Latest news with #Revoltof1857
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Operation Sindoor 'just an arrow in the quiver': Modi
Karakat (Bihar)/Kanpur: Prime Minister on Friday likened terrorism to a serpent to issue a stern warning 'terror will be dragged out of its hole and trampled if it tries to raise its hood again'. Hours later, he also said Operation Sindoor was "just an arrow in the quiver" of India and was not over yet. Addressing rallies in Bihar's Karakat and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said that India demonstrated the power of its indigenous weapons during Operation Sindoor, which made "Pakistan plead to stop the war". He asserted that the Indian armed forces have reduced to rubble the hideouts of those who had masterminded the Pahalgam attack, sitting in Pakistan. In Karakat, Modi said the enemy must realise that Operation Sindoor was "just an arrow in our quiver. The war on terror is neither over nor has it come to a halt". "If terror tries to raise its hood again, it will be dragged out of its hole and trampled," he added. He also said the "power of sindoor (vermilion) worn by India's daughters was witnessed by Pakistan and the entire world. Terrorists used to feel secure under the protection of the Pakistani army. But we brought them to their knees. We also destroyed Pakistan's airbases and their military establishments. This is new India (Naya Bharat), and its power is there for all to behold". In the course of his speech, he made a mention of BSF sub-inspector Mohammed Imtiaz, a resident of Saran district, who died fighting for the country in Jammu and Kashmir, and likened his sacrifice to the valour of Veer Kunwar Singh, the legendary king of Jagdishpur in Bihar who is considered one of the heroes of the Revolt of 1857. From Bihar, Modi went to Uttar Pradesh, where he addressed a rally in Kanpur after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for some developmental projects and said he was to attend the programme on April 24 but had to cancel it due to the Pahalgam terror attack two days prior. As many as 26 people, including Kanpur businessman Shubham Dwivedi, died in the dastardly attack at the verdant meadows of Baisaran in Pahalgam. In retaliatory action, India struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir two weeks later, which triggered a four-day military standoff with the neighbouring country. Modi began his speech by referring to the Pahalgam massacre and said, "Kanpur's son Shubham Dwivedi also became a victim of that barbarity." "We all can feel the pain, suffering and anger of our daughter Aishanya (Shubham's widow). The world witnessed the same anger of our sisters and daughters in the form of Operation Sindoor." "Operation Sindoor is not over yet. It showed the world power of indigenous weapons and Make in India. We destroyed terrorist hideouts in Pakistan by going hundreds of miles inside. Indian weapons, BrahMos missiles entered the enemy territory and wreaked havoc," Modi told the rally. The Prime Minister said the heroics of the Indian armed forces forced the Pakistani Army to "plead to stop the war" and asserted that India would no longer be intimidated by the threat of using nuclear bomb nor would it make a decision on that basis. Saluting the bravery of the armed forces' personnel, the Prime Minister reiterated India's uncompromising stance against terrorism. "The enemy, which was pleading during Operation Sindoor, should not be under any illusion, Operation Sindoor has not ended yet," Modi said and added that Pakistan's ploy of state and non-state actors was not going to work anymore. Laying out India's three principles in the fight against terror, Modi said, "First, India will give a befitting reply to every terrorist attack with the timing, manner, and the condition of the reply to be decided by our armies themselves." "Second, India will no longer be scared of the threat of atom bombs nor would it make a decision on that basis. And third, India will see the masters of terror and the government patronising terror in the same light."
