India and the War examines how World War I reshaped Indian thought and society, focusing on the educated class and the masses. The book explores loyalty, nationalism, and the complex path toward self-government as India faces global conflict and empire-wide expectations.
From village life to metropolitan colleges, the author traces reactions to the war, the rise of nationalist feeling, and the practical challenges of educating a vast population. It blends historical context with reflections on how duty, identity, and reform interact in a colony under stress.
- How educated Indians responded to imperial duty and the war’s moral questions
- How nationalism began to strengthen alongside loyalty to the empire
- The roles of government, law, and education in shaping future political life
- Ideas about democracy, caste, and the place of mass society in national progress
Ideal for readers of Indian history, imperial studies, and the early 20th‑century rise of nationalism.