The saga of India's independence movement has been documented by scores of Indian and foreign authors, but none has documented the role of the Indian soldier in the struggle for freedom from British rule. The general public remains unaware and the nation's leaders have never acknowledged or appreciated the part played by the military in this important chapter of our history. Some lost their lives, while many were deprived of their livelihood and liberty, without recognition or compensation. This book attempts to undo this injustice and acquaint the nation with the soldier's contribution to the freedom movement.

Except for the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857, also called the First War of Indian Independence, historians have virtually ignored the uprisings by soldiers that occurred during the British Raj, many of which were politically motivated and inspired by a spirit of nationalism. Though the mutiny of 1857 was quelled, the spirit of nationalism that it kindled could not be extinguished. A number of smaller mutinies and revolts took place during the next 90 years, especially during the two World Wars and immediately afterwards. These rebellions were instrumental in the decision of the British government to pull out of India in August 1947.

The non-violent struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi is universally credited for India's independence in 1947. However, documentary evidence of that period conclusively proves that the crucial factor in the British decision to quit India was the realisation that they could no longer trust the Indian military to maintain control over India. Had the Indian Armed Forces remained staunch, British rule would have continued for at least another 10 to 15 years.

Maj Gen VK Singh's varied interests include adventure sports, military history and journalism. He participated in the Himalayan Car Rally thrice, from 1982 to 1984. He is a regular contributor to magazines and journals, and many of his short stories and poems were published in the Illustrated Weekly, Filmfare, Femina and Eves Weekly in the Seventies and Eighties. In later years, he took to professional writing and has authored four books. His previous books are Through-Saga of the Corps of Signals (2001); Leadership in the Indian Army - Biographies of Twelve Soldiers, (2005); History of the Corps of Signals, Volume II, (2006) and India's External Intelligence - Secrets of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) 2007






Published for the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research by

Knowledge World

5A/4A, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110 002.

Email: knowledgeworld@vsnl.net