Pathan Rising: Jihad on the North West Frontier of India 1897-1898

Mark Simner

Jan 2017 · Fonthill Media

About this ebook

 Pathan Rising tells the story of the large-scale tribal unrest that erupted along the North West Frontier of India in the late 1890s; a short but sharp period of violence that was initiated by the Pathan tribesmen against the British. Although the exact causes of the unrest remain unclear, it was likely the result of tribal resentment towards the establishment of the Durand Line and British 'forward policy', during the last echoes of the 'Great Game', that led the proud tribesmen to take up arms on an unprecedented scale. This resentment was brought to boiling point by a number of fanatical religious leaders, such as the Mad Fakir and the Hadda Mullah, who visited the various Pathan tribes calling for jihad. By the time the risings ended, eleven Victoria Crosses would be awarded to British troops, which hints at the ferocity and level of bitterness of the fighting. Indeed, although not eligible for the VC in 1897, many Indian soldiers would also receive high-level decorations in recognition of their bravery. It would be one of the greatest challenges to British authority in Asia during the Victorian era.

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About the author

 Mark Simner was born and lives in Staffordshire, England. He is a graduate of the University of Central England and a post-graduate of the University of Portsmouth. Since childhood he has held a strong interest in British military history, having been a keen researcher in the field for the past twenty plus years. His primary focus is on the period 1700 to 1945, although he also often examines events outside of this timeframe. 

In 2007 he setup the popular Victorian Wars Forum, which was followed by the Napoleonic Wars Forum in 2011. Both forums were born out of the desire to facilitate the online academic study of the numerous conflicts fought during the two periods. The international membership of the forums includes a number of academics and authors who are renowned within their fields of study. 

His first book, 'An Illustrated Introduction to the Battle of Waterloo', was published in May 2015. Since then he has written several other titles as well as numerous articles for various online and printed magazines and journals. 'Pathan Rising: Jihad on the North West Frontier of India 1897-1898' is due to be published in late 2016 while his next book, 'The Sirdar and the Khalifa: Kitchener's Re-conquest of Sudan 1896-1898', will be available from early 2017.