Deck to Dawn: NAVAL MUTINY of 1946 - Untold Story of the Last War of Independence

The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny of 1946 stands out for its immense significance. Though this mutiny was underplayed and its participants were betrayed by nationalist leaders of that time to serve their narrow political ends, it was the proverbial last straw that broke the Imperial camel’s back. The strong sense of nationalism that it evoked across the country generated unease and fear in the hearts of the British and hastened their departure from India. No wonder it has come to be known as ‘The Last War of Independence.’ I compliment Lt Cdr GD Sharma, VSM (Retd) for bringing out the story as it must be told. — Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta - PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VSM (Retd) - Former Commander-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command

A most fascinating account of the pre-Independence RIN and its evolution culminating in the Naval Mutiny of 1946. Its focus on the causes of discontent and the contribution of this ‘War of Independence’ towards the ultimate independence of India make it a ‘must read’ for all leaders of men at sea and especially all Indian Naval Officers. — V Adm Sanjay Mahindru - PVSM AVSM NM (Retd) - Former Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff

Why did the British hurriedly leave India? Any honest understanding of the answer to the question must foreground a seminal event that many in India do not know about, even today. This book will change that. It is a pathbreaking work that details the naval mutiny of 1946 that gave an existential shock to the British empire. The most important thing about this book is that it draws from real examples of people and from people who saw it happen and were part of it. This level of naval intelligence detailing has probably never been published before. Everyone interested in Indian independence must read this book. — Prof. (Dr.) Hindol Sengupta - Historian and Author, and Professor of International Relations - OP Jindal Global University

Eighty nine years passed between the first and the last battle for India’s independence— in 1857 and 1946, both waged by men whom the British had recruited to subjugate their fellow countrymen. Untold Story— 1946 Naval Mutiny by Lt Cdr GD Sharma arrives on the 80th anniversary of that momentous second struggle. It is a compelling story of the thunderous blow delivered on the foundations of the British Empire in India by Royal Indian Navy ratings and which convinced them that the sun had finally set on their empire, and yet, for various reasons outlined in this book, this is a story which hasn’t got the attention it deserves. — Sandeep Unnithan - Author and Journalist

In his book ‘Deck to Dawn: Naval Mutiny of 1946, the Last War of Independence,’ Lt Cdr GD Sharma has eloquently brought out how the ‘Naval Mutiny of February 1946’ evolved into a national uprising that reverberated across the British Empire, hastening its eventual exit from India. His conviction that the actions of the participants in the mutiny transcended mere dissent and instead represented a resolute stand against colonial oppression is argued with fervour. He has also highlighted how the post-independence narratives of this seminal event have often been marginalised, failing to receive the attention it truly deserves. He argues for historical intellectual honesty and the importance of acknowledging the multifaceted contributions of such movements in India's quest for independence. Sharma's laser sharp focus on the Navy at that time - its structures and systems - offers a unique insider's perspective to the event. A compelling read for both the Navy person and curious civilian alike. — Cmde Srikant Kesnur, VSM, PhD (Retd), Author and Navy Historian