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Broken Threads: My Family From Empire to Independence
'Unforgettable' SATHNAM SANGHERA
'Spell-binding' PETER FRANKOPAN
'Fascinating' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE
An extraordinary family memoir from acclaimed newsreader and journalist, Mishal Husain, uncovering the story of her grandparents' lives amidst empire, political upheaval and partition.
‘I witnessed the dwindling glow of the British Empire. I saw small men entrusted with great jobs, playing with the destiny of millions’
The lives of Mishal Husain’s grandparents changed forever in 1947, as the new nation states of India and Pakistan were born. For years she had a partial story, a patchwork of memories and hurried departures, lucky escapes from violence and homes never seen again.
Decades later, the fragment of an old sari sent Mishal on a journey through time, using letters, diaries, memoirs and audio tapes to trace four lives shaped by the Raj, a world war, independence and partition.
Mumtaz rejects the marriage arranged for him as he forges a life with Mary, a devout Catholic from an Anglo-Indian family, while Tahirah and Shahid watch the politics of pre-partition Delhi unfold at close quarters. As freedom comes, bonds fray and communities are divided, leaving two couples to forge new identities, while never forgetting the shared heritage of the past.
‘Beautifully written, emotional and deeply personal, yet universal … One can't help but be moved by this story of upheaval and transformation’ SADIQ KHAN
'Spell-binding' PETER FRANKOPAN
'Fascinating' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE
An extraordinary family memoir from acclaimed newsreader and journalist, Mishal Husain, uncovering the story of her grandparents' lives amidst empire, political upheaval and partition.
‘I witnessed the dwindling glow of the British Empire. I saw small men entrusted with great jobs, playing with the destiny of millions’
The lives of Mishal Husain’s grandparents changed forever in 1947, as the new nation states of India and Pakistan were born. For years she had a partial story, a patchwork of memories and hurried departures, lucky escapes from violence and homes never seen again.
Decades later, the fragment of an old sari sent Mishal on a journey through time, using letters, diaries, memoirs and audio tapes to trace four lives shaped by the Raj, a world war, independence and partition.
Mumtaz rejects the marriage arranged for him as he forges a life with Mary, a devout Catholic from an Anglo-Indian family, while Tahirah and Shahid watch the politics of pre-partition Delhi unfold at close quarters. As freedom comes, bonds fray and communities are divided, leaving two couples to forge new identities, while never forgetting the shared heritage of the past.
‘Beautifully written, emotional and deeply personal, yet universal … One can't help but be moved by this story of upheaval and transformation’ SADIQ KHAN
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2024
221 people are currently reading
1474 people want to read
About the author
Mishal Husain
5 books21 followersMishal Husain is one of the presenters of BBC Radio 4’s influential Today programme and the television news on BBC One. Her work has taken her from Davos to Rohingya refugee camps and from interviewing Prime Ministers to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Mishal has been named by the Sunday Times as one of the 500 most influential people in Britain. Born in the UK in 1973, she grew up in the Middle East and was later educated at Cambridge University, where she read law.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
May 29, 2024
A very interesting, informative and personal memoir from the BBC's Mishal Hussain. I was intrigued by this book simply because it was personal. I've read history books and watched many programmes about India and Partition over the years but this is the first time I've read a book about (not quite) ordinary people caught up in history.
Mishal Hussain's family has an illustrious history; various members of her family coming into direct contact with the major players of Partition including Jinnah, Nehru Auchinleck and Mountbatten amongst others. This personal look at her family's history goes back further than even she expected to delve but with all history, you need context.
I found the book absolutely fascinating. I am somewhat clueless about Pakistan's history up to and including how it got its name. With personal accounts of their lives before, during and after Partition, Mishal Hussain's family give an account that is easy to follow. The photographs and letters are fascinating and I'd highly recommend this book.
Thankyou to Netgalley and 4th Estate/William Collins for the advance review copy.
Mishal Hussain's family has an illustrious history; various members of her family coming into direct contact with the major players of Partition including Jinnah, Nehru Auchinleck and Mountbatten amongst others. This personal look at her family's history goes back further than even she expected to delve but with all history, you need context.
