A Few Things About Something

THIS WEEK IN BERHAMPORE DURING SEPOY MUTINY

noreply@blogger.com (Sumit Soren) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:35:35 PST

On this week, one hundred and sixty years ago, new events were unfolding in Berhampore which ultimately gave birth to a momentous upheaval ever seen in the History of India. That was late February 1857 in Berhampore, when the sepoys of the Barrack at Berhampore rose up against their British Masters. The Sepoy Mutiny, many Indians believe, to have started from Barrackpore, but that is partly true, as the first spark of the Revolt was seen in Berhampore. Later, in the coming months the spark caused huge explosions in Barrackpore and some months after in Meerut.

The Berhampore Cantonment during 1806, source British Library.

The Story unfurls with the order from the Government to replace the old Brown Bess rifle of the infantry with the newly designed Enfield 1853 pattern. Brown Bess flintlock muskets had served the British infantry for more than hundred years; a number of important wars were fought with this rifle including the battle of Waterloo. However the newly designed Enfield had number of advantages over the Brown Bess, it had great range well about 2000 yards. It used the percussion cap instead of flintlock, and was lighter in weight than the Brown Bess, so in all ways quite handy. But there was one thing related to it and that was the paper cartridge, in Enfield it had this cylindrical paper packet containing the powder and the ball over it. A sepoy was expected to tear off the packet to separate the bullet from the powder. Now a rumor had spread in the sepoy’s quarters that this cartridge was greased with fat of pig and cow, which means that a Hindu or a Muslim sepoy trying to tear off the cartridge would lose his caste in the process.

Pattern 1853 Enfield , source Wiki

The basis and source of this news no one knows but we can get an idea of the apprehension, by looking at the social difference between the British and the Natives of that time. There was enormous cultural dissimilarity between the two; it was also the time when the British had introduced many new Western thinking into the Indian society, especially into the Bengali society. The widow remarriage was made legal, which was vehemently opposed and resisted by many orthodox Bengali Hindus. The education machinery had started running with the objective of creating educated Indians, of creating an Indian section sympathetic to Company rule. In the military, the rules of the game were changed, the dress of the native sepoys were made like Western infantry, the drills, the weapons, the army structure everything was Westernised. Though the Native infantry had fought so many wars with British commanders following Western method of warfare but still inside they were the same Indian sepoys, who were passionate about religion, culture and traditions.

In this atmosphere of wide social difference there was always an apprehension in the minds of general public that the British Government by hook or crook wishes to make the entire populace Christian. The widow remarriage act, the doctrine of lapse, equal treatment before law irrespective of caste had made them infer that here is a bunch of people who wants to make us like them. The sense of security was gone when they saw that their one time masters, nobles, Sultans were kicked out of the office and their territories annexed. The Company had cut short the luxuries, territories, and prestige of the Nawab of Murshidabad, they had annexed Awadh and transported Wajid Ali Shah to Calcutta. So I guess the common gossip in the bazaars would have been, “times are very bad when our rulers are sent packing like this, what could become of us”.

This was the picture then, after Lord Dalhousie left India for London, and Lord Canning was due coming in. Lord Canning before coming to India had probably guessed the social situation out here, in a banquet to mark his new posting in August 1855 in London, Canning said, “We must not forget that in the sky of India, serene as it is, a cloud may arise, at first no bigger than a man’s hand, but which growing bigger and bigger may last threaten us with ruin.” He came in India on 5^th February 1856 and a year later the dark cloud did arrive to pour hellfire upon the Company. Before his arrival though the weapon of war, the new Enfield had reached India, not in one’s and two’s but about 10,000 in number. That reached Meerut first; the sepoys over there of the Bengal Army were already using it. And thereafter this rumor spread, it spread like wildfire, gripped Calcutta, Dum Dum, Barackpore, all military corners. Some office buildings were set to fire, the native soldiers were going in and out of barracks joining secret meetings, in this atmosphere of suspicion and distrust, a detachment of the 34^th Infantry Regiment from Barrackpore arrived Berhampore on 25^th February 1857.

Berhampore was a cantonment town for long, the sepoys of the 19^th Native Infantry was staying here under British commanders. Point to be noted is- it was all native army station in Berhampore, there were no Europeans except officers, a detachment of irregular cavalry was there in Panchanantala that too under a British officer. So when the 34^th reached Berhampore, their colleagues here in Berhampore inquisitively learned how the Government has devised an evil way to change their caste. In fact the 34^th did narrate the whole atmosphere of Barrackpore to be extremely volatile, that every sepoy over there was boiling with outrage. Therefore as we understand only a spark was needed to ignite the barrel of gunpowder.

