San Jose ( Report Sandeep Singh Chahal ) Dr Tarlochan Singh Nahal of San Jose have announced the publication of their new book after 14 years of extensive research into a significant but largely overlooked chapter of ancient Punjab’s history. The 504-page work explores Alexander the Great’s invasion of Punjab and presents what the author describes as the untold perspective of the brave people and kingdoms of the region that resisted the Macedonian conqueror.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the project, Dr Nahal quoted an African proverb: “Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.” He said the statement accurately reflects how the history of Punjab has traditionally been narrated through Eurocentric interpretations, while the voices of the local people and rulers remained largely ignored.
The book focuses on Alexander’s historic encounter with King Porus, who ruled a small kingdom in the Jhelum region of Punjab and fiercely resisted the invading army. According to Dr Nahal, while thousands of books have been written on Alexander by European historians over nearly two millennia, this publication is among the first major works by a historian from the Indian subcontinent to present a detailed and logical analysis of Alexander’s Indian campaign in language accessible to ordinary readers and without European historical bias.
In addition to the famous Battle of Hydaspes between Alexander and Porus, the book also documents the resistance offered by at least 15 other tribes and rulers across Peshawar, Punjab, and Sindh. Dr. Nahal highlights lesser-known historical episodes, including what he describes as an early form of chemical warfare faced by Alexander during his campaign against the Brahmin kingdom of Harmatelia in lower Sindh and the Baluchistan region.
The author further examines the devastating human cost of Alexander’s military campaigns, claiming that nearly 200,000 people were killed in India and another 300,000 in Persia during his conquests. The book also details Alexander’s difficult return journey through the Gedrosian desert, where thousands of Macedonian soldiers reportedly died due to hunger, thirst, and disease.
Dr. Nahal said the subject carries deep personal significance for him because he was born in Punjab, the land where Alexander’s army eventually halted its eastward expansion. Historical records suggest Alexander made his famous U-turn near the western edge of the Beas River after his exhausted troops revolted and refused to march further into India. Citing the ancient Greek historian Plutarch, Dr. Nahal noted that the fierce battle with Porus had “blunted the edge of the courage of the Macedonians.”
The book also traces the political developments that followed Alexander’s death, including the rise of Chandragupta Maurya and the eventual decline of the Indo-Greek rulers in Punjab. According to the author, the work attempts to present “the other side of the story” that has remained absent from mainstream historical narratives.
Dr. Nahal has requested Punjabi media outlets and publications to feature the book in their upcoming editions. He also stated that an English version of the material is available upon request.
For further information, readers may contact Dr. Nahal at:
[email protected]