Indian soldiers made a pivotal contribution to Britain's development from a small, relatively poor island to a dominant military and industrial power. From the jungles of south-east Asia to the deserts of Africa, and the hills of north-east India to the forests of Burma, the Indian Army would become the pride of the Raj. Upon India's independence, its army continued to be one of the finest inheritances of Empire.

In this talk, Ravindra Rathee will explore the world of the Indian soldiers who served under British command. He will examine how they acted as an effective control over the coercive power of British rule in India, while also considering the logistics involved in running such a complex military machine.

Ravindra Rathee started his career as a journalist with 'The Times of India’ in Delhi, writing on human rights and conflict resolution. After graduating from St Stephen’s College in Delhi, he studied for an MA in Politics at the University of Hull as a British Chevening Scholar. For the last two decades, he has worked as a banker. He was inspired to write his first book, ‘True to Their Salt’, after extensive research into the military life of his grandfather.

True to their Salt