WRITING: 4/5 RESEARCH: 4.5/5 RELEVANCE: 4.5/5 OVERALL: 4.5/5
“The impact of money taken from India was, to quote Macaulay’, they inflated the price of everything from fresh egss to rotten boroughs. The deluge of Gold Mohurs shaken from the Pagoda tree dazzled the whole world.”
It’s been quite a contentious claim that our knowledge of Indian history has always been a bit half-baked. However, these days, much of the debate seems to revolve around ancient and medieval Indian history.
In such a scenario, it’s a rather welcome initiative when a book comes out discussing a recent episode in our pre-partition history.
The scale and depth of the Indian Independence movement’s history are such that volumes upon volumes could be written detailing the many freedom fighters, movements, leagues, conferences, and various national and local incidents. Therefore, it’s often a topic best taught at a somewhat superficial level in our textbooks.
This book by Krishna Kumar, “1942: When British Rule in India Was Threatened,” delves a little deeper into India’s struggle for Independence and provides great detail about the year 1942—a year that profoundly shook the very foundations of the British Empire in India.
The book is part of a series of books on Indian history aptly titled “Rapid Reads,” each of which aims to present comprehensive insight and detailed analysis on specific events in Indian history. This book, at just 168 pages, is the first of its kind in the series and relies heavily on extensive research that the author refers to throughout the book and mentions in the resources listed at the end of it.
What is the book all about?
In just eight concise chapters, the author skilfully navigates through the entire narrative. The book elucidates how by the close of 1805, a significant portion of India had fallen under the dominion of the British Empire, siphoning off a substantial fraction—approximately one-third to one-fourth—of the annual revenue of the Government of India back to England.
This exploitation reached its zenith in subsequent years, particularly during the World Wars, when Indian soldiers were dispatched far and wide to fight Britain’s battles across the globe. Meanwhile, essential resources such as manpower, machinery, and sustenance were continually exported, leaving the local populace destitute and severely malnourished.
The author meticulously delineates how “the army served as both a tool of oppression within India and a shield to safeguard British rule elsewhere.” The British projected an aura of invincibility, buoyed by their superior war machinery, sophisticated training methods, formidable naval prowess, and advanced military technology. However, while they remained vigilant against threats from Russia and other quarters in the northwest of India, they woefully neglected their defences in the northeast.
Underestimating the Japanese proved to be a grave miscalculation on the British part. Consequently, when the Japanese launched their assaults on Singapore, Malaya, Hong Kong, and Burma in 1942, the British found themselves woefully unprepared to defend these prized possessions in the British Empire.
The book then dives into the further bombing of Indian cities like Calcutta, Vizag, and Madras, which further exposed the vulnerabilities of the British. Additionally, the formation of the Indian National Army added to the Empire’s troubles.
The book illustrates that if it weren’t for the onslaught of Monsoons over Burma and the North East of India, and the setbacks suffered by Japan in the Pacific, the year 1942 could have been quite fatal for the British Empire. While these circumstances provided some respite, it was short-lived.
Nevertheless, the cataclysmic events of 1942 planted the seeds for the downfall of the British Empire in India. The wheels of time had begun to turn once again, and there was no stopping them now. What had begun in India eventually led to the collapse of the entire Empire, as over the next 20 years, Britain lost all of its colonies.
“1942: When British Rule in India Was Threatened” traces the events that ultimately led to this pivotal year. Starting from the 16th century when the British first arrived in India, it chronologically traces all the major events in pre-partition Indian history, vividly illustrating the detrimental impact of British rule on India.
From how the British managed to subjugate one of the world’s wealthiest nations and transform it into a land plagued by poverty, drought, and famine, the book also highlights the contributions of various freedom fighters including Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Lala Lajpat Rai, Pandit Nehru, Veer Savarkar, and Mahatma Gandhi. It acquaints the reader with the many facts and events surrounding these iconic figures.
My thoughts
Right from the get-go, Kumar lays out a comprehensive name guide, listing all the big players, countries, cities, and abbreviations to help readers get to grips with the terms they’ll encounter throughout the book.
While many Indian readers might recognise the names of countries and cities, there are some key figures – leaders, freedom fighters, government officials, and various political groups – like Leopold Charles Amery, SA Ayer, Major General JK Bhonsle, GS Dhillon, Mohan Singh, and others, that they might not be familiar with.
So, the author kicks things off by making sure readers feel as comfortable and familiar as possible. And whenever necessary, they back up the info with handy maps.
Given that a lot of the historical events in the book unfold in far-flung places like Burma and other parts of Southeast Asia, and because many of these places have changed quite a bit since then, the author uses historical maps to give us a clearer picture.
What really grabbed me about “1942: When British Rule in India Was Threatened” is how it manages to tackle such a vast topic in just a few pages. It keeps the reader engaged without overwhelming them with too much heavy info.
I’m keen to stumble upon more gripping history books that’ll deepen my understanding of Indian history. And I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the Rapid Reads series.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy 1942: When British Rule in India Was Threatened right away!
