California, May 18, 2026 — A newly released historical work, Alexander the Great’s Invasion of India and his Battle with King Porus – Battle of the Hydaspes and Punjabi Resistance, offers a critical re-evaluation of the famed Macedonian conqueror’s campaign in the Indian subcontinent. Authored by independent research scholar Dr. Tarlochan Singh Nahal and published by Archway Publishing (a Simon & Schuster partner) on May 4, 2026, the volume dives deep into Punjab’s ancient and largely unexplored pre-Mauryan past.
Representing the first comprehensive study of Alexander’s invasion by a researcher of Indian origin, the 504-page book challenges conventional historical narratives. While the Battle of the Hydaspes against Punjabi King Porus of the Jehlum kingdom takes center stage, Dr. Nahal highlights that Alexander’s forces clashed with at least 15 other prominent tribes across Swat, Punjab, and lower Sindh.
Among the book’s most striking historical details is the account of early chemical warfare; Dr. Nahal documents how the Brahmins of Harmatelia in the Indus Delta region of lower Sindh deployed poison-tipped arrows against the invading army. The local resistance proved so formidable that, as noted by the ancient Greek historian Plutarch, the Indians “blunted the edge of the Macedonians’ courage.” Demoralized after the fierce encounter at Jehlum, Alexander’s army mutinied, forcing the conqueror to make a historic U-turn at the western bank of the Beas River near present-day Gurdaspur.
Dr. Nahal meticulously pinpoints the geographic reality of the clash, noting that the battleground between Porus and Alexander took place in the same general area just two to three miles west of Chillianwala, the site of the famous Anglo-Sikh battle of 1849.
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Furthermore, the book provides a critical examination of Alexander the Great’s legacy, bringing attention to the massive human toll of his campaigns. The author points out that his conquests resulted in the deaths of approximately 500,000 people—including 300,000 in Persia and 200,000 in India—alongside the slaughter of thousands of his own people in Thebes and other parts of Europe.
To construct this detailed narrative, the author excavated the oldest known Greek historical sources, analyzing accounts by Arrian, Ptolemy, Nearchus, Megasthenes, Quintus Curtius Rufus, Plutarch, Justinus Frontinus, and Cleitarchus. The comprehensive volume includes 120 illustrations and over 30 maps to visually guide readers through the ancient topography and troop movements.
G.S. Dhillon, Former Professor of History at Panjab University, Chandigarh, praised the scholarly effort, stating: “Author has made a comprehensive study of the subject by delving deep into both ancient and modern sources… It is an immensely valuable addition to the less-known period of ancient Indian history. He has accomplished his very valuable, documented stupendous task with great passion.”
About the Author:
Dr. Tarlochan Singh Nahal is an expert in Sikhism and the history of Punjab. After earning his M.A. in English literature from Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, he relocated to the United States in 1979 and completed his Ph.D. in Political Science at Senior University International in 1999 under Professor Emeritus Noel Q. King. A veteran of the Silicon Valley technical communication sector for four decades, he previously authored the 2011 book Religion and Politics in Sikhism: The Khalsa Perspective.
Alexander the Great’s Invasion of India and his Battle with King Porus is dedicated “to King Porus, the son of the soil of Punjab and all the brave Punjabis who proved their mettle in the battlefield.” It is currently available globally in both softcover (ISBN: 9781665791878) and E-Book (ISBN: 9781665791885) formats.