On the 26^th of February, Colonel Mitchell commanding officer at Berhampore ordered the 19^th Infantry for a parade with, “blank ammunition” on the following morning. It was a custom in this 19^th regiment that if a parade was announced on the following day, then the ammunitions were distributed in the evening and percussion caps on the morning of the parade day. After the ammunitions were supplied to them it created a big fuss in the infantry quarters. The 19^th refused to comply with the orders and this news of insubordination was passed onto Colonel Mitchell by a native officer. Colonel Mitchell on the evening of 26^th February summoned the native commissioned and non commissioned officers and explained that the information was not true, that it was just a rumor, and going a step ahead warned if the infantry do not obey the command ( to take the ammunition) then he will be forced to court martial everyone. He had also asked the native officers to pass on the information to their comrades, that the cartridges were a year old made by native themselves, and there was no way the Government tried to interfere in their religious matter. However in the air of confusion and mistrust the news that reached the sepoys was- if they don’t obey the order they will be sent to Burma or China where they would perish. This further instigated them.

At around 10 pm in the night the sepoys broke the ammunition chamber seized all the rifles and assembled indiscriminately in open. You can picture hundreds of sepoys; well over seven to eight hundred, with torches, rifles, screaming, yelling, making mess in square field and the surrounding area. Berhampore suddenly had become a hot bed. Colonel Mitchell understood that sepoys had risen and he needed immediate help, an order was sent to the Irregular Cavalry stationed at Panchanantala to come at the site. When the cavalry reached the spot it was around eleven or twelve at night, dark and pitch black, not a soul could be seen properly save the fire of burning torches. The behavior of the sepoys here was very surprising; I guess they were very unsure what to do. Whether or not to directly engage the company officers put them to the sword or just to flee? They could have done it have they wished, the night was very dark which would make the organized cavalry charge impossible, and they all were already scattered. The Sepoys quite simply could have ran away or knock down the Cavalry. But again who is the Cavalry force, it is all the same all natives only a few handful of Englishmen.

So Colonel Mitchell meet an unprecedented situation, he had his foes who were natives and he had his friends who also were natives. Whom could he trust? But he had to act, and act immediately. Well he did that, he had already called for the Cavalry now he asked for the artillery to be brought and placed at a distance overlooking the sepoy lines. The thud of the Cavalry and the moving of the guns made the assembled sepoys further restless they began to cry out, “do not move we would kill you. “ Colonel Mitchell faced the angry mob, he first ordered them to drop their guns, but they did not relent. Obviously they had fears that if they dropped their rifles they would be shot down like clay pigeons. However in these clamor and confusion, both the parties agreed to withdraw from the field, a bit unsystematically. The guns were carried off and the assembled disgruntled sepoys also started to move in the barracks.

By three o’clock all the sepoys had retired inside the barracks, a parade was ordered next morning. In the following morning the soldiers did perform the parade, the Colonel did salute and everything was normal as if nothing of that nature had occurred. The news of this outbreak reached Calcutta by 4^th March and the Government immediately decided to punish the mutineers. But who will go to punish them, the Government could not fully or partially trust the natives, they needed a full European regiment. And that European Regiment was nowhere in the hundred and twenty miles distance between Berhampore and Calcutta. They were to be brought from Rangoon, the Highlanders. But finally the punishment was ordered which asked the sepoys of the 19^th Regiment to march ahead to Barrackpore, which they did, and later in 31^st March they were disbanded.

Colonel Mitchell’s conduct during the outburst was put to inquiry, in his defense he assured the court that he made no bargains with the mutineers, did not compromise, and it was the mutineers who laid down the arms first. There can be a doubt whether or not his defense was absolutely true, but there is no doubt over the fact that he did face an extraordinary situation, a situation which demanded shrewdness rather than military knowledge. Mitchell had only two hundred men under him, who could be trusted with certain degree but the mutineers numbered 800. Could he better manage the show with only two hundred men against eight hundred?

In Barrackpore the situation had gone worse, on Sunday, the 29^th of March a sepoy named Mangal Pandey had opened fire on the sergeant major and had rolled the wheel of The Sepoy Mutiny, one and half month later in May the revolt had spread to Meerut.

2012 Oscar Prediction

noreply@blogger.com (Sumit Soren) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:39:18 PST

Best Actor: Taking the nominations for Best Actors into consideration, and doing a little bit of Google Insight research mixed with some IMDB rating, I think George Clooney and Brad Pitt have high chance to win this year’s Oscars. The Descendants in IMDB ranks 7.6 whereas Money Ball ranks 7.7. So both these actors have fair chance. Let’s see.

