History through Philately This day(10.07.2021) That year

*TODAY*

*Vellore Sepoy Revolt or Sepoy Mutiny*

In 1806, more than 50 years before the great Revolt of 1857, there was another soldiers’ led mutiny in the south. The Vellore Sepoy mutiny, though short-lived, was bloody and violent. For one long day, soldiers stationed at the historic fort of Vellore took up arms. Though this mutiny seems to have faded from our collective memory, it was indicative of the simmering dissent in the British barracks.

The Vellore Sepoy Mutiny is considered to be the first large-scale mutiny against the British which resulted in over 100 British officers getting wounded or dying. The trigger for this mutiny was also British highhandedness and the fear that at their heart, the British were trying to convert the soldiers they commanded.

In 1805, the new Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army of the British East India Company, General Sir John Cradock, embarked on an ambitious reform of the army’s disciplinary system. As a result of this, the Military Board approved a new, standardized regulation for the Madras army which dictated how sepoys should wear their uniforms and appear on duty. While this included generic rules like the need to have their beards and moustaches trimmed, it also required sepoys to ensure they had no ‘caste marks’ and wear a new kind of turban with leather embellishments. The last created a furore as leather was taboo for upper-caste sepoys of the Madras army. Many sepoys now believed that the Company was conspiring to convert them to Christianity.

In May 1806, a few soldiers who protested against this change in uniform were sent to Chennai’s Fort St. George where they were given public lashings and sacked from the army. Already angry, this ‘soldier’s rebellion’ was further instigated by the sons of the deceased Tipu Sultan, who nursed grudges against the British and helped the sepoys in their uprising.

The fort of Vellore was built around 1566 CE by the chieftains of Sadashiv Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire. In the mid-17th century, the fort passed through many hands. First, the Aravidus, the last dynasty that ruled Vijayanagara lost Vellore to the Bijapur Sultan then in 1676 CE, it was captured by the Marathas after a siege that lasted four and a half months. Eventually, the fort came under the charge of Dost Ali, the Nawab of Carnatic, before passing on to the British in 1760 CE. From this time, the fort would be linked with the fate of Tipu Sultan’s family. Vellore fort withstood Hyder Ali’s siege for two years from 1780-82 CE, and would later become the base for Lord Cornwallis’ march on Bangalore to defeat Tipu Sultan.

When Tipu Sultan was killed at Sringapatam during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1798-79 CE) and his kingdom handed back to the Hindu Wodeyar kings of Mysore, the British exiled Tipu’s surviving 13 sons, several daughters, their respective families and their entire entourage to the Vellore fort. They stayed in the palaces in Vellore fort and so played an important role in the Mutiny of 1806.

The Day of the Revolt

On 9th July 1806 CE, one of the daughters’ of Tipu Sultan was getting married. The sepoys used this as an excuse to enter the fort. As a sign of the revolt, they pulled down the British flag and hoisted the Royal Tiger Flag of Tipu. They also announced Tipu’s son Fateh Hyder as the new ruler.

In the early hours of July 10, the Indian sepoys attacked the European barracks within the fort, and by late morning they had killed over 100 British soldiers and ransacked their houses.

On receiving the news, the British commander, Colonel Robert Rollo Gillespie rushed with the Madras Cavalry, based 20 km away in Arcot, and charged through the gates attacking the Indian sepoys. The revolt was suppressed by noon resulting in the execution and court-martial of most of the mutineers.

As a result of the uprising, a court of inquiry was set up by the British, who decided to shift Tipu Sultan’s family to Calcutta, in isolation, so that they could be as far away from Vellore as possible. Meanwhile, the objectionable orders related to the dress code, that triggered the mutiny were also retracted. The news of the uprising shook up England so much that the then governor, William Bentick, and the Commander-in-chief of the Madras army, John Cradock, were both dismissed from their positions.

Sadly, the British didn’t quite learn from the Vellore mutiny about the need to be sensitive to Indian ways. Decades later, reports that the British were lining cartridges of the newly introduced rifles in animal fat would send soldiers across Meerut, Lucknow and the North up in arms!

*Tamilvanan Philatelist*

Courtesy : Mr Pratap Adtiya

* Mr. M.K. Krishnaya

Voorhees College was founded in 1898 as Arcot Mission College, when Arcot Mission High School was amalgamated to the University of Madras. The College is named after its benefactors, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph and Elizabeth Voorhees of the Reformed Church in America. The College was earlier known as Ralph and Elizabeth Voorhees college when it was a co-educational institution. 

In the late sixties, the College stopped admitting women students and dropped the names Ralph and Elizabeth and became known as Voorhees College. The college began offering master's level courses in 1975. The College is managed by the Church of South India, Diocese of Vellore.

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SIPA Second Sunday Monthly Meet 

Date: 11/07/2021.

Time: 10.45 am to 12.15 pm

Mode: Virtual.

Agenda:

# Welcoming members.

# The monthly news/events.

# A PPT by Mr Mohanchandran Nair on *'Travancore Postal History'* (Part 1)

# *'Walk the Talk'* by Mr S V Ramakrishnan

# Any other matter.

# Vote of Thanks 

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Topic  : South India Philatelists' Association (SIPA)

Start Time : 2021-07-11 10:30 AM India Standard Time

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*July 10 birth anniversary of Nikola Tesla*

The Serbian American engineer born on July 10 1856 at Smiljan  Croatia  discovered and patented the generation,  transmission and distribution of polyphase system of  alternating current (AC)

Tesla designed the first large scale  AC hydroelectric power plants in the World  at Niagara Falls. USA 

He invented the  Tesla motor (1883) and  Tesla coil used in (1891)

His works influenced development of  x ray's ,  radios, television, radars,  lasers , robotics 

He was awarded  the Edison Medal in 1917

Tesla a unit used to measure the strength of magnetic fields 

Tesla Motors, the electric car start-up promoted by Elon Musk are named after the visionary  innovator 

A seven-foot tall statue of Tesla at  Palo Alto, California unveiled December 7, 2013 hosts a free Wi-Fi hotspot and a time capsule

#1 FDC issued by Croatia Post on June 30, 1993 for  the 50th death anniversary of Nikola Tesla.

#2 FDC issued by Serbia Post on September 15, 2018 under Serbia India Joint issue. 

The stamp features Nikola Tesla of Serbia and Swami Vivekananda of India.

Nikola Tesla first met Swami Vivekananda in 1895 facilitated by French actress Sarah Bernhardt 

An OPE by Dr. M.K.Sudhakar MD Philatelic Hobbyist and Life Member SIPA Chennai 

Happy viewing Happy collecting 

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*National Fish Farmers’ Day* is celebrated every year on 10 July, by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in association with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB). The event aims to draw attention to changing the way the country manages fisheries resources to ensure sustainable stocks and healthy ecosystems. This day is made to honour the fish farmers, aquapreneurs, fisherfolks, stakeholders and whoever else is associated in the fishery for their contribution in the fishery.

Courtesy: Mr.Bibhudatta Mishara

Born on this day, 1ofh July, Arthur Robert Ashe Jr. (July 10, 1943 – February 6, 1993) was an American professional tennis player who won three Grand Slam singles titles. He was the first black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open. He retired in 1980.

On this day, 10th July 1924, one of the greatest Olympians, Finland's  Paavo Nurmi, won the 1,500 and 5,000 m races with just an hour between these two races,  at the Paris Olympics.

Courtesy Mr.Abijith,SIPA , Chennai

On 10th July 1962, Telstar, the world's first communications satellite, is launched into orbit.

On 10th July 1962, Telstar, the world's first communications satellite, is launched into orbit.