Our Name is Mutiny: The Global Revolt Against the Raj and the Hidden History of the Singapore Mutiny, 1907-1915

by Umej Bhatia

The first and only account that tells the story from the Sepoy's perspective. The other accounts have the white colonial masters' self-righteous, played out by the Asian soldiers' narrative. This account shows that the mutiny was caused by the careless and poor communication of the British commanders and government officials and how they handled their men.

In 1907, in the gathering storm of the First World War, a global revolt against the British Raj was taking shape. A shadowy network known as the Ghadar or Mutiny Movement plotted an Indian uprising that spilled across Britain’s Eastern Empire. In 1915, the snug settlement of Singapore thus faced a mutiny by its garrison of British Indian Army soldiers or sepoys.

Stoked by Indian rebels based in California, Sikh activists on a migrant voyage to Canada to contest its race laws, a German sea raider, and renegades preaching Muslim holy war, the 1915 Singapore sepoy mutiny fused several plots against imperial power in the region.

This book reveals the hidden history of the mutiny and exposes the forces that converged on the small island enroute to the revolt against the British Empire in India. The story of the men and women behind the world-wide rebellion and the Singapore mutiny is brought to life in this thrilling non-fiction narrative that spotlights the legacy of the forgotten uprisings.

377 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Vardhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written investigation into the global resistance against the British Raj, "Our Name is Mutiny" paints a vivid portrait of the people and politics behind one of the more instrumental chapters in the anti-colonial movement. An increasingly salient book in a world that's revisiting a number of concepts at the root of globalisation.

[Vidhya Nair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally this began as a vivid exciting read but it slowly descended into being tedious & detail laden which impacted your appreciation of the historical significance and connected geopolitics that resulted in the Singapore mutiny. More than half the book deals with the backstory so by the time you reach the events of 1915 in Singapore you’re exhausted from the read. The author had done through research but history needs to be engaging and readable to make it compelling. Many authors have proven that this can be achieved. In a non reading nation this will mean very few people will reach for this book unless they need some references which this book has plenty of. It should have been a triumph but isn’t.

[Anthony Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and in-depth report on a mutiny by Indian soldiers in Singapore after the outbreak of World War I. Most writing on Indian resistance to the Raj focuses either on the 1857 mutiny or the efforts of Ghandi and the congress party, so this takes a fascinating and in-depth tour through the efforts of the Indian diaspora in the United States, Canada, and Japan to inspire and support rebellion. Unfortunately, those who actually participated in the Singapore mutiny left little written record, but we are able to see inside the minds of many of those who inspired them.

As a nice bonus, the author turns a phrase exceptionally well.

[DCB · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Non fiction thriller on a world wide revolt with lessons for today"

I found Our Name is Mutiny to be a riveting read. It's a sweeping and epic non fiction narrative that captures a world about to catch fire during the First World War. The revolt against the British in India is actually launched from San Francisco as the world goes to war. We are treated to a fascinating cast of globetrotting true life characters who show us that globalisation, global order and disorder and big issues of power and control depend on the actions and blunders of the the big persons and little persons of history alike. Soldiers, sepoys, seditionist, spies, settlers, ships, sailors and sellers of ideals all converge eventually in Singapore where a spark leads to a mutiny. Bhatia uncovers this hidden history quite magnificently.

[Sandra Galistan · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Our Name Is Mutiny’ is a captivating read and masterful study of the global revolt against the British Raj. It’s an amazing, thrilling and eye-opening journey into the people, politics, and forces at play behind the struggle against imperial rule, inevitably and tragically leading to the 1915 Singapore Sepoy Mutiny. This sweeping and epic narrative, so beautifully crafted and rich in detail, paints a vivid picture, uncovering the hidden history, and bringing the unfolding scenes and events to life.

[Dinesh Natarajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read - courtesy of the masterful study done by the outstanding author, Umej. An exceptional investigation into the Sepoy Mutiny of 1915, that provokes deep thought and reflections on Singapore's vulnerabilities. Lessons to be learnt and never forgotten through this bloody event. Strongly recommend this book!

[Muhammad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing writer, very talented. Known for his wonderful speeches and writing skills. He’s the one that can beautifully tell about history in a very exciting, attractive manner.
👏👏👏👏

[Melvyn Foo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly well-researched, gripping (a rare adjective for a historical narrative), and nuanced.

[Charlie Charliron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oue Name is Mutiny is a gripping true story of intrigue, rebellion, and empire, bringing to life one of the most dramatic yet overlooked uprisings of the First World War. Combining the pace of a political thriller with the depth of serious history, it sweeps from the drawing rooms of colonial Singapore to the secret cells of the Ghadar revolutionaries, from Ottoman war propaganda to the Komagata Maru’s fateful voyage. This is history on a global canvas, crossing continents, faiths, and ideologies, told through vivid characters and meticulously researched detail. Perfect for readers of William Dalrymple, Shashi Tharoor, and Ramachandra Guha, it offers both the narrative pull of epic fiction and the authority of definitive scholarship, making it a must-have for history lovers, diaspora communities, and anyone fascinated by the hidden links between Southeast Asia, India, and the great empires of the early 20th century.