Elisabeth Beckett

The British Raj: Volume II Decay Elisabeth Beckett

This book began life as a manuscript written by Elisabeth Beckett, daughter of a High Court Judge in India, married to a District Officer in the Indian Civil Service,fluent in Urdu and with many Indian friends. It was written after many years research into the events which occurred at Amritsar on 13 April 1919. Using contemporary accounts and official documents, Elisabeth has assembled information not readily available to the generality of readers, about the people and events which culminated in the series of riots in India in 1919, of which, Amritsar was only one example. She highlights the distortion of facts which makes up the official version and which were portrayed in the Attenborough film "Gandhi". The book centres on General Dyer, the man who ordered the firing on 13 April 1919 - an action which has been called the cause of the end of the British Empire. Dyer was vilified for his action, ordered to retire and refused the Court Martial he requested in order to clear his name. In the House of Commons debate on the disturbances, he was accused of terrorism by Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India who had made friends with the Indian Nationalist politicians behind the insurrection. Elisabeth set out to restore the reputation of a brave and honest man. The book has been edited for publication by John Wrake. Elisabeth's MS also gave rise to vol. I, entitled 'The British Raj, Growth'. This sets out British involvement in the Indian sub-continent during the three centuries up to 1900. Editing is not yet completed and it is not yet ready to be published. A dedicated website may be found at massacremyth.com, containing related information and an opportunity to comment.