Fighting Retreat: Churchill and India

Winston Churchill had a long and controversial relationship with India, interfering in its politics and sabotaging its moves towards independence. He is seen as the imperialist villain for Indians due to his role in the Bengal Famine and his efforts to delay independence during the Second World War. However, he was also liberal at the Colonial Office and showed generosity towards the Boers and Irish. The book explores why Churchill was so hostile towards India.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 04 January 2024
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

Winston Churchill's relationship with India spanned from 1896, when he arrived in Bombay with his regiment, to 1947, when India achieved its independence. His association with the sub-continent was unparalleled among British statesmen, and he consistently and detrimentally interfered in its politics. Churchill's primary objective was to thwart India's quest for independence. He relentlessly opposed the Government of India Act for over five years, exerting significant influence to hinder its passage in the 1930s. During the Second World War, as Prime Minister, Churchill covertly worked against the freedom struggle, delaying India's independence by a decade. To this day, Churchill is widely regarded as the "imperialist villain" among Indians, held personally responsible for the Bengal Famine. This book presents a revealing portrayal of Churchill at his most despicable: cruel, obstructive, and selfish. It is intriguing to note that the same man exhibited remarkable liberalism during his tenure at the Colonial Office. He risked his career by generously supporting the Boers and the Irish, and later played a crucial role in expediting independence in the Middle East. The question remains: why did Churchill exhibit such hostility towards India?

Weight: 554g
Dimension: 147 x 224 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805260509