Medicine, Fear, and Racial Control: The Untold History of Epidemics in Colonial India

Book Title: In Sickness and in Death: How Faith, Medicine and Race Shaped British India
Author: Ipshita Nath
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Number of Pages: 535
ISBN: 9369895752
Date Published: Apr. 7, 2026
Price: INR 478

Book Review

Ipshita Nath’s “In Sickness and in Death: How Faith, Medicine and Race Shaped British India” offers a fascinating way of looking at colonial history—through disease. Instead of treating illness as a purely medical subject, Ipshita shows how fevers, cholera and other diseases affected the British Empire’s confidence and exposed the limits of its power. British soldiers and officials arrived in India with a sense of scientific and racial superiority, yet they soon discovered that disease could be as threatening as any political or military challenge. This fresh perspective makes the history of colonial India feel both unfamiliar and surprisingly relevant.

One of the book’s most interesting ideas is that medicine became closely connected with governance. The colonial administration used sanitation, medical surveys, statistics and regulations to manage disease, but these efforts were often shaped by racial hierarchies. European communities received greater protection, while Indian populations were frequently treated differently. Ipshita also explores the role of faith and local beliefs, showing that people understood sickness through a mixture of religion, culture and medicine. Her discussion of cholera is particularly compelling, revealing how an outbreak that began in Bengal travelled through trade, military and pilgrimage routes and became a global concern.

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Richly researched and thoughtfully written, “In Sickness and in Death” gives readers a deeper understanding of how disease influenced colonial policy, everyday life and imperial ambitions. At times, its academic detail may feel demanding, especially for readers expecting a fast-moving book, but the depth of research adds considerable value. Most importantly, the book shows that disease was never simply about illness—it was also about fear, power, race and control. For readers interested in Indian history, colonialism, medicine, or the ways societies respond to crises, this is a compelling and worthwhile read. Its fresh perspective and relevance to the post-pandemic world make it a book that stays with the reader long after the final page.

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