PVLF 2026

Interview with A.K. Gandhi Author of Swami Dayanand and the 1857 Revolution

An author explores the 1857 uprising through Swami Dayanand’s role, highlighting untold stories, hidden evidence, and the need to revisit India’s history through a post-colonial lens.
on Apr 17, 2026

Frontlist: Your book, Swami Dayanand and the 1857 Revolution, revisits the events of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 from a fresh perspective. What inspired you to explore this lesser-known connection in Indian history?

A.K: As I was born in Meerut, I have an inborn interest in the Revolution of 1857; we have grown listening to its legends, folktales and folksongs. Sadly, some people mistakenly call it Rebellion or Revolt. These legends and folklores are told and retold in villages and towns, while numerous programmes concerning the Revolution are held across the region. Of course, I had never thought of writing any book on it, though I’ve been a published author since 1996.
My earlier books concerned the academic field; while presently my major focus has now turned to history.
Once I read a book by a group of ‘big’ writers who described the revolutionary sepoys (native soldiers) as culprit. This word offended me greatly, I felt uneasy,and wanted to do something about it, so I approached the National Book Trust India, and expressed my sentiments with a desire to write a book on the topic.With their nod, started my ever-going research on this topic, and now I have three books on it. This research continues even today.

When I was working on the first book – 1857 Kranti Va Krantidhara, published by the NBT in 2017, I came to know about Swami Dayanand’s role in the Uprising, yet I could gather no substantial evidence.

After this book, I started toresearch about Swami Dayanand in earnest, gathered many pieces of evidence, but did not reach the level to arrive at any credible inference. I was yet working on it when some friends and newspapers came to know about my effort, and their curiosity pressured me that I write a book with whatever material I had. While my research was yet incomplete. I gave in to their request, and distributed a few self-published copies, but that did not declare that Swamiji and none else was surely the harbinger of this massive occurrence. With no clue to work further, I widened the scope of my work on the Uprising. Now I started work for my next book concerning the Tawaifs’ role in the freedom struggle, now published as Dance to Freedom. I was in Kanpur in connection with its research, and it was then that I stumbled upon a vital piece of evidence which opened a new vista about Swami Dayanand’s role. Finding altogether a new direction to work, some new facts emerged which helped to complete this book. This research went on for a total of six years. This book is now published in both English and Hindi by esteemed publishers of the country; the former as Swami Dayanand and the 1857 Revolution by Srishti Pub., and the latter as Mahrishi Dayanand aur 1857 Kranti by Atlantic Pub.

Frontlist: The book highlights the role of Swami Dayanand Saraswati in the revolutionary period. What historical evidence or sources led you to examine his involvement more closely?

A.K: Several authors before me have declared that Swamiji was involved in the Revolution, but none of them had any substantial evidence to present, so for me, this work started like a wild goose chase. This was one reason that it took me such a long time. The entire gamut of historical evidence, including circumstantial evidence, which I gathered is included in the book. The most important fact is the universally acknowledged absence of any clue about three years of Swamiji’s life; and my research focused on this point for the most part. This brought out some very convincing and interesting but proven facts by which the coincidence was established. The more I dived, the more pearls I was able to gather.

Frontlist: The symbolism of the chapatti and the lotus is a fascinating aspect of the 1857 Uprising. Could you explain their significance in mobilising resistance against British rule?

A.K.: The 1857 Uprising has several mysteries about it, one of which surrounds the chapattis and lotuses being distributed to disseminate information among those planning and participating in the revolution. It is amazing to note the extent of this movement in which common people, village heads and leaders were involved across North India, and all this went so secretly that the English imperialists, despite their best efforts, could find no head or tail about it.

The chapatti and lotus movements, when seen together with other proven occurrences like the jungle meeting at Mathura and the 1855 Kumbh Mela, prove quite convincingly that there was some sort of planning. The way the Uprising erupted at Meerut on May 10, 1857 and the way thousands of people gathered in no time and started the upheaval, which forced the sepoys to ultimately rise, confirms the efficacy of these seemingly low-level mass movements.

