Rebels against the Raj: Western Fighters for India’s Freedom

by Ramachandra Guha

"From the acclaimed author of India After Gandhi: a group biography of seven remarkable men and women who arrived in India during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in order to join the freedom movement and struggle for a country and people other than their own"--

Genres: History, India, Nonfiction, Biography, Politics, Audiobook, World History

497 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2022

About the author

Ramachandra Guha was born in Dehradun in 1958, and educated in Delhi and Calcutta. He has taught at the University of Oslo, Stanford, and Yale, and at the Indian Institute of Science. He has been a Fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, and also served as the Indo-American Community Chair Visiting Professor at the University of California at Berkeley.

After a peripatetic academic career, with five jobs in ten years on three continents, Guha settled down to become a full-time writer based in Bangalore. His books cover a wide range of themes, including a global history of environmentalism, a biography of an anthropologist-activist, a social history of Indian cricket, and a social history of Himalayan peasants.

Guha’s books and essays have been translated into more than twenty languages. The prizes they have won include the U.K. Cricket Society’s Literary Award and the Leopold-Hidy Prize of the American Society of Environmental History.

Reviews

[Suman Srivastava · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last chapter of this book is titled, The Last Gandhians. That led me to think that this book was about The Real Gandhians. As Dr Guha says in the epilogue, “here are seven quite remarkable individuals, all foreign-born, all white-skinned, who identified so completely with Indian aspirations. In the course of fighting non-violently for India’s liberation from colonial rule, all were interned or deported by the British. Yet it is not merely as ‘freedom-fighters’ that we should remember them. Quite apart from what they did in the sphere of politics, they each enriched and enhanced the life of the Indian nation in so many different ways.”

It is inspiring to read about these figures and to better understand Gandhian values. Leads to a lot of questions about how Gandhi would have dealt with today’s issues. I think he would have had lots to say that we should listen to.

[Rohini Murugan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me preface my review by saying that I am a huge fan of Guha. I strongly believe that his book 'India After Gandhi' is one of the finest books on Indian history post-independence. In addition to that, I also immensely value Guha as a historian and a political commentator.

Having said that, this book was maybe not up to his standards. When compared to an average author's standards, sure, this book was great. But having already read Guha's work, Rebels Against the Raj did not captivate me as much as India After Gandhi did. Granted, they are very different books dealing with very different content and narrative styles. India After Gandhi was one coherent mega storyline with a million little parallel twists and turns, whereas, Rebels was a biographical account of seven foreigners who fought for the independence of India against Britain.

Maybe that was it. It is the biographical sketch format that does not sit well with me. When I started the book, I was very enthused to know about the relatively lesser-known names of the freedom struggle and their contributions. But, as I digested more and more pages, and therefore, more and more content, I became visibly bored. Which, in my opinion, is a huge disservice to the author, because this was nonfiction and I should not have expected an engaging storyline. Yeah, biographies are not for me, in retrospect. Memoirs, yes. But biographies, nope.

That's enough cribbing. Let's move to the positives. I learned a ton of stuff. Though my attention wavered in more places that I would admit to, I still managed to learn a lot about people who are not traditionally covered in school history books. And, I think, Guha also managed to paint all of these individual stories in the context of the bigger picture - sometimes. All of them were contemporaries with some crossed paths, and while I listened to the book, I could conjure a version of how my country looked during the freedom movement. I doubt my experience would have changed had I read a paperback rather than listening to an audiobook, but there were places where I was transported to the early 1900s effortlessly - much like India After Gandhi.

So, in conclusion, biographies might not be my cup of tea, but if it is for you, then you might be in for a good ride.

[Dev Pradhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The origin of this book was from a lecture by Ramachandra Guha titled "The Other Side of the Raj". This book is about seven western people who contributed to the freedom of India. The first foreigner is Annie Besant, a British women who became a member of the Indian Congress. She founded schools, colleges and established the Home Rule League. The life and contributions of other renegades are also given in the book. This book worth reading for the vivid storytelling and insightful research of the author.

