THE PROFILE OF A SAINTLYREBEL 51 the course of events of 1857-59, one can understand why this pamphlet uses, 'the most insulting language to describe the British especially Queen Victoria' which has injured the sensitivity of modern scholars. R. Mukherjee, ibid, p.148. While G. Bhadra, is not very happy with such 'abusive condemnation of the 'whole chain of British colonial authority from the crown to the common soldiers and administrators'. For him the image of the 'good Queen' Victoria appears to have been ideal. Ibid, p.271. The lack of any 'sensitivity among these 'subalterns' about the way British wrote and behaved during this phase is really unfortunate. In fact the mujahideen and their leaders have offered such a stiff resistance to the British and had shown such deathless valour that after the suppression of the events of 1857 the entire class of the ma'afidar had become a suspect in the eyes of the British. As during the course of first regular settlement each confirmation of the ma'aafi was subject to their ma'afidar having displayed 'loyalty during 1857'. While even those who were hostile to the British or those who supported the rebels or even those who remained neutural, their grants were summarily confiscated or drastically reduced. For the role of mujahideen in 1857, see K.M. Ashraf, 'Muslim Revivalists and the Revolt, in P.C. Joshi' s (ed.) Rebellion, 1857, pp.71-102. An English translation of Risala-i Path Islam can be found in FSUP, vol.11, pp. 150-62. However, here the original Risala has been used. 30. Taib: 19: 1293-1311. 31. Taib: 21: 1377-1418. 32. Taib: 23: 1553-1570. 33. Taib: 25: 1737-1749. 34. Ibid, : 25: 1724-1727. 35. Ibid., 26: 1766-1812. 36. Taib: 28:1883-1909 for the versified account of ihefarman despatched to Nawab of Bareilly and verse nos.1910 - 1940 for the versified version of the [arzdasht of the Nawab in reply to thefarman; see also Farooqi, op.cit, pp.133-136.. 37. Taib; 30: 2024-2065, for coins and the despatch oifarman to various rulers, See Syed Moinul Haq, op.cit, p.544 &n. 38. For his activities in Rohilkhand region see Taib, 29: 1941-2023; and 31: 2066-2145. The British officers were also equally concerned about his movements, they too kept themselves informed about everything Shah was doing. In this connection letter from the Chief Commissioner of Oudh to the Secretary Govt. of India is worth mentioning: "the defeat of the rebels at Bareilly and Shahjahanpur drove Moulvi Ahmadullah Shah with his followers back into Oudh, where he was joined by Nurput Singh of Rohia. After reconnoitering Palee with a strong body of sawars, the Moulvi with nine guns and seven thousand men made a movement on the Thane of Palee, which he eiitered on the 22nd instant. From Hence he marched on to Sandee, and immediately threatened the position of the Commissioned Colonel Clarke at Dhurmpur. The circumstances in which Colonel Garke found himself thus suddenly placed, fully justified him in withdrawing all his civil officers to Futah Gurh at once before their retreat was cut-off". Letter No.373 (1858) dated 29th May, 1858 Foreign Secret Consultations, Nos:56-57, 25th June 1858, National Archives of India, New Delhi. 39. The best account has been provided by Syed Moinul Haq, who has utilized the account of Taib fully. See op.cit, pp.544-50.