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Best Books on Partition 1947 for Independence Day 2024: India’s Independence, marked annually on August 15, was the result of generations of resistance, culminating in the nation’s trajectory towards sovereignty and self-governance.
However, the hasty withdrawal of British forces and subsequent communal riots left a trail of death and destruction. Overshadowing India’s newfound independence, the partition led to one of the largest mass migrations in history, with millions forced to flee their homes amid communal riots.
In 2024, both Pakistan and India will commemorate their 78th year of independence, with Pakistan celebrating on August 14th and India on August 15th.
However, the scars and wounds inflicted by the Partition of 1947 continue to linger in the collective memory of the people, casting a long shadow over the relationship between the two nations.
In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, marking the 1947 division of India by the British Empire. This declaration recognises the significant impact of the partition of British India, which led to widespread displacement and loss of life.
In light of the historical backdrop, numerous authors have explored the multifaceted narratives of partition through literature, with these works collectively offering a glimpse of the pain and suffering of the Partition in 1947.
Here is a list of 10 must-read books which have delved into the complexities of Partition 1947, narrating the stories, and highlighting the impact on people.
“I am the total of everything that went before me, of all I have been seen done, of everything done to me. I am everyone; everything whose being in the world affected was affected by mine. I am anything that happens after I’m gone, which would not have happened if I had not come.”
Reflecting the interconnectedness of individual identity with history and others’ lives, Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie tells the story of Saleem Sinai, who was born at the exact moment of India’s independence on August 15, 1947. This novel intertwines the personal with the national political narratives, highlighting Saleem’s experiences amid India’s political turmoil and exploring events surrounding Partition and their lasting effects on identity.
“Freedom is for the educated people who fought for it. We were slaves of the English, now we will be slaves of the educated Indians—or the Pakistanis.”
In his narrative, Singh captures the impact of the disillusionment of ordinary people with the promises of freedom during the Partition of India. Set in a small village where Sikhs and Muslims coexisted peacefully for centuries, the story unfolds as they get trapped into a deep abyss of religious hatred, violence and moral dilemmas brought about by Partition.
“To understand partition, we must listen to the voices that have been silenced.”
In The Other Side of Silence, Urvashi Butalia centres on individual experiences and private pain during the Partition of India. Through a decade of interviews and analysis of personal documents, she explores how marginalized groups—women, children, and lower castes—were affected by this upheaval. Butalia connects her family history to the broader narrative, revealing the persistent bitterness and unvoiced trauma among survivors. By highlighting personal stories, she amplifies the experiences of those often ignored, offering a nuanced perspective on the emotional scars left by Partition
“In the end, it is not about religion; it is about power. And the powerless suffer the most.”
Tamas by Bhisham Sahni vividly portrays the violence that erupted in India just before independence, fuelled by communal tensions. The novel critiques the enduring issue of communalism, which foreign rulers exploited for power, demonstrating how religion often becomes a tool in political struggles. As a result, the most vulnerable—those who are neither Hindu nor Muslim but simply human—suffer the most. Through a sharp analysis of pre-independence riots, Sahni uncovers the attitudes that perpetuate this suffering among ordinary people, highlighting the tragic consequences of communal strife.
“Ultimately, it is not possible to assign blame entirely to one side or the other. What exploded so suddenly in Calcutta in August 1946 were the pent-up fears of communities convinced that they faced imminent subjugation by the other.”
In Midnight’s Furies, Nisid Hajari explores the factors behind the communal violence surrounding Partition in 1947. He highlights the fear and insecurity gripping Hindu and Muslim communities, leading to violent outbursts driven by mutual distrust. Through a detailed account, Hajari examines Partition’s aftermath and its long-term impact on India-Pakistan relations, illustrating how the events of 1947 laid the groundwork for ongoing conflict between the two nations.
Kavita Puri shares firsthand accounts from those impacted by Partition, along with insights from their children and grandchildren, emphasising the emotional toll on individuals and families. Partition Voices breaks the silence surrounding this traumatic event and confronts the challenging truths of Britain’s shared history with South Asia.
Written by the first President of Independent India – Rajendra Prasad – this book presents real-life speeches, discussions, and critiques of the Two-Nation Theory while proposing the solution: that the Hindu-Muslim issue lies in establishing a secular state that grants cultural autonomy to the diverse groups within the nation.
“During the course of my journey, many of the people I met in Pakistan and India expressed a curious combination of affection, indifference, and animosity towards their neighbours across the border. . . . The border divides them, but it is also a seam that joins the fabric of their cultures.”
Stephen Alter’s travel narrative delves into the historical and cultural links between India and Pakistan, emphasising their shared heritage beyond political boundaries. Through interviews and personal stories, he explores themes of identity and the impact of borders, capturing the complex emotions—ranging from affection to animosity—that define the relationship between the two nations while acknowledging their enduring cultural connections.
“Some things need no translation. And I know, because my body remembers without benefit of words.”
This novel delves into a family’s experience during the events leading up to the 1947 Indian Partition. Baldwin’s story centres on Roop, a Sikh woman who confronts the harsh realities of partition. Intertwining together personal trauma and collective memory, the book presents a compelling narrative of life in pre-partition India, offering insight into the lives of its two main characters—Sikh women who are largely unheard of within their own culture.
“Hindustan had become free. Pakistan had become independent soon after its inception, but man was still a slave in both of these countries—slave of prejudice, slave of religious fanaticism, slave of barbarity and inhumanity.”
Criticising the idea that political independence equated to true freedom, Mottled Dawn highlights how, despite the end of colonial rule, people in both India and Pakistan remained trapped by social and religious prejudices, fanaticism, and brutality. Manto offers a perspective on one of history’s largest and bloodiest migrations and reveals the brutal slaughter that occurred on both sides of the border, driven by a blind rage that often eluded understanding, even among the perpetrators.
