nawabi rulers, Neil’s gate was primarily used by the women to enter the Zenana (exclusive women's area) in the palace complex. At the spot where General Neill fell dead stands a small monument with his name." (aged 47)
Buried at Lucknow - Residency Cemetery, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Date of death: Sept. 25, 1857.
