The Great Flap of 1942: How the Raj Panicked over a Japanese Non-invasion

by Mukund Padmanabhan

The Great Flap of 1942 is a narrative history of a neglected and scarcely known period—between December 1941 and mid-1942—when all of India was caught in a state of panic. This was largely a result of the British administration’s mistaken belief that Japan was on the verge of launching a full-fledged invasion. It was a time when the Raj became unduly alarmed, when the tongue of rumour wagged wildly about Japanese prowess and British weakness and when there was a huge and largely unmapped exodus (of Indians and Europeans) from both sides of the coastline to ‘safer’ inland regions. This book demonstrates, quite astonishingly, that the Raj cynically encouraged the exodus and contributed to the repeated cycles of rumour, panic and flight. It also reveals how the shadow of the Japanese threat influenced the course of nationalist politics, altered British attitudes towards India and charted the course towards Independence.

The Great Flap of 1942—the title refers to an expression used by British bureaucrats in India—traces a broad narrative arc, starting with the Japanese attacks in South-East Asia. The assault on Malaya, the conquest of Singapore, the bombing and eventual occupation of Burma, and the Japanese Navy’s foray into the Indian Ocean are examined in the light of the tremendous impact they had on India.

Genres: History

245 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Asif · Rating 4 out of 5]

The flap was a terrible blow to British prestige. The British were genuinely scared because it was well known that India could not be successfully defended.
The magnitude of the Flap its geographical spread, the extent of the dread and the numbers who fled is not the only thing that has escaped attention. This was never a story about timorous Indians alone. Everyone whatever their race, nationality, class or caste-was caught up in The Great Flap. This entire story showed that somehow the British were not their best selves in India during the 1940s

The fact that there was so much panic over an invasion that never occurred, in truth not even planned by Japan, left some people in Madras bemused. This was aptly captured in a rhyme in a letter to the Editor of the Mail.

M's for Madras where the scare grew and grew, But 'what it was all about' nobody knew.

More than a year and a half later, Japan bombed Madras.
On 11 October 1943, a lone reconnaissance plane dropped a few bombs in the harbour area. There were a few casualties, little damage and no evidence of panic. Madras took this well in its stride. There was nothing like a flap; at most, a very mild flutter.

[Book_withquotes · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Mukund Padmanabhan’s “The Great Flap of 1942” delves into a fascinating but often overlooked period in Indian history – the months between December 1941 and mid-1942, when India found itself in the grip of panic. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of World War II, as the British administration, fearing a Japanese invasion, inadvertently triggered a series of events that disrupted lives, led to city abandonments, and unleashed chaos. The book uncovers the Raj’s mistaken belief in an imminent Japanese invasion and its cynical encouragement of a massive exodus from coastal regions to ‘safer’ inland areas. Padmanabhan’s research reveals the intricate web of rumors, panic, and flight that defined this period. It sheds light on the profound impact of the Japanese threat on nationalist politics, British attitudes towards India, and the course towards Independence.

As the title, “The Great Flap of 1942,” suggests, the book traces a narrative arc from the Japanese attacks in South-East Asia, including the assault on Malaya, the conquest of Singapore, and the occupation of Burma, to the Japanese Navy’s foray into the Indian Ocean. This historical account promises to be both engrossing and enlightening. Mukund Padmanabhan’s personal connection to the events, through stories passed down from his mother who fled Madras in 1942, adds a poignant touch to the narrative. The book is not just a historical exploration but a personal journey, making it more relatable and engaging.

Penguin Random House’s acquisition of this book signifies its importance in filling a gap in India’s history. The well-researched and insightful nature of the work, combined with Padmanabhan’s storytelling prowess, is likely to make “The Great Flap of 1942” a significant contribution to the understanding of India’s past and its path to Independence. Readers of nonfiction are in for a treat with this book, offering a fresh perspective on a crucial period in Indian history.

[Yash Yagnik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun to read ! I love when someone digs out an unknown period from history that should be known to everyone and presents it in such an engaging manner. I loved the language of the book and the flow. Somehow the best part of the book for me was the epilogue about the animal massacre during the world war. I am not a sadist so when I say the animal massacre was the best part I mean it was very shocking yet well written part.
I have already gifted a copy to my brother and looks like I might buy more and go around like a Santa distributing it to all the good kids who behave well and read history.

[Ananta Pathak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an absorbing read about an often forgotten event. The anecdotal events description about the evacuation or exodus of people from Indian cities fearing Japanese attack is quite detailed and breezy read.