About two years ago, I picked up a book called ‘Memsahibs’ at a bookshop. In colonial India, the wives of British Officers or civil servants were addressed as Memsahibs. This nonfiction book, written by Ipshita Nath and inspired by her Doctoral Thesis, is well-researched.

The book covers the journey of the British Women to India, their life in Indian towns and remote locations, the socializing aspects, their relationships with the assistants helping in managing their homes, child raising and children’s education, vacations in hill stations, adventures, their struggles and perspective of the independence movement, and finally the departure phase from India.

There are documents, documentaries, books, and academic readings about the Raj, colonial administrative structures, and the scenario during the pre-independence period. Very limited non-fiction is available on the British Women accompanying their husbands. The book infers many published references along with the curated letters & journals by the Memsahibs and builds an interesting narration.
I felt it was a good read and provided a dive into a little thought aspect of colonial India, the Memsahibs.

(The views are personal.)