Best Female Actor: Well there is a very interesting picture in Best Female Actor category, we have Rooney Mara who is charging ahead as far as the search results say, and then she can be backed up by some really good rating of 8.1 in IMDB ( The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Viola Davis do not have good search result but she might come in and topple Rooney, her film is rated 8.0 in IMDB so a great contender too Rooney Mara. I have a hunch that Rooney may be the one with the last smile.

Best Director: I would say Michel Hazanavicius may win the award for Best Director; his film has great rating in IMDB 8.4. Martin Scorsese may put a strong competition before him. But frankly speaking there is an even chance for the two.

So this is my prediction let’s see what happens.

High School level questions on History and Geography

noreply@blogger.com (Sumit Soren) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:11:32 PST

My lil buddies Ranjan (left) and Joyram (right).

My two little neighbors showed up and handed over their Unit Test question paper to me. The subject is History and Geography of Eighth standard; I found it to be quite interesting and translated it from Bengali to English. Check out how many you can answer! The answers are given below.

Time 45 minutes, 20 minutes for each subject, 5 minutes break in between. Full Marks-20.

HISTORY

1. When was the “fall of Constantinople”?

2. Name the Italian scholar and poet.

3. Who was the father of Protestant Reformation?

4. Where did Vasco Da Gama land in India?

5. Who discovered the Philippines islands?

6. Why is Florence known as “second Athens”?

7. Who first translated Bible and in which language?

Answer any one of the two questions:

8. Why was Prince Henry known as “The Navigator”?

Who discovered the continent of America?

9. What is “Indulgence”?

Who is called as the guiding star of Religious Reformation?

Answer in short:

a. Who was Shakespeare?

b. Who was Roger Bacon?

c. Discuss in two or three lines the characteristics of Modern Era.

d. Enumerate the causes of Religious Reformation.

GEOGRAPHY

1. What is the layer next to the inner core of Earth?

2. Coal transforms to……………………rock.

3. What is the composition of Continental crust?

4. What is the space between outer core and continental crust called?

5. Which passage separates Europe and Africa?

6. What is Europe and Asia collectively called.

7. Which country is known as a “Fishing Nation.”

8. Which country is the granary of the Europe?

9. Which is the highest mountain range in Europe?

10. What is a fossil?

11. Write the uses of Rock.

12. What is the name of the principal river in Europe? What is the source of this river? Where does the river end?

13. Write the two main characteristics of Mediterranean Climate.

ANSWERS

HISTORY

1. When was the “fall of Constantinople”?

Ans- In 1453, the stronghold of the Byzantine Empire fell into the hands of invading Ottomans under Sultan Mehmed II.

2. Name the Italian scholar and poet.

Ans- Petrarch, the famous Italian scholar and poet.

3. Who was the father of Protestant Reformation?

` Ans- Martin Luther the German monk and the iconic figure of Protestant Reformation

4. Where did Vasco Da Gama land in India?

Ans- Calicut is often cited, but he and his men actually arrived in Kappadu near Calicut on 20^th May 1498.

5. Who discovered the Philippines islands?

Ans- Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer.

6. Why is Florence known as “second Athens”?

Ans- As in the middle ages Florence became a great centre of Greek studies.

7. Who first translated Bible and in which language?

Ans- John Wycliff is attributed to be the first translator of Bible in English in 1382 A.D.

Answer any one of the two questions:

8. Why was Prince Henry known as “The Navigator”?

Ans- Henry the Navigator was a great patron of exploration, his explorers discovered many islands and places which were converted to Portuguese colonies.

Who discovered the continent of America?

Ans- Should I answer this one?

9. What is “Indulgence”?

Ans- Indulgence is the full or partial remission of sins committed in the past. Corruption in granting Indulgence was one of the cause which led Martin Luther to launch Protestant Reformation.

Who is the pioneer of Religious Reformation?

Ans- Martin Luther!

Answer in short:

a. Who was Shakespeare?

Ans- English playwright and poet.

b. Who was Roger Bacon?

Ans- Roger Bacon, a great scientist and advocator of scientific principles in Medieval Europe.

c. Discuss in two or three lines the characteristics of Modern Era.

Ans- The kids told me that, end of feudalism, French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, which I think is quite right!

d. Enumerate the causes of Religious Reformation.

Ans- Corruption in the Catholic Church, misuse of power by the Church hierarchy, introduction of hegemony is some of the cause of Religious Reformation.

GEOGRAPHY

1. What is the layer after the core of Earth? Mantle.

2. Coal transforms to……………………a rock. Graphite.

3. What is the composition of Continental crust? Composed of Sial, made of rocks rich in silicates and aluminium minerals.

