Look Inside

History of Assam Rifles

$55
FREE Delivery
Quantity
Delivery Usually ships in 3 days
Item Code: HAL049
Author: Col. L. W. Shakespeare
Publisher: Mittal Publications, New Delhi
Language: English
Edition: 2023
ISBN: 9789394569973
Pages: 325 (Throughout B/w Illustrations)
Cover: HARDCOVER
Other Details 9.00 X 6.00 inch
Weight 700 gm
Book Description
About The Book

Eminent Military Historian and Soldier, Colonel L.W. Shakespear has published this book in 1929. The author in compiling this History of the Assam Rifles had endavoured to collect materials from all possible sources and weaving them into narrative form to produce something useful and readable at least for those who care about the little known but very interesting corner of India. The author had the honour of serving as Commandant and later appointed Dy. Inspector General of the Assam Rifles.

The book covers the gradual pacification of Assam since the British power was first compelled to interface in its affairs and closes with chapter on the ancient ruins of historical interest found in various parts of the province. It has a comprehensive history with extensive detail of operations in the Chin hills, Naga hills, Abor, Lushai etc. The book has Bibliography, Index, Apps: list of former COS, notes on affiliations with Gurkha units, notes on Assam Rifles organization changes from 1863 onwards, 84 mono photos, one plate, 6 maps.

The book has a fine record of arduous undertakings on the North- eastern frontier of India, reissue of it will serve an asset and ready access to modern scholars and army officers for their respective libraries, Those who are interested in the history of the region particularly military history will like to possess the book with pride.

About the Author

LESLIE WATERFIELD SHAKESPEAR (1860- 1933) was an officer in the British Indian Army and a Colonel in 1909. He served on the North East Fron- tier of India in the Chin- Lushai campaign. The Lushai campaign was awarded the India General Ser- vice Medal 1854-1895 with clasps [CHIN LUSHAI-1889-90] and [LUSHAI-1889-92]. His Great War service included operations in Mesopotamia from the 9 of Novem- ber 1914 to the 7 of September 1917. He was mentioned in des- patches in the London Gazette on the 5th of April 1916 and was ap- pointed Assistant Quartermaster- General, Indian Army on the 18" of May 1916. He also took part in the Kuki Operations on the North East Frontier of India. Colonel Leslie Shakespear was made a Compan- ion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath (C.B.), a Companion of The Most Eminent Order of the In- dian Empire (C.I.E.), and was awarded The Order of Saint Stanislaus, 2 Class with sword for his military service.

Preface

IN compiling this history of the five battalions of the Assam Rifles, in one of which I had the honour of serving as Commandant thirty years ago, to be in later years followed by being appointed Deputy-Inspector-General to the Force, I have endeavoured to search all available documents and books from the early days of Assam under British rule onwards for material with which to form it, and have arranged it as far as possible in proper sequence. Sometimes information has been turned up in most un- likely places; for instance, who would have thought that the best account of Col. Hannay's Abor Expedition in 1859 could have come out of the "History of the Indian Navy"? But so it was, and due to the fact that in early days the Indian Navy had a few gunboats on the main rivers, two of which were on the Brahmaputra river at Dibrugarh, and sent a naval contingent with Hannay's force.

Again the " History of Indian Railways "(Assam section) gave accounts of Frontier Police escorts to rail- way survey parties which were not alluded to anywhere else, for prior to about 1899 no such thing as Battalion Records were kept up. Many episodes of the consolidation of British rule east of Bengal have been derived from old musty records and books and are brought out as a connected narrative, trouble having been taken to get as true and complete a history of this little known old Force, without embellishment or drawing on the imagination, in spite of Bacon's statement that "the mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure."

Foreword

COLONEL SHAKESPEAR has asked me to contribute a few words of introduction to his history of the origin and development of the Assam Rifles. I do so with pleasure, as I have still very grateful recollections of the resourceful strength with which this force endowed the Government of the province. The economic growth of Assam has been threatened with a peculiar danger-that of trans-frontier forays. Its two valleys run deeply into mountainous country that is inhabited by tribesmen who are still inspired by the ancient ideas that war is one of the most exhilarating of life's experiences, and its commemoration, in war-dress and war-dances, the most enjoyable of amusements. To possess the head of an alien man, woman or child has been a treasured assurance of success and a necessary passport to good fortune in courtship. Society is organised upon a war footing. "Mutuo metu separatiet montibus," peoples of the same blood have grouped themselves into clans, isolated so completely from one another as to have developed languages that are mutually unintelligible. To ambuscade an alien village -even its women when drawing water from the stream -to burn its houses and massacre its inhabitants have been regarded as "sporting" enterprises that relieve the monotony of life. Forays into the lowlands have been still more tempting; and, had they not been checked, the development of the tea industry would have been impossible.

The most obvious method of stopping these marauding raids was by retaliatory incursions into tribal territory. For such small expeditions regular troops would have been too elaborate and costly an instrument, and have involved too serious commitments.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q. What locations do you deliver to ?
    A. Exotic India delivers orders to all countries having diplomatic relations with India.
  • Q. Do you offer free shipping ?
    A. Exotic India offers free shipping on all orders of value of $30 USD or more.
  • Q. Can I return the book?
    A. All returns must be postmarked within seven (7) days of the delivery date. All returned items must be in new and unused condition, with all original tags and labels attached. To know more please view our return policy
  • Q. Do you offer express shipping ?
    A. Yes, we do have a chargeable express shipping facility available. You can select express shipping while checking out on the website.
  • Q. I accidentally entered wrong delivery address, can I change the address ?
    A. Delivery addresses can only be changed only incase the order has not been shipped yet. Incase of an address change, you can reach us at help@exoticindia.com
  • Q. How do I track my order ?
    A. You can track your orders simply entering your order number through here or through your past orders if you are signed in on the website.
  • Q. How can I cancel an order ?
    A. An order can only be cancelled if it has not been shipped. To cancel an order, kindly reach out to us through help@exoticindia.com.
Add a review
Have A Question

For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy

Book Categories