I found the book absolutely fascinating. I am somewhat clueless about Pakistan's history up to and including how it got its name. With personal accounts of their lives before, during and after Partition, Mishal Hussain's family give an account that is easy to follow. The photographs and letters are fascinating and I'd highly recommend this book.
Thankyou to Netgalley and 4th Estate/William Collins for the advance review copy.
June 7, 2024
Very emotional informative book about the authors families history through the partition of India into now the 3 nations. Also is a social history of change. Well worth reading as sometimes history misses the personal touch.
September 29, 2024
Mishal Husain’s Broken Threads: My Family from Empire to Independence begins with an epigraph: Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s famous poem, Subh-e-Azadi (Freedom’s Morning) , translated by the author herself. Husain does not provide a transcribed version of the original Urdu verses, but these are lines so immortal that they are familiar to many. Yeh daagh-daagh ujaala, yeh shab-gazida sehar/Woh intezaar tha jiska yeh woh sehar toh nahin, Faiz had written, expressing the sentiments of countless Pakistanis and Indians who had strived long and hard for independence—but when it came, it brought with it Partition.
Husain, born and brought up in the UK of Pakistani parents, chose the epigraph well. Not only does it reflect the essence of her book perfectly, it reminds us that Faiz is as much venerated in India as in Pakistan. That India and Pakistan—despite what seem like irreconcilable differences—share too much in common for it to be brushed under the carpet.
Broadcaster and journalist Husain delves deep into the personal histories of four core people who form the basis of Broken Threads. These are her paternal grandparents, Mumtaz and Mary; and her maternal grandparents, Shahid and Tahirah. From various sources, including Shahid’s detailed memoir, audio tapes that Tahirah had recorded, and interviews with Mary’s sister, Anne, Husain pieces together this history of her family, which is interwoven with a well-researched history of the subcontinent as a whole.
The book is divided into three parts, the first of which is Citizens of Empire. The initial chapters here are rather more personal, devoted as they are to introducing Husain’s grandparents. One chapter each lays out the family histories of Shahid, Tahirah, Mumtaz and Mary; explains their backgrounds, how Mumtaz met Mary and married her—a Catholic, so very different from his staunch Muslim upbringing—and how Tahirah and Shahid got married. Connected with these personal stories are the stories of Shahid’s and Mumtaz’s careers, respectively in the army and as a doctor.
These careers form an important part of the segue into Part 2 (Before Midnight) , which deals with the escalation of the freedom movement and World War II. The chapters in this part as well as Part 3 (After Midnight) are all more about what was going on in India (and, after Partition, both India as well as Pakistan) than about the author’s grandparents. The political tussles, the to-and-fro between Congress and Muslim League; Nehru and Jinnah, Gandhi and Jinnah. Mountbatten, sent to India as its last Viceroy but both incompetent as well as amenable to being influenced by friends.
The war, the freedom movement, and how both of these—as well as other forces—affected the subcontinent form the essence of these chapters. Husain uses her family’s memoirs, combining them with myriad other sources to paint a fascinating, poignant picture of India at one of the most turbulent junctures of its history. Her research is laudable, as she digs deep into everything from letters to interviews, BBC programmes, news items and a plethora of publications, all documented in the exhaustive end notes.
Of course, as one would expect, at the point where this chronological narrative reaches 1947, the escalating communal tensions come to the forefront. The mutual suspicion, the stress between Congress and Muslim League, the agreement that Pakistan would be carved out of India, and the many speculations about where the border (later to be the Radcliffe Line) would run. Also, heart-warmingly, the many instances of mutual respect and affection among communities.
This narrative is not new: both horror and humanity come through often enough in memoirs of the Partition. Where Husain’s book manages to be somewhat different is in that her protagonists—both sets of grandparents—were relatively privileged in being part of the armed forces. Shahid, in fact, was Private Secretary to ‘The Auk’, Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck, Supreme Commander of Indian and Pakistani Forces. These were people who were able to cross the frontier safely; who had well-placed friends on either side of the bloodied border.
