New Book Release :
LIFE AND LEGACY of COL. WILLIAM LINNAEUS GARDNER.
By Frank Gardner
Published in June 2010

Book Synopsis :

Innumerable sketches of the lives of hordes of European Military Adventurers that began arriving into Hindoostan from the late 1700’s are replete with tales of their great courage and loyalty amidst prevailing internecine bloodletting and unfamiliar court intrigue. These forgotten men contributed a substantial part of their remarkable lives in the making of what can be termed as the most turbulent period in the history of this great land. These soldiers of fortune many of whom today lie in old run down, dilapidated British cemeteries that are scattered across this country, once raised their own armies, unseated kings, overran kingdoms and in doing so frequently not only changed the course of history but in all their obliviousness added their names to it.

It was with this very same wave of Military Adventurers who came looking for their very own portion of gold that an occasional individual, devoid of true mercenary cravings arrived at the frontiers of this land seeking out instead its cultural riches and priceless diversity. One such individual whose name stands clearly apart from his continental compatriots was Col. William Linnaeus Gardner. Historians agree that he was undoubtedly THE MOST INTERESTING of the Military Adventurers of the eighteenth and nineteenth century British period in India . The unparalleled account of Col. William Linnaeus Gardner’s life in all certainty can be considered in the social aspect as one historian puts it “most romantic” and in the military aspect “dangerously exciting”.

In an amazingly eventful military career that began in 1789 upon his arrival into India aged eighteen, he served the British under Lord Cornwallis in the Anglo-Mysore Wars only to soon leave them in disillusionment, going on to freelance with the fearless Yeshawant Rao Holkar, he served him faithfully through the most unsettled years of Maratha history. Due to jealousy against him in Yeshwant Rao’s court he was forced to confront his master and then flee to Jaipur where he served the Maharaja as Commander of his cavalry till 1804. Recognising his leadership skills, the British persuaded him to return to their fold and in 1809 he was authorized to raise his legendary Corps of Cavalry “ Gardner ’s Horse”. He set up his cantonment and residence in Kasgunj, a small town in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. The Corps under his command was singularly instrumental in bringing about a major change in the disastrous Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-1816. He tirelessly commanded them in the Pindari War of 1817-1818 contributing largely to the extermination of the Pindari looters and freebooters. He fought his last major campaign as Commander in the most difficult and inhospitable Arracan War of 1824-1825 where in spite of being sick he was carried on many an occasion into battle in a palanquin to be then mounted onto his horse. His military career ended in February 1828 when he relinquished command of his Corps. The Corps 200 years old is today an Armoured Regiment in the Indian Army’s mechanized arm and still affixes its founders name.

Col. Gardner was the true soldier - courageous, commanding and loyal but unlike other Military Adventurers, there was another innate quality only he possessed, that his masters, Yeshwant Rao Holkar and the British both were aware of - he was a very skillful negotiator. In his pacifist avatar, Col. Gardner strongly believed that most military conflicts could be resolved without loss of life. It was this belief that enabled him to negotiate and obtain surrender of such impregnable forts as Komalmer in Rajasthan, Rampoora in Bundelkhand and Almora in present day Uttarakhand, without a drop of blood being shed. It was this very quality that also changed his life and won him the hand from a very alarmed and reluctant family, of the woman he fell hopelessly in love with, the woman he loved all his life – Maha Manzul-ul-Nissa Begum, the beautiful Princess from Cambay.

“Col. W.L.Gardner of Khasgunje”, “Col. Gardner of Gardner’s Horse”, “The Gallant Gardner”, “The Squire of Hindoostan”, so diverse was his persona that historians honored him for many different reasons but what they all agree on is that in his heart dwelled an unrestrained love for this mysterious and beautiful country. This was a man in who flowed the blue blood of British Nobility and American Aristocracy and yet he chose to forgo his illustrious roots, effortlessly adopting the Indian way of life. He preferred chartering a course for his own destiny making a niche for himself in a country his forebears knew nothing of. He married an Indian Princess and became the progenitor of a clan called the “Gardners of Khasgunje” in the veins of whom flowed blood that was bluer than blue.

He lived out his life in the serene and rustic settings of his homestead in the remote heartland of the Doab plains. Although he has confessed that he enjoyed the quiet company of his books he was most happy in the company of his little brats – his grandchildren. In spite of living in a remote village, he kept abreast with happenings around the world and regularly acquired the latest published works from Calcutta . He was a great one for letter writing and we are fortunate that many of that them are preserved to this day allowing us to delve into his mind. He fervently pursued his other passions which were botany, gardening and experimental farming.

Col. William Linnaeus Gardner the American born and bred British soldier of fortune died in July of 1835, he lies buried in a vault built by his son James amongst the fields in village Chhaoni. Laying by his side in the same vault are also the remains of his wife, Maha Manzul-ul-Nissa Begum, the Princess of Cambay who died of a broken heart a month after him.

To buy this book - please contact :

Frank Gardner
Mobile : +919821998129
Email : effgeein@yahoo.com