Liberty Or Death: India's Journey to Independence and Division

by PatrickFrench (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  1997

  $4.21

  On 14th August 1947, Britain's 300-year-old Indian Empire collapsed and mass migration occurred as Muslims fled north and Hindus fled south. This text examines this event, analyzing the rise of India's freedom movement, the growth of Congress and the Muslim League, and the transfer of power into Indian hands. The book examines the disastrous mistakes made by politicians, and the interplay between figures such as Churchill, Mountbatten and Gandhi. The sources used range from newly declassified secret documents to the memories of refugees. The book has been published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of India's independence.

• Used

  Paperback
  1998

  $3.27

  'A remarkable achievement' Philip Ziegler, Daily Telegraph 'Brilliant!There can be no doubt that Patrick French is the most impressive Western historian of modern India currently at work' Frank McLynn, Glasgow Herald At midnight on 14 August 1947, Britain's 350-year-old Indian Empire cracked into three pieces. The greatest mass migration in history began, as Muslims fled north and Hindus fled south, over a million being massacred on the way. Britain's role as world power came to an end, and the course of Asia's future was irrevocably set. Using a compelling mixture of scholarship, travel and personal narrative, Patrick French offers a radical reinterpretation of the events surrounding India's independence and partition, including the disastrous mistakes made by politicians, and the bizarre reasoning behind many of their decisions. Exploring the interplay between characters such as Churchill, Mountbatten and Gandhi, it reveals a fascinating tale of idealism and manipulation, hope and tragedy. With sources ranging from newly declassified secret documents to the memories of refugees, Patrick French gives a riveting account of an epic debacle, the impact of which reverberates across Asia to this day.