Another difference, at least for Indian readers, might be in the fact that this book is from the perspective of Pakistanis. There are memories and insights here that show how matters stood for Muslims who voted for Pakistan; Husain provides proof that Pakistan might have been shortchanged, both by a biased Mountbatten as well as by a domineering India.
Broken Threads is a touching, informative, and immensely interesting account of India in the first half of the 20th century. Husain’s writing is readable, the photographs a vivid portrait of the world and the people she describes.
(From my review for The New Indian Express: https://www.newindianexpress.com/life...)
Husain, born and brought up in the UK of Pakistani parents, chose the epigraph well. Not only does it reflect the essence of her book perfectly, it reminds us that Faiz is as much venerated in India as in Pakistan. That India and Pakistan—despite what seem like irreconcilable differences—share too much in common for it to be brushed under the carpet.
Broadcaster and journalist Husain delves deep into the personal histories of four core people who form the basis of Broken Threads. These are her paternal grandparents, Mumtaz and Mary; and her maternal grandparents, Shahid and Tahirah. From various sources, including Shahid’s detailed memoir, audio tapes that Tahirah had recorded, and interviews with Mary’s sister, Anne, Husain pieces together this history of her family, which is interwoven with a well-researched history of the subcontinent as a whole.
The book is divided into three parts, the first of which is Citizens of Empire. The initial chapters here are rather more personal, devoted as they are to introducing Husain’s grandparents. One chapter each lays out the family histories of Shahid, Tahirah, Mumtaz and Mary; explains their backgrounds, how Mumtaz met Mary and married her—a Catholic, so very different from his staunch Muslim upbringing—and how Tahirah and Shahid got married. Connected with these personal stories are the stories of Shahid’s and Mumtaz’s careers, respectively in the army and as a doctor.
These careers form an important part of the segue into Part 2 (Before Midnight) , which deals with the escalation of the freedom movement and World War II. The chapters in this part as well as Part 3 (After Midnight) are all more about what was going on in India (and, after Partition, both India as well as Pakistan) than about the author’s grandparents. The political tussles, the to-and-fro between Congress and Muslim League; Nehru and Jinnah, Gandhi and Jinnah. Mountbatten, sent to India as its last Viceroy but both incompetent as well as amenable to being influenced by friends.
The war, the freedom movement, and how both of these—as well as other forces—affected the subcontinent form the essence of these chapters. Husain uses her family’s memoirs, combining them with myriad other sources to paint a fascinating, poignant picture of India at one of the most turbulent junctures of its history. Her research is laudable, as she digs deep into everything from letters to interviews, BBC programmes, news items and a plethora of publications, all documented in the exhaustive end notes.
Of course, as one would expect, at the point where this chronological narrative reaches 1947, the escalating communal tensions come to the forefront. The mutual suspicion, the stress between Congress and Muslim League, the agreement that Pakistan would be carved out of India, and the many speculations about where the border (later to be the Radcliffe Line) would run. Also, heart-warmingly, the many instances of mutual respect and affection among communities.
This narrative is not new: both horror and humanity come through often enough in memoirs of the Partition. Where Husain’s book manages to be somewhat different is in that her protagonists—both sets of grandparents—were relatively privileged in being part of the armed forces. Shahid, in fact, was Private Secretary to ‘The Auk’, Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck, Supreme Commander of Indian and Pakistani Forces. These were people who were able to cross the frontier safely; who had well-placed friends on either side of the bloodied border.
Another difference, at least for Indian readers, might be in the fact that this book is from the perspective of Pakistanis. There are memories and insights here that show how matters stood for Muslims who voted for Pakistan; Husain provides proof that Pakistan might have been shortchanged, both by a biased Mountbatten as well as by a domineering India.
Broken Threads is a touching, informative, and immensely interesting account of India in the first half of the 20th century. Husain’s writing is readable, the photographs a vivid portrait of the world and the people she describes.
(From my review for The New Indian Express: https://www.newindianexpress.com/life...)
June 2, 2024
Family biography opening out into wider contexts
I thought this would be an interesting and informative read because Mishal Husain, one of the regular presenters of Radio 4’s Today, is an interesting, clear and incisive interviewer, who doesn’t let obfuscating politicians get away with their meaningless blah blah, and does this in a way which is not full of aggressive interviewing blah blah, either.
