Book excerpt: This book deals with all major battles of the East India Company, starting with the naval battle off the coast of swally (Suhali) in 1612 to the Second Sikh war and Annexation of the Punjab in 1849. The Afghan and Burma Wars and the Mutiny of 1857 are excluded. Chapter II deals with the Geographical Portrait and Climate of History of India in which the company operated. Chapter III traces the Evolution of the political and Military Ethos of the Company . Chapters IV to X describe the various battles - against the Portugues and the Dutch, against the Mughals, the French, the Marathas, Haidar and Tipu, the Gorkhas and the Sikhs. Chapter XI discusses the reasons why the Company triumphed.