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Will Be Dragged Out Of Hole, Trampled If...": PM Modi Likens Terror To Snake
Karakat (Bihar): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday likened terror to a serpent, saying "if it raises its hood again, it will be dragged out of its hole and trampled". Addressing a rally in Bihar's Karakat, the prime minister asserted that Operation Sindoor was "just an arrow in the quiver" of India, and made it clear that the fight against terror was "neither over, nor has it come to a halt". PM Modi was addressing a mammoth rally in Karakat, around 140 km from the state capital, after inaugurating development projects worth close to Rs 50,000 crore. Recalling his rally in Madhubani district last month, he said, "I had come to Bihar a day after the dastardly attack in Pahalgam, where many of our sisters had lost their husbands. I had promised that the perpetrators would get a punishment that they could not even dream of. Today, I am back in Bihar, after having delivered on the promise". PM Modi also said, "The power of sindoor (vermilion) worn by India's daughters was witnessed by Pakistan and the entire world. Terrorists used to feel secure under the protection of the Pakistani army. But we brought them to their knees." He asserted that the Indian armed forces have reduced to rubble the hideouts of those who had masterminded the Pahalgam attack, sitting in Pakistan. "We also destroyed Pakistan's airbases and their military establishments. This is new India (Naya Bharat), and its power is there for all to behold," said the prime minister. PM Modi also said the enemy must realise that Operation Sindoor was "just an arrow in our quiver. The war on terror is neither over nor has it come to a halt". "If terror tries to raise its hood again, it will be dragged out of its hole and trampled," he added. The PM's averment assumes significance in the backdrop of criticism from some opposition parties that the government agreed to a "ceasefire" under pressure from the Donald Trump administration in the US. In his speech, PM Modi also made a mention of BSF sub-inspector Mohammed Imtiaz, a resident of Saran district, who died fighting for the country in Jammu and Kashmir, and likened his sacrifice to the valour of Veer Kunwar Singh, the legendary king of Jagdishpur in Bihar who is considered one of the heroes of the Revolt of 1857. Hailing the Border Security Force, the PM remarked, "Service to Ma Bharti has been supreme for BSF jawans". Speaking in a region that was once a hotbed of Maoist movement, the PM said, "Our fight is against all enemies of the nation, be they across the borders or deep within. The people of Bihar have been a witness to our drive against those who spread violence and unrest". "There were times when people were scared of coming out on streets as they never knew when and where they would run into naxals wearing facemasks and toting guns. Naxal-affected villages had no hospitals or mobile towers. "Schools used to be set on fire, and those involved in road construction got murdered. These people had no faith in Baba Saheb Ambedkar's Constitution," said PM Modi. After coming to power in 2014, the NDA government started addressing the malaise and Maoists being taken to task, PM Modi claimed. The number of districts affected by Maoist violence has come down from 125 to only 18, he said. "The government is constructing roads and creating jobs. The day is not far when Maoism will be rooted out and peace, prosperity, security and education will reach every village," he said. PM Modi also spoke about the steps taken by his government for the development of Bihar, where new airports were coming up and existing ones were getting a facelift. Indirectly referring to the RJD, the BJP's principal rival in the state, the PM said, "Those whose rule was responsible for large scale migration, are now faking social justice to grab power." "For decades, people had no access to toilets, nor did they have bank accounts. Crores of people did not have pucca houses. Was this the social justice that the RJD and its ally Congress speak of?" asked PM Modi. He alleged that the Congress and the RJD never cared for the sufferings of the people of Bihar. "They used to arrange tours for foreigners who were interested in seeing the poverty here. Now, when they have lost the trust of Dalits and backward classes because of their own sins, they are trying to play the social justice card," the PM claimed. PM Modi also underscored that Bihar, where assembly polls are due in a few months, "witnessed a new dawn of social justice after the NDA came to power in the state". "We have provided basic necessities to the people. We continue to strive and ensure that benefits reach cent percent of the intended beneficiaries," he added.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi's latest warning to Pakistan from Bihar: ‘Fight against terror has neither ended nor halted'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday warned Pakistan that Operation Sindoor was 'just an arrow ' in India's "quiver' and underlined that the war on terror is neither over nor has it come to a halt. 'The enemy has seen the power of Operation Sindoor. They should understand that this is just one arrow in our quiver," Modi said while addressing an event in Bihar's Karakat. 'India's fight against terrorism has neither stopped nor halted.' Modi also likened terror to a serpent, saying, 'If it raises its hood again, it will be dragged out of its hole and trampled'. The prime minister was addressing the rally in Karakat, around 140 km from Patna, after inaugurating development projects worth close to ₹50,000 crore. During the rally, Modi recalled his visit to Madhubani district last month after the Pahalgam attack on April 22 that left 26 people dead. 'I had come to Bihar a day after the dastardly attack in Pahalgam, where many of our sisters had lost their husbands. I had promised that the perpetrators would get a punishment that they could not even dream of. Today, I am back in Bihar, after having delivered on the promise,' Modi said. Further referring to India's Operation Sindoor, Modi said that Pakistan and the world have seen the power of "sindoor" (vermilion) of the daughters of India. Also Read | Kept word on punishing terror, says PM Modi in Bihar; delivers fresh warning He asserted that the terrorists felt safe under the protection of the Pakistan Army, but they were brought to their 'knees' by the Indian forces. "We also destroyed Pakistan's airbases and their military establishments. This is new India (Naya Bharat), and its power is there for all to behold," the prime minister said. Also Read | 'Operation Sindoor' not over yet, we have hit Pakistan thrice inside its home: PM Modi In his speech, Modi also made a mention of BSF sub-inspector Mohammed Imtiaz, a resident of Saran district, who died fighting for the country in Jammu and Kashmir, according to PTI. He likened his sacrifice to the valour of Veer Kunwar Singh, the legendary king of Jagdishpur in Bihar, who is considered one of the heroes of the Revolt of 1857.
