1857; the event known till date as the Sepoy Mutiny by a fairly large segment of our population. Even those who refer to it as a War of Independence call it a spontaneous uprising; thanks largely to the incorrect narrative of the war written and recorded by the English, and dutifully followed by Indian Historians inspite of pervasive evidence to the contrary. Even the most balanced of books on the national movement refer to the presence of some form of conspiracy, but leave it at that, saying no proof exists. Surprisingly, they did not need to look any further than an existing book - Mazhaa Pravaas - an eyewitness account of the events that lay bare the reality. I have read its English translation, so am aware, and recognize the need for an honest investigation into the reality of 1857. The current book under review is a truly commendable start in that direction.
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