[Ram Badrinathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book by Ram Guha which inspires and moved you through the lives of 7 foreigners who devoted their lives to India and fought against the British and intersected with Mahatma Gandhi. Personally my life has intersected with annie besant and J Krishnamurthi having studied in the school KFI. Living in Mumbai taking walks in Horniman Circle and seeing Bombay Chronicle. The connect with Rick and Ramana Maharshi and Sarla behn and kumaon connection having visited Sonapani for so many years. Ram Guha superb prose and moving writing and ability to keep you engaged is remarkable

[Mayank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book written by Prof. Ram Guha that I have read. Akin to it's four successors this one is easy to read and hard to put down. Backed by meticulous research and Guha's unique narration/ storytelling capabilities 'Rebels against the Raj' is a wonderful book and a must read.
The book narrates life stories of seven white skinned foreigners who made India their home. These included Annie Besant, B G Horniman, Samuel Stokes (Satyananda), Philips Spratt, Mira Behn, Sarla Behn and Keithahn. Other foreigners like C F Andrews, Sister Nivedita, etc. who played a phenomenal role in nationalist movement and contemporary political/ social life were acknowledged by Prof. Guha but not made part of the book. This was mainly because the book deals only with "rebels" and not "bridge builders", and also incarceration and/or deportation by British authorities was the criteria set for inclusion by the author.
The shadow of Gandhiji looms large throughout the book, as expected in any book written by a biographer of Gandhi. Him being the most prominent Indian, our seven protagonists were hugely impacted by his persona, with most acknowledging and ultimately following his principles and ideals.
The book maintains a positive tone throughout and reverberates with message of courage and hope, while simultaneously there is a deep undercurrent of sadness that reflects itself strongly time and again. This can be felt most acutely in Mira's loneliness, Sarla behn's tears on being denied permit and Keithahn's incarceration for Meenakshi temple satyagraha in free India (1965). The source of this sadness can be found partly in the state of Indian politics and society that these foreign born Indians would have found questionable, to say the least, in post Independence period. I feel another source is author's own unhappiness about the state of present day India as he compares past with present and finds jingoism and xenophobia at an all time high today. It is in this present environment that the book, through the story of these seven rebels, asks us to mend our ways and discard narrow parochial mindset, to be replaced with tolerance and acceptance.

[Sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Dalrymple’s White Mughals, Guha brings us to the attention of non-natives that supported the freedom fight for India and Pakistan’s independence. Victories are rarely won without allyship and Guha‘s research ensures we don’t forget this important point, particularly given the role that foreigners played in the struggle is frequently omitted from the narrative. Such research and analysis play an important role in re-educating ourselves as nationalism and xenophobia takes hold of contemporary Indian politics. Guha vividly brings to life the characters of the seven “renegades”. There is a clear richness in research and skill that Guha has in being able to create these great biopics.

However, at times I feel that the book transgresses into a meander down “a history forgotten”, purely recalling a series eccentric individuals that become devout followers in the Gandhian philosophy (occasionally turning slight left towards communism) and how they lived their lives to support their ideals.

It’s not overly clear why these seven were selected, nor do I leave this book with a clear sense of their true impact on the struggle really was. The focus is assumed to be on supporters of Gandhi (understandably the most accesible perhaps)… but also wondering if there are other western rebel supporters behind other leading activists less aligned to the western philosophies - Bose? Savarkar? The narrative too is a bit jumpy, moving from individual to another, without surfacing themes or connections.

That said, the book plays its part on shining a light on important western activists that have been hidden from the historical narrative - effectively revising history.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that gives notes, index, and references for the work done. A book that deals with the biographical account of seven people who visited India and were impressed and stayed back and participated in the freedom struggle.
Reasonsforliking this book
the amount of research done
reasons for undertaking the project
the book not only gives the picture of the people about whom is about, and gives a picture of India both during the freedom movement and afterwards

[Elizabeth Englander]

Pretty boring but i guess thats just biography

[Roy Van Den Brande · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very narrow focused on a few important figures. It was a struggle to get through, especially the last part. You basically have the colonial period, the interbellum and postwar period and modern time.

