Chapattis and the Revolt of 1857

Nothing interests me everyone more than a mystery or a conspiracy theory and when you hear a new one it deserves a mention.

The first major revolt against British in India was the revolt of 1857. The revolt started as a mutiny in the cantonment of Meerut. This mutiny soon converted into a revolt when local peasants also joined it and the target widened to include rich zamindars and jotedars who were seen as allies of British. 

The rebellion occured as the result of accumulation of a number of factors over time but the final spark was given by a rumor that cartridges used in the enfield rifles were pre-greased with cow and pig fat. 

This rumor further strengthened the people's belief in another rumor that British government is hatching a conspiracy to destroy the caste and religion of Hindus and Muslims. And then another theory begin to float that Britishers are mixing bone dust of cows and pigs in the flour.

And then there was a prophecy that British Raj will come to an end on the centenary of Battle of Plassey i.e. 23 June, 1857.

So what about chapatti?

The chapatti movement first came into attention in February 1857. Then reports started pouring from villages of North India and thousands of chapattis were passing from one hand to another. Usually a person would come from the jungle, give watchman a chapatti and would tell him to make 4 or 5 other chapattis and distribute to the next village. And then poor watchman would be running with chapattis in his turban without even knowing why he was doing this Now the interesting fact is that Indians  thought this as the work of British ,who themselves were clueless. 

Many explanations were considered such as a hidden message of coming revolt inside the chapattis. But the chapattis on inspection were found to be the normal one. There were reports of lotus and goat flesh also distributed with chapattis sometimes.

God knows or that man of Jungle, but till date the purpose of distribution of chapattis is not clear.