The Siege of Krishnapur

The Siege of Krishnapur is a historical novel by English author J.G. Farrell, first published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 1973. Set during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the book is a chronicle of a siege on the fictional community of Krishnapur, home to a large population of British colonists. The events in the novel unfold from the colonists' perspective as their lives grow increasingly restricted by the new reality enforced by the Indian invaders. This serves as a commentary on the class system in India at the time, illustrating what life may have been like had the roles reversed and the British not been the ones enforcing the barbaric rules and relegating fellow citizens to second- (and third- and forth-) class status.

The book opens in the days leading up to the rebellion. Native Indians oppose their British rulers' recent decision to take up rifles, a move seen as a violation of the Indians' religious beliefs. Discord and dissent begin to stir through the town of Krishnapur.

Just off the boat from England, George Fleury and his sister mingle with the wealthy Dunstaples, whose daughter, Louise, becomes the object of George's affections. The Fluerys also count among their friends the district magistrate—known as the Collector—named Mr. Hopkins, whose wife is in the process of moving back to England. The group of high-society friends dines and picnics and socializes with military leaders. During these outings, George encounters a Lieutenant Stapleton, who also harbors his own affections for Louise.



One day, the Collector starts seeing pieces of Indian chapati bread showing up around the soldiers' encampment outside of town. This, he thinks, is a sign of trouble on the horizon, though he can't be sure of the exact nature of the trouble in store. The Collector orders the building of ramparts in case of an attack, while he rushes to Calcutta to report the disturbing developments in Krishnapur.

But the officials do not listen. The Collector returns to Krishnapur, defeated, and shortly afterward, a violent rebellion in the nearby city of Kaptanganj decimates British forces. In Krishnapur, the British residents, soldiers, and others build fortifications and take shelter. Whenever the rebels attack, they send out a group of sepoys—native Indians paid by Britain to serve as soldiers—to fight back.

With the siege wearing on, pressures inside Krishnapur and among its residents reach a boiling point. There are disagreements over the distribution of what little food remains. There is also disagreement about the proper way to dispose of the mounting dead bodies.



But this proves to be the tip of the iceberg. Life in Krishnapur eventually whittles down to the barest essentials so the residents can survive the siege. Long-held ideas about culture, society, and religion become progressively less important as the townspeople just try to live from day to day.

But one man sees this as an opportunity. The Christian priest, or Padre, takes aim at George. He thinks George needs to renounce and confess his sins. He also takes an interest in the Collector, overzealously lecturing him about morality.

Meanwhile, even in the midst of the siege, love and sensuality blossom. George and Louise grow close, as a young man named Harry redeems a fallen woman named Lucy, who runs a teashop in Krishnapur. One day, during a tea party, a swarm of beetles attacks Lucy, and Harry and George remove the insects from her naked flesh.



Shortly thereafter, the Collector falls ill. The fortifications built by the colonists reduce to smaller and smaller sizes as the rebels close in. In a fevered haze, the Collector takes the Prime Minister and others hostage in hopes of warding off further rebel attacks, but gives up and lets them go.

Then, there is an outbreak of cholera. The town's two physicians, Dr. Dunstaple and Dr. McNab, cannot agree on how to best treat the illness. In a misguided attempt to win the argument, Dr. Dunstaple gulps down a vial of liquid prepared by a cholera victim, which inevitably kills him.

Fall arrives, and the rules of civil society are, by this point, largely ignored. The townspeople attempt to hold an auction, but an unscrupulous bidder gathers the remaining food rations for himself.



Finally, the siege reaches its climax. The rebels have forced the residents of Krishnapur into their last fortification: the town banquet hall. With no weapons at their disposal, the cornered group uses anything they can find to defend themselves, including rocks and statues. Just as they position themselves to go on the defensive, the British army arrives and saves them from the rebels.

Years go by, and George and the Collector run into one another in London. George finds the Collector greatly changed by what happened in Krishnapur, his Victorian ideals forever altered by the siege.