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.
The book derives its title from the motto chosen for independent India s first UN peacekeeping operation, the Custodian Force in Korea, 1953-54. Ever since gaining Independence in 1947, India s unreserved participation in UN and regional peacekeeping operations has been both spontaneous and enthusiastic. To date, about 100,000 Indian personnel have served in 43 such operations including all operations undertaken in Africa. The fact that, as of 31 March 2009, 130 Indian peacekeepers have given their lives in UN peacekeeping operations alone, underlines more than anything else the Indian commitment to the primary objective set out in the UN Charter, viz., to maintain international peace and security . Indian peacekeeping participation has evolved from its idealistic origins during the Nehruvian era to the present where it is inextricably linked to the furtherance of India s national security interests. This book provides a comprehensive insight into the history of India s involvement with peacekeeping operations from its tentative beginnings in Korea in 1950, through the non-aligned phase of Indian foreign policy in Indo-China and Gaza, to the heavy employment of the post-Cold War period. Apart from regular UN peacekeeping operations, missions such as the Indian Custodian Force in Korea which functioned under the Neutral Nations Registration Commission, of which India was Chairman; and the International Commissions of Supervision and Control in Indo-China are also covered, as is the employment of Indian military observers and staff officers, and civilian police agencies on UN peacekeeping missions. Senior Indian leadership involved with UN peacekeeping operations and Indian involvement in regional peacekeeping missions in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, have been broadly dealt with in separate sections. The new book rounds off with a section on how the enormous experience garnered by Indian peacekeepers is harnessed for training and preparation of future generations both at home and abroad. Finally, a section is devoted to distilling thoughts about the challenges facing India in the arena of international peacekeeping in the years to come.
Churchill and India. It is a story where much is known but much remains concealed. A brilliant orator and a powerful leader, Winston Churchill stood against the tide of history. But how does postcolonial history view him? This book studies the extraordinary connection he had with India. Beginning with the early years of his career in India when he spent 22 months between 1896 and 1899 as a subaltern with the 4th Hussars, it traces his rise as a politician, his years as the Prime Minister of Great Britain during the Second World War, his profound distrust of the Indian Independence Movement, and his machinations in preserving the British Empire’s rule over India. Churchill’s failure to understand India and decolonization, and manipulation of events on the subcontinent add a different dimension to the man. His pervasive yet hidden shadow over the Indian subcontinent and his often-veiled role in the actions that led to Partition in 1947 are at the center of this study. Rich in archival sources, this book provides a fresh and holistic perspective on the final phase of the British Empire. It will be an indispensable resource to students and researchers of colonial history, imperialism, modern history, international history, Partition of India, and South Asian studies. It will also appeal to general readers interested in the history of Britain’s endgame in India.
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