William Dalrymple's 'The Anarchy'

 History in academics has always been a nightmare to many, especially when we are to face exams/tests for the subject. Remembering dates, facts, personalities is a challenging task, made worse when you don't like the subject. My experience is that, reading History from academic curriculum's point of view, is a challenging task. Academics focus on just facts, they do not have scope of going into depths. This makes it difficult to remember. In such a case you either end up cramming or skipping the topic/subject forever! Reference books especially in Historical subjects, is a must. They enable you to draw a picture by yourself of the subject so that you don't end up as a stranger while reading.

There are many renowned Historians who have provided insightful material on various Historical subjects. Today here I'd like to review the work of Scottish Historian, William Dalrymple's "The Anarchy-The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and The Pillage of an empire"

The Book is placed in a non-fictional category. However, Will has made such an effort that the book feels like fictional although with non-fictional facts attached to it. In short, the flow of the work goes like a story. What starts like a story, turns dramatic chapter after chapter. You end up at a junction of climax that races your heart, force you to clutch your book even harder, you grind the air between your teeth! The experience becomes more alive when you realize that the incidents occurred in real world, just few centuries ago. The experience is more real when you are an Indian and even more when you belong to a place which has been described in the work. The facts make reading even more realistic and interesting. If you are interested in history but you are unable to cope with it without dozing off, this work can be a good start. The Graphical Images makes the work even more beautiful. It not only entertains you, but at the end it leaves you with barge full of academic insights. The energy poured and the work that results out is just commendable.

The work focuses mainly on East India Company, however local affairs are well portrayed so as to give a detailed picture. The rise and decline and prominence of Mughal Empire is well laid out. Several local fiefdoms also finds a place in the work. The Marathas too find a decent place in the work. The book weaves events and empires together in such a manner that at the end you realize that
 every thing happens for a reason.

I would recommend reading this book for students in school, or at least their teachers can share insights with their students. I would also like to recommend it for aspirants preparing for competitive exams, especially UPSC Civil Services. The facts mentioned in here can come handy in written exams.

Books like such, can alter your perspective towards History and would push you to further delve deeper in the subject.