This article necessarily explores the dissensions and differences arising from the British domina... more This article necessarily explores the dissensions and differences arising from the British domination over the Tamil-speaking regions of the erstwhile Madras Presidency before and during the Great Uprising of 1857. It seeks to explore the role played by the Madras Army during this period. The narrative of events vindicates the fact that the situation in Tamil districts was by no means tranquil and there were instances of resistance, if not rebelliousness, on the part of the native inhabitants to the Company’s government. The discontent in the lower ranks of the Company’s army was also very much evident, which has seldom received attention in the mainstream South Asian historiography. The reasons behind these occasional bouts of discontent were not simply related to financial and pecuniary reasons. In this context, it becomes imperative to unearth the possible hidden links, if any, between the rebellious incidents of north India and the brewing discontent within the Madras Army. The ...
In recent years, there has been a proliferation of research on the history of the colonial armies... more In recent years, there has been a proliferation of research on the history of the colonial armies in South Asia. In fact, the very concept of the army underwent a change in the eighteenth century, when the East India Company tried to raise its own army battalions based on fixed wages and other financial entitlements. The Company’s troops were no longer under the intermediary military-landed elites, as was in the Mughal period, but were placed under the direct command of European professionals, with a greater deal of expertise in modern war science. The Madras Army, for a fairly long period of time was blessed with encomiums on the part of the colonial bosses for being loyal servants of the company’s administration in South India. However, it would be argued that despite retaining its docility, the Madras army revolted on many occasions in the eighteenth century, which reached a point of fruition during the Vellore Mutiny of 1805–1806. The differences in wages, social prestige, race ...
War and State-Building in Afghanistan deals with one of South Asia's most turbulent states, Afgha... more War and State-Building in Afghanistan deals with one of South Asia's most turbulent states, Afghanistan, and its socio-political and military conditions. This book also traces the processes that have shaped the geopolitics of Afghanistan. Afghanistan has been occupied by the Mughals, British, Soviets, Americans and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The book looks at their efforts at counter-insurgency (COIN) operations in the last five centuries ranging from 1520 to 2012. During the Cold War era, Afghanistan was a centre of conflict of the great/big powers of the world, and that instigated the profit mechanism of these great powers to show their calibre in international power politics. Unlike most of the recently published military histories of Afghanistan, the present volume consists of a political and military narrative of Afghanistan's conventional and unconventional warfare, which has continued over the last five centuries. The editors along with a host of experts in Afghan studies, by applying wide-ranging sources, examine why repeated initiatives have failed to remove instability in the country (p. 17). This volume introduces new historical perspectives on how NATO activity has helped to strengthen the war and state-building politics in Afghanistan. In doing so, this edited collection addresses three debates
To cite this article: Manas Dutta (2016) The first Anglo-Afghan wars: a reader, Contemporary Sout... more To cite this article: Manas Dutta (2016) The first Anglo-Afghan wars: a reader, Contemporary South Asia, 24:1, 115-116
This article necessarily explores the dissensions and differences arising from the British domina... more This article necessarily explores the dissensions and differences arising from the British domination over the Tamil-speaking regions of the erstwhile Madras Presidency before and during the Great Uprising of 1857. It seeks to explore the role played by the Madras Army during this period. The narrative of events vindicates the fact that the situation in Tamil districts was by no means tranquil and there were instances of resistance, if not rebelliousness, on the part of the native inhabitants to the Company's government. The discontent in the lower ranks of the Company's army was also very much evident, which has seldom received attention in the mainstream South Asian historiography. The reasons behind these occasional bouts of discontent were not simply related to financial and pecuniary reasons. In this context, it becomes imperative to unearth the possible hidden links, if any, between the rebellious incidents of north India and the brewing discontent within the Madras Army. The most important issue that needs to be taken into consideration primarily relates to the different types of responses that were noticed among the indigenous social groups. The revolt of 1857 proved to be the most dramatic moment in the entire period of British rule in India. The revolt of 1857 in India was much more than a 'Sepoy Mutiny'. In fact, the revolt symbolised a major challenge to the foundations of the imperial order in south Asia. Though it initially began with the sepoys of the Bengal Army, it soon
This article necessarily explores the dissensions and differences arising from the British domina... more This article necessarily explores the dissensions and differences arising from the British domination over the Tamil-speaking regions of the erstwhile Madras Presidency before and during the Great Uprising of 1857. It seeks to explore the role played by the Madras Army during this period. The narrative of events vindicates the fact that the situation in Tamil districts was by no means tranquil and there were instances of resistance, if not rebelliousness, on the part of the native inhabitants to the Company’s government. The discontent in the lower ranks of the Company’s army was also very much evident, which has seldom received attention in the mainstream South Asian historiography. The reasons behind these occasional bouts of discontent were not simply related to financial and pecuniary reasons. In this context, it becomes imperative to unearth the possible hidden links, if any, between the rebellious incidents of north India and the brewing discontent within the Madras Army. The ...