The anti-colonial period is interesting because the world seemed so small then. Someone is stirring up people, should we send him back to England? And ofcourse Ghandi was still alive then and having a huge influence.

The second period is interesting because it's a country finding it's identity in a world divided. How they fight for a freedom they don't even have.

The last chapter was dificult for me because it's more focused on India on its own, not as part of a bigger world.

But I'm glad I made it through. (Modern) India still is not very much talked about in the west. So every veil that can be lifted, even for a little, feels satisfying.

[Dave Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under British colonial rule, or Raj, the English treated most Indians much like we treated (and sometimes still treat) about 20 percent of our population. That is, we whites showed disrespect, haughtiness, prejudice, ignorance, and downright hatred toward a people who differed only in the color of their skin.
There were exceptions. This book explores the lives of five English subjects and two American citizens, all enlightened, spiritual, selfless. They lived as Indians, practiced the tenets of Mahatma Gandhi, supported India's independence from England, spoke for the poorest of the poor, established schools, promoted equal rights for women, served time in jail, farmed, taught, wrote, ran for political office, cared not a whit for themselves, and cared for all of India.
Chances are you've not heard of Anne Besant, Dick Keithahn, Samuel Stokes, Madeleine Slade, Philip Spratt, Charles Andrews, or Benjamin Horniman. Read "Rebels Against the Raj..." and you'll get to know them well.
Guha ends his biography with these words: "These individuals came to India at different points of time, from widely varying backgrounds and with widely varying motivations. Once here, they lived in different parts of the country and pursued different callings and obsessions. What unites them was, first, the courage and fearlessness they displayed in their personal lives; second, the depth and duration of their commitment to their new homeland; and, third, the contemporaneity, indeed, timelessness, of what they lived and struggled for. So many years after the last of these rebels passed on, what they did and what they said still speaks to Indians today. If only we could listen." (p. 419, hardback edition of 2022)

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This turned out to be a real treat of a history lesson. I've read a number of articles by Guha but this was my first pick of his books and his brilliance as a historian and a writer shines through. And what an interesting theme as well - biographies of non-Indians who made India their home to fight the freedom struggle with the Indians. Some of these were names I had briefly heard of in history textbooks (Annie Besant for one), but it was fascinating to get a deeper insight into their mindsets to take this massive life decision (Gandhi often being a main source of inspiration) and how they chose to shape their lives around it. Guha's writing is extensively researched with generous citations and footnotes to follow up on...yet the narrative of the book does not at all feel academic in nature, and should certainly be read by everyone.

