13. The Patient Assassin

In this episode of the Empire podcast, co-hosts Anita Anand and William Dalrymple delve into Anand's award-winning book, "The Patient Assassin." Anand shares the personal connection to the story, as her grandfather was present at the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which profoundly affected her family. The discussion centers on Udham Singh, a key figure in the book, exploring his early life, motivations, and journey from an orphaned boy to a revolutionary seeking revenge for the massacre. They discuss his involvement with the Ghadar movement, his travels to America, his connections with international revolutionary groups, and his eventual assassination of Sir Michael O'Dwyer, the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, in London. The hosts also discuss the aftermath of the assassination, including the British government's attempts to suppress the news and Udham Singh's eventual recognition as a hero in India.