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==Reference books==
* Buckland, Charles Edward
''Dictionary of Indian biography''. London: Swan Sonnenschein, 1906
Ever since its appearance in 1906, C E Buckland’s ''Dictionary of Indian Biography'' has been for generations of researchers the first place to look for a succinct summary of the career of anybody who was anybody during the history of British India. It includes both civil and military officers, non-officials as well as officials, scholars as well as statesmen, a sprinkling of eminent Indians and Indian Princes, Secretaries of State for India and other home politicians who influenced Indian affairs, a few senior East India Company and India Office officials, and a surprising number of European and Indian critics and enemies of the British in India.
This list indicates both Buckland’s strengths and weaknesses. To be included a person must have left a mark on history, but if your ancestor was an ‘ordinary Joe’, you will not find him. Nevertheless, if you come across mention of a senior officer or official or otherwise prominent personage during your researches, ‘Buckland’ is still a very handy means of finding out about him (there are hardly any women – I have found only Annie Besant on a quick search). Handy, that is, only for those of us able to visit a major library [in the British Library APAC reading room it is on the open shelves at 920.054], or lucky enough to own a second-hand copy or one of the Indian reprints of 1971 (Varanasi, Indological Book House) and 1999 (New Delhi, Cosmo Publications). However, the book can be read or downloaded at [http://www.archive.org/details/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft Internet Archive]. (David Blake, FIBIS trustee, 2010)
London: HarperCollins, 2002
This award-winning book unfolds the romantic story of Major James Achilles Kirkpatrick (1764-1805), the British Resident at the Court of the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the high-born Khair un-Nissa. Their marriage by Muslim rite in 1800 caused a scandal and secret investigations by the British, but, as the author clearly documents, James was not unusual in his appreciation of local culture and arts, nor in his adoption of local customs and an Indian wife. What was changing were British attitudes to assimilation, and long before the death of the children of James and Khair, the term 'gone native' had become one of contempt. The book provides a wealth of detail concerning the political maneuvering of the British EIC, their relationship with the French and key figures in the princely state, as well as the architecture of the city of Hyderabad.This [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/dec/09/britishidentity.india article] by William Dalrymple gives some background. * Hennessy, Maurice''The rajah from Tipperary''.Sevenoaks, Kent: New English Library, 1972 This little book (under 200 pages) relates the rise and fall of the inimitable George Thomas (1756-1802), an Irish mercenary who was leader of a large contingent of soldiers, became the one-time lover of the renowned Begum Sombru and eventually established his own kingdom based at Hansi. The narrative reveals the complexity of a man who exhibited a ruthless courage in pursuit of his enemy but was loyal and generous in his dealings with his own men and those who hired them. Each chapter embodies quotes from relevant texts and footnotes to satisfy the academic. For the average reader, this book is an excellent introduction to this early period in the history of India and to the type of life lead by European mercenary soldiers. There is also a list of characters and glossary for ease of reference, plus a bibliography. An enthralling and unforgettable read. Recommended. (Beverly Hallam, FIBIS trustee, 2010)
