Between Empire and Nation

Overview & Synopsis

Between Empire and Nation is a comprehensive history of South Asian humanitarian aid in the context of armed conflicts in the colonial period. Adopting an international and transnational approach, the book focuses on relief initiatives from the First World War to the Second World War and the early post-war years. Through five case studies, this book offers new insights into the history of volunteer societies and non-state organisations in British India. It enhances readers’ understanding of late colonial public and political activism on the Indian subcontinent. The book makes a significant contribution to the global history of humanitarianism, offering a nuanced understanding of the subject. This is achieved through an in-depth, context-sensitive exploration of relief work in a non-Western setting, focusing on the significance of Indian actors for the development of a transnational civil society.