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Independence Day Special: Five Books On India's Struggle For Freedom
Books open up our world in more ways than one. Here are five books that talk about India's struggle for freedom, the Partition of 1947 and the post-independence years.
Knowing our history and the numerous narratives that led to the dawn of August 15, 1947, is essential. Now, more than any other time, it is important to understand history from many viewpoints to comprehend how India attained Independence. Here are five books that talk of life and the world around the time of Independence, in fiction, non-fiction and with an eye on every age.
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie: You can't have a list without this one. It is considered an absolute masterpiece by Salman Rushdie, who was viciously attacked in New York just a few days ago. Midnight's Children is the story of Saleem Sinai, the narrator of this book. Born at midnight on August 15, 1947, the book is about his fate intricately linked to his country. It's also about the mystic abilities that connect Sinai to the other midnight's children of India, all born in that first hour of freedom. In 1981, the book received both the Booker Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.
Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of an Empire by Alex Von Tunzelmann
This book chronicles all the significant political people and events that led to the partition of India. It demonstrates how a small group of people's decisions completely altered the nation. Because it discussed the relationship between Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, and Edwina Mountbatten, Lord Mountbatten's wife, the book was controversial.
The Integration of Indian States by VP Menon: This is for the factually oriented reader. VP Menon was the personal secretary to Sardar Patel. One of the most fundamentally significant challenges the Indian government faced following Independence was the amalgamation of the 554 princely kingdoms with the Indian state. The book details the negotiations Patel and Menon carried out with each of these states and might interest those with a keen eye on administrative history.
The Chowpatty Cooking Club by Lubaina Bandukwala: Suppose you are a grandparent wishing to give the young ones a window into children's lives during the freedom struggle. In that case, the books from the Songs of Freedom series (Duckbill) make a great choice. In the Chowpatty Cooking Club, set during the Quit India Movement, three children fervently wish to participate in the freedom struggle and revolution brewing around them. The author weaves in actual historical elements such as an underground people's radio that broadcasts news hidden from the British, student rebels and secret codes. It's a book for children that adults are likely to love too!
The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor: Shashi Tharoor's debut novel is a fiction that retells the great epic of Mahabharata. It's a political satire that draws parallels with major events in India's political history during the freedom movement and in the post-independence era.
Every August, Silver Talkies records memories and instances of humanity, fortitude, and courage during the Independence Years; stories of life in a newly independent India; crossing over during Partition, and finding freedom. You can find these stories here & here.
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