The State at War in South Asia (Studies in War, Society, and the Military)

Much research has been done on Western warfare and state building but very little on the military effectiveness of states, until now. Using South Asia as a case study, The State at War in South Asia examines how the state, from prehistory to modern times, has managed to wage war. The State at War in South Asia is the first book to cover such a vast period of South Asian military history-more than three thousand years. In doing so, Pradeep P. Barua explores the state's military effectiveness and moves beyond the western and nonwestern dichotomy characterized by most military analysis to date. He leads the reader through a selective study of significant battles, campaigns, and wars fought on the subcontinent. Barua combines this overview with an analysis of the state-building process, showing how the South Asian state has conducted war under its many political guises from the prehistoric and ancient periods to the modern era, with its threat of nuclear war. He challenges the historiographic idea that the Western way of war is superior, while examining in detail those battles, such as the Maratha-Afghan battle of 1763, that offer the most insight into the introduction of new tactics, organization, and technology. This meticulous study offers a panoramic view of the evolution of the South Asian state's military system and its contribution to the effectiveness of the state itself. Pradeep P. Barua is an associate professor of history at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He is the author of Gentlemen of the Raj: The Indian Army Officer Corps, 1817-1949.

Much research has been done on Western warfare and state building but very little on the military effectiveness of states, until now. Using South Asia as a case study, The State at War in South Asia examines how the state, from prehistory to modern times, has managed to wage war.

 

The State at War in South Asia is the first book to cover such a vast period of South Asian military history—more than three thousand years. In doing so, Pradeep P. Barua explores the state’s military effectiveness and moves beyond the western and nonwestern dichotomy characterized by most military analysis to date. He leads the reader through a selective study of significant battles, campaigns, and wars fought on the subcontinent. Barua combines this overview with an analysis of the state-building process, showing how the South Asian state has conducted war under its many political guises from the prehistoric and ancient periods to the modern era, with its threat of nuclear war. He challenges the historiographic idea that the Western way of war is superior, while examining in detail those battles, such as the Maratha-Afghan battle of 1763, that offer the most insight into the introduction of new tactics, organization, and technology. This meticulous study offers a panoramic view of the evolution of the South Asian state’s military system and its contribution to the effectiveness of the state itself.

American Historical Review

“Pradeep P. Barua’s book fills a gap in the existing literature on war, politics, and state-building on the subcontinent. . . . His contribution lies in his extraordinary ability to synthesize knowledge from disparate areas of historical scholarship and show, to borrow Charles Tilly’s language, how the state made ware and war made the state in South Asia.”

&—Sumit Ganguly, American Historical Review

"The State at War in South Asia is the first book to cover such a vast period of South Asian military history - more than three thousand years. In doing so, Pradeep P. Barua explores the state's military effectiveness and moves beyond the western and nonwestern dichotomy characterized by most military analysis to date. He leads the reader through a selective study of significant battles, campaigns, and wars fought on the subcontinent. Barua combines this overview with an analysis of the state-building process, showing how the South Asian state has conducted war under its many political guises from the prehistoric and ancient periods to the modern era, with its threat of nuclear war. He challenges the historiographic idea that the Western way of war is superior, while examining in detail those battles, such as the Maratha-Afghan battle of 1763, that offer the most insight into the introduction of new tactics, organization, and technology. This study offers a panoramic view of the evolution of the South Asian state's military system and its contribution to the effectiveness of the state itself."--Jacket Contents......Page 6 Maps......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 Part One......Page 20 1. Warfare in Prehistoric and......Page 22 2. Warfare in Medieval India......Page 42 Part Two......Page 68 3. The Marathas at Panipat......Page 70 4. Colonial Warfare in Bengal......Page 86 5. Fauj-e-Hind, the Army of Hindustan......Page 108 6. The Anglo-SikhWars and Pax Britannica......Page 122 Part Three......Page 144 7. The Army of the Raj......Page 146 8. The Indian Army during the Second World War......Page 164 Part Four......Page 176 9. Kashmir and the McMahon Line......Page 178 10. The Second Indo-Pakistan War......Page 201 11. The Third Indo-Pakistan War......Page 216 Part Five......Page 248 12. Insurgencies, Interventions, and High Altitude Warfare......Page 250 Part Six......Page 284 13. The Evolution of a Regional Military Power......Page 286 Notes......Page 326 Bibliography......Page 404 Index......Page 440 ISBN-13: 9780803213449 Contents 6 Maps 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 12 Part One 20 1. Warfare in Prehistoric and 22 2. Warfare in Medieval India 42 Part Two 68 3. The Marathas at Panipat 70 4. Colonial Warfare in Bengal 86 5. Fauj-e-Hind, the Army of Hindustan 108 6. The Anglo-SikhWars and Pax Britannica 122 Part Three 144 7. The Army of the Raj 146 8. The Indian Army during the Second World War 164 Part Four 176 9. Kashmir and the McMahon Line 178 10. The Second Indo-Pakistan War 201 11. The Third Indo-Pakistan War 216 Part Five 248 12. Insurgencies, Interventions, and High Altitude Warfare 250 Part Six 284 13. The Evolution of a Regional Military Power 286 Notes 326 Bibliography 404 Index 440 University,of,Nebraska University of Nebraska Warfare in prehistoric and classical India Warfare in medieval India The Marathas at Panipat Colonial warfare in Bengal and Mysore Fauj-e-Hind, the army of Hindustan The Anglo-Sikh wars and Pax Britannica The army of the raj The Indian Army during the Second World War Kashmir and the McMahon Line The Second Indo-Pakistan War The Third Indo-Pakistan War Insurgencies, interventions, and high altitude warfare The evolution of a regional military power.