The Peasant Rebels

THE BOOK IS A FICTIONAL RETELL OF THE SATNAMI REVOLT AGAINST AURANGZEB, AND UNDERLINES THE IMPORTANCE OF REBELLION IN TIMES OF OPPRESSION

- Rajat Ghai

IN THE history of revolts and rebellions, 1672 holds a special significance. In that year, the Satnamis—a sect comprising peasants, artisans, and untouchables—rebelled against the mighty Mughal Empire. It all began with a small quarrel. A Satnami youth, cultivating his field, got into a fight with a party of Mughal nobles, which resulted in his slaying by a Mughal Pyada or a foot soldier. In retaliation, the foot soldier was killed by the Satnami community. This happened in what is today’s Mahendragarh district in Haryana. Following the two murders, the local Mughal official sent a troop of soldiers to arrest those who had killed the foot soldier. But the community drove them away. Emboldened, the Satnamis attacked Narnaul, the main township in the area and destroyed the Mughal garrison. They even set up their own administration.