Indian Express
10-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Why is the Revolt of 1857 important for UPSC?
Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today. (Relevance: The Revolt of 1857 is one of the most important chapters of Indian history. UPSC has asked Mains questions in GS I on this topic in 2016 and 2019. Prelims questions were also asked on these themes. Therefore, it becomes important to understand this topic.) The rebellion of 1857, also known as India's first war of Independence, began on May 10, 1857. In the revolt, Indian sepoys rose up against the might of the British officers of the East India Company. This revolt witnessed an extraordinary amount of violence unleashed by both sides. It ended the rule of the East India Company on India by an Act of Parliament known as the Queen's Proclamation of 1858. With this, the rule of the Indian empire was taken over by the British crown. 1. The immediate cause of the 1857 revolt, cited by historians, was sparked off by a rumour that the new Enfield Pattern 1853 rifle-musket issued to the sepoys of the East India Company came with a cartridge dipped in beef and pork fat, which made it anathema to both Hindu and Muslim sepoys, who had to bite open the cartridge to load the weapon. 2. On March 29, 1857, sepoy Mangal Pandey fired at a British officer, and his comrades refused to arrest him. This led to his court-martial, and he was ultimately hanged to death. After this, the incidents of disobedience, incendiarism, and arson were reported from the army cantonments in Ambala, Lucknow, and Meerut, until finally, the Meerut sepoys started the revolt on 10 May. 3. Sekhar Bandopaddhya has written in his book 'From Plassey To Partition' that 'the mutiny mainly affected the Bengal army; the Madras and the Bombay regiments remained quiet, while the Punjabi and Gurkha soldiers actually helped to suppress the rebellion.' The entire South India remained unaffected too. 4. Along with economic exploitation in the form of increased rents, illegal acquisitions of land, decline of traditional handicrafts, and increased interference of the Britishers in Indian affairs, the annexation of Awadh by Lord Dalhousie on the grounds of misgovernance of Awadh and failing to introduce reform had an adverse effect on Bengal Army, which mainly consisted of sepoys from this region. 5. Leaders across the northern region rose to provide the leadership. Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, assumed leadership in Kanpur, Begum Hazrat Mahal took control over Lucknow, Veer Kuwar Singh was the chief organiser from the Bhojpur region of Bihar, Khan Bahadur Khan in Rohilkhand, and Rani Lakshmibai appeared as the leader of the sepoys in Jhansi. 6. After the outbreak of the mutiny in Meerut, the rebels reached Delhi, and Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared the Emperor of Hindustan. Bahadur Shah Zafar was, however, imprisoned and was later brought back as a prisoner to Shahjanabad. Later, he was exiled to Rangoon after a trial against him for sedition against his own empire. Many of the royal princes and princesses lost their lives either while trying to escape or died in poverty. 📍Battle of Chinhat: The Battle was fought on June 30, 1857, in Chinhat, near Lucknow. The East India Company's army led by Sir Henry Lawrence, the Chief Commissioner of Oudh, against a 'small troop of rebels' led by sepoy mutineer Barkat Ahmad. With several of his men killed or wounded and the guns 'almost out of ammunition', Sir Henry Lawrence ordered to retreat. On July 2, Lawrence was mortally wounded by a shell splinter fired from the 8-inch howitzer that rebels had captured at Chinhat. He died two days later. The siege ended only in November after a relief mission led by the new commander-in-chief in India, Sir Colin Campbell. 📍The siege of Aarah: Soon after the events in Meerut, Delhi and Lucknow, the European residents of Aarah in Bihar too realised, like in any other parts of the country, that they were standing on shaky ground. On the morning of July 27 the rebel sepoys, joined by Kunwar Singh and his forces, arrive in Arrah. For the next eight days, the rebels continued firing at the fortified house where the European residents were staying. The rescue operation under Major Vincent Eyre, stationed in Buxar, was successful in defeating the rebel sepoys and forced Kunwar Singh, along with his men, to retreat and leave Aarah. 📍The Battle of Bareilly: The city of Bareilly was one of the strongholds during the rebellion of 1857 and remained so for nearly a year. Here, the resistance was led by an 82-year-old Khan Bahadur Khan. He put up a strong fight against Sir Colin Campbell, who was then the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army and marching towards Bareilly. In an action that lasted for nearly six hours and nearly cost the renowned war correspondent his life, the British forces were successful in making Khan's force retreat and take over the city. 1. The first ever Government of India Act of 1858 came after the 1857 War of Independence. The Viceroy of the Queen replaced the Governor-General of the Company as the supreme authority in India. 2. It made a commitment to 'respect the rights, dignity and honour of the native princes as our own'. It also promised religious toleration and proposed to govern Indians according to their established traditions and customs. 3. A new government department in London, the India Office, headed by the Secretary of State, was constituted. The Secretary of State was to be advised by a new Council of India located in London. With this, Indian affairs came under close and regular scrutiny of the British Parliament. (1) Who was the Governor-General of India during the Sepoy Mutiny? (UPSC CSE 2006) (a) Lord Canning (b) Lord Dalhousie (c) Lord Hardinge (d) Lord Lytton (2) What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victoria's Proclamation (1858)? (UPSC CSE 2014) 1. To disclaim any intention to annex Indian states. 2. To place the Indian administration under the British Crown. 3. To regulate East India Company's trade with India. Select the correct answer using the codes given below. (a) 1 and 2 (b) Only 2 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above (3) With reference to the 'Revolt of the year' 1857, which of the following was betrayed by friend captured and put to death by the British? (UPSC CSE 2006) (a) Nana Sahib (b) Kunwar Singh (c) Khan Bahadur Khan (d) Tantia Tope (Source: A History of Modern India by Ishita Banerjee-Dube and From Plassey to Partition by Sekhar Bandopaddhya) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for April 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘My great-grandmother fought with Rani Laxmibai': Colonel Sofiya Qureshi talks about her legacy in throwback video
In the wake of Operation Sindoor, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army has emerged as a household name, praised for her calm command and clarity during the press briefing that followed India's retaliatory strikes after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Qureshi led India's narrative from the front, not only outlining strategic details but also symbolising strength, unity, and national pride. But long before the world saw her at that podium, Colonel Qureshi's journey was deeply rooted in a legacy of military service — and, as it turns out, in revolutionary history. A resurfaced 2017 interview offers a compelling glimpse into her background, where she revealed a powerful ancestral connection: her great-grandmother, she said, had fought alongside Rani Laxmibai during the 1857 revolt. 'I am a Fauji kid, so I have been exposed to the Army environment, and not only that, my great-grandmother was with Rani Laxmi Bai, she was a woman warrior,' she said. 'My grandfather, who was also in the Army, he used to say, 'It is the responsibility of every citizen to be alert and stand up for our country and with the nation.'' This multi-generational tradition of service has clearly shaped her values. Raised in a military household, she says it was her mother who encouraged either her or her twin sister to join the forces. While Colonel Qureshi answered the call through the Indian Army, her sister, model and producer Shyna Sunsara, beamed with pride watching the televised briefing. 'We are Army kids. Women couldn't join the Army back then but even so both of us wanted to,' Shyna said to HTCity, adding how Sofiya found a way: 'She'd say, 'Main DRDO ke through scientist banke Army mein jaaungi!' Agar nahin, toh she would've joined the police.' The girls come from a line of fighters for the country. Furthermore, their family history reads like a timeline of Indian military service. 'My dad fought in the 1971 Bangladesh war. His father was in the Army, too. Humare chacha BSF mein thhe. Mere daada ke daada British Army mein the, who later joined the krantikaari ladai. Our daadi would tell us stories of him fighting in the Revolt of 1857 by Rani of Jhansi. Sofiya bhi Jhansi Ki Rani ki tarah bolti chali gayi briefing mein, woh uski inspiration rahi hain,' shared Shyna. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi was born in 1974 into a military family in Vadodara, Gujarat. She completed her Master's in Biochemistry from Maharaja Sayajirao University in 1997. Currently serving in the Mechanised Infantry of the Indian Army, she was the first Indian woman officer to lead an Indian contingent at the ASEAN Plus Multinational Military Exercise 'Force 18' in 2016. She was also the only female commander among the 18 participating nations, alongside her husband. As India watched her lead the Operation Sindoor briefing, few may have known that her presence at that moment wasn't just professional — it was deeply personal, woven through generations of courage, commitment, and quiet determination.
