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Journalism of Courage
A few months before the 1857 uprising broke out,red lotus flowers began to appear at garrisons where soldiers were stationed. A stunning flower,it was not entirely innocent: within its folds it carried a secret message,one that mobilised scattered soldiers to fight a single common enemy,the British. The man behind the flowers and the message was none other than Tatya Tope,a Maratha warrior and one of the finest strategists of the uprising. Tatya Topes Operation Red Lotus (Rupa,Rs 595),a book by his descendants,sheds new light on several subjects related to 1857 and Tope,most importantly his death.
A special gathering in April 2007 in Shivpuri,Madhya Pradesh,to observe the 150th anniversary of 1857 brought together members of the extended Tope family. My sister told me to put my pen where my mind and passions are and that the family will help with the research, says author Parag Tope,43,the great grand nephew of the warrior.
The familys non-historian background strangely helped. We were free from the pressures academicians might feel for the need to conform, says Parag. Their efforts of the past three years has paid off the book is an exhaustive look at the war but,most importantly,the Tope family has researched how the date of the warriors death was recorded incorrectly. According to historians,Tope was hanged on April 18,1859 after being captured by the British. The research for the book makes me conclude that Tatya Tope was killed in action,months before he was allegedly hanged. He died on January 1,1859,not hanged on April 18, says Parag.
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