Among the large number of free lances who emerged on the Indian political scene in the wake of the dissolution of the Mughal empire in the second half the 18th century none has left a more fascinating life-story than Begum Samru, "a Kashmiri girl, who from abject proverty and abscurity rose to the command of a European-drilled brigade, the sovereignty of a territory and the honoured position of a shield to the Delhi imperial family; and died in the fullness ...
