An Entry From Vellore Into The Freedom Diary

AS India readies to mark another Independence Day on August 15, much of the national spotlight will, as always, rest on the events of 1947.

- RAJALAKSHMI SAMPATH

Yet, buried deep in the annals of history lies a lesser-known but formidable revolt — one that erupted more than a century earlier, long before the uprising of 1857.

The Vellore Mutiny of 1806, regarded as one of the earliest armed rebellions against British colonial rule, was not merely about uniforms. It was a fight for dignity, identity, and justice.

The episode unfolded within the imposing Vellore fort, whose massive ramparts and deep moats had once guarded kings before becoming a garrison for the British East India Company. By the early 19th century, the fort housed hundreds of Indian sepoys simmering with discontent — fuelled by meagre pay, racial discrimination, and a blatant disregard for their cultural traditions.