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True to Their Salt: The British Indian Army and an Alternative History of Decolonization

HarperCollins

under the prestigious Fourth Estate imprint

presents

True to Their Salt
The British Indian Army and an Alternative History of Decolonization

by Ravindra Rathee

A richly detailed page-turner that recounts the British Indian history
from the perspective of Indian soldiers

Publishing in the 75th year of Indian Independence, Ravindra Rathee’s comprehensive book reveals and examines the pivotal contribution made by Indian soldiers in the expansion and downfall of the British Empire.

True to Th­eir Salt is a radical retelling of how India came to be colonized by a handful of Europeans in the eighteenth century, how the British held sway over the country for almost two centuries, and their sudden departure from India in 1947, all told from the perspective of Indian soldiers.

HB | Non-fiction | 388 pp | Rs 699

Releasing 1 September 2022 | Available Wherever Books Are Sold


Author Ravindra Rathee says,
‘This book started as a personal research project on the military life of my grandfather. It soon took a life of its own. As I uncovered layers of narrative surrounding soldiers of the pre-partition Army, it was clear to me that there was a bigger story to tell. Colonization of India, and her liberation, are best understood by delving deep into the instrument that achieved these contradictory objectives—the Colonial Army and the soldiers who marched in its ranks. I am delighted to be able to tell this story on India’s 75th independence anniversary, which also coincides with the centenary of my grandfather’s birth.’

Udayan Mitra, Executive Publisher, HarperCollins India, says, ‘The history of the Indian army—the second largest standing army in the world today—is an absolutely fascinating one if one goes back to its roots, as Ravindra Rathee’s wonderful book does. The story of Indian soldiers combating not just seemingly insurmountable odds but also inequality and racism as they fought in the British Indian army comes alive in
True to Their Salt, as the narrative moves beyond battlegrounds and acts of bravery to reveal a larger picture—the beginnings of decolonization. We at HarperCollins India are truly proud to bring this exceptional work to readers, under our prestigious Fourth Estate imprint, on the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of India’s independence.’


ABOUT THE BOOK

True to Th­eir Salt is a radical retelling of how India came to be colonized by a handful of Europeans in the eighteenth century, how the British held sway over the country for almost two centuries, and their sudden departure from India in 1947, all told from the perspective of Indian soldiers. Th­e British held India by an army predominantly comprising Indian soldiers, and relied on their fidelity. Th­is loyalty stood the test of time but was eventually breached during the Second World War, leading to India’s independence. Th­is book looks at the world of the Indian soldiers who enlisted in the armies of India under British rule.

In India, the recording of military history has been piecemeal, with attention focused on specific decades, epochs and wars. Th­ere has been very little literature that brings together the rich history of the Indian Army, with its vast experience in international and national wars.

Ravindra Rathee seeks to fill this literary lacuna—and brings a personal perspective to this urgency. His research stems from his grandfather’s service to the Raj during the Second World War. True to Th­eir Salt is not just a story of war and bloodshed for another country—it is an in-depth survey of the professional layers that involved the running of the military: from recruitment to salary structure, and from how Indian soldiers preserved their faith to how they dealt with their frustration at the racism they encountered.

With persuasive flair and rich detail, Rathee rewrites India’s military history, even as he tells a page-turning story that takes the reader through the turbulent centuries of British Indian history.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ravindra Rathee started his career as a journalist with the Times of India in Delhi, writing on human rights and conflict resolution. After graduating from St Stephen’s College in Delhi, he did an MA in politics at the University of Hull as a British Chevening Scholar. For the past two decades, he has worked as a banker. This is his first book, stemming from extensive research on the military life of his grandfather.


PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

True to Their Salt is a richly researched account of British India’s colonial army and the role it played over centuries of India’s social, political and military development. Ravindra Rathee’s extensive use of primary sources makes for a compelling story, and his book is an insightful look at a neglected and deeply important area of Indian history.’

SHASHI THAROOR
AUTHOR AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

‘A book about an important but little discussed aspect of colonial history—the soldiers of the British Indian Army. Were they mercenaries, collaborators, war heroes or victims? Whatever one thinks of them, their importance to the colonial project and its destruction needs to be remembered.’

SANJEEV SANYAL
WRITER AND ECONOMIST

‘There cannot be enough books on this topic, to make up for historical amnesia. It looks like essential reading.’

SATHNAM SANGHERA
JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR

 

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For reviews, excerpts, interviews and more information, please contact Shivendra Singh at
shivendra.singh@harpercollins.co.in

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