[S Ashok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indian national movement which fought for the independence of India from British colonialism was unique in many ways. It was mainly non-violent in nature, it was characterized by mass participation especially a large population of women. In addition to fighting for independence, it also dreamt for a better India, an India which travels the way of social, economic justice. One of the key aspects in which it was unique was the participation of foreign nationals who made it their cause too. In addition to participation they chose to make this adopted land their own homeland. There were thousands of such individuals, in this book Ramachandra Guha documents the lives of seven such individuals. They had varied interests, they were a mix of men and women spanning a period of 100 years who made India their homeland.
In an age where we are seeing a rising nationalist jingoism both in India and abroad these men and women were truly international in nature. Many of them learnt Indian languages, dressed like Indians, many married and had family in India and almost all of them died in India.
It is a remarkable book, as I was reading through it I was wondering how was it possible for these brave men and women to travel to an entirely different land and to make it completely their own homeland. They had to withstand hostile climatic conditions, a land characterised by wide spread poverty, they were having difficulties adjusting to foreign food. Yet they were genuinely happy and most of them never went back even to visit their past.
During the independence movement they had to spend long spells in jail, they had to face the ire of their countrymen. Post independence they did not show any diffidence in being vocal against the policies of the Indian government. Yes these individuals epitomised bravery and their stories are filled with such brilliant acts of valour and bravery.
Although some of the individuals like Annie Beasant, Mirabehn(born Madeleine Slade), there were other remarkable individuals whom I have never known about. Benjamin Guy Horniman the editor of Bombay chronicles who was a champion of freedom of press, who wrote a remarkable article criticising the British government especially after the Jallianwalla bagh massacre. He was deported back to England through sheer perseverance he re-entered India after a long struggle for seven years, he remained as the champion of Indian nationalism, highly critical of British imperialism. Philip Spratt who had such a weird arc that he came to India to create a communist revolution was arrested in the Merut conspiracy case. He fell in love with Seetha , the daughter of Singaravela Chettiar, seeing the autocratic turn the communist revolution in Soviet union had taken, did a u-turn to become a right wing liberal. During his death he was the editor of Swarajya newspaper run by Rajaji. Sarla Behn (born Catherine Mary Heilman) was a Gandhian social activist who participated in the Indian national movement, post independence she became an environmental activist in the himalayas. She played a key role in the growing environmental consciousness post independence in the Himalayas eventually playing a key role in the Chipko movement. Richard Keithahn who was born in America who came to India as a pastor, got disenchanted with the activities of the church. Inspired by the Gandhian movement he became a social worker. He was activie in Gandhigram in Dindigul, setting and managing the ashram, mentoring young activists like Jaganathan and Krishnammal. He looked up to Vinoba bhave as the living embodiment of Gandhian ideal post the death of the Mahatma and participated in the bhoodan moment.
Everyone of the story of the seven lives is quite remarkable, it shows the power of one's own conscience over national and religious identities. Today they are largly forgotten in our national discourse but they are individuals we should never forget.

[Mamunuru Shankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

While loyalty and attachment to one’s own country or community are considered a superior virtue, a different kind of personal conviction is essential to transcend these limitations and commit lives and energies to the aspirations and struggles of the people of a foreign country. Ramachandra Guha in this book narrates the lives of seven remarkable personalities from the West, two Americans and five British, who adopted India as their home, shirking their national loyalties, and fighting alongside Indian people in their struggle for independence. The democratic institutions and the civil liberties they enjoyed in their countries awakened them to the hypocrisies and the double standards of racially oppressive and economically exploitative British rule in India. Some were attracted to Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violent resistance (Satyagraha), civil disobedience, ascetic life, social reform, and rural reconstruction. Madeline Slade (Mira Behn), Catherine Mary Heilemann (Sarala Devi), and Richard Rapph Keithahn carried forward the Gandhian programs in independent India after the assassination of Gandhiji. Samuel Stokes who fought for the abolition of bonded labor and laid the foundations for sustained horticulture in Himachal Pradesh eventually converted to Hinduism and called himself Satyanand. Philip Spratt who arrived in India as a representative of the British communist party turned into a bitter critic of Nehru’s socialism (license permit Raj) and ended up supporting Rajaji’s Swatantra party. B G Horniman supported the freedom struggle through his bold and uncompromising journalism. Annie Besant was the president of the Indian National Congress before Gandhi took over the leadership of the freedom movement. Each of them enriched and enhanced the life of the Indian nation.

Excepting Satyanand and Annie Besant all the other rebels were witnesses to India’s independence and lived in independent India pursuing the ideals they committed to. The new India, however, was anything but what their mentor Gandhiji aspired for. To their regret, Gandhi outlived his utility and his idea of India as a self-contained village as a unit has faded into irrelevance. In independent India, these rebels lived and died disappointed and disillusioned.