Frontlist: Many historical narratives of the 1857 Uprising focus on well-known figures like Rani Lakshmibai, Tatya Tope, and Mangal Pande. How does your book expand the conversation by bringing attention to overlooked personalities?

A.K.: In my childhood, my Granddad told me stories every evening after dinner.These included the tales of known and unknown heroes. When I turned towards writing history, my primary focus from the very first book was on the unsung heroes. The laurels of Rani Lakshmibai, Tatya Tope and Mangal Pande are well-known, but the exploits of Shahmal, Rao Kadam Singh, Dhan Singh, Dharman Bibi, Azizan Bai, and numerous more have gone unsung. Even old men, women and Tawaifs have done their bit and made great sacrifices so we can live in freedom. For this purpose, I worked not only in Meerut, but also in Kanpur, Lucknow and Jagdishpur (Bihar). In each region, there are scores of unsung heroes. It is my solemn effort to bring to the fore as many of them as I can.

Frontlist: As a historian writing in both Hindi and English, how do you approach balancing scholarly research with engaging storytelling for readers?

A.K: The art of storytelling is quite distinct in the two languages. As for me, I focus on the middle and upper class for my English books, while my Hindi books focus on the local people curious about their local history. This also changes my approach to writing. Keeping in view the likely readership, I quote most of the original evidence for the English readers because they mostly look for a masterly description; while for my Hindi readers, I tone down a bit so as to be intelligible to the readers who read my books out of curiosity than for pinpointed research, and if needed, I also interpret an evidence. Of course, I leave no facts hidden from both sections of readers. Interestingly, the primary sources of my stories in many cases have been villagers and the travellers in lower classes of railways and local buses in which I travel when looking for a new story. I may say that our rural populace across regions possesses deep-rooted wisdom which is seldom expressed in the urban people. When I see my books in possession of university research scholars, a deep satisfaction envelops me.

Frontlist: Your work attempts a post-colonial reconstruction of events. Why do you think revisiting historical narratives through a post-colonial lens is important today?

A.K.: Each new ruler tries to set the narrative which suits him the best. We have seen this in operation for several centuries, right from Delhi sultans to Mughals to imperialist masters. Unfortunately, this trend continued for a few decades after 1947 too, when the historians depended solely on the English works and repudiated the local sources to the extent of describing them as useless. Their works have concealed, deformed and vitiated our history to serve their vested interests.

In the recent decades, people have made a solemn, unbiased effort to bring true history to the fore, bringing about a new turn in understanding our history. In this view, post-colonial research and writing becomes vital to trace our history. I feel obliged to work in this direction, and I often find that people are eager to tell their stories. I would also like to caution in this regard. There is need to correct our history without agenda. Some people, out of selfish interests, are trying to create a history that never took place. We will have to guard against them too.

Frontlist: Having served as a mentor under the Prime Minister Yuva Mentorship Scheme during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, how do you see the role of young writers in re-examining and preserving India’s history?

A.K.: As the mentor under this ambitious scheme initiated by the Prime Minister, our task has been to bring to the fore the stories and exploits of our unsung heroes, which I had been doing anyway even earlier. Under it, young authors are motivated, guided and aided to research about the unsung men and women. This has helped bring a new perspective to the fore. This has started a new trend altogether as I can now see that many publishers are also working in this direction. I am proud to say that three young writers under my mentorship have been published by the NBT India. I was also one of the earliest juries of the scheme.

Frontlist: What do you hope readers will learn or rethink about India’s freedom struggle after reading Swami Dayanand and the 1857 Revolution?

A.K.: My objective is simple: let truth emerge from the dark chambers of suppression and spread the true light of glory of our beloved, ancient nation. I should state here that the Arya Samaj, founded by Swami Dayanand, has taken cognizance of my work. They were already making a film on the topic before they came to know about me. Impressed by my work, they have included my name in the credit section of the film, which they say will be released shortly. Of course, two of its songs have already been released. They have also promised that the next part of the film will be largely based on my work. They have also invited and honoured me in their several programmes. This effort has certainly helped people modify their attitude towards history.