In recent years, there has been a proliferation of research on the history of the colonial armies... more In recent years, there has been a proliferation of research on the history of the colonial armies in South Asia. In fact, the very concept of the army underwent a change in the eighteenth century, when the East India Company tried to raise its own army battalions based on fixed wages and other financial entitlements. The Company’s troops were no longer under the intermediary military-landed elites, as was in the Mughal period, but were placed under the direct command of European professionals, with a greater deal of expertise in modern war science. The Madras Army, for a fairly long period of time was blessed with encomiums on the part of the colonial bosses for being loyal servants of the company’s administration in South India. However, it would be argued that despite retaining its docility, the Madras army revolted on many occasions in the eighteenth century, which reached a point of fruition during the Vellore Mutiny of 1805–1806. The differences in wages, social prestige, race ...
War and State-Building in Afghanistan deals with one of South Asia's most turbulent states, Afgha... more War and State-Building in Afghanistan deals with one of South Asia's most turbulent states, Afghanistan, and its socio-political and military conditions. This book also traces the processes that have shaped the geopolitics of Afghanistan. Afghanistan has been occupied by the Mughals, British, Soviets, Americans and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The book looks at their efforts at counter-insurgency (COIN) operations in the last five centuries ranging from 1520 to 2012. During the Cold War era, Afghanistan was a centre of conflict of the great/big powers of the world, and that instigated the profit mechanism of these great powers to show their calibre in international power politics. Unlike most of the recently published military histories of Afghanistan, the present volume consists of a political and military narrative of Afghanistan's conventional and unconventional warfare, which has continued over the last five centuries. The editors along with a host of experts in Afghan studies, by applying wide-ranging sources, examine why repeated initiatives have failed to remove instability in the country (p. 17). This volume introduces new historical perspectives on how NATO activity has helped to strengthen the war and state-building politics in Afghanistan. In doing so, this edited collection addresses three debates
To cite this article: Manas Dutta (2016) The first Anglo-Afghan wars: a reader, Contemporary Sout... more To cite this article: Manas Dutta (2016) The first Anglo-Afghan wars: a reader, Contemporary South Asia, 24:1, 115-116
This article necessarily explores the dissensions and differences arising from the British domina... more This article necessarily explores the dissensions and differences arising from the British domination over the Tamil-speaking regions of the erstwhile Madras Presidency before and during the Great Uprising of 1857. It seeks to explore the role played by the Madras Army during this period. The narrative of events vindicates the fact that the situation in Tamil districts was by no means tranquil and there were instances of resistance, if not rebelliousness, on the part of the native inhabitants to the Company's government. The discontent in the lower ranks of the Company's army was also very much evident, which has seldom received attention in the mainstream South Asian historiography. The reasons behind these occasional bouts of discontent were not simply related to financial and pecuniary reasons. In this context, it becomes imperative to unearth the possible hidden links, if any, between the rebellious incidents of north India and the brewing discontent within the Madras Army. The most important issue that needs to be taken into consideration primarily relates to the different types of responses that were noticed among the indigenous social groups. The revolt of 1857 proved to be the most dramatic moment in the entire period of British rule in India. The revolt of 1857 in India was much more than a 'Sepoy Mutiny'. In fact, the revolt symbolised a major challenge to the foundations of the imperial order in south Asia. Though it initially began with the sepoys of the Bengal Army, it soon
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