India at War by Col. D.P.K. Pillay restores forgotten campaigns, soldiers and sacrifices to India’s story—a sweeping look at the conflicts that shaped modern India.
India at War by Col. D.P.K. Pillay explores the battles that shaped modern India. India’s story has never been one of uninterrupted peace or of permanent defeat. It is the story of a civilization that has endured invasions, empires, partitions and wars, yet has never surrendered its identity.
About India at War
From ancient battlefields to the World Wars, where Indian soldiers fought under a foreign Crown, and to the mountains of Kashmir, where they defended a newly independent India, generations answered the call of duty. Their courage shaped history far beyond the subcontinent, yet many of their stories faded into obscurity. India’s military history is filled with battles we remember and stories we don’t. More than a chronicle of campaigns and commanders, India at War explores memory, sacrifice, resilience and the enduring spirit of a civilization—how India survived when many empires vanished, and why its identity endured despite centuries of conflict. Vintage Books hardback: ISBN 9789377301040, 368 pages, August 2026. Penguin Random House India.
Col DPK Pillay, Shaurya Chakra, PhD, is a decorated veteran, military innovator and Research Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.
