The Mutiny in India began in 1857 and came as a total surprise to the British civil and military authorities. Among the native troops, malicious rumour had spread that the cartridges for the mew musket had been greased with beef and pork fat, the one sacred to the Hindu and the other an abomination to the Muslim.
It was claimed that the British authorities had an ulterior motive in wishing to deprive the Hindu of his caste, and defile the Muslim – an underhand first step to converting both to Christianity.
To comply with the new order meant the loss of caste for the Hindu and an unclean state for the Muslim, nor could they return to their villages. Further more, use of a cartridge meant being shunned by their comrades. British officers tried to placate the suspicious sepoys but failed, at the same time naively believing that their men would never harm them or their families – a conviction they carried to their grave.
For the sepoys, there was only one way out of this explosive situation – mutiny.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Noel F. Singer
Noel F Singer was born in Myanmar in 1937. In 1962, he moved to London and worked as a commercial artist and held exhibitions. Having been trained in the classical dances of his country, he often took part in performances. Enthusiasm for Myanmar archaeology and culture, knowledge of the language and frequent visits to the Motherland has qualified him, since 1988, to produce thirty-one articles and reviews for Arts of Asia; he is now one of its Contributing Editors. His unique paintings of the thirty-seven national nat (spirits) were specially commissioned for Nat Pwe: Burma's Supernatural Sub-Culture (1992). Published titles include Burmese Puppets (19920; Burmah: A Photographic Journey (1993); Old Rangoon: City of the Shwedagon (1995): Burmese Dance and Theatre (1995) and The Sorcerer-King and that "Great Abortion" at Mingun (2004). He has also written Myanmar language articles in magazines such as Myawaddy and Ngwe Tar Yi. More articles and books are planned.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Terence R. Blackburn
Terence R. Blackburn was born in London in 1938. He served with the Royal Army Medical Corps in Germany, and later continued his work in the field of health care until his retirement.
He firmly believes that there are always two sides two sides to every story and that equal weight should be given to both.
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