The Trial that Shook Britain

“In this highly readable book, Ashis Ray argues persuasively, with the help of extensive archival evidence, the case that the INA trials and the impact they had on popular sentiment, mobilized very effectively by the Congress leadership, undoubtedly hastened the achievement of Indian independence. In doing so, he brings to life a very dramatic phase of the climactic years of British rule over its prize colony.”

Professor Mridula Mukherjee, former Chairperson of the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

’This book sheds a light on a crucial period in Indian history when British politicians finally came to realisation that other than in war-time conditions, with a full mobilisation of the military, India had become effectively ungovernable’.

Professor Crispin Bates, Professor of Modern and Contemporary South Asian History, University of Edinburgh

‘A riveting account of one of the most important events in modern Indian history. The massive public support that the accused received during the INA trials allows Ashis ray to interrupt the standard narrative of Indian nationalism and offer a alternative and more hopeful reading of the country’s freedom.’

Professor Faisal Devji, Professor of Indian History, University of Oxford

‘In this highly readable book, Ashis Ray argues persuasively, with the help of extensive archival evidence, the case that the INA trials and the impact they had on popular sentiment, mobilized very effectively by the Congress leadership, undoubtedly hastened the achievement of Indian independence. In doing so, he brings to life a very dramatic phase of the climactic years of British rule over its prize colony’.

Professor Mridula Mukherjee, former Chairperson of the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

‘This book sheds light on a crucial period in Indian history when British politicians finally came to realise that other than in war-time conditions, with a full mobilisation of the military, India had become effectively ungovernable’.

Professor Crispin Bates, Professor of Modern and Contemporary South Asian History, University of Edinburgh

‘A riveting account of one of the most important events in modern Indian history. The massive public support that the accused received during the INA trials allows Ashis Ray to interrupt the standard narrative of Indian nationalism and offer an alternative and more hopeful reading of the country’s freedom’.

Professor Faisal Devji, Professor of Indian History, University of Oxford

Ashis Ray has been a foreign correspondent since 1977, broadcasting on BBC, CNN and ITN and writing for Ananda Bazar Group, The Times of India, The Tribune, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, The Guardian, The Observer, The Times, Financial Times and Nikkei Asia, among other publications. He was CNN’s founding South Asia bureau chief before becoming the network’s editor-at-large. He has been elected president of Indian Journalists’ Association (Europe) for several terms. In 1982, the Commonwealth Institute selected him among 10 ‘eminent Indians’ in Britain. In 1995, he was conferred a National Press Award in India. He was made an academic visitor by St Antony’s College, Oxford for 2021–22. He intends to continue in academia. The Trial that Shook Britain is his fourth book.