4. What is the core–mantle boundary called? Gutenberg Discontinuity.

5. Which strait separates Europe and Africa? The Strait of Gibraltar.

6. What is Europe and Asia collectively called. Eurasia.

7. Which country is known as a “Fishing Nation?” Norway.

8. Which country is the granary of the Europe? Ukraine.

9. Which is the highest mountain range in Europe? Mount Elbrus in Russia.

10. What is a fossil? Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past.

11. Write the uses of Rock. For building houses, constructing roads, making jewelries, and so on.

12. What is the name of the principal river in Europe? What is the source of this river? Where does the river end? River Volga, it rises in the Valdai Hills and discharges into the Caspian Sea.

13. Write the two main characteristics of Mediterranean Climate. The climate is characterized by warm to hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters.

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Train Crash in Argentina

noreply@blogger.com (Sumit Soren) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:04:20 PST

Atleast 49 people is reported to have been killed and several hundreds injured in a train cash in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires. The accident happened in the Once station when the train failed brakes and slammed into the barrier at the end of the platform. Fortunately this is not the worse train accident in Argentina, it was in 1970 when a speeding train wrecked into another killing 200 people.

Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik dead in rocket attack.

noreply@blogger.com (Sumit Soren) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:33:41 PST

Fearless war reporter Marie Colvin along with photo journalist Remi Ochlik died today in the besieged city of Homs. It is reported that Syrian dictator Bashar Assad had ordered his forces to launch rocket attacks on the make shift press center where both Remi and Marie were present. Marie was also advised by well wishers to leave the city else she would be killed by Assad's forces.

Marie as a war journalist had a very illustrious career, she had been a Middle East reporter from 1986-95. She worked in the most dreaded conflict zones of the recent times, Chechnya, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and of course in Srilanka where she suffered a shrapnel wound in one of her eye. After this she normally wore a black eye patch to cover the wound.

Ms Colvin had won several awards for her brave work, she won the British Press Award for Best Foreign Correspondent, the International Women's Media Foundation award for " courage in Journalism". Remi Ochlik was died with her was a award winning photo-journalist. He had covered the war Democratic Republic of Congo, then 2011 the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt and won the first prize for this photo.

Incidentally conflict in Syria is a part of the new wave of revolution going on in the Arab World for more freedom and reforms. Protests and demonstration against Assad's Government began from 26th January 2011 and around 8000 people have been killed in total.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2104711/Marie-Colvin-dead-Chilling-warning-days-killed-Homs.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17124645

Frits Staal

noreply@blogger.com (Sumit Soren) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:48:15 PST

Johan Frederik Stall or quite simply Frits Staal a renowned Indologist passed away recently. In the The University of Amsterdam, he combined Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy with Philosophy, specializing in Greek Philosophy and Mathematical Logic; and played violin and viola in the student's orchestra.* In his graduation days he obtained a Government of India scholarship which took him to University of Madras, India to study philosophy and after three years study he eared a doctoral degree from University of Madras and Benares Hindu University as well.

Frits studied Panini's grammar in Benares under a Sanskrit scholar. There he also grasped the Navya Nyaya logic from another scholar. He later remarked that "Panini was Indian Euclid", as he showed that Panini was an outstanding grammarian much beyond his time, many of his methods were rediscovered in the 1950,s and some of his mathematical approach to linguistics are of great significance even today. We may not know that Panini is regarded by many scholars to be a profound a grammarian, Bloomfield describes his work as, " the greatest monument of human intelligence."

One of the great achievement of Frits was to record in detail the ancient Indian ritual of Agnicayana during his visit to South India. Frits with ethnographic filmmaker Robert Gardner made a documentary of the entire proceeding of this anicent ritual. Agnicayana ritual is the oldest surviving ritual more than three thousand years old and is performed by the Namboodri Brahmans in honor of Agni, the God of Fire. This mega ritual takes days of preparation and is performed by seventeen priests and according the regulations in Samaveda. A twelve day of ritual is followed by the burning of the entire ritual compound. Frits financed this ritual in 1975 and this ancient ritual took place in Kerala.

QS Ranking for Management schools

noreply@blogger.com (Sumit Soren) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:58:06 PST

The QS Ranking for Management schools has been released and from this year's report it is clear that Indian schools have made considerable progress. As the economic might of India continue to grow, keeping pace with it our business schools also have evolved.

Here is the ranking in the Asia-Pacific zone-

Name	Ranking	GMAT SCORE
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad	2	770
Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata	8	500
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore	5	780
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research	16	680
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade	21	650

The report says, "Indian business schools have improved in international employer opinion considerably this year. " All the institutes have been considerable progress, one area they need to work is to fetch more number of international students. Probably that is already in their cards.