Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

As early as 2600 BCE, a sophisticated civilization with developed urban centers, copper and bronze tools, and complex routes of trade developed in the Indus Valley. Subsequent influences into the area introduced Vedic culture, which is based on the sacred texts collectively known as the Vedas and including scriptures like the Mahabharata and the epic poem Ramayana. British writers of the 19th century labeled this system of beliefs Hinduism, and it continues to be a prominent world religion today, serving as the primary belief system of around 80% of the population of India.

In the third century BCE, Buddhism was introduced into areas of what is now northern India and Pakistan, and beginning in the eighth CE, conquests by Muslim rulers brought Islam and the Arabic language to the region as well. The Mughal Empire (which is the theme of the annual party of the Major’s golf club in the novel) began in 1526 with the rule of Babur, a descendant of Genghis Khan. The Mughals were Muslim rulers who emphasized religious tolerance and political stability. The empire was admired for its economic and cultural achievements, and at its height, it covered northern India and extended into modern-day Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Bangladesh.