The History of British India: A Chronology

In 2006 Praeger published THE HISTORY OF BRITISH INDIA: A CHRONOLOGY. John F. Riddick, Professor Emeritus of Central Michigan University, authored this CHRONOLOGY which covers under nine different headings or sub-headings the years between 1599 and 1947 and presents sketches in alphabetical order of leading Britishers involved with India. Having read too many history books with verifiably wrong historical dates, an annoyed Professor Riddich issued this book as a scholarly service to other readers. ***I have never read a book quite like it. It has three parts. Part I is called "Chronology of Political History" in seven chapters. Part II is "Chronology of Topics" also in seven chapters. The seven "topics" include economic development, religion and missions, education, cultural developments, law, oriental studies and finally (Chapter 14) science, technology and medicine. ***Part III contains short biographies of "400 noteworthy English men and women who played a role in the creation of British India" (Author's Introduction). By "English" the author clearly means "British" as he includes Stewarts, other Scots and Irish and, if memory serves, a Welshman or two. *** Of the book as a whole, author Riddick says, "The focus of the work is on the British and the role of the Indian is only supplementary." The book is presented two columns to a page. ***I acquired THE HISTORY OF BRITISH INDIA: A CHRONOLOGY while preparing to teach an adult education course on young Rudyard Kipling. Rudyard receives nearly half a column in Part III. Errors therein include (a) Rudyard's death in 1937 instead of the correct 1936: (b) an overly compressed description of Kipling's time as journalist in Lahore and Allahabad which is literally correct as to combined dates when he sub-edited or edited two related newpapers, but makes it read as if had not essentially left the one paper for the other in his final year and a half working in India -- a huge promotion. I noticed no other errors for Rudyard Kipling's bio snippet. I am, however, a bit puzzled that Rudyard's father John Lockwood Kipling is not separately noticed for his very original contributions in both Bombay and Lahore, England and France on behalf of India -- as artist, educator, author in his own right and for some works as virtual co-author with his more famous son. ***The book would benefit from having at least one map of India, pinpointing such trading posts as Surat. A second map should show the whole expanse eastward from Africa beyond through Burma and the Spice Islands. *** This is a hard book to pick up and read from beginning to end. In that sense it resembles a telephone directory. Know a date in Indian warfare or education and look up the event. At times I felt as I imagined Mark the Evangelist must have when handed a list of "Sayings of the Lord Jesus" and been commissioned to convert it into a Gospel. This is not a cohesive narrative. Despite careful reading and re-reading, for instance, of the first pages of Part One, I could not be sure when precisely a second East India Company had been created or for what purpose. Something seems to have been left out. ***On balance, I am glad that I purchased the book. Someone had to do this very exacting chore. The more you already know about British India (1599 - 1947) the more likely you will profit from THE HISTORY OF BRITISH INDIA: A CHRONOLOGY. -OOO-