Review: The Eastern Frontier of British India
By Indubhusan Banerjee
Summary
Under the 'Reviews' section, I. Banerjee critiques the second edition of Anil Chandra Banerjee’s The Eastern Frontier of British India (1946). The book surveys the British Government’s policy towards states on the eastern frontier of Bengal from 1784 to 1826, covering the incorporation of Arakan into the Burmese empire, the First Anglo‑Burmese War and the annexation of Assam, Arakan and Tenasserim. The reviewer commends the author’s ability to attract the attention of scholars and general readers alike to a subject long neglected by historians. He notes that the second edition includes new chapters, maps and a fuller use of unpublished official documents, making it an improvement over the first. According to the review, Banerjee’s study is novel in that it analyses the eastern frontier problem from the Indian point of view, emphasising how British policy towards Assam and Burma developed through both diplomacy and military expeditions. The reviewer highlights the author’s discussion of military operations in Assam, Cachar, Manipur, Arakan and Burma, noting that these operations shed new light on wartime activity in the region, including Japanese threats during World War II. The review concludes that the book is a valuable and readable contribution to modern Indian history and that its second edition should receive wider recognition.
Conclusion
The review appreciates Banerjee’s thorough revision and expansion of his work, recognising it as a significant contribution to the historiography of the eastern frontier. By combining narrative clarity with meticulous research, the book broadens understanding of British policy and military action in Assam and Burma. The reviewer recommends it to scholars and general readers interested in frontier policy and colonial expansion.