What do you think?
Rate this book
A Partition in the Mind
The partitioning of India in 1947 is widely noted as a defining moment in the history of the sub-continent. It is possibly still playing itself out over the last seven decades and more, as people of the sub-continent come to terms with who they are and what they stand for. In a wider sense, therefore, a better understanding of the events leading up to the Partition should lead to a better understanding why we are where we are today, or will be in the foreseeable future.
This work attempts to weave together the strands of history from the Vedic times, and those of Gautama Buddha and Bhagwan Mahavira to the Mauryan Empire and later, and even early history of Islam in general, and of Islam in India, and facets of British rule, to provide a context to the core issue of the Partition. It goes on to examine the many circumstances and factors –some known, some poorly known, or plain unknown, which led to that traumatic event. It is tempting to say that the Partition, after all,was a plain sum-total of the effects of these many factors. That would be denying the "balance of evidence", and the relatively higher weightage that ought to be given to some aspects, for the disproportionate role they played in the key period of the 1930s and40s. This, then, is an attempt at all that, on the premise that abetter understanding should lead to a more reasoned and rational acceptance of reality of life on the sub-continent.
This work attempts to weave together the strands of history from the Vedic times, and those of Gautama Buddha and Bhagwan Mahavira to the Mauryan Empire and later, and even early history of Islam in general, and of Islam in India, and facets of British rule, to provide a context to the core issue of the Partition. It goes on to examine the many circumstances and factors –some known, some poorly known, or plain unknown, which led to that traumatic event. It is tempting to say that the Partition, after all,was a plain sum-total of the effects of these many factors. That would be denying the "balance of evidence", and the relatively higher weightage that ought to be given to some aspects, for the disproportionate role they played in the key period of the 1930s and40s. This, then, is an attempt at all that, on the premise that abetter understanding should lead to a more reasoned and rational acceptance of reality of life on the sub-continent.
236 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2017
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 28, 2020
It is another mind-blowing research work by Prosenjit Das Gupta. The book takes into the history of Islam and Hinduism with respect to India’s partition in 1947. The book stretches its scope beyond the 20th century and explains a lot from the realms of history. This book tries to stitch together the strands of history from the Vedic times, and those of Gautama Buddha and Bhagwan Mahavira to the Mauryan Empire and later, and even early history of Islam in general, and of Islam in India, and facets of British rule, to provide a context to the core issue of the Partition.
The book laced with research work goes on to scrutinize many circumstances and its allied aspects that led to that tragic sanguinary event. It’s persuasive to say that the partition of India, after all, was a plain sum – total of the effects of these many factors. That would be denying the "balance of evidence", and the relatively higher weightage that ought to be given to some aspects, for the disproportionate role they played in the key period of the 1930s and40s. This, then, is an attempt at all that, on the premise that a better understanding should lead to a more reasoned and rational acceptance of reality of life on the sub-continent. From history’s point of view, this book way too important and could change the course of our historical books. There are so many insights that one will stick to this book and keep cogitating of the events that do not make us comfortable.
The book laced with research work goes on to scrutinize many circumstances and its allied aspects that led to that tragic sanguinary event. It’s persuasive to say that the partition of India, after all, was a plain sum – total of the effects of these many factors. That would be denying the "balance of evidence", and the relatively higher weightage that ought to be given to some aspects, for the disproportionate role they played in the key period of the 1930s and40s. This, then, is an attempt at all that, on the premise that a better understanding should lead to a more reasoned and rational acceptance of reality of life on the sub-continent. From history’s point of view, this book way too important and could change the course of our historical books. There are so many insights that one will stick to this book and keep cogitating of the events that do not make us comfortable.
Displaying 1 of 1 review