Kanpur's Banyan Tree: Witness to 133 Freedom Fighters' Hanging in 1857

• An old banyan tree in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was a silent witness to the 1857 revolution and the hanging of 133 freedom fighters by the British.
• The tree, located in what is now Nana Rao Park, became a symbol of courage and resistance against British oppression.
• Leaders like Nana Sahib, Tatya Tope, and Rani Lakshmibai led the revolution, with its echoes reaching Kanpur from Bithoor.
• The British used public hangings from the tree to instill fear, but it only fueled the revolutionary spirit among Indians.
• Though the original tree perished, a martyr's memorial stands at the site, preserving the legacy of sacrifice and patriotism.

Why It Matters: Kanpur's historic banyan tree, where 133 revolutionaries were hanged, remains a powerful symbol of India's 1857 freedom struggle.