In conclusion, I may add that I found no little difficulty in choosing a suitable title for the book. ‘Sepoy Mutiny’ or ‘War of Independence’ would be equally inappropriate, as it begs the very question which it is the main object of this book to discuss. I have selected the title ‘the Sepoy Mutiny and the Revolt of 1857 as in my opinion it correctly describes the essential nature of the movement, whatever view we might take of it. The word ‘revolt’ is used in its normal sense of casting off allegiance to the rulers, and does not convey any moral judgment such as disapproval or odium. In the absence of any better word, have also used the word ‘rebel in this purely etymological sense, to denote the Indians who took up arms against the British Government. No stigma is attached to this word. Every war of independence is bound to be a rebellion in this sense, and the rebels, or those who fight against the Government, are not necessarily a bad set, and may be the noblest persons or the greatest patriots for all we know. So would request my readers to take the words ‘revolt’ and ‘rebel’ in a colourless sense, and not to read in them more than is intended (Majumdar xii).
Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra. “Introduction.” The Sepoy Mutiny and the Revolt of 1857, 1963, pp. xi-xii.