And I was right. Her examination of her own family history , where grandparents and previous generations were Indian, of course encompasses the history of empire. Husain does not shy away from the things that empire builders would prefer to brush under the carpet, nor does she damn all those who administered empire. There were administrators who were respectful of other cultures, as well as those who clearly were not.
This account, also of course covers Partition, something which was handled badly, rushed through, and created many of the conflicts and unhealed wounds of our current history. Partition, handled in the way it was inevitably led to bloodshed and displacement as peoples who had lived for generations in one part or the other of the Indian sub-continent were forced to flee, or were wisest to make the decision to move, to either become residents of India or of Pakistan, depending on their religion.
I appreciated Mishal Husain's dispassionate observations, whilst recounting horrific history, callous and incompetent decisions which lacked imagination, without demonising one group of people with their own agendas over another group of people with theirs. Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs were all served badly. Colonialism and the building of Empire still leaves its unpleasant taste.
I thought this would be an interesting and informative read because Mishal Husain, one of the regular presenters of Radio 4’s Today, is an interesting, clear and incisive interviewer, who doesn’t let obfuscating politicians get away with their meaningless blah blah, and does this in a way which is not full of aggressive interviewing blah blah, either.
And I was right. Her examination of her own family history , where grandparents and previous generations were Indian, of course encompasses the history of empire. Husain does not shy away from the things that empire builders would prefer to brush under the carpet, nor does she damn all those who administered empire. There were administrators who were respectful of other cultures, as well as those who clearly were not.
This account, also of course covers Partition, something which was handled badly, rushed through, and created many of the conflicts and unhealed wounds of our current history. Partition, handled in the way it was inevitably led to bloodshed and displacement as peoples who had lived for generations in one part or the other of the Indian sub-continent were forced to flee, or were wisest to make the decision to move, to either become residents of India or of Pakistan, depending on their religion.
I appreciated Mishal Husain's dispassionate observations, whilst recounting horrific history, callous and incompetent decisions which lacked imagination, without demonising one group of people with their own agendas over another group of people with theirs. Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs were all served badly. Colonialism and the building of Empire still leaves its unpleasant taste.
Read
November 28, 2025Broken Threads is a brilliantly-written book documenting the final years of the British Raj, the movement for partition, and the struggles in birthing modern India and Pakistan.
A book covering a topic as complex, and in a region as large and diverse, as Southern Asia would normally promise to be a difficult read. Broken Threads tells this history both anecdotally, through the movements and circumstances of Mishal Husain’s family, and by explicitly filling in the important facts, making it surprisingly easy to follow. Though this book isn’t an extensive history of the British Raj, colonial rule and exploitation, it does a great job at explaining how so few people can alter the fates of millions. It also is a great reminder of the role played by South Asians in WWII.
This book speaks of a past full of optimism and diverse communities, and follows the tragic road towards hatred and division in the name of nationalism. Sadly, the same lines that were drawn to carve up these countries continue to get in the way of peace even today.
My grandpa was born in Lahore in 1924, and would have faced many of the same difficult choices as those discussed in Broken Threads. I don’t have access to any sort of memoir such as those in this book, so I am very grateful for the detail put into it. Very keen to learn more about it in the near future.
A book covering a topic as complex, and in a region as large and diverse, as Southern Asia would normally promise to be a difficult read. Broken Threads tells this history both anecdotally, through the movements and circumstances of Mishal Husain’s family, and by explicitly filling in the important facts, making it surprisingly easy to follow. Though this book isn’t an extensive history of the British Raj, colonial rule and exploitation, it does a great job at explaining how so few people can alter the fates of millions. It also is a great reminder of the role played by South Asians in WWII.
This book speaks of a past full of optimism and diverse communities, and follows the tragic road towards hatred and division in the name of nationalism. Sadly, the same lines that were drawn to carve up these countries continue to get in the way of peace even today.
My grandpa was born in Lahore in 1924, and would have faced many of the same difficult choices as those discussed in Broken Threads. I don’t have access to any sort of memoir such as those in this book, so I am very grateful for the detail put into it. Very keen to learn more about it in the near future.
