Bibighar is based on historical events, the Sepoy rebellion in India in the 1850's. The story is centered around the particular events at Cawnpore. The soldiers of the East India company had ordered their, until then, loyal native Sepoy conscripts to fire shells which had been packed with animal grease including beef and pig fat. The use of such products was against all or most of their religious beliefs and so they naturally refused. A British Officer attempted to force their compliance and even fired his pistol. This action infuriated the Sepoy and the rebellion had begun. In Cawnpore the rebellion was taken over by a supposed ally of the British and things snowballed from a siege to the attack on the party at the river where they had been promised safe conduct to the execution of the men and the imprisonment of the women and children. It was thought that the survivors would be ransomed for safe conduct but as the British neared the encampment the Sepoy were ordered to shoot them. The Sepoy refused and butchers were employed to enter the Bibighar (House of women) where they hacked the bodies to pieces and disposed of them down a disused well. Our story travels from here through India with two 11 / 12 year old boys as they escape the carnage, and with much help from Indian citizens, traverse over 1000 miles to Wellington where one of them has a sister at boarding school. The arduous trek sees the boys come into contact with wild dogs, cobras and flood but always they stay just a few steps ahead of their feared enemy. What was done in Cawnpore was horrendous, but reprisals by the British was perhaps even worse with many thousands of Indian citizens, many of whom were in no way involved in the rebellion, killed and tortured. This was truly a dark time for India and Britten who's soldiers for many years after shouted the battle cry "Remember Cawnpore."