Sepoy to Subedar

From Sepoy to Subedar is a very rare, first person account of a sepoy who served in both the East India Company's army until the mutiny and then continued serving after the Indian army was brought directly under government control. Sita Ram began his service for the Honorable Company in 1812 and fought in virtually all the army's major campaigns. Ram's narrative describes his active service, and provides a private soldier's insights, into the Gurkha War (1814-1816), the Pindari War (1817-1818), the incursion into Afghanistan(1838-1839), and the subsequent retreat (1842) to include his capture and time as a slave before escaping to return to India. Ram's story continues with his actions in both Sikh wars, and the Mutiny in 1857.

What makes the book interesting is that it provides a soldier's level perspective of all these actions and life in the Indian Army. What makes it even better is it is written by a soldier in the Indian Army along with the insights and perspectives of a Hindu soldier in the service of the Raj. It's this perspective that makes the book unique and worth reading.

As with many soldier's narratives, it lacks the context that would go along with a more polished military history. However, the book's editor provides both context and background at the beginning of each chapter and in the footnotes.

It would be interesting if we get  sepoy/soldier level perspective of IPKf, Kashmir insurgency, naxalism etc. But his memoir also points to some painful reality, like technology won the day for Britishers, caste was an important fact for north Indian hindus which were prevented  to go abroad or serve beyond Indus and even mere touch or eating with impure irritated them to no ends