January 2, 2025
There were so many things to love about this book. The personal family story was such an interesting way through some really difficult history, and the clarity of the writing explain the context of partition very clearly! A really good non-fiction book! 8.5/10
May 12, 2025
‘“Partition was a sad, sad era”, she concluded. “I will not hesitate to say it here - even though this is not meant to be a political book - but it needs to be not have happened, had the majority in India accepted ordinary demands from a minority. But it happened, and the way it happened was tragic. And to the eternal shame of the people of India and Pakistan, that big tragedy has been followed by others.’”
August 7, 2024
I hoped that this book might fill in the many gaps in my knowledge of the last days of Empire and, in particular, partition. I was not disappointed. It does it through personal stories of individuals who were closely connected to many of the main players. This makes it very readable and allows you to reflect on the personal trials and challenges that major political decisions, especially when they are rushed and badly handled, have on the populations affected. I am sure there are books which cover this period in more learned and comprehensive ways but this is an accessible, informative and thoroughly enjoyable read.
March 16, 2025
Good though I think I was expecting a little more form such a brilliant journalist. I found the construction a little confusing as she navigates between branches of the family and inevitably some family members are more interesting than others. they have a front row seat on Partition as friends of General Auchinlike who gets an extremely good review unlike the appalling way in which the British Government left India. Obviously Mountbatten was the chief culprit but it is certainly a stain on the history of the Attlee Government which was far more interested in the Home Front.
September 14, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed Hussain’s account of her grandparents lives and their experiences of living through partition. At times the political detail was dense, especially as I didn’t know of the characters involved but highly informative. Having read, many years earlier, ‘Freedom at Midnight,’ it was interesting seeing how Mountbatten was far less of a leader/ hero than I had appreciated. And the arrogance of the colonial powers in thinking they had the answers.
December 13, 2025
i picked up this book because the idea intrigued me - it combined investigative journalism with memoir and also touched a personal element as someone part of the Pakistani diaspora with grandparents that moved from India to Pakistan during the Partition.
while i wish more chapters discussed the everyday lives of Husain’s grandparents, i appreciated the historical elements of the book.
while i wish more chapters discussed the everyday lives of Husain’s grandparents, i appreciated the historical elements of the book.
January 26, 2025
A really fascinating account of a history through both the personal and the political. Husain deftly weaves her family's own experience of partition with that of a wider landscape, creating a really colourful and engaging memoir. The experience of her maternal grandfather and his proximity to Jinnah/Auchinleck/Mountbatten were fascinating for their very intimate insights on a momentous historical turning point, but the experience of her paternal family (especially her Anglo-Indian grandmother) were no less fascinating.
July 10, 2024
Borrowed from the library, first reader of this copy, it is in demand, so only a two week loan.
I knew only the very bare bones about the history of India and Pakistan (also Bangladesh), and by reading about Mishal Husain's family, I learnt quite a lot. I strongly recommend this book.
I knew only the very bare bones about the history of India and Pakistan (also Bangladesh), and by reading about Mishal Husain's family, I learnt quite a lot. I strongly recommend this book.
July 2, 2024
Broken Threads is a heartbeat within a book. Mishal Hussain has delved into the history of her family, against the narrative of partition of India. Referencing invaluable family archives, Mishal Hussain tells the story of her paternal grandparents, Mumtaz and Mary and maternal grandparents, Shahid and Tahirah and how they were brought up during the reign of the British Raj, and how the family grew and prospered, how talks of the partition started and developed, how closely her grandparents were both impacted and also involved with the key players connected with discussions at the time, and ultimately how life changed for them all with independence and the creation of Pakistan. Although the timeline does touch upon the historical, political and societal climates of the time, this is not an academic read but a family account, real and telling in the day to day of how the author's family routine, practices, sensibilities and lifestyles during this era.
