Read Book Online : http://www.archive.org/stream/ontorescuetaleof00stabiala#page/n7/mode/2up

Download pdf Book : http://ia331311.us.archive.org/2/items/ontorescuetaleof00stabiala/ontorescuetaleof00stabiala.pdf

Manpreet : Wouldnt know if these two book are rare...but they are for you. : )

Manpreet: check out 'Mazha Pravas' in Marathi by Vishnubhatt Godse Varsaikar. It has been translated into Hindi by Amritlal Nagar as Aankhon Dekha Gadar. It is an eye-witness account of the Mutiny. Not a rare book precisely, but not that well known either.

wow, thank you so much RBSI and Rohini. I am greatly indebted to you both.

Yes, Majha Pravas, which means "My Journey" is one of the best books written which bring out the Indian perspective of 1857. The author , a Marathi pandit, travelled extensively in those lands. Infact, he was present in Jhansi when the war began and gives first hand Indian account of killings at Jhansi, revolt at Gwalior etc... It would be an absolute pity if no english translation is avaliable. But it is a must read for 1857 buffs.

The british perpectives on 1857 is done to death. Where are the Indian versions? Why have they not been translated in English?

This is the book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maza_Pravas:_1857_cya_Bandaci_Hakikat

I agree with Akshay....I hope a Publisher on RBSI will seize this opportunity and publish the English version this Marathi travelogue. I guess atleast 2000 copies could be sold with a little publicity.

Marathi version of Maza Pravas : http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/scripts/FullindexDefault.htm?path1=/data_copy/upload/0082/965&first=1&last=196&barcode=1999990082960

Two versions of Book Readers : http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/cgi-bin/metainfo.cgi?&title1=Maza%20pravas%20athava%201857%20salachya%20bandachi%20hakikat.&author1=Vaidya,%20C.%20V.&subject1=History&year=1907%20&language1=marathi&pages=196&barcode=1999990082960&author2=&identifier1=&publisher1=Damathar%20savalaram%20ani%20mandali.-%20Mumbai&contributor1=&vendor1=NONE&scanningcentre1=pune,%20university&slocation1=NONE&sourcelib1=Jayakar%20Library%20,%20Pune&scannerno1=&digitalrepublisher1=Jayakar%20Library%20,%20Pune&digitalpublicationdate1=0000-00-00&numberedpages1=&unnumberedpages1=&rights1=Author©rightowner1=Digital%20Library%20India©rightexpirydate1=0000-00-00&format1=Tagged%20Image%20File%20&url=/data_copy/upload/0082/965

An English translation is either on its way or has already on the shelves. Check with Penguin books.

There is a historical novel in English 'The devil's wind' by Manohar Malgonkar, set as an autobiography of Nana Saheb.

Thanks Rohini...you are amazingly well-informed. .....Maza Pravas: 1857 cya Bandaci Hakikat (marathi "My journey: the truth about the 1857 rebellion") by Vishnu Bhatt Godse.

Surprise ! Flipkart has a Malayalam version of this book : http://www.flipkart.com/1857-viplavathinte-druksaakshivivaranam-vishnu-bhatt-book-8126418168

There is a novel--autobiography written by the grandson of Lt COL James Skinner called "Rider on Grey Horse" which covers the reconquest of Delhi and murder of all the sons of Bahadur Shah Jaffar---by the Col

Hodson was a shabby creep all 'round. I shall have to find this book, Kanu. A very good account of the Mutiny was given by Charles Griffiths (it's available on Google Books and probably on archive.org, as well as projectgutenberg). Particularly good account of the looting of Delhi, among other things.

We are a print-on-demand publisher and would like to print a copy of this book? Does anyone know if it is still under copyright?

A collection of letters sent by Major Hodson to his wife in England before, and during, the 1857 uprising was published by his father. From these letters, it is quite obvious that he had deep contempt for Indians. For example, he supervised the construction of a fort at Mardan (now Pakistan) and complained that one has to teach everything to these Indians as they know nothing. He made such derogatory remarks throughout his letters. While I did admire the bravery of soldiers like Nicholson, I had no sympathy with Hodson the way he was shot in Lucknow. Of course, his great crime was the way he shot the sons of Bahadur Shah (he first asked them to take off their shirts and then shot them at close range) and had their bodies displayed at the Kotwali in Delhi. He comes out as a most despicable character.

Leonard : Great !! Maybe you should get a copy of the Marathi and Malayalam versions and checkout with a Publisher and a Copyrirght Consultant. Keep us posted - I would like to buy a copy for myself.

love to read any Book about Nana & Rani Laxmi Bai I will buy every book related to Mutiny -- reprints etc

Well -I have some good news--I have a copy of "Rider on a Grey Horse'--A Life of HODSON----OF Hodson's Horse by BARRY JOYNSON CORK --first published in 1958.The author acknowledges his indebtedness to Major V.C.P.Hodson--for access to all William Hodson's original correspondence. RBSI readers may be interested to know that the Armoured Corps(Tank Corps)-of the Indian Army has a Regiment named 'Hodson's Horse" and "Skinner's Horse' each to this day--ironic

Hodson's Horse is ironic indeed !

