RaveNew York Times Book ReviewInsightful ... Guha’s chosen subjects in Rebels Against the Raj were mainly inspired by Gandhi’s nonviolent satyagraha protests ... The result is a curate’s egg, with some biographical portraits proving more engaging than others. Those of the featured rebels who witnessed the drama of the independence struggle serve up more captivating tales than those who ran ashrams in postindependence India ... One of the more engaging stories is that of the social reformer Annie Besant ... She was older than Gandhi, which makes her interactions with the up-and-coming Mahatma particularly fascinating ... Guha’s previous works have distinguished him as an exceptional chronicler of India’s modern history. His latest volume provides fresh perspectives on the independence struggle that will appeal to those seeking more obscure eyewitness accounts. And since the book’s main figures were born outside of India, Rebels Against the Raj may strike a chord with contemporary outsiders who themselves have been seduced by India’s history and culture.
