Keywords
Coloniser
Colonised
Prize
Authority
Systematic Loot
Fear Psychosis
How to Cite
Abstract
This article examines the aftermath of the 1857 revolt by studying photographs and lithographs, highlighting their significance as historical records in post-revolt Delhi. With written documentation constrained by censorship, fear, and suppression, visual sources emerged as crucial tools, capturing cultural, architectural, and social dynamics with a vividness that textual records lacked. Treating archives as both subjects and sources, and reading them "against the grain," the study delves into the silenced narratives and omissions in colonial archives, revealing the mentality of the Raj. Images and lithographs bridged the void left by suppressed accounts, reflecting both the resistance and suffering of the period. Following the 1857 uprising, British colonial policy in Delhi extended beyond control and annexation to a deliberate strategy of symbolic dominance and psychological suppression. British forces employed severe measures not only to suppress the rebellion but also to dismantle Delhi’s cultural heritage, intending to erase resistance from public memory and reinforce imperial supremacy. The formal involvement of "prize agents" turned private raids into state-sanctioned acts of looting, with many artifacts ending up in museums or being sold in public auctions. This extensive plundering was more than physical acquisition; it symbolized a psychological conquest over Delhi’s people, asserting British dominance by transforming culturally significant objects into ‘trophies’ of imperial achievement. The removal of these objects from their original contexts and their display in foreign museums redefined them as symbols of British authority, intended to provoke awe and reinforce the colonial regime’s power among both colonisers and the colonised.
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