ndia was subjugated by East India Company in 1757 once the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah lost, following the treachery of Mir Jaffer. It took the next 100 years, when the natives inspired by the heroics of Mangal Pandey and Rani Lakshmi Bai among others who raised the cudgels of revolt to fight against the East India Company. Those were baby steps, but resulted in transformational changes as India was then directly ruled by the British government. For the next 89 years we were garrisoned and under the dominion of the British monarchy and British Parliament.
What was the thought process of these robust minds? How could a Bhagat Singh fast for 112 days in Mianwali Jail?
This book is a tribute to the numerous unsung heroes/heroines of the Indian freedom.
We have been indoctrinated by the narrative of a non-violent struggle, but there was simultaneously a massive undercurrent of violent struggle to free our motherland.
This bilingual anthology attempts to plug the gaps. It is a statement and will make people wise to the immense, selfless contributions to our freedom.
The time has come for this anthology to connect the past with the present and fire the imagination of the youth.