Villagers burning Themselves to avoid the Pindharis, 1815 (litho)

Villagers burning Themselves to avoid the Pindharis, 1815. The Pindharis were bodies of marauding outlaws composed of all castes and classes, which arose out of the troubles following on the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. A century later their ravages in Central India were so cruel and severe that the inhabitants of whole villages sacrificed themselves and their wives and children by fire rather than allow the latter to fall into the freebooters' hands. This led to their forcible suppression in 1818, under Lord Minto. Illustration for Hutchinson's History of the Nations (Hutchinson, c.1920). Note: Image has been digitally enhanced to facilitate repro.