The lives of these Western renegades give us a glimpse of the politics and the dynamics of the freedom struggle from the late 19th to the middle of the 20th century. Guha in his charming style portrays, through the lives of these rebels, the political ambiance, Pre-war international politics, Indian social milieu, contributions of lesser-known freedom fighters, and the intellectual cross-currents of the times. Frankly, any biography should aim to tell the story of the times through the life of the protagonist. Guha excels in weaving a pleasurable read by collating huge archival material.

You require a measure of grace and magnanimity to appreciate the commitment of the people who lived in adversity far from their comfort zones trying to redeem the people they chose to adopt. When othering people and communities is a norm and branding those not aligned with the majority view as “antinational”, it is doubtful how many would read and appreciate this book!

[Paras · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing and what I consider an altogether unexpected book on seven foreigners who made India, their land of adoption, the centre of their universe. They all came seeking different goals but even while pursuing them made India's freedom from the colonial yoke of the British Empire the primary objective of their lives.
These are Annie Beasent, B.G.Horniman, Samuel Evans (Satyanand) Stokes, Madeliene Slade (Mira Behn), P.Spratt, Ralph Richard Keithahn, and Mary Heilmann (Sarala Behn).
While I was certainly aware of Anne Beasent, Satyanand Stokes, Mira Behn and Sarala Behn, and heard of Horniman (Horniman Circle in Mumbai: hopefully they haven't changed its name in utter ignorance of history), hadn't heard of the other two.
Only a Ram Guha could have painstakingly researched each of these characters of whom, barring possibly Annie Beasent, the rest would soon have been forgotten.
That humanity can transcend narrow boundaries of sectarianism, and that it does not recognise even the overpowering pull of nationalism is something only a Gandhi or a Tagore could have appreciated.
In his own easy style Guha has done yeoman service to the student of history of India's freedom movement in taking time off to write this book. Not many might read it. But for those who do its a treat..

[Vikas Kalra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Congratulations to the author for providing such thoroughly researched, exhaustive reviews of the seven freedom fighters highlighted in the book. In the end I came away with a new appreciation of how influential India has been to the world even while under the dominion of the British Empire. Regardless of how India saw herself or how Indians viewed one another – for those unacquainted with India this book vividly details the cacophony of colors that paint India’s cultural tapestry – India provided alluring ideals that seduced the world. Furthermore all of the rich detail provides a perspective into the dynamic debates and variegated factions involved in the emerging Indian ruling class going into and coming out of Independence. The extensive and open debate in India on which form of political government to adopt, especially the allure of Communism, was particularly interesting. My only critique is at times I found myself overwhelmed by the extensive detail in the book as it can distract from the main storylines. However in the end, what I learned and the perspectives I gained were worth it.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a ln amazing book .
Well written and very engrossing.
Non fiction made to feel like a conversation/ talk at a conference.

What I liked :
The freedom fighters shown to be human and their personalities brought out.
No god status but high achiever mortals .
Some humour thrown in

The people , the wow ! Real global citizens.
Makes me feel sad for the current situation in the country.empty boasts, religionism, sigh! Prof GUha has said it way more eloquently and knowledgeable ly than I could hope to . If only we listen !

What I did not like: nothing to mention

This fits the pac prompt book published in 2022

[Ravi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful book about a number of American and British men and women who sided with Gandhi against the Raj. I especially enjoyed the account of Spratt which any reader of New Politics or similar journals will find resonates deeply. I thought myself reasonably informed about Indian politics but I learned quite a lot. The book doesn't interrogate the philosophy of Gandhi himself but then the party building left critiques of Gandhism have not necessarily been all that successful. I think the author is particularly good when writing about Indian environmental issues which many of these individuals raised as issues decades before they became mainstream. A valuable contribution.

[Jaidev Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Guha is doing a service to Indians by preserving history. His writing is unbiased, it is not idolatry and his prose is as simple as simple can be.
Rebels Against the Raj is a book about white people who settled in India during the late and early 1900s and made India their home. Most came in contact with Gandhiji. The book tells the story of the different path their lives took and how Gandhiji influenced them.
This book is the 4 in the Gandhi trilogy by Mr. Guha. So a tetralogy.
A must read for someone who wants to know Indian history. More important for Indians to know their own history and value what has been done, what we have and where we started from.

