A Muslim conspiracy in British India? : politics and paranoia in the early nineteenth-century Deccan / Chandra Mallampalli
- Author
- Mallampalli, Chandra, 1965-
- Published
- Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2017.
- Physical Description
- 1 online resource (xi, 240 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).
Access Online
- Contents
- The fear of itinerant Muslims -- Prince Mubariz ud-Daula -- A fondness for military display -- A diamond in the trough -- Slaying men with faces of women -- Conclusions.
- Summary
- As the British prepared for war in Afghanistan in 1839, rumours spread of a Muslim conspiracy based in India's Deccan region. Colonial officials were convinced that itinerant preachers of jihad - whom they labelled 'Wahhabis' - were collaborating with Russian and Persian armies and inspiring Muslim princes to revolt. Officials detained and interrogated Muslim travellers, conducted weapons inspections at princely forts, surveyed mosques, and ultimately annexed territories of the accused. Using untapped archival materials, Chandra Mallampalli describes how local intrigues, often having little to do with 'religion', manufactured belief in a global conspiracy against British rule. By skilfully narrating stories of the alleged conspirators, he shows how fears of the dreaded 'Wahhabi' sometimes prompted colonial authorities to act upon thin evidence, while also inspiring Muslim plots against princes not of their liking. At stake were not only questions about Muslim loyalty, but also the very ideals of a liberal empire.
- Subject(s)
- Muslims—India—Deccan—History—19th century
- Paranoia—Political aspects—India—Deccan—History—19th century
- Conspiracies—India—Deccan—History—19th century
- Allegiance—India—Deccan—History—19th century
- Deccan (India)—Ethnic relations—History—19th century
- Deccan (India)—Politics and government—19th century
- India—History—British occupation, 1765-1947
- ISBN
- 9781108164634 (ebook)
9781107196254 (hardback)
9781316647233 (paperback) - Note
- Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 17 Jul 2017).
View MARC record | catkey: 34850385