I too read everything I can on the 1857 uprising. And so often feel uncomfortable in my Britishness. There were indeed a number of 'despicable characters'. But I hope it is acknowledged that there were many Brits who behaved honourably, and whose respect for the Indians was undiminished. And, in fairness (if fairness is allowable), atrocities were committed by all sides.

Philippa is absolutely right, but there is nothing to feel uncomfortable about. Terrible crimes were also committed by the 'mutineers' against the British. The cold-blooded massacres in Delhi, in Kanpur and, I believe, in Jhansi and the suffering of many Englishmen in isolated districts proves that. However, the British response after the mutiny was disproportionate. Very large numbers of innocent people were hanged, blown to pieces by cannons, or killed mercilessly by bayonets. One other act that is not fully appreciated is that there was almost a genocide against the Moghuls since the British knew that it is the only race in India that could challenge them again. So there was a witch- hunt against Moghuls as a community. Very few, like Mirza Ghalib, were spared. But that is all history. As Philippa points out, there were many acts of courage, bravery, kindness and compassion during the uprising from both sides. This is why we should believe in the goodness of mankind. Man, by nature, is a kind animal - it is only on occasions that savagery takes over.

If we ignore the horrible atrocities committed during the 1857 uprising - which may not be easy - the overall effect of this geat historical tragedy was positive. It brought to an end the greed and rapacity of the 'Honorable' East India Company and the chaos and lawlessness of the dying Moghul Empire and the Princely states (best described by Fanny Parkes in her travels in India), and brought India under Pax Brittanica. No one likes colonialism but, under the pevailing circumstances, perhaps there was no better alternative. This is a politically unpopular view but that is the way I feel.

Manohar Malgaonkar was in my 'umble opinion ,one of the very best ..but sadly unsung ...writers in English. His " Bend in the Ganges' that I read circa 1966, was absolutely gripping from start to finish.

RBSI ..on my one and only visit to the Lal Quila in Oct. 1959 , remember reading snatches of 'The Illustrated London News', of that period , that were on display in glass cases.The outrage in all those front page accounts of the War ..just had to be 'read ' to be believed !!They were practically 'foaming at the mouth' at the ' sheer temerity' of the Mutineers etc etc. Should make incredibly interesting reading ..unless they've been ' hawked off' ..that is !

RBSI ..one of my friends here a NZ named Mark Probett ,told me that his great great grandmother and family were among those massacred at Bibi Ghar .. Sure enough ,a while later, when ,quite by chance, I happened to read about Bibi Ghar ,the account of what happened to Mrs. Probett figures in all its gory detail. I did pass the link onto Mark ..but not too sure if he read it..

There wre indeed, horrible acts carried out on both sides. Some of what was reported at the time, however, was wildly inaccurate. e.g. it wasn't the unfortunate women massacred in the Bibi Ghar who scrawled vengeful messages on the walls before they died, but rather, soldiers who entered the building later on and discovered what had taken place there. A terrible period in history, but lightened somewhat by the knowledge that there were also good people on both sides who helped people escape death.

to me the best thing that happened with the British making India a 'Jewel in the Crown 'IS THAT THEY UNIFIED THE COUNTRY "--and brought in such excellent "things" as education---railways- post and telegraph--land records---and a well documented history of our civilization--art-culture-sculpture-etc--which we are able to read and be proud off @Asad---ur contention that the Muslims were the only race who could challenge the Brits--very debatable-- the Mughals under Bahadur Shah Jaffar were a "has been' dynasty-by now---- it was the Marathas- under the Peswas who -were the dominant power--killing all BSJ sons by Hodson was only the "coup de grace' to the line----it was the Marathas like LAXMI BAI --TANTIA TOPE--NANA PHADNAWIS WHO were the real fighters in the Uprising Atrocities were both-sided--so where is the crib---and it has continued till today

That the Moghuls were the only potential contenders to the throne was the British perception. Contending for the throne does not imply that they had the ability to do so, just the desire to do so. Of course, I am aware of the bravery and sacrifices made by most (but not all) Indians during the uprising but no one coveted the throne except the Moghuls (feeble as they were). In fact, many of the Indian Rajas (including the Rani of Jhansi) acknowledged the overall 'hukumat' of the House of Timur. Finally, I did not say"Muslims were the only race" - I said "Moghuls". The failure to distinguish often clouds our objectivity even today.