Revolutionary Rush

By Sabrina Bhattacharjya

Discovering “Hamilton” at six was more than just an introduction to a Broadway hit; it was a doorway into the profound depths of American history. The line from the musical, “History is happening in Manhattan, and we just happen to be in the greatest city in the world,” sparked a realization within me. Though the setting was different, Lexington, Massachusetts; my hometown, held its own historical significance, particularly with its annual Patriots’ Day reenactment that brought the American Revolution to life right before my eyes. These reenactments were more than historical playacting; they were immersive experiences that connected me to the past in a visceral way. The authentic sights and sounds of these events deepened my appreciation for history, driving me to explore further, beyond the boundaries of children’s activities into more comprehensive historical explorations.

Along with being an avid history enthusiast, I also identify as Asian American. The first shot is charged with so much American spirit, that it brought my family here, to the United States. Whenever I look at the Battle Green, I think about how many people it has inspired, and how many lives it has changed. Some of those lives were my grandparents. Who in the 60s, immigrated from India, to both Boston and New York. One of my grandfathers was a doctor, and the other was an engineer.  My parents grew up in these places, and live a life similar to those of many Lexingtonians today. 

It soon became evident that the historical richness of Lexington was not as well-known among my peers who were similar to my parents. When my parents were younger, both visited Lexington for the bicentennial, which made me understand how much our little town has impacted the world. But I learned that even those in our own town don’t know about America’s big birthday coming up. This gap in awareness throughout my peers motivated me to take action, leading to the creation of my website, Lexington250.com. I created this platform to merge the past with the present.

It started out with a couple t-shirts: telling stories about the night before. They had sayings like, “Don’t Forget William Dawes”, the other rider with Paul Revere the night of April 18th, 1775. Another one of our most popular shirts was, “Paul Revere Was Real”, because many of my classmates thought he was a myth. They would live off of Paul Revere or Revere road and not know the story behind their own address. That’s what I wanted to do: tell the stories, and make them come alive. That’s what Liberty’s Kids and Hamilton did for me. I saw history play out while I was walking down the street. I loved finding out the little stories, like the one of William Dawes, who was a rower, which was a great connection since I also row. Or the story of Dolly Hancock, who told off John Hancock the night of the Midnight Ride. 

All of these untold stories I loved. But for many of my peers, they couldn’t connect to these stories. Mainly because the differences with them and the historical heroes, were ones of gender and/or ethnicity. I know this sentiment is one that many in Lexington feel, being Asian American in a town that was always in a binary of black or white. I’m in a town with such a rich history, yet many of today’s population has trouble seeing ourselves in it, therefore denote it as unimportant. But it’s what I call, “Revolutionary Rush”, the feeling of pride you have in the people who came before you, that brings all of us in the Lexington community together. 

There’s a concept in philosophy called umwelt. It’s the idea that everyone sees the world differently, because of our life experiences. That’s why some linguists believe it’s so beautiful that we agree on definitions for words, because all of us can look at something differently yet agree. That’s what I believe about history. Sure, it’s nice to see someone who looks like you as a role model, but knowing you had the same revolutionary rush as someone before you is an unmatched feeling. If we’re not inspired by others, then how are we going to engage in these revolutionary acts? That’s one of my goals with Lexington250, is for anyone to either resonate with the revolutionary rush or look at a mirror and look at me and say, “I relate, I get it. I feel it.”

With Lexington250, Patriots’ Day became a focal point of my year. A day that epitomized the living history I needed to share. From starting the day with traditional hasty pudding which I learned how to make with the Lexington Historical Society to reenacting William Dawes’ midnight ride on my rowing machine; these activities were my own personal tribute to the past. I feel the revolutionary rush coarse through my body. In 2023, my participation in the Midnight Ride reenactment as Elizabeth Clarke was particularly meaningful, offering me a direct link to the historical events that shaped our nation. Being put in Elizabeth’s shoes allowed me to understand what it would be like, because of our similarities in age and gender.

If you can imagine Lexington Downtown on half days around the time of the bicentennial, you would imagine kids getting ice cream and hanging out on Battle Green throwing baseballs and having a good time. Times have changed; if you were to come to Lexington Downtown on a half day today, you would see kids getting bubble tea, hanging out in the library, playing Spikeball, and lots of laughter. With conversations in all languages from Mandarin, to Italian, to Hindi. Today you would see so many different skin tones, accents, and voices, it would be unrecognizable. But what makes it recognizable? The town’s roots, and the town’s history. It’s the same green they’re having sweet treats on, and Buckman Tavern in the background. This revolutionary rush is what makes Lexington so special, along with the change that has happened in the last 50 years contrasted with the similarities. 

Through Lexington250 and my active role in the Lexington community, I aim to bridge the historical gap, making the past not just a series of events to be remembered but a narrative to be experienced and valued by everyone. I’ve updated my website now so it’s not just merch, but it’s accessible to everyone. For me, it’s important that people can see the revolutionary spirit in Lexington, even if they can’t visit. While we’ll always have merch, it’s an informational site that has the stories of Lexington, along with events around town, and even theories about how Taylor Swift is talking about their American Revolution. 

Next time you’re around Battle Green, think about how it has impacted your life. Like for me, it brought my grandparents here, allowing me to continue on the revolutionary legacy and feel the revolutionary rush. For some, they might have spent quality time with a parent there, or someone who had relatives that were on the battlefield on April 19th, 1775. This is the revolutionary rush, and it’s what made history come alive for me. (To continue reading the entire story, please visit the website: https://caal-ma.org/immigrationstories)

It doesn’t matter what your background and past experiences are to understand what’s happened in the place you are before you, to feel the revolutionary rush. History, as I’ve come to understand it, is not merely about memorization, but about the ongoing narrative we all share and contribute to. As an Asian American, contributing is the best way we can be an active part of our communities. It’s how we can make history come alive, ensuring that the stories of our past resonate with the present and inspire future generations to hear and uphold our shared heritage.