The Indian Movement of 1857-59 was a gigantic challenge to British political authority in India. It caused immense anxiety and alarm to the Whitehall, to Simla, to Calcutta and to those placed in other centres of British Administration in India, Speaking of it the famous British statesman, Disraeli, observed on the 30th September 1857: "On of the greatest calamities that ever befell this empire has fallen upon us ; it is in fact one of those great events which from epochs in the history of mankind......". It marked, indeed, a turning- point in the history of India and produced momentous con- sequences, though it was ruthlessly suppressed by the ruling authority.

The Kashi Prasad Jayaswal Research Institute was foun- ded by the Government of Bihar in 1951 for the purpose of promoting historical and cultural researches by undertaking explorations and excavations, by editing rare manuscripts preserved in and outside India and by publishing works of permanent historical value embodying researches of scholars. It started its work by undertaking excavations in Kumrahar, whose Quinquennial Report is being printed at present. It has published so far the Pramanavartika bhashya of Prajna karagupta and Dharmar apradipa of Durvaka which were both lost in India Abhidharmakoshabhashya of Vasuban dhu, so far known only from its Chinese translation, is in the press, as also Biography of Chag lo tsa-ba Chos rj: dpal, a Tibetan pilgrim-scholar, who visited Bihar in 1234-35 A.D.

With the publication of the present book on the Biogra- phy of Kunwar Singh and Amar Singh, the Institution is be- ginning its work of publishing books of permanent historical value. It is a happy coincidence that the publication of this work should synchronise with the Centenary Celebrations of the Freedom Movement.