India and World War II War, Armed Forces, and Society, 1939-45

The Second World War remains a defining chapter in modern world history. Colonial Indiaâs involvement in the war has often been studied against the backdrop of the ongoing freedom struggle, the varying attitudes of the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, and the formation of the Azad Hind Fauj under Subhas Chandra Bose. Moving beyond the claims of how Indian resources and soldiers aided the Allies in winning the war, this volume explores the complex interrelationship between the Indian armed forces, the Indian society, and the war. Drawing on archival data, this book focuses on understanding the impact of large-scale mobilization of manpower and resources on an underdeveloped agrarian society

Dr Kaushik Roy is Guru Nanak Chair Professor in the Department of History, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India and Global Fellow at Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Norway.