To understand the history of a country one must acquaint oneself not only with its geography, its ecology but also the march of events that are recorded in its treaties, engagements, sanads and other relevant documents epitomising the various phases of its political, economic and social evolution. The object of history is to know and understand the past for a better appreciation of the present and a peep into the future. In the words of the famous British historian, Dr. G.M. Trevelyan: “History in this sense is the basis of modern education in the Humanities, and the best school of citizenship. Only when it is false and lopsided can history be used amiss. True history can only do good”. This book covers the period of Indian history from 1757, i.e. the period of ascendancy and consolidation of British rule. It challenges many of the accepted major premises and notions regarding this period of history and brings into sharp relief the policy and methods followed by the British. It also highlights the untruths, treachery, breach of solemn treaties etc., resorted to by the British at all levels, including at the level of the British Cabinet in England in their no-holds-barred game of power politicswith the help of official treaties and other documents. We should have a proper understanding of our chequered past and rich cultural heritage to move firmly and with confidence to our cherished goal. As our imperialist masters, happily defunct, recorded a lot of half-truths and injected much bias into these records, the writer has tried to correct the bias and to review the events of the bygone era in their proper perspective. Contents: Introduction I. Not by Trade Alone II. Subsidiary Forces III. Broken Promises IV. A New Low V. A Divided Nation VI. Avadh Humbled VII. Divide and Rule VIII. Extortions Galore IX. Twilight of Avadh X. Recipe for Rajasthan XI. A Snaring Operation XII. Betrayal and Deceit XIII. Rajput Rulers Humbled XIV. The Erosion of Gujarat XV. The Shackling of Marathas XVI. Squeeze on the People XVII. Ranjit Singh’s Punjab XVIII. Assassination Galore XIX. British Planted Traitor XX. Twilight in Punjab XXI. Sikhs Shock British XXII. The Aftermath XXIII. The Perfidious Albions XXIV. Bluff and Bribery XXV. Expansionism at Work XXVI. Shady Deal with Sindhianwalas XXVII. Rise of Gulab Singh XXVIII. Pillage and Plunder XXIX. Sepoys, Sikhs and 1857 XXX. A Distorted Picture XXXI. Toynbee’s Fantasies XXXII. Princes Back in Favour XXXIII. Panipat and Abdali XXXIV. The Forgotten Years XXXV. Ranjit Singh and Tripartite Treaty XXXVI. Facets of Imperialism XXXVII. Nationhood: Facts & Fiction Appendices