Henry Beveridge was a Scottish historian and colonial administrator whose comprehensive histories of India remain valuable sources for understanding the subcontinent’s past. A distinguished member of the Bengal Civil Service, he combined administrative duties with serious historical scholarship.
A Comprehensive History of India
Beveridge’s most ambitious work was his three-volume A Comprehensive History of India, published in 1862. Written just five years after the Sepoy Mutiny, this sweeping narrative covered India from ancient times through the rebellion and its aftermath. The work is notable for:
Lala Lajpat Rai, known as Punjab Kesari (Lion of Punjab), was one of the most influential figures in India’s struggle for independence. A fiery orator, prolific writer, and fearless leader, he dedicated his life to the cause of Indian freedom and social reform.
The Lal Bal Pal Trio
Lajpat Rai formed one-third of the famous Lal Bal Pal triumvirate, alongside Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. Together, they represented the rise of militant nationalism in the Indian National Congress, advocating for Swaraj (self-rule) and rejecting the moderate approach of petitioning the British for reforms.
Sarojini Naidu, known as the “Nightingale of India,” was a poet, political activist, and one of the foremost leaders of India’s independence movement. She was the first Indian woman to become President of the Indian National Congress.