Book on contribution of state in 1857 released

Tribune News Service

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Hisar, August 18

A book titled ‘Gallant Haryana — The First and Crucial Battlefield of 1857’, written by CB Singh Sheoran, a retired Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department, was released by Editor of The Tribune Rajesh Ramachandran at a function here today. Prof S Irfan Habib was the guest of honour in the function, which was presided over by lawyer PK Sandhir.

The book chronicled the events which happened in Haryana during the first war of independence in 1857. The writer had drawn material from archival files and contemporary newspapers and newspapers like the London Gazette, Edinburgh Gazette and Lahore Chronicle and visited the villages to gather oral history existing in folklore and traditions.

Appreciating the attempt to bring out local heroes and local battles fought during the freedom struggle of 1857, the Editor stated the writer had visited about 100 villages to collect material for the book, which was a mind-blowing effort.

“The book is an effort to bring out the details of heroes and martyrs from local areas and has also chronicled women fighters of Haryana,” he said. Pointing out the chapter titled ‘1857-1860: The Scenario’, he said he would have named this chapter as the betrayers of Haryana because the chapter detailed those who had sabotaged the cause of the freedom struggle and got rewards from the British.

Mentioning the research carried out for writing the book, Habib maintained that there was a need for micro history. “This book shows the way for scope of research in history,” he said.