Daily Times

EMPIRE IN RETREAT BY RABIA UMAR ALI

The Indian subcontinent of 1947 became the burial place of the British Raj. The struggle for freedom and independence had culminated in the creation of two new and sovereign states, India and Pakistan. But the dawn of liberty brought with it a human tragedy of colossal magnitude of which contemporary history has no parallel. The book aims to highlight the flaws in the making of Partition and the attempts and intentions of the British to draw boundaries based on their impulses and whims, and not in keeping with the demands and wishes of the people.

THE PITY OF PARTITION BY AYESHA JALAL

In this book, Manto’s life and work serve as a prism to capture the human dimension of sectarian conflict in the final decades and immediate aftermath of the British Raj. Ayesha Jalal draws on Manto’s stories, sketches, and essays, as well as a trove of his private letters, to present an intimate history of Partition and its devastating toll. Jalal brings to life the people, locales, and events that inspired Manto’s fiction, which is characterized by an eye for detail, a measure of wit and irreverence, and elements of suspense and surprise.

A HISTORY OF PAKISTAN BY ROGER D LONG

From the founders of Pakistan to its political dynasties and army leaders, Pakistan is possessed with a history that is incomparable. This volume is a rich and authoritative guide to the history of Pakistan, from its archaeological heritage and origins in Islamic civilisation in South Asia to its political and economic inheritance from British imperialism. It also covers the country’s political, economic, and social history of the post-Partition period up to the present times. Pakistan’s turbulent history is examined through a study of its dictatorial and colourful military and civilian rulers.

INDEPENDENCE OF INDIA & PAKISTAN EDITED BY IAN TALBOT

This book brings together essays on the politics, legacies, and violence which accompanied the 1947 division of the Indian subcontinent. It provides fresh insights into the role of leading British personalities, the interconnection of politics and violence, and the social impact of the resulting upheaval. These research articles examine three distinct themes relating to Partition. First, they focus on the vexed issue of the violence which accompanied Partition. Secondly, the collection sheds light on the politics of the transfer of power. Finally, the volume addresses concerns of the ‘New History’ of Partition, which has its emphasis on subaltern groups and the lived experience of resettlement.

THE PUNJAB BLOODIED, PARTITIONED & CLEANSED BY ISHTIAQ AHMED

The Partition of India in 1947 resulted in the biggest forced migration in history—some 14 million people altogether of which 10 million were from the Punjab. This book is a holistic study of the first major case of ethnic cleansing after the Second World War. Besides shedding new light on the events through secret British reports, it also contains poignant accounts by eyewitnesses, survivors, and even participators in the carnage from both sides of the border. With interviewees from both India and Pakistan, the book aims to give a balanced account of Partition and show how religious differences are no bar to peaceful coexistence unless highlighted by divisive forces.

Published in Daily Times, August 15^th 2017.