Question

In the context of the communication of the message of revolt and mutiny, the experience of François Sisten, a native Christian police inspector in Sitapur, is telling. He had gone to Saharanpur to pay his respects to the magistrate. Sisten was dressed in Indian clothes and sitting cross-legged. A Muslim tahsildar from Bijnor entered the room; upon learning that Sisten was from Awadh, he enquired, “What news from Awadh? How does the work progress, brother?” Playing safe, Sisten replied, “If we have work in Awadh, your highness will know it.” The tahsildar said, “Depend upon it, we will succeed this time. The direction of the business is in able hands.” The tahsildar was later identified as the principal rebel leader of Bijnor.

What does this conversation suggest about the ways in which plans were communicated and discussed by the rebels? Why did the tahsildar regard Sisten as a potential rebel?

Answer 1

1. The conversation shows that news and plans of the revolt were often shared through personal meetings and informal discussions.
2. Rebels and their supporters exchanged information about what was happening in different regions.
3. The tahsildar asked Sisten about the situation in Awadh, showing that people were eager to know how the rebellion was progressing.
4. This suggests that information about the revolt travelled through word of mouth and personal contacts, not only through official messages.
5. The tahsildar thought Sisten might support the revolt because Sisten was an Indian Christian from Awadh and seemed to have information about the events there.
6. Sisten’s reply, “If we have work in Awadh, your highness will know it,” may have sounded as if he knew more about the rebel plans.

Therefore, the tahsildar may have believed that Sisten had connections with the rebels or knowledge of their activities.