Rani Laxmi Bai, Tatya Tope 'martyred' by East India Company, Scindia's forefathers

Jiyaji Rao Scindia

By A Representative
In an email alert to Counterview, well-known political scientist Shamsul Islam has said that was “shameful for any political party in democratic India to keep children of Sindhias in their flock” given their role during the First War of Indian Independence (1857). In a direct commentary on Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia moving over to BJP, Prof Islam has quote from a British gazetteer to prove his point.
According to Prof Islam, one should “never forget" that Rani Laxmi Bai was martyred by the joint armed forces of "Sindhias and the East India Company”, adding, “Not only this, one of the leading commanders of 1857 Indian War of Independence, Tatya Tope, was captured in Gwalior State ruled by this criminal Sindhi clan and executed on April 18, 1859 in Shivpuri, part of the Gwalior State.”
formerly with the Delhi University, Prof Islam quotes from relevant portions of the “Gwalior State Gazetteer”, Vol 1 (page 40), compiled by Luard CE, Government Printing Press, Calcutta, 1908.

The British gazette said:

"Sindhia was still a young man when the mutiny broke out, and it was a question of the greatest importance what he would do. Sindhia was young and impulsive and the feelings of his court were strongly anti-British. But he had two strong councilors at his side -- Major Charters Macpherson, the Resident, and Sir Dinkar -- whose tact and firmness proved to Sindhia that the British-arms would triumph in the end, however much things appeared to be against them. Sindhia at once offered his own body-guard to Mr. Colvin at Agra.

Sindhia was still a young man when the mutiny broke out, and it was a question of the greatest importance what he would do

“On May 30th (1858) Tantia Topi [sic] and Lachmi Bai [sic], 'the Rani of Jhansi', appeared before Gwalior and called on Sindhia to join them. Jiyaji Rao not only refused but without waiting for the column on its way from Agra, led out his troops against them on June 1st. But his army, except the Maratha bodyguard, went over en masse to the enemy, and he and Dinkar Rao fled to Agra.
“On the 16th June Sir Hugh Rose arrived at Gwalior and, after a fight lasting two days, occupied the fort and town of Gwalior and and the city of Lashkar. On the 20th Sindhia, accompanied by Sir Hugh Rose and Major Macpherson was reinstated in his capital.
“For his services in the mutiny lands worth 3 lakhs a year revenue were made over to him, while he was allowed to increase his infantry from 3,000 to 5,000 men and his artillery from 32 to 36 guns.
"Later this British stooge was made GCSI, Councillor of the Empress, GCB, CIE and granted a personal salute of 21 guns."

Comments

D.N.Rath said…

This is the history of Scindias but they have enjoying power, getting elected , become ministers and hoodwink the masses and pose as great patriots.

March 11, 2020

Anonymous said…

it is interesting, that Scindia family's history is remembered by Shamsul Islam only after he moved to BJP. Until then it was wrapped and kept in hiding by our renowned "unbiased" historian Shamsul Islam.

April 09, 2020

Danish said…

Shamsul Islam’s memory horses started racing only when Scindia joined BJP, was oblivious all these decades when Scindia’s family was in Congress, but what else can when expect from these intellectual mercenaries. Since when did we start going to forefathers for judging present action of an individual.These same people also ask us not to judge present day Muslims from action of their brutal and callous forefathers. But since we are discussing Scindia, we should go back to the time of Mahadji Scindia too who was the forefront and the force of resistance against the British in the late 18th century.

April 01, 2021

From Kerala to Bangladesh: Lynching highlights deep social faultlines

By A Representative The recent incidents of mob lynching—one in Bangladesh involving a Hindu citizen and another in Kerala where a man was killed after being mistaken for a “Bangladeshi”—have sparked outrage and calls for accountability.

Gram sabha as reformer: Mandla’s quiet challenge to the liquor economy

By Raj Kumar Sinha* This year, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj is organising a two-day PESA Mahotsav in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 23–24 December 2025. The event marks the passage of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), enacted by Parliament on 24 December 1996 to establish self-governance in Fifth Schedule areas. Scheduled Areas are those notified by the President of India under Article 244(1) read with the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides for a distinct framework of governance recognising the autonomy of tribal regions. At present, Fifth Schedule areas exist in ten states: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana. The PESA Act, 1996 empowers Gram Sabhas—the village assemblies—as the foundation of self-rule in these areas. Among the many powers devolved to them is the authority to take decisions on local matters, including the regulation...

When a city rebuilt forgets its builders: Migrant workers’ struggle for sanitation in Bhuj

Khasra Ground site By Aseem Mishra* Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is not a privilege—it is a fundamental human right. This principle has been unequivocally recognised by the United Nations and repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court of India as intrinsic to the right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. Yet, for thousands of migrant workers living in Bhuj, this right remains elusive, exposing a troubling disconnect between constitutional guarantees, policy declarations, and lived reality.

Policy changes in rural employment scheme and the politics of nomenclature

By N.S. Venkataraman* The Government of India has introduced a revised rural employment programme by fine-tuning the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which has been in operation for nearly two decades. The MGNREGA scheme guarantees 100 days of employment annually to rural households and has primarily benefited populations in rural areas. The revised programme has been named VB-G RAM–G (Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin). The government has stated that the revised scheme incorporates several structural changes, including an increase in guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days, modifications in the financing pattern, provisions to strengthen unemployment allowances, and penalties for delays in wage payments. Given the extent of these changes, the government has argued that a new name is required to distinguish the revised programme from the existing MGNREGA framework. As has been witnessed in recent years, the introdu...

What Sister Nivedita understood about India that we have forgotten

By Harasankar Adhikari In the idea of a “Vikshit Bharat,” many real problems—hunger, poverty, ill health, unemployment, and joblessness—are increasingly overshadowed by the religious contest between Hindu and Muslim fundamentalisms. This contest is often sponsored and patronised by political parties across the spectrum, whether openly Hindutva-oriented, Islamist, partisan, or self-proclaimed secular.

Aravalli at the crossroads: Environment, democracy, and the crisis of justice

By Rajendra Singh* The functioning of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has undergone a troubling shift. Once mandated to safeguard forests and ecosystems, the Ministry now appears increasingly aligned with industrial interests. Its recent affidavit before the Supreme Court makes this drift unmistakably clear. An institution ostensibly created to protect the environment now seems to have strayed from that very purpose.

'Structural sabotage': Concern over sector-limited job guarantee in new employment law

By A Representative The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has raised concerns over the passage of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB–G RAM G), which was approved during the recently concluded session of Parliament amid protests by opposition members. The legislation is intended to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

'Festive cheer fades': India’s housing market hits 17‑quarter slump, sales drop 16% in Q4 2025

By A Representative Housing sales across India’s nine major real estate markets fell to a 17‑quarter low in the October–December period of 2025, with overall absorption dropping 16% year‑on‑year to 98,019 units, according to NSE‑listed analytics firm PropEquity. This marks the weakest quarter since Q3 2021, despite the festive season that usually drives demand. On a sequential basis, sales slipped 2%, while new launches contracted by 4%.

Safety, pay and job security drive Urban Company gig workers’ protest in Gurugram

By A Representative Gig and platform service workers associated with Urban Company have stepped up their protest against what they describe as exploitative and unsafe working conditions, submitting a detailed Memorandum of Demands at the company’s Udyog Vihar office in Gurugram. The action is being seen as part of a wider and growing wave of dissatisfaction among gig workers across India, many of whom have resorted to demonstrations, app log-outs and strikes in recent months to press for fair pay, job security and basic labour protections.

Search This Blog