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Unit 8: A Flight of Pigeons by Ruskin Bond-Detailed Study

of the war, those who do not actually take up arms, but are silent sufferers as a result of it. Notes
Those who need to survive it all, with dignity, and re-build their lives. Those who have no
wish for the violence around them, and who would rather go quietly about their lives in
peace. The civilian victims, the women and the children. Often those who lose the most.
This book deals with some such survivors. It is historical fiction, which, according to the
writer, may be based on fact. On actual events that probably took place during the 1857
uprising against British rule.

A study of the 1857 uprising is usually from the point of view of the Indian participants. We
speak about Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, Nana Saheb, and the like. And that is
but natural when we speak of it as an uprising. But the British looked at it as the mutiny,
being the rulers at the time.
In this book, the story is told from the point of view of Ruth Labadoor, a teenage British girl,
who witnesses the massacre of British civilians in the church in the town of Shahajahanpur,
including that of her father, at the hands of Indian militants.
Ruth and her mother, Miriam, grandmother, aunt and cousins are given refuge in Lala Ramjimal’s
house. They are tracked down there by Javed Khan, who has been enamoured of Ruth, since
before her father’s assassination. He forces the women to come to stay in his household, much
to the chagrin of his wife, who is aware of his intentions. Which according to what he tells
Ruth’s mother, are honourable. He intends to marry Ruth, but he is willing to wait till Miriam
gives her permission.
Javed Khan thus becomes an unlikely hero, whose passion for Ruth, combined with the surprising
restraint he shows in waiting for her mother’s permission keeps them safe through the days
of peril for the British women. Mariam does the best thing that she could do as a mother
fighting for her and her daughter’s survival—keeps him at bay with the assurance that he
could marry her daughter if the British fail in taking over Delhi, all the time hoping for the
victory of the British, as that would ensure their safety. She knows that if she had stood up
in open rebellion of him, she and her daughter would lose all chance of surviving honourably.

They had to spend the whole of 1857, and many months of 1858, in Javed Khan’s household.
We are told early in the book, that Miriam’s mother is a girl from a Nawab family from
Rohilon-ka-Rampur, married to a British officer. They therefore have Indian cultural roots,
and integrate quite easily. They spend all their time in the zenana of Javed Khan, working as
members of the household.
Except for Javed Khan’s wife, Khan Begum, who dislikes their presence for obvious reasons,
the rest of the women of the household soon get attached to them. They get invited to spend
a few months at Khan-Begum’s sister Qamran’s and Javed Khan’s aunt Kothiwali’s place.
Miriam is only too happy to take them up on their invitations, as it means that she can be safe,
yet not worry about Javed Khan’s repeated proposals for Ruth’s hand.
It is at Qamran’s place that a relative comes with the news of a prophecy made by Mian Saheb,
a Pir (holy man).

‘…that the restoration of the Firangi rule was as certain as the coming of doomsday. It would
be another hundred years, he said, before the foreigners could be made to leave. “See, here
they come!” he cried, pointing to the north where a flock of white pigeons could be seen
hovering over the city. “They come flying like white pigeons which, when disturbed, fly
away and circle, and come down to rest again. White pigeons from the hills!” …’
This prediction of Mian Saheb comes true, luckily for Miriam and Ruth. The British take over
Delhi, and the uprising is put down. The British army then moves to take back every town,
every post from where it has been ousted.

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