[Mamatha · Rating 4 out of 5]

As many countries in the world and even America are starting to embracie autocracy and/or fascism this book was so inspiring. It is story of seven non-Indians (4 men, 3 women) who became “Indian” and helped with the Indian freedom movement and also were dedicated to helping Indian society. I was in awe of their amazing lives and how they lived according to their values and also how Indians accepted and celebrated them as well. Could have used some additional editing to make these amazing individuals stand out even more.

[S Ravishankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enthralling book on the lives and trails of seven Europeans / Americans who helped fight for India’s freedom and lived many years of their lives in India. The chronicles are individually uplifting and collectively enriching. The author has researched each tale and told them in detail; so we understand the depth of conviction that led each of these people to contribute a significant part of their lives to India. It is indeed thought-provoking that those who lived onto a free India were mostly unhappy with how a free India addressed and managed its aspirations.

[Nidaseshi Manjunath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebels Against the Raj tells the story group of people who chose to struggle for the freedom of a country other than their own. In Guha’s words “The lives and doings of these individuals constitute a morality tale for the world we currently live in. This is a world governed by paranoia and nationalist xenophobia, with the rise of jingoism in country after country, and a corresponding contempt for ideas and individuals that emanate from outside the borders of one’s nation. No foreigner, when we think, can teach us anything. This book tells us that they can”.

[Umar Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read that I'll review in-depth later. I took a lot of notes! Guha tells us the stories of a number of Westerners (mostly British, Irish, and North American) who traveled to India and joined the freedom struggle against the British Raj. Some were motivated by religion, be it Hinduism or Christianity, others more on the lines of anti-colonial struggle, and all seemed to have to share the belief that in India exists ancient wisdom and cultural teachings that are more humanistic than Western norms. Fascinating book.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fascinating read that deals with the lives of seven men and women from Britain and America who opposed the British Raj in India. Written in a lovely conversational tone that reflects the author's high regard for his subject. A stark reminder that history is not a monolithic entity and there have always been people from oppressive cultures willing to stand against their own countrymen's injustice, as Guha notes it is a lesson that is sorely needed in the present day.

[Jus · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Rebels Against the Raj: Western Fighters for India’s Freedom” by Ramchandra Guha.

I wanted to learn more the Indians and their fight for independence of India, part of my ongoing personal research.

This particular book focuses on 7 non-Indians, foreigners: 4 British, 2 American and 1 Irish: 4 men and 3 women who fought for India between the late 19th and early 20th century.

My original notes on this book, unfortunately lost, so unable to share my favourite extracts from the book.

[Viral · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book about the role various foreigners played in the struggle for Indian independence. This book shows us folks from the early 1900s through the late 1970s who all contributed to the struggle for justice by supporting a community that was not theirs in order to achieve a better world for everyone.

[Uday Bhaskar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched work on the seven British, Irish and American rebels who fought the British during India's freedom struggle. What I liked is that he also documented the disagreements some of these rebels had with each other, and we also see an arc of the outlooks of these rebels.

[Em_bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quite taken in by the tales of these individuals who were part of idea of freedom for Indians. Some of them we have heard about of read about in school or such in passing like Annie Beasant. Mirabehn and Horniman but others were completely new.

[M Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding detailed book just like Dr. Gush’s other books. Loved learning about these 7 individuals who put everything on the line for their belief in India. Now that I am older, much appreciate and understand the Gandhian philosophy and the history figures I had read about in school.

[HansBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gut lesbar, kleinere Abstriche, lange deutsche Besprechung hier:

https://hansblog.de/kritik-geschichts...

[Ashok Bhargava · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable book by Ramchandra Guha which shows how history should be written. You live with the people who contributed immensely towards building a nation besides a just and humane society.