Published Paper Details:

Ruskin Bond's 1975 novella A Flight of Pigeons is a work of historical fiction set in Shahjahanpur during British-ruled India, unfolding against the turbulent backdrop of the 1857 uprising. Bond revives the real-life story of Ruth Labadoor and her family, tracing their struggle for survival amid the violence that erupted during the First War of Indian Independence. Through his narrative, he captures the disorderly socio-political environment shaped by decades of colonial exploitation and domination. The novella portrays the unrest and uncertainty that marked the Sepoy Mutiny, revealing the anguish endured by both Indians and the British-origin families caught in its wake. Bond reconstructs this volatile period primarily through the experiences of Ruth and her mother, Mariam Labadoor, whose personal journeys highlight the broader cultural and psychological dislocation of the time. A Flight of Pigeons not only recounts political and historical upheaval but also explores the emotional and mental trauma inflicted on individuals living through the anti-colonial struggle.This paper examines how the socio-political, historical turbulence of 1857 is mirrored in the theme of this novella, and how the oppressive colonial hierarchy ultimately rebounded to create suffering for British families residing in and around Shahjahanpur. Our study also investigates the impact of the resistance movement on the psychological state of the colonised subjects.