The Raja, the Rebel and the Monk by J.N. Sinha delves into the life of Maharaja Fateh Bahadur Sahi, a formidable 18th-century Indian king who led a 30-year guerrilla war against the British East India Company. His innovative strategies and unwavering spirit laid the groundwork for India’s first war of independence. This compelling narrative offers a fresh perspective on India’s resistance history, highlighting a hero whose legacy has been largely overlooked.
J.N. Sinha, a historian and author, brings to light the remarkable story of Maharaja Fateh Bahadur Sahi, shedding light on his contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
About The Book:
In late eighteenth century India, an obscure king who ruled over Huseypur in northwest Bihar, challenged the might of the British. When overpowered by the East India Company forces, he escaped into the jungles of Gorakhpur, raised a people’s army and fought a guerilla war against them for nearly thirty years. Beaten many times, he always bounced back and did not surrender ever.
He was Maharaja Fateh Bahadur Sahi.
A warrior, patriot and innovator, Sahi visualised the dangers of impending imperialism and rose to meet the challenge. He devised new war logistics and resorted to guerilla warfare, including ascetics, destitute and bandits in his unique army. This happened years before the Indian Revolt of 1857 and the revolutions in America and France.
Mainstream history is yet to look at him, but in the middle-Ganga valley, Sahi is remembered as a folk hero and a people’s king.
This work is an effort to unravel Sahi’s unusual life. How did he operate and survive for so long? Could he be considered the progenitor of India’s first war of independence? The Raja, the Rebel and the Monk attempts to answer.
About The Author:
J.N. Sinha, PhD, has taught history at the University of Delhi, New Delhi, and has researched, published and presented extensively in India and abroad. He is active on different media platforms, addressing aspects of history, science and culture. For the popular audience, he writes about the lesser- known facts of history and reflective memoirs on nature, culture, and on the ordinary and the mundane.
The official release for the book is in March 2025.