There was so much education offered by this book, and it is truly fascinating; very reminiscent of an older generation sharing stories of their own childhoods with younger members of the family and passing the knowledge down the generations through the art of storytelling, the trials of work, with Mumtaz establishing himself within the military, Shahid attends medical school to become a doctor and how that looked back in the day. Some aspects made you realise how societal taboos have withstood the passage of time, for example, using Mumtaz's diaries and Mary's recorded tapes, Mishal Hussain is able to share how Mumtaz's family were unable to accept his marriage for many years. Later, Mary shares her own view on the Partition, how the government at the time had failed to deal with it with the sensibility and gravity that a colonial power should have, letting personal opinions and other impractical factors weigh heavy - when the impact was deeply felt by generations and has burdened history with statistics that still inflict pain today. There have been many texts to cover Partition but none present the account that Broken Thread has offered. I had no idea that many people had thought the move to either India/Pakistan and vice versa was to be temporary which is shocking given the level of displacement. Also, the fact that some families continued to visit each other across borders post partition, how that looked, before visas were introduced to formalise the process (and make it more bureaucratic).
A truly insightful, deeply moving book which needs to be read by everyone. I feel Mishal Hussain has offered a piece of her heart with this one. Thank you Fourth Estate Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest unedited review.
There was so much education offered by this book, and it is truly fascinating; very reminiscent of an older generation sharing stories of their own childhoods with younger members of the family and passing the knowledge down the generations through the art of storytelling, the trials of work, with Mumtaz establishing himself within the military, Shahid attends medical school to become a doctor and how that looked back in the day. Some aspects made you realise how societal taboos have withstood the passage of time, for example, using Mumtaz's diaries and Mary's recorded tapes, Mishal Hussain is able to share how Mumtaz's family were unable to accept his marriage for many years. Later, Mary shares her own view on the Partition, how the government at the time had failed to deal with it with the sensibility and gravity that a colonial power should have, letting personal opinions and other impractical factors weigh heavy - when the impact was deeply felt by generations and has burdened history with statistics that still inflict pain today. There have been many texts to cover Partition but none present the account that Broken Thread has offered. I had no idea that many people had thought the move to either India/Pakistan and vice versa was to be temporary which is shocking given the level of displacement. Also, the fact that some families continued to visit each other across borders post partition, how that looked, before visas were introduced to formalise the process (and make it more bureaucratic).
A truly insightful, deeply moving book which needs to be read by everyone. I feel Mishal Hussain has offered a piece of her heart with this one. Thank you Fourth Estate Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest unedited review.
January 17, 2025
I was waiting for this book, ‘Broken Threads’ by Mishal Husain. It’s a historical account of how and why the family of the author stayed or chose Pakistan during the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. I was interested in reading this book, since like the author I have a connection with the north Indian city of Aligarh and the Aligarh Muslim University. Though born and raised in Delhi, I joined the AMU as my school was till class 10 and I had to look for another educational institution to pursue studies. My paternal family and my father have studied at AMU, my uncles and my father completing their respective engineering degrees. My father was instrumental in my relocating to Aligarh for studies, which according to him was an epitome of culture and modernism.
The book provides an insight of how the middle class Muslim families were during the pre-independence and post-independence. How the milieu of the university was like during that era. I was thrilled to read all of that in particular.
The story of the author’s grandparents is nothing short of a film plot. I was amazed by the way Mumtaz held his ground and stayed loyal to his wife Mary despite strong opposition by the latter’s family. The story of Shahid and Tahira was interesting for me because of their Aligarh connection. Reading their story was a nostalgic ride for me. I had watched a show on YouTube where the author had discussed her book with the audience when it was published. Thus this book was on my TBR list since then and I was able to secure a copy now.
Her grandparents’ stories also have the account of the historical incidents during their life and what made them stay in Pakistan and in case of Shahid and Tahira to opt for the newly made Pakistan. I enjoyed this historical nonfiction book and I give 4.5🌟!
The book provides an insight of how the middle class Muslim families were during the pre-independence and post-independence. How the milieu of the university was like during that era. I was thrilled to read all of that in particular.
The story of the author’s grandparents is nothing short of a film plot. I was amazed by the way Mumtaz held his ground and stayed loyal to his wife Mary despite strong opposition by the latter’s family. The story of Shahid and Tahira was interesting for me because of their Aligarh connection. Reading their story was a nostalgic ride for me. I had watched a show on YouTube where the author had discussed her book with the audience when it was published. Thus this book was on my TBR list since then and I was able to secure a copy now.
