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An attempt is made in this monograph to study the life and work of John Briggs (1785-1875), who was not only a good soldier but also an able administrator with a vision. He worked for the settlement of Khandesh, especially of the Bhils, and rendered useful service as Resident of Satara. He was chiefly responsible for setting up Mahabaleshwar as a sanatorium for the British officers of the Bombay Presidency.

Back in England in 1835, Briggs denounced Dalhousie's Doctrine of Lapse and his rapacious policy of annexation and correctly predicted its disastrous consequences. Briggs was not only an able officer but also an indefatigable student of Eastern languages, history and science. He wrote many books, pamphlets and articles, the most famous being the English translation of Ferishta's book, Tarik-i-Ferishta, and History of the Rise of Mahomedan Power in India Till the Year 1612 in four volumes. He published the Land Tax of India, one of the earliest protests against some forms of British misrule in India. He also wrote a useful pamphlet entitled Letters Addressed To a Young Person in India Calculated To Afford Instruction For His Conduct In General And More Especially In His Intercourse With The Natives, which served as an excellent guide for young men entering the army or as writers in the East India Company's service. Briggs had significant artistic talent and had donated paintings to the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. He was a sincere friend of India.

Dr. Prabha Ravi Shankar has served as a senior college lecturer in reputed colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai and also as Associate Professor in the Department of History, S.N.D.T. Women's University. She is teaching at the Centre for Post Graduate Studies in one of the affiliated Colleges of the University.