Westland Books announces the release of Uprising: The Liberation of Dadra And Nagar Haveli by author Neelesh Kulkarni

Westland Books is pleased to announce the release of its upcoming release, Uprising: The Liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Neelesh Kulkarni.  The book, an account of India’s independence from the Portuguese, has been pieced together through interviews with descendants of the participants (and a handful of participants themselves), newspaper archival records, letters and diary entries. The book will be officially launched on August 27, 2024 at the India International Centre in New Delhi, where the author will be in conversation with historian and author Swapna Liddle.

Uprising traces the lesser-known history of how civilians got together to fight against the Portuguese – among the first invaders of India –  with the aid of celebrities like Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi and groups like the Azad Gomantak Dal and the RSS.

Speaking about the premise of the book, author Neelesh Kulkarni said, ‘This a real story about real heroism that I just chanced to uncover. As more and more layers of the magnificent story unravelled, I became increasingly obsessed with it and it transformed from merely being a story into being a mission. I knew I had to write the book so that every Indian would know about the courage, fortitude, integrity and selfless love for the motherland exhibited by these magnificent people.’

Speaking about the book, Karthika VK, Publisher, Westland Books said, ‘I think this is one of the most interesting interventions in Indian history, of citizens coming together to oust an oppressive power. Neelesh Kulkarni's account of it captures all the different aspects of the struggle and reminds us, yet again, of the impact of ethical collective action against all odds.’