Books like White Mughals by William Dalrymple

William Dalrymple’s White Mughals traces the lives of British officials who wore local dress and embraced Indian culture during the East India Company’s rule. Central to the narrative is James Achilles Kirkpatrick, the Resident at Hyderabad’s court, whose love affair with Khair un‑Nissa and subsequent conversion to Islam challenged colonial norms and positioned him as a double agent. The book expands beyond this romance to explore other ‘White Mughal’ figures—such as the Brahmin‑associated ‘Hindoo Stuart’ and Sir David Ochterlony—who defied European conventions by adopting Indian attire, marrying locally, and engaging in court intrigue and espionage. Dalrymple presents these stories within the broader context of British imperial policy, revealing how such cultural cross‑overs caused both fascination and unease among colonial administrations.

First publish date: 2002