REBELS’ CONCEPTION OF COLONIALISM & THE REVOLT OF 1857

Abstract

This paper tends to delve into details of the understanding of not only the sepoy’s but also different sections of the society i.e. from ruling magnates to the marginalized communities, ethnic and linguistic groups and minorities, priests and saints like yulabagulu from Coimbatore to Nasaras[ Nazarenes] of Zorastrians to various religious groups, tribes of Khasi and Jaintia Hills like Bishnupuria to Meiteis from the different corners of the country who were left out inadvertently from the historical literature even after more than one hundred fifty years of the rebellion. It is an attempt to bring into lime light the unsung heroes of the rebellion of 1857 and their conception of the British colonialism from yadaboo, Arakan, the coast of Salveen river, Barak valley to Sylhet, from Bangladesh to Daman, Diu, Pindicheri [puducheri] to Andaman and Nikobar islands , from Coimbatore to the Jammu and Kashmir, which were conspicuous by their absence in historical literature , particularly when India is celebrating its 75th year of independence[ Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava].