The book deals with a comparatively less known history of the turmoils of 16 Zamindaris (estates) of the British District Sambalpur during the 1857 Rebellion. The role of the people in general and the Zamindars in particular, the sagas of their patriotism, sufferings and sacrifices are legendary. It spread over a large tract-from Sambapur to Koraput in the south-west and Raipur (Chhattisgarh) in the west. Importantly, the conflagration continued for 5 years (1857-’62), while it was suppressed elsewhere in India, under the leadership of Surendra Sai and his associates. With latest sources, an intensive treatment is given to the events and personages. The contributions of the book to the early phase of Freedom Struggle is significant.