Review of The Patient Assassin by Anita Anand
जलियाँवाला बाग ये देखो यहीं चली थी गोलियां
ये मत पूछो किसने खेली यहाँ खून की होलियां
एक तरफ़ बंदूकें दन दन, एक तरफ़ थी टोलियां
मरनेवाले बोल रहे थे इंकलाब की बोलियां
Almost everyone from India grows up with this patriotic song. As Independence Day approaches each year, its rhythm makes hearts swell with pride. But these particular lines about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre always made my heart skip a beat.
When I visited Amritsar and walked through Jallianwala Bagh, I witnessed the preserved bullet marks on the walls. I could almost hear the screams of those unarmed men, women, and children who gathered there on Baisakhi, April 13th, 1919. The air still echoed with their voices. Amritsar felt deeply melancholic to me.
‘The Patient Assassin’ by Anita Anand tells the complete story of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and Udham Singh. This review explores why this book brings history to life in ways textbooks never could.
Beyond the History Books: What Makes This Story Complete
History books teach us the basic facts. They tell us what happened on that fateful Baisakhi in 1919. But every story has characters, backstories, and consequences that stretch far beyond a single day.
This review of The Patient Assassin by Anita Anand reveals how the book paints the complete picture of that dark chapter in Indian freedom struggle history.
We know the main players. Brigadier General Reginald Dyer gave the shooting orders. Sir Michael O’Dwyer served as Punjab’s Lieutenant Governor. We sing songs about Udham Singh, who avenged this brutal massacre.
But what drove these men to act as they did?
Understanding the Characters Behind History
The book dives deep into each person’s life story. Reading about their childhoods gives us glimpses into their personalities and character traits. This approach transforms historical figures into real people with motivations we can understand.
The history of Jallianwala Bagh massacre becomes more powerful when we see it through human eyes rather than just dates and facts.
We can’t view this event in isolation. That would oversimplify history.
The British Empire was dealing with World War I’s aftermath. India, as Britain’s colony, had become an unwilling war participant. The book explores how geopolitical forces shaped the events of that era. These global influences had significant impact on everything that followed.
Udham Singh: From Small-Town Boy to Revolutionary
This book centers on Udham Singh’s remarkable journey. The story of Udham Singh and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre takes us on a rollercoaster ride through his life.
It’s fascinating to imagine how a low-caste boy from a small town took on the mighty British Empire single-handedly. His hardships seem almost unreal. His clever methods to reach his target, his travels, his daily habits, and the people he met along the way create an incredible narrative.
We all know the basic fact: Udham Singh killed Sir Michael O’Dwyer in London on March 13th, 1940. But the twenty-one years between 1919 and 1940 hold the real story.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand what happened during those crucial decades.
Reading Experience: History Meets Storytelling
This review of The Patient Assassin by Anita Anand wouldn’t be complete without discussing the reading experience itself.
Anita Anand accomplishes something remarkable. She presents thoroughly researched history while maintaining excellent storytelling. The book reads like a fast-paced thriller, not a dry academic text.
The author provides references for every fact mentioned. Yet the story flows naturally from page to page. Historical gaps exist in any twenty-year period, but Anand handles them masterfully. Sometimes she openly acknowledges missing information. Other times she gives readers enough clues to make educated guesses.
Quick Reading Stats:
- Reading time: About 8 hours
- Language difficulty: Simple and accessible
- Dictionary needed: Rarely
- Overall experience: Highly entertaining
Why This Book Matters Today
The Patient Assassin by Anita Anand does more than retell historical events. It shows us how individual actions can challenge entire empires. It reveals the human cost of political decisions. Most importantly, it brings forgotten stories back to life.
The book reminds us that history isn’t just about dates and names. It’s about real people making difficult choices under extraordinary circumstances.
For anyone interested in the history of Jallianwala Bagh massacre and Udham Singh, this book offers the complete story that textbooks miss. It’s history told through human hearts and minds, making the past feel immediate and relevant.
The preserved bullet holes in Jallianwala Bagh’s walls tell only part of the story. Anita Anand’s book tells the rest.
About the Author
Anita Anand is a British radio and television presenter, journalist, historian, and author. She has worked for Zee TV, BBC Radio 5 Live, and BBC Radio 4, and co-hosted the podcast Empire with William Dalrymple.
Her Publications include –
The book “Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary” was written by Anita Anand in 2015.
The book “Koh-i-Noor: The History of the World’s Most Infamous Diamond” was written by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand in 2017.
The book “The Patient Assassin: A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge and the Raj” was written by Anita Anand in 2019.
My Favorite Quotes
Buy this book
You can buy here, The Patient Assassin: A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge and the Raj