Augustus Cleveland (1754–1784) was an East India Company administrator in the Province of Bengal, a Collector of the Revenues and a Judge of the Districts of Bhagalpur.

Great name. Young colonial looking to find a way to collect revenue from his area. He decided to use tribal leaders and did so successfully. He then attempted to turn them into an army to fight their own people and that is when they felt used and abused. You can’t blame them.

Tilkamanjhi was the Freedom Fighter who it is said shot him with a bow and arrow in Bhagalpur. Tilkamanjhi was caught and hanged till death on a tree in front of Cleveland’s Office and he became effectively the first martyr and freedom fighter.Cleveland died of his wounds aged 29.

The grand house stands forlorn and neglected in its grounds which is teaming with displaced tribal people. It almost feels like divine retribution. The people he tried to abuse are back in full force.

They are displaced from their land just further down which flooded. Makeshift shelters, plastic sheeting, charpoys, goats, dogs, cows, faeces of all kinds, babies, puppies and many, many children followed us around as if we were from another planet. So many beautiful children, lice infested, ragged, the young men wanting selfies, the women shy and staying behind.

A memorial stands partly hidden by the makeshift housing. The dedication to Augustus deeply felt and personal.

Rudyard Kipling wrote a book based on him and William Hodges, a personal friend painted some memorable images of that time.