‘Don’t Forget That the First Four Navy Chiefs in Independent India Were Britishers and They Led the Indian Navy Until 1958’

Pramod Kapoor, author of 1946: Last War of Independence, Royal Indian Navy Mutiny

What was it about the Royal Indian Navy mutiny that drew your attention and held your interest for so many years?

While researching my earlier book, an illustrated biography of Mahatma Gandhi, I speed read 100 volumes of the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi. In volume 89/90 there were letters that Gandhi ji wrote to Sardar Patel and few others in the Congress party. I was intrigued by the content of those letters. Upon further reading, the story started to emerge as something much more than what was usually known. The more I read, the more I discovered and eventually a very poignant, yet very powerful story started to emerge. It kept me on the hunt for more for the past seven years.

Were there moments during this long research when you considered giving it up?

In any long research there are days of hopes and times of despair. The book went through several such patches.

Is it correct to say that post-Independence, neither the Indian nor the Pakistan Navy owned up the rebellion? Could it be because they didn’t view it as part of their history?

There is no doubt in my mind that the rebellion shook the British and hastened independence. There are enough straight and circumstantial evidence in the book to prove my point. The rebellion came at a time when the political class was involved in deep discussion on transfer of power. They felt independence was imminent and did not want any violent or non-violent movement that could rock the boat. Any majo