Peace, Poverty and Betrayal: A New History of British India

Roderick Matthews' Peace,Poverty and Betrayal offers a nuanced account of British rule in India, highlighting the complex relationship between colonizers and powerful Indians. It challenges the simplistic narratives of imperialism and nationalism and emphasizes the diversity and ambiguity of British-Indian relations, which drove social changes and the struggle for independence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 20 October 2022
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

The British Empire's long rule in India has been a subject of much debate and interpretation. While the clichés of "imperial versus nationalist" interpretations have been prevalent, there is a need for a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between the colonizers and the powerful Indians. In his new book, "Peace, Poverty, and Betrayal: A New History of British India," Roderick Matthews offers a fresh perspective on this era.

Matthews argues that the foundation of common purpose between the colonizers and the Indians was a state of "oblige and rule." This state of being, rather than a rigid system, characterized British-Indian relations. British policy was often unclear and inconsistent, with the East India Company transitioning from a manifestly incompetent ruler to, arguably, the world's first liberal government.

At the same time, there were both progressive and conservative attitudes among British and Indians towards colonization. Matthews skillfully illustrates how this diversity and ambiguity of British-Indian relations also drove the social changes that led to the struggle for independence.

By skewing the simplistic binaries that often dominate the debate, "Peace, Poverty, and Betrayal" offers a fresh and elegant history of British India. It challenges the traditional narratives and provides a deeper understanding of the complex and multifaceted relationship between the colonizers and the Indians.

This book is a valuable contribution to the field of Indian history and should be read by anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the British Empire's rule in India. It sheds light on the various factors that shaped the colonial era and provides a new perspective on the struggle for independence.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787388277