A group of ragtag Punjabi Muslim rebels of various tribes would come together (one of those rare instances, when big egos would be put aside for a common Punjabi Muslim cause) & blockade the Lahore-Multan GT road, which would cut Lahore off from Bombay & in those days it was the only communication line between… Continue reading 1857 GT Road Blockade
Category: War of Independence 1857
The Qureshi Family of Punjab
Tomb of Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal Though only glossed over in school, at least in my time, the 1857 War of Independence is one of the most significant events in the history of Punjab & even wider Pakistan for the simple reason that the elite in today's Pakistan can trace their lineage back to the… Continue reading The Qureshi Family of Punjab
Karl Marx on the 1857 War of Independence
Karl Marx, Credit: Wikipedia Disclaimer: the post is not meant to endorse Marxism nor am I a Marxist myself if that even matters to the reader. There is also an untoward symptom in Punjab, the communication between Multan and Lahore having been cut off for eight days."Karl Marx, October 30th, 1857. Published New-York Daily Tribune.… Continue reading Karl Marx on the 1857 War of Independence
Romanticizing Bahawalpur Nawabs
Flag of Bahawalpur state Many of us have seen this on social media, phrased in a celebratory tone and the story goes something like this: the Nawab of Bahawalpur while in London tried to purchase a Rolls Royce, but was turned down because the salesman perceived him as a poor Indian. This caused the Nawab… Continue reading Romanticizing Bahawalpur Nawabs
Punjab Revolts Part 2: All not quiet in Eastern Punjab
Previously, I discussed how the narrative of Punjab especially the Muslims being indifferent to the 1857 War of Independence is based off of propaganda created by the colonial administration of Punjab at the time headed by Sir John Lawrence due to the severity of the situation. The idea here was to discourage further uprisings and… Continue reading Punjab Revolts Part 2: All not quiet in Eastern Punjab
Punjab Revolts: The role of Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal in 1857 War of Independence
With official bulletins titled “All well in the Punjab” and the “Punjab is perfectly quiet” the idea of Punjabis being loyal during the 1857 War of Independence was a narrative constructed by Sir John Lawrence who headed the administration of Punjab. These were measures taken on the psychological front to nullify the fervor of the… Continue reading Punjab Revolts: The role of Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal in 1857 War of Independence
Punjabi Waseb 