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Book Review
KANNADA
The 1857 rebellion
V. GOPALAKRISHNA
BHARATADA PRATHAMA SWATANTRYA SANGRAMA ONDU CHARITRIKA HINNOTA: K. S. Parthasarathy; Navakarnataka Publications (P) Ltd., 11, Embassy Centre, Crescent Road, Bangalore-560001. Rs. 90.
THIS SMALL book is a historical retrospection highlighting many aspects of the 1857 rebellion. The author analyses specifically whether the rebellion was merely a military uprising or a national rebellion based on various fresh evidences available at present.
The contemporary writings were mostly written by the British and they are viewed from the point of protection to the rulers with full of speculations. They only highlight the atrocities against the rulers. The Indian voice in this aspect was not given proper place in these records. The folk songs composed and sung by innocent village folk are authentic historical records. The author argues that folk literature reflects the actual situations and events as witnessed by the common people during the revolt. Hence a historian relies on this oral literature.
The author examines in detail under various topics the situation in India before the revolt, the effects of British rule, description of revolts in different places, contemporary reactions and so on.
A comparison of rebellions that broke out in different parts of the world, proclamations of 1857, translated texts of folk songs, excerpts from the books on the subject besides a detailed bibliography are appended to the book; a noteworthy contribution.
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