Book to share - January 2025

The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India (2019)

It's a truly remarkable book that masterfully combines history and story telling, giving us the recount of how the East India company, a private trading firm, took control of the entire Indian continent. It introduces us also to the incredibly ambitious and ruthless leaders of East India Company, the greedy Indian rulers, and also the English men who really fell for the beauty of India.

What also stands out in this book is Dalrymple’s very deep understanding of Indian culture and people. His love for India shines through every page, making this more than just yet another history book that way too, but a heartfelt tribute to a nation that he so deeply respects. He paints a vivid picture of 18th century India, a time when the Mughal empire was slowly crumbling. Into this chaos stepped the company, exploiting divisions, using superior war machines, discipline and ruthless tactics to build their empire.

Moreover, the book also delves into the not so well known behind the scenes acts of East India company. How they raised money for war funding under the disguise of trade. How the entire British parliament was silenced with money, power and corruption, even while conscious stricken law makers made repeated plea to loosen East India companies clutches on India. He summarise with the overall sense of disdain in the statement that “The East India company conquered India to make money, not to spread civilisation”.

Finally, the beauty of the book is that the author not only tells the story of conquest and power but also raises important questions about ethics of capitalism and the consequences of unregulated corporate ambition. Its a call to reflect on the systems we live in today, by reflecting on the lessons from the past. This book is an essential read for anyone interested in colonial history and its enduring impact on modern geo politics.

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