Partition: The story of Indian independence and the creation of Pakistan in 1947

A very fascinating book about the tragedy of indo Pak

This book does not disappoint, very well written and appears carefully researched. It would be very easy to just list and expand upon a time line of events, this book does not do that. The back ground history of India is discussed where relevant to the developments of 1947. The book looks at the affects on all people regardless of culture, status or religion. where there is evidence the author point the finger of cause where it belongs, including the Britishif your looking for pleasant school classroom version of partition this is not the book for you, if your looking for the often horrifying facts and open acknowledgments this is for you but be warned to be unsettled if you have any understanding / sympathies of your fellow man

The author provides a very readable, educational and a very sobering account of the partition of British India. While obviously approaching it as a Briton, and as a senior Army officer, the author seems to give as balanced a view of a period which will never want for partisan viewpoints as one could hope for. He is certainly not reticent in pointing out areas where many of the major 'players' , many of them carrying heavy reputations from the (2nd World) war, could have done better. He highlights these weaknesses while still putting across what a momentous, rushed and under-resourced enterprise they were caught up in. He also provides a good explanation of the role that the military have played in the troubles of modern Pakistan, and provides an understandable account of the long running problems in Kashmir. The book is organised into 'monthly' chapters in the run up to partition (and the immediate aftermath), but also contains clear (but far from over simplistic) accounts of the background to the position in 1947 - going as far back as the Mutiny in 1857, and even further back in some cases. A 'tempting' bibliography, and what is a very good introduction (and more) to one of the post war World's great tragedies - provided in as balanced and as sobering a manner as may be possible. Well worth a read. I would love to see the same author apply such an approach to an account of the Iraq invasion and its aftermath.

I found this a thorough and fascinating account of an important period where the facts have been submerged by the myths. As a declaration of interest, my father was an officer in the Indian Army during WW2, not a stereotype but a peacetime quarry manager in the Royal Engineers! One criticism of this book is the way that it skates over the annexation of Hyderabad by India. There are various estimates of from ten to forty thousand rapes and as many civilian killings by the Indian Army; the official report has never been published which contrasts sharply with the British publication of the shocking massacre at Amritsar. Perhaps when we see the elderly Pakistani men going into the mosques in Birmingham and the East End of London we should be asking them what they were doing in 1947.

I picked this book because I knew nothing of the end of the Taj or partition this book have me that information.But it all so shows the greed for power on the part of the leading Indian politicians and total lack of understanding and ability of the British government to listen to the people that did allowed this catastrophe to take place.Well worth reading.

really good insight into the Raj and its ultimate demise - felt very uncomfortable reading about the treatment of India and how the UK stripped the country for their own financial benefit

A big thank you to the author for giving an unbiased view of India’s partition. Something neither Indians or Pakistanis are able to fully comprehend as the history we are taught in schools is biased and distorted.

Describes events of the political and racial tensions of the Indian populations both before and after partition.Recommended easy reading and very educational..