TO GUARD MY PEOPLE The History of the Indian People

Hardback. To Guard My People is the inscription on the King's Police Medal, the highest award for bravery that could be given to an Indian Police officer. When British rule was first established in India, the Moghul Empire was in the last stages of disintegration. Law and order had broken down in many areas and the new rulers had the task of creating an efficient system of police. Attempts to revive the indigenous system were a failure and in the middle of the nineteenth century the Government of India made a fresh start along Western lines. In 1861 a common pattern for police organisation was laid down for all India and before the end of the century the Indian Police Service had become one of the great police services of the world. The author is mainly concerned with the period 1861 to 1947 when the Service, at first recruited mainly from the British army, but by the end of the century including Indians, was responsible for maintaining law and order over a vast and at times turbulent country. His fascinating story emphasises the part it played in giving India a degree of tranquility which she had not enjoyed for many years. Sir Percival Griffiths was a well known authority on Indian and Commonwealth affairs. As a District Magistrate in Bengal during the wave of terrorism in the early '30s - his three immediate predecessors had all been murdered - he came into close contact with the police, and his respect and affection for the Service is shown in this book. Illus., Epilogue, Appendices, Chronological Table, Bibliog. and Index. 444pp. lge. 8vo. h/back. Lacks tp. o/w Vg+ in Vg. pcdw. A fairly heavy book which will require additional postage if shipped overseas.