Her grandparents’ stories also have the account of the historical incidents during their life and what made them stay in Pakistan and in case of Shahid and Tahira to opt for the newly made Pakistan. I enjoyed this historical nonfiction book and I give 4.5🌟!
September 11, 2025
A very well compiled, researched and moving account which is essentially a collection of her family's memoirs combined with historical and political context from the time. It was both deeply personal, evocative and, in the end, revelatory of a really shameful period (largely on the part of the British Empire) in history. Some very good leadership and some very poor leadership from the likes of Mountbatten on display here.
Husain was able to bring each of her grandparents to life through these pages and her each of their lives captures significant aspects of the build up to Pakistan/India partition in 1948. Another tale of Empire and its failings and some elements of wistfulness for what could have been if it had been handled better. The decisions around the princely states in Kashmir in particular seem to have been really poorly handled and the ramifications of that decision 80 years on is still very evident in the news.
Touching on significant themes of war, race, nationalism, politics and empire, this book is informative and powerful. I didn't really know a huge amount about the partition of Pakistan from India before and it was fascinating in particular to hear about Gandhi's Muslim counterparts and the decisions individuals and families had to make about whether to stay put or migrate. Despite some clear episodes of kindness and humanity, the majority of this book details humanity at its worst. It's almost unbelievable but I guess it highlights how poor leadership in delicate and desperate circumstances can cause so much death and destruction. it's easy to blame religion but actually I think the quasi-nationalist and divisive rhetoric that came from those in leadership roles has the most to answer for. As quoted in the book, "nationalism is an ideology of difference".
Husain was able to bring each of her grandparents to life through these pages and her each of their lives captures significant aspects of the build up to Pakistan/India partition in 1948. Another tale of Empire and its failings and some elements of wistfulness for what could have been if it had been handled better. The decisions around the princely states in Kashmir in particular seem to have been really poorly handled and the ramifications of that decision 80 years on is still very evident in the news.
Touching on significant themes of war, race, nationalism, politics and empire, this book is informative and powerful. I didn't really know a huge amount about the partition of Pakistan from India before and it was fascinating in particular to hear about Gandhi's Muslim counterparts and the decisions individuals and families had to make about whether to stay put or migrate. Despite some clear episodes of kindness and humanity, the majority of this book details humanity at its worst. It's almost unbelievable but I guess it highlights how poor leadership in delicate and desperate circumstances can cause so much death and destruction. it's easy to blame religion but actually I think the quasi-nationalist and divisive rhetoric that came from those in leadership roles has the most to answer for. As quoted in the book, "nationalism is an ideology of difference".
September 8, 2024
My parents came from India to Britain in the seventies. They had my sister in the mid-eighties and myself in mid-nineties. We all love this country and my sister and I are so grateful that my parents chose to make the UK our home. I was born in Milton Keynes, I live in London, and I have never wanted to leave.
Partition wasn't something we spoke about at all growing up. If you'd asked me about it in my childhood or even teens, probably the only thing I could associate with it was Gandhi. I was into my twenties by the time I grew interested in my family's history and dove deep into the incredibly bloody history of Partition.
Mishal Hussain has done something wonderful - not only has she told the deeply personal history of her family, but she has told the history of a sub-continent. It reminds me greatly of Anita Anand's 'The Patient Assassin' and its incredible breakdown of the The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, also known as the Amritsar massacre.
These are not easy parts of history to read about but they are also essential. People have many different reasons as to why it's important to teach children about history at all. In my opinion, history is important because it helps us to understand how the world is today, and it is important that we can acknowledge its darkest moments, even when they are difficult.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and and 4th Estate for the ARC!
Partition wasn't something we spoke about at all growing up. If you'd asked me about it in my childhood or even teens, probably the only thing I could associate with it was Gandhi. I was into my twenties by the time I grew interested in my family's history and dove deep into the incredibly bloody history of Partition.
Mishal Hussain has done something wonderful - not only has she told the deeply personal history of her family, but she has told the history of a sub-continent. It reminds me greatly of Anita Anand's 'The Patient Assassin' and its incredible breakdown of the The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, also known as the Amritsar massacre.
