A Tale of Two Revolts
Rajmohan Gandhi brings the drama of both wars to one stage in A Tale of Two Revolts. He deftly reconstructs events from the point of view of William Howard Russell—an Irishman who was also perhaps the world’s first war correspondent—and uncovers significant connections between the histories of the United States, Britain and India. The result is a tale of two revolts, three countries and one century. Into this fascinating story Rajmohan Gandhi weaves the choices of five extraordinary inhabitants of India—Sayyid Ahmed Khan, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Jotiba Phule, Allan Octavian Hume and Bankimchandra Chatterjee—and of three towering figures of world history—Karl Marx, Leo Tolstoy and Abraham Lincoln—to show the continuities between the nineteenth century and the world we live in today.
Scholarly, insightful and gripping, A Tale of Two Revolts raises new questions about these wars that changed the world.
Published by : Penguin Books India
Published : 14-Nov-2009
Imprint : Viking
ISBN : 9780670083558
Edition : Hardback
416pp
Reviews of this book
Rajmohan Gandhi talked about two wars for freedom - the 1857 Mutiny in India and the American Civil War -that were covered by Irish reporter William Howard Russell. Professor Gandhi talked about the parallels between his grandfather, Indian freedom fighter Mohandas Gandhi, and President Abraham Lincoln. He also responded to questions from members of the audience. "Celebrating Gandhi Jayanti - "The Great Soul" and the Great Emancipator" was an event held by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in conjunction with its Mahatma Gandhi Exhibit, co-sponsored by The India Association of Greater Springfield.