Veer Narayan Singh

Veer Narayan Singh (1795–1857) was a landlord from Sonakhan, in the present-day Indian State of Chhattisgarh. He spearheaded the 1857 rebellion in Chhattisgarh.

Biography
He is also known and considered as "The 1st Chhattisgarhi freedom fighter". He belongs to the tribal binjhwar community, his entire biography is described in veer udyan sonakhan. among his relatives, Saheed Madho Singh Bariha from Ghess in Bargarh district of Odisha also fought against the British and was martyred in 1858.His ancestor were from Gond tribal group and were residing in Bhangad. Later on, they changed their affiliation from Gond tribe and moved to Sonakhan in Raipur district. His great-grandfather was Deewan of Sonakhan and at the age of thirty five he took over the landlordship rights from his father Ram Rai. He was thirty-five years old when he became the landlord of Sonakhan, Youngest landlord in the region.

The British arrested him in 1856 for looting a trader's grain stocks and distributing it amongst the poor in a severe famine year. In 1856 with the help of the soldiers of the British Army at Raipur, Veer Narayan Singh escaped from prison. He reached Sonakhan and formed an army of 500 men. Under the leadership of Smith, a powerful British army was dispatched to crush the Sonakhan army.

Execution
He was executed on 10 December 1857 at Jaistambh Chowk of Raipur (capital of present-day Chhattisgarh). He became the first martyr from Chhattisgarh in the Rebellion.

Legacy
Veer Narayan Singh's martyrdom has been resurrected in the 1990s and he has become a potent symbol of Chhattisgarhi pride. The Government of Chhattisgarh named a cricket stadium Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium after him.

Buildings named after him
MONUMENT
 * Shahid Veer Narayan Singh Smarak near Rajbhavan inaugurated by His Highness Giani Zail Singh (President, Republic of India) on 18 February 1984. This square is known as Shahid Veer narayan singh Chowk.