These are not easy parts of history to read about but they are also essential. People have many different reasons as to why it's important to teach children about history at all. In my opinion, history is important because it helps us to understand how the world is today, and it is important that we can acknowledge its darkest moments, even when they are difficult.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and and 4th Estate for the ARC!
November 26, 2024
History is a fickle companion. Hearing ‘the other side’ of the story, especially when states invest so much in establishing the one ‘authentic version’, can be particularly disconcerting. ‘Nationalistic pride’, education, and political correctness battle to reinforce the only acceptable version. I recall a chat with a student from East Germany shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall. When she said they felt like ‘having lived a lie’, I couldn’t quite appreciate what she meant. I understood it superficially as having been denied a knowledge of the outside world, beyond the Iron Curtain. Broken Threads often makes one stop and reassess one's 'received wisdom'.
Mishal is a BBC correspondent, and this book is nuanced, sensitive to prickly issues, and careful to remain non-partisan. Tracing the family story over three generations, stretching from Vishakapatnam to Multan and Lahore to London, and ancestry ranging from Irish Catholic, Telugu Hindu, Rajput, and Sunni Muslim, it makes us wonder about the mindless obsession with identity.
This poignant account of families in the subcontinent, their adjustments in the wake of tumultuous history and individual actions, and dissimilar perceptions may help us reframe contentious issues around Partition. Incidentally, Mishal's maternal grandfather was Private Secretary to the last British Army Chief, Gen Auchinleck, and had more than a ringside view of events as they unfolded.
Mishal is a BBC correspondent, and this book is nuanced, sensitive to prickly issues, and careful to remain non-partisan. Tracing the family story over three generations, stretching from Vishakapatnam to Multan and Lahore to London, and ancestry ranging from Irish Catholic, Telugu Hindu, Rajput, and Sunni Muslim, it makes us wonder about the mindless obsession with identity.
This poignant account of families in the subcontinent, their adjustments in the wake of tumultuous history and individual actions, and dissimilar perceptions may help us reframe contentious issues around Partition. Incidentally, Mishal's maternal grandfather was Private Secretary to the last British Army Chief, Gen Auchinleck, and had more than a ringside view of events as they unfolded.
June 30, 2024
Book Review - no spoilers
Broken Threads by Mishal Husain
An old sari sends our author down a path of history and politics. Through the lens of her four grandparents Mumtaz, Mary, Shahid and Tahirah we travel back in time to the events leading up to and the events following the Partition of India in 1947.
I have always known about Partition in 1947, all four of my own grandparents lived through it but it directly impacted my mum's mum at a tender age of 7. However, I never knew the full story of what actually led to the events that cost the lives of so many.
Mishal seamlessly weaves her grandparents story within time and events of India that led to Partition, some well known events and some smaller but deeply consequential.
At times it almost felt like Forrest Gump, where he is in the midst of major events, this mainly applies to Mishal's grandfather Shahid who was Auchinleck's secretary, and was on the side line of many events.
Through her grandparents we slowly see neighbour turn on neighbour and the violence that ensued. Where religion became more important than humanity and lives were not held to be worthy.
I don't read a lot of non-fiction but Broken Threads kept me gripped and I leant so much more. The British don't always admit the role they planned in this important part of history but their decisions directly impacted all of it. I personally loved reading about Mishal's grandparents story and was touched by Mumtaz and amary's forbidden love story.
I would recommend all history lovers to read this for historical reference. We are yet 100 years away from these events! Thank you to 4th Estate books for a copy of this incredible story which can be very hard to tell but which Mishal approaches with love and understanding.
Favourite Quote:
It was a time, he said, of some remarkable leadership and also of 'small men playing g with the destiny of millions'.
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Broken Threads by Mishal Husain
An old sari sends our author down a path of history and politics. Through the lens of her four grandparents Mumtaz, Mary, Shahid and Tahirah we travel back in time to the events leading up to and the events following the Partition of India in 1947.
I have always known about Partition in 1947, all four of my own grandparents lived through it but it directly impacted my mum's mum at a tender age of 7. However, I never knew the full story of what actually led to the events that