The Last Mughal - Fall of a dynasty by william darlymple!

Book entirely revolves around Zafar and it covers events of revolts happend ONLY in Dehli .... not other places like Lucknow or kanpur or jhaansi....
BUT it is NOT biography of zafar but all the events happend in delhi in 57.. which revolve around him.....and critical analysis of these events...

this book has changegd my perspective regarding this war.. Earlier i used to think the war was for restoration of monarchy.... but infact it was much and i mean very much d/t collections of events.....

Auther William Darlymple was neutral except for his perhaps sympathy for Zafar......He was equally critical of actions of each party.... Like he had written about the massacre of christians comitted by revolt army..first time i came to know about..... although compared to the butchery and vandalism of britishers vindictiveness, it was far less...... then about legalized pillaging and plundering of Delhi by british army.. all it has covererd

One thing fascinating me now is that the unity displayed by the hindu and muslims at the time .... they considered themselves brothers of each and these English as Infidels and biggest catalyst of this bond was Zafar himself although he too have many shortcomings and shown them at crucial juctures of the revolt... ..... and it encompasses details of all that....

After the recapture of the city, Britishers exterminated almost entire royal family males, spared one left in conspicous poverty.. and converted old females into bawds and younger ones into prostitutes and courtesans.. gang rap and kidnapping was also happend with them..exception being only Zafar and his companions in prison in Rangoon....After Zafar's Death two of them became drug eddicts already in abject poverty...

Regarding Hindu Muslim Unity.. These were quite close till that time... doesn't mean all was green..but good overall...We can find feud in even each family... :)
Its after 57 that both communities gradually parted their way, also fueled by britishers and their curricular...and ultimately in result of partition and remained one in India in doubt and hatred....

If you want to see a completely d/t perspective about revolt then its worth to read...