The Patient Assassin
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Books |
The Patient Assassin: A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge and the Raj is a 2019 biography authored by Anita Anand, which chronicles the life of Indian revolutionary Udham Singh. Released by Simon & Schuster UK in April 2019, the publication coincided with the centennial commemoration of the Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre in Amritsar, India.
Publication
The Patient Assassin presents a detailed account of Udham Singh’s life and was issued by Simon & Schuster UK in April 2019, timed to mark 100 years since the Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre. The 384-page volume also saw its American release through Scribner.
Summary
Structured into two sections comprising 25 chapters, the book includes a preface, illustrations, endnotes, and a bibliography.
Anand reconstructs Udham Singh’s narrative using archival materials and interviews, notably with Lord Indarjit Singh. The biography further incorporates documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act to illuminate Singh’s arrest, subsequent trial, and execution.
The story begins in 2013 during UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to the Jallianwala Bagh memorial in Amritsar. Anand recounts the tragic events of 1919 when Brigadier General Reginald Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed assembly. She reveals a personal connection as her grandfather was among those killed. At that time, Sir Michael O'Dwyer served as Punjab’s Lieutenant Governor. Two decades later, Udham Singh assassinated O'Dwyer, an act that made him despised in Britain but celebrated as a hero in India.
The first part (nine chapters) explores the backgrounds of O'Dwyer and Dyer alongside the context leading to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. The second part (sixteen chapters) follows Singh’s journey from his upbringing in Punjab through his travels across Germany, Russia, Mexico, and California, culminating in London in 1940 where he fatally shot O'Dwyer "through the heart at point-blank range," introducing himself as "Ram Mohammad Singh Azad."
Reception
William Dalrymple, who has previously collaborated with Anand on a publication, contrasts The Patient Assassin with Kim A. Wagner’s Amritsar 1919. Writing for The Spectator, he notes that both authors extensively utilized archival sources but characterizes Wagner’s approach as "coolly forensic and scholarly" while describing Anand’s style as "more passionate and vivid."
Anthony Khatchaturian of the Dublin Inquirer praises the biography as "a clear presentation of facts, many of which are detailed and previously unknown." Kavitha Rao from LiveMint calls it an "enchanting narrative" crafted with "meticulous research," emphasizing Anand’s skill in bringing Singh’s humanity to life. In her piece for India Today magazine, Rakhshanda Jalil refers to the work as a "comprehensive mosaic" weaving together legends and realities surrounding Udham Singh.
Nonica Dutta writing for Outlook remarks that Anand revives a largely forgotten episode of Indian revolutionary nationalism. Meanwhile, The Indian Express hails it as the "first authoritative biography tracing the elusive and complex life" of Udham Singh.
Saudamini Jain in Hindustan Times highlights Anand’s use of confidential British government records and diverse personalities to piece together Singh’s story. Nandini Nair at Open describes the book as resembling a "psychological thriller."
In his review for The Guardian, Ian Jack questions when exactly Udham Singh resolved to seek vengeance, pointing out that there is no conclusive proof he was present at Amritsar on April 13, 1919. Jack suggests that a more fitting title might be "The Wandering Assassin" and critiques some speculative elements and terminology used by Anand while acknowledging certain flaws within the book.