Spectre of Violence: The 1857 Kanpur Massacre by Rudrangshu Mukherjee

Description

The Sepoy Mutiny, also known as India’s First War of Independence, was a major uprising against British rule in India. The rebellion began in Meerut and quickly spread to other parts of northern India. Kanpur, a strategically important city, became one of the major centers of the rebellion.

In June 1857, Indian sepoys (Indian soldiers in the British East India Company army) stationed in Kanpur revolted against their British officers. The British were initially forced to flee the city, but they soon returned with reinforcements. In July 1857, the British recaptured Kanpur and exacted a brutal revenge on the Indian population.

The book Spectre of Violence examines the massacres that took place in Kanpur in the aftermath of the British recapture of the city. The most notorious massacre took place at a site called Bibighar, where hundreds of British women and children were killed.

Mukherjee argues that the violence in Kanpur was not simply a matter of revenge. He suggests that it was also a product of the deep racial animosity that existed between the British and the Indians at the time.

The book Spectre of Violence is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. It is a harrowing read, but it is an important book for anyone who wants to learn more about this complex and important period in Indian history.