Swords trembling in their Scabbards: The changing status of Indian officers in the Indian Army 1757-1947 (War and Military Culture in South Asia, 1757-1947) - Hardcover

Creese, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1909982814 ISBN 13: 9781909982819

Publisher: Helion and Company, 2014

Synopsis

The Indian Army founded by the East India Company in the eighteenth century was unique among the armies of the world in that it had two groups of officers – British and Indian. The intention was that the Indian officers, coming from similar backgrounds as their men and naturally understanding their social and religious mores and customs, would form the crucial link between the British officers and the sepoys. It is surprising, therefore, that there has been very little written, by either British or Indian historians, regarding the role and experience of those officers. They were promoted from the ranks and served for many years in their units, embodying both the spirit and the traditions of their regiments. So who were these Indian officers who look out at us from photographs taken from the eighteen eighties onwards? What was their background, education and training? How did they, and their British officers, interpret their role? The present volume is a long overdue attempt to answer these questions and to pay due tribute to the men who served the Raj and their country so well in peace and war.

A wide variety of sources has been drawn upon, including interviews with British officers who served with the Indian Army. A thread running through the book is provided by the diary of Amar Singh, a Rajput from Jaipur. He was one of the first members of the elite Imperial Cadet Corps and served in China, France, Mesopotamia and on the Northwest Frontier. He ended his military career as Commandant of the Jaipur State forces.

About this title

About the Author

Dr Michael Creese is a retired headteacher and educational consultant with a lifelong interest in military history and uniforms. His interest in the Indian Army was sparked by a visit aged eleven to an exhibition of model soldiers at Hamleys in 1947. He now has his own collection of model soldiers which naturally includes a strong Indian contingent. His doctoral thesis at the University of Leicester focussed on the Indian officers in four cavalry regiments, drawing on material in Britain and India. The scope of this thesis has been widened in the present volume to include infantry officers together with a broad history of the Indian Army. He has written a history of the Jodhpur Lancers which is awaiting publication in India.

Review

“ ... I found the book an easy read. It contains many interesting bits and pieces of information, which are tied together to make a fascinating narrative. Anyone interested in the armies of British India (and beyond) should have a copy on their shelf.” (Chote Sepoy: The Magazine of the Indian Army Group of the British Model Soldier Society)

“The author transmits well the code of honour and loyalty felt by both officers and men to their regiments, their group and caste, and their British seniors. ... an important contribution (Newsletter of the Society of Friends of the National Army Museum)

“ ... the book does add to the overall debate and will hopefully stimulate further research into this important area.” Durbar, (Journal of Indian Military History)

“ ... a well researched and balanced study ... While the work is academic in nature, any reader with an interest in societal change and the profound impact that the transition within the Indian military had on the stability of the independence of India itself, would do very well to read this book.” (War History Online)

Edition details

• Publisher: Helion and Company
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1909982814
• ISBN 13: 9781909982819
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 206