Book Review: India's War - The Making of Modern South Asia, 1939-1945 by Srinath Raghavan

India's War: The Making of Modern South Asia, 1939-1945 by Srinath Raghavan

⭐⭐⭐⭐✰ Worth Reading

A French writer once asked: What made France a nation? He listed three factors – the French educational system, the French Army, and the French middle classes. In the Indian context, the Second World War served as a crucible for nation-making through different mechanisms. 

This is well documented in the book, India's War: The Making of Modern South Asia, 1939-1945. The book is an essential read for anyone interested in India’s involvement in World War II. Covering key wars and military operations, the book sheds light on the evolution of India's armed force & it’s the political, economic, monetary, and social impact on the nation.

The war mobilized over 2.5 million Indian soldiers between 1939 to 1945, and India underwent an extraordinary and irreversible change due to World War II. Hundreds of thousands of Indians suddenly found themselves in uniform, fighting in a global conflict. The book explains how the Indian Army evolved during World War II. Initially, the army was a colonial force serving British interests. But by the end of the war, the army had become a skilled and powerful fighting force. Indian soldiers fought in important battles across North Africa, Italy, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. When Srinath Raghavan covers legendary battles of Imphal & Kohima, he dives into the heart of the battles and shows his military chops.

During World War II, the Indian National Congress (INC) first fought against British rule with peaceful protests, led by Mahatma Gandhi. In 1942, they started the Quit India Movement, asking the British to leave India immediately. The Congress did not support the war unless they were consulted. Despite this, many Indian soldiers and workers—over two and a half million—joined the war effort. The author establishes how the rise of the Muslim League and de-mobilization of the army veterans post 1945 and heightened tensions between Hindu-Muslims eventually led to India’s Partition. The author deserves praise for explaining all this so well.

The book highlights the Indian National Army (INA)  took a different approach and led India’s fight for independence under Subhas Chandra Bose. The INA fought alongside Japan against the British to liberate India. The book’s detailed discussion of Burma Campaign also offers an interesting lens on how Bose’s vision of armed resistance gained traction among some sectors of Indian society, even though the INA faced defeat.

The British Raj, which controlled India, was more than just a colonial entity during World War II. The book shows how the British Raj functioned like a "mini empire" of its own and became a vital part of the British Empire's war strategy.  The book clearly explains the urgent demands of military modernization and the wartime governance. 

The book also explores lesser-known aspects of the war economy explaining the heavy economic exploitation by the British government and yet the foundation for future industrial growth in India after the war. The British used Indian resources (both manpower and materials) to support their war efforts. While industries grew to support the war, rural India continued to suffer from poverty, hunger, and inflation.

India served as a major base for U.S. operations, receiving machinery, munitions, textiles, steel production equipment, locomotives, and various supplies to support Allied forces in the Burma-China-India theater.  The book shows how industrialization leads to creation of new working-class in India.  The author highlights that the war put a lot of economic pressure on India and showed conflicts in British rule. This pushed different groups in India to come together with a shared hope for independence. 

At times, the dense historical detail in the book may challenge casual readers, but it rewards those seeking depth. Beyond recounting South Asian history, the book compels readers to reflect on the war efforts and political transformation of India.  The book stands out as a compelling account of World War II from Indian perspective, offering both historical depth and political economy insights.