Shaping History: Colonial India and the development of Military Historiography
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62656/Keywords:
Colonialism, Military, Gunpowder, TerrainAbstract
Writing history in general, and military historiography in particular, is not new in India; however, its modern form took shape with the consolidation of British rule, which introduced structured approaches to documenting and interpreting military affairs. This research study examines the evolution of military historiography in colonial India, offering a comprehensive overview from the eighteenth to the mid-twentieth century. It traces how narratives of warfare, armies, and state power developed during this period, highlighting the key phases, major contributors, and thematic shifts that shaped the discipline under colonial influence. The study also analyses how British administrators, military officials, and early Indian scholars framed military history to serve administrative, strategic, and intellectual purposes. By engaging with the available historical writings—the research identifies the major trends, methodological changes, and intellectual currents that influenced the writing of military history in colonial India. Through this examination, the study sheds light on how military historiography evolved as both a scholarly field and a reflection of the political and ideological priorities of the time.
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