Our Indian Army

Steven I. Wilkinson explores how India has succeeded in keeping the military out of politics, when so many other countries have failed. He uncovers the command and control strategies, the careful ethnic balancing, and the political, foreign policy, and strategic decisions that have made the army safe for Indian democracy.

A unique examination of the role of the Indian army in post-World War II India in the run-up to Partition. Daniel Marston draws upon extensive archival research and interviews with veterans of the events of 1947 to provide fresh insight into the final days of the British Raj.

Drawing on untapped new sources, the first global history of the Indian Expeditionary Forces in World War I While their story is almost always overlooked, the 1.5 million Indian soldiers who served the British Empire in World War I played a crucial role in the eventual Allied victory. Despite their sacrifices, Indian troops received mixed reactions from their allies and their enemies alike-some were treated as liberating heroes, some as mercenaries and conquerors themselves, and all as racial inferiors and a threat to white supremacy. Yet even as they fought as imperial troops under the British flag, their broadened horizons fired in them new hopes of racial equality and freedom on the path to Indian independence. Drawing on freshly uncovered interviews with members of the Indian Army in Iraq and elsewhere, historian George Morton-Jack paints a deeply human story of courage, colonization, and racism, and finally gives these men their rightful place in history.

The Indian Army was one of the most important colonial institutions that the British created. From its humble origins as a mercantile police force to a modern contemporary army in the Second World War, this institution underwent many transitions. This book examines the Indian Army during the later colonial era from the First Afghan War in 1839 to Indian independence in 1947. During this period, the Indian Army developed from an internal policing force, to a frontier army, and then to a conventional western style fighting force capable of deployment to overseas’ theaters. These transitions resulted in significant structural and doctrinal changes in the army. The doctrines, and tactics honed during this period would have a dramatic impact upon the post-colonial armies of India and Pakistan. From civil-military relations to fighting and structural doctrines, the Indian and Pakistani armies closely reflect the deep-seated impact of decades of evolution during the late colonial era.

This collection of seventeen essays based on archival data breaks new ground as regards the contribution of the Indian Army in British war effort during the two World Wars around various parts of the globe.

With a strength of 1.2 million personnel the Indian Army is the second largest professional standing army in the world. In the sixty years since independence the Army has developed from being the sword arm of the British Raj to the Army of a sovereign democratic `Republic. As one of the premier institutions of the State it embodies all the ideals that the founding fathers of the Republic laid down in the Constitution: By dint of its selfless and impartial service both in war and peace it has come to represent the finest civilisational values of Indian society both at home and abroad. Personnel in its ranks come from every part of this vast country. There are men of different. ethnic backgrounds, speaking numerous languages and countless dialects and practicing each one of the six major faiths of the world. Yet despite this bewildering diversity the Army displays d unity that stands as a beacon of national solidarity for society at large to see and emulate. Though steeped in tradition, the Army is constantly evolving and incorporating emerging technologies and doctrine to keep pace with new challenges to national security. This book attempts to provide an illustrated overview of the genesis and development of the Indian Army over the last three centuries. It covers the diversityofthe terrain over which an Indian soldier operates during his service career; the broad ethnic canvas that goes into making up the Army`s constituent elements, the various indigenous and foreign influences that have shaped the Indian military ethos, on introduction to the Army in its present form and lastly a brief glimpse at some of the myriad. facets of the Army from the colonial era to the present day.

This book explores the origins of the Indian army from its early exploitative role, to its performance in World War II when it confronted extreme political and military challenges. Cohen examines the doctrine of civilian control in India and the evolution of the theory of so-called martial races. The book serves as an interpretation of the history of the Indian Army in the light of contemporary approaches to nation-building and development theory.

This volume recounts India’s contribution to World War I. Please note: Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

Unlike traditional biographies of combat leaders, which focus primarily on military operations or regimental histories, in this book Major General V.K. Singh concentrates on personal accounts, anecdotes and reminiscences in order to highlight these leaders’ personalities, and to draw out the human face behind the military facade. Through the stories of these twelve military leaders, the book also throws new light on several historical events and the role of political leaders during India’s fight for independence and the partitioning of the subcontinent. He gives an overview of India’s military history after independence, including major operations, and describes many hitherto unknown or little-known incidents concerning smaller operations like Nathu La in 1967 and Goa in 1962. Written records tend to glorify the actions of battalions as well as individuals, Singh says, magnifying achievements while suppressing the mistakes and glossing over failures. Leadership in the Indian Army provides a truer picture of the strength of character and convictions of each of these leaders. A must-read for anyone interested in India’s military history.