Ever since its occurrence, the great anti-British uprising of 1857 has remained ingrained in India's national memory. It inspired the freedom movement and has also often been referred to as the 'first war of independence'.
It is also important to note that this uprising was not the first but in fact a larger and all engulfing sequel to several organized protests that had earlier taken place in different parts of the country. Many of these had started almost as soon as the local populace came in contact with British rule. Some of these outbreaks have been well documented and have found a place in the discourses of the freedom movement and colonial rule. There are, however, a large number of others that have received scant and often no attention at all in our mainstream historian narratives. This monograph draws attention to one such region - Odisha (Orissa) and how its people were among the first to organize resistance to British rule. This resistance was hugely popular and drew support from all sections of society. The Kudopali uprising is extremely important in the history of anti-British movements in the 19th century in India.
In his classic volume The Indian War of Independence: 1857, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar explained how the great anti-British uprising of 1857 was at first an assertion for Swadharma and Swaraj. As Savarkar put it: "Our idea of Swadharma is not contradictory to that of Swaraj. The two are interconnected as a means and an end. Swaraj without Swadharma is despicable and Swadharma without Swaraj is powerless". "Swadharma and Swaraj" Savarkar further wrote: "will be embedded in the bone marrow of all the sons of Hindustan. They might be darkened for a time by the mist of slavery-even the sun has its clouds - but very soon the strong light pierces through the mist and chases its away." He also noted how: "revolutionary movements can not be based on a flimsy and momentary grievances. It is always due to some all moving principle for which hundreds and thousands of people fight... As the private life so also in history the deeds of an individual or a nation are judged by the character of the motive." It is this understanding of the struggle for freedom that puts Surendra Sai in a league of great eminence.
Historical narratives inspired by the British versions of the great uprising of 1857 have generally unfolded the story as if its major causes were incidental, regional and those that resulted from specific administrative decisions. The fact remains that all classes of people were discontented against the British. Mainstream narratives have also often shown the tendency of emphasizing on particular regions and particular events and at the same understating if not all together over sighting other regions.
This volume titled 'The Saga of Kudopali: The Unsung Story of 1857', is also in fact a statement on how historical discourses need course correction. So little in fact is known about the incidents and the general story line that form a part of this volume. The manner in which the great Veer Surendra Sai organized resistance against the British and in doing so received support from all sections of society as also how the roots of the movement were inspired by regional and cultural pride is truly fascinating.
a 'new global perspective to India's ancient culture and civilization in the 21st century. This vision for expanding the scope of historical narratives from localized interpretations to those with global resonance reflects a significant strategic shift. By transitioning from distinct regional stories to a broader global narrative, this perspective seeks to redefine India's historical narratives within a wider, more inclusive global framework. This move not only enriches our understanding of history but also challenges conventional compartmentalization of disciplinary practices in history, advocating for an inclusive narrative that resonates across varied cultural landscapes.
The push for historiography reached a key juncture during an animated parliamentary debate on February 13, 2023. Shri Pradhan deftly countered the critiques regarding the mandate of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). The council's work was characterised as an unsettling rewrite of history, aimed at 'rediscovering the current narrative pinned on certain historical moorings' framed within a 'very pernicious and pretentious' agenda. Dismissing these charges, the Minister persuasively quipped, "ICHR has no plan on rewriting history but seeks to fill in the gaps that had been left wide open through its failure to acknowledge the great men and women of India in history by incorporating major historical events, personalities, and events." He further averred that the current interventionist moves of ICHR should better be appreciated as measures 'at expanding the canvas and widening the expanse of history.'
The Minister underscored the critical necessity of rectifying the distortions woven into India's chronicled past based on the mandate "to correct aberrations in the written history of India" by integrating overlooked narratives and un/under-researched facets that are vital for an inclusive understanding of our nation's past. Arguably, this initiative is not merely academic but a vital step toward constructing a narrative that truly reflects the diverse and multifaceted realities of India's past. It challenges the academic community to acknowledge and rectify the monolithic perspectives that have dominated historical discourse, pushing for a broader inclusion of narratives shaped by varied cultural and public experiences.
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