E. Jaiwant Paul

In most accounts of the revolt, the greased cartridge has been referred to as the spark and tinder that lit the flames of rebellion. The greased cartridge - what was it all about? The army so far had been quipped with the smooth-barrelled musket, which had a protracted loading procedure and was not accurate over long ranges. The new Enfield rifles, which were now being issued, had grooved or rifled barrels. This made them more accurate and gave them a longer range. The powder and bullet for the new rifle were put together in a paper cartridge. To load the rifle, the end of the cartridge containing the powder had to be bitten off so that the charge would ignite. The cartridge was then rammed down the muzzle of the rifle.. The grease used was tallow, probably containing both cow and pig fat. To "the cow reverencing Hindu and the pig paranoid Muslims" having to bite this was repellent, defiling and deadly to their religious prospects. The Revolt of 1857-58 was the biggest and bloodiest conflict against any European colonial power during the nineteenth century. This book is essentially about the heroes - Tatya Tope, Nana Saheb, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur - and not to forget, a few villains. Though the revolt failed in its objective, even in failure it served a grand purpose. It was a source of inspiration for the national liberation movement, which later achieved what the revolt could not.

The Greased Cartridge: The Heroes and Villains of 1857-58

James Tod

A landmark historical work, written at the cusp of modernity in the early nineteenth century, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan was Lieutenant Colonel James Tod's classic tribute to this grand desert region of India. Tod - mesmerized by this region and its inhabitants, the Rajpoots - dedicated himself to examining everything about Rajasthan through indigenous documentation, architectural relics, inscriptions, and medieval poetry. For twenty years, Tod delved deep into its long history, its legends and folklore, its social customs and its art. He also conducted geographical research and made the first accurate map of Rajasthan in 1815. This pioneering book condenses the two thick volumes of Tod's Annals and presents them in an accessible and comprehensive manner. While Tod's original style has been preserved, some gaps and inaccuracies have been clarified by the author. A treasury of invaluable material for historians and general readers alike, the Annals cover the history of six important regions of Rajasthan - Mewar, Marwar, Jessulmer, Bikaner, Amber, and Haravati - and give an engaging account of Rajpoot life from the twelfth century onwards. Many of the surviving traditions of Rajpoots that have their roots in bloody battles, tribal conquests, or petty rivalries, and the Rajpoots'inherent chivalry, loyalty, devotion and zeal have been perceptively discussed. This abridgement also illuminates how the history of the subcontinent was successively written and perceived by the British.

E. Jaiwant Paul

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