A new book highlighting the sacrifices and struggles of Indian sepoys and soldiers during the 18th to early 20th centuries has been launched here.
Authored by Singaporean NRI N Nedumaran, the book was launched yesterday by Singapore’s Ambassador Gopinath Pillai, Chairman, Institute of South Asia Studies, and Ambassador-at-Large Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Speaking at the launch as the special guest, the High Commissioner of India to Singapore, Jawed Ashraf, described the book “a reflection of a history of India and South East Asia“.
“It was a natural connection between India and South East Asia,” he said.
The role played by the sepoys of Malaysia, Singapore and South-East Asia during the founding years of 18th to early 20th centuries came from research work by Nedumaran, the former curator of The Battle Box War Museum at Singapore’s Fort Canning Park.
The sepoys came from across India beginning with the Sir Stamford Raffles, who established Singapore as a British Trading Post in 1819.
The 335-page book details the works of sepoys and soldiers, with some territorial wars and then the bigger war with the Japanese in the 1940s.