The Bomb in Bengal
Recognized by historians
as the authoritative study of the beginning of the revolutionary movement in
Bengal, this book has won a wide audience on account of its clarity and readability.
It shows that the non-violent approach of Mahatma Gandhi was only one side of
the Indian nationalist movement. A new introduction discusses the differences
between the revolutionary terrorism of the early twentieth century, with its
clear anticolonial aim, and the millennial terrorism of the early twenty-first
century, which frequently targets innocent civilians.
Publishers’ description (first edition)
The Bomb in Bengal is a narrative history of the revolutionary
movement in Bengal from its origins around 1900 to the close of its first phase
in 1910. Many books and articles have been written about this period, some so
uncritically laudatory that legend has taken the place of fact. Heehs provides
a more accurate account than any found in previous narratives and also corrects
mistakes made by academic historians. But he has succeeded in making his book as
vivid and fast-moving as the events themselves. Heehs' approach is nationalist
in focus, narrative in form and chronological in presentation. By basing
himself entirely on primary sources, he avoids the documentary weakness of
commemorative histories. He shows that the nationalist approach still has much
to reveal about how men and women responded to the challenges of colonial rule.
While giving sufficient attention to the social, economic or political
background, he is concerned mainly with presenting the factual data in a
narrative that both academic and general readers will find accessible,
interesting and perhaps even inspiring. Heehs gives special attention to two
major problems in the study of the freedom movement that are of contemporary
relevance: the relationship between revolution and religion and the relative
importance of violent and non-violent methods. He shows that the violent
revolutionaries of the turn of the century had considerable impact on the
course of the freedom movement, but that their ideals and methods differed
significantly from those of today's terrorists.
Publisher’s description (second
edition)
This book describes a moment in history
which became a landmark on the map of the anticolonial struggle, but which
nationalist historiography did not sufficiently engage with – the revolutionary
movement in Bengal. Looking closely at primary sources, the author lays the
ground for a differential understanding of the use of violence. He argues that
violent revolutionaries at the turn of the century had a considerable impact on
the anticolonial movement, and their ideas and methods differed significantly
from those using violence at the interface of religion and politics today. A
new introduction situates the central concerns of the book against very recent
events in world history which have changed the way terrorism is viewed today.
Reviews
[The book] is a most readable narrative.
Heehs is able to bring out the idealism, patriotism and religious fervour which
took the young revolutionaries smilingly to the gallows.
Aparna
Basu, Business Standard (Mumbai)
A commitment to factuality is not the only
secret of this highly readable work. An exemplary restraint and a very subtle
and mature wit underlying the narrative ably contribute to its magic.
Manoj
Das, The Statesman (Kolkata)
Where uncritical legend has taken the
place of fact, Heehs provides a probably more accurate account than any found
in previous narratives and also corrects mistakes make by academic historians.
. . . While giving sufficient attention to the social, economic or political
background, Heehs’s concern with presenting the factual data in narrative form
is bound to make the volume accessible, interesting and perhaps inspiring to both the academic and
the lay reader.
Sudarshan
Sathianathan, Journal of the Royal
Asiatic Society
The book is written in a far less formal
style [than another one reviewed] and can be described as a “good read.” . . .
Heehs’s description of the trial in the Alipore Conspiracy Case and of the conditions
in jail . . . are excellent. . . . This book will be of value to those
interested in the history of British India and of Bengal. It should be in
libraries of institutions offering courses in South Asia.
Craig
Baxter, Journal of Asian Studies
[Heehs’s] goal is to provide an
authoritative account that is accessible to the non-academic reader, albeit one
founded firmly on primary sources. He uses judicial and police documents as
excellent supplements to the more traditional government records, native press,
and participant accounts. . . . On balance . . . this study is a positive
contribution to the history of revolutionary terrorism in India prior to World
War I and of the relationship between revolution and religion. Gandhi’s
campaign of nonviolent protest did not reflect the philosophies of Indian
nationalists. Heehs reminds us that Aurobindo Ghose was proud that he was
“neither an impotent moralist nor a weak pacifist.”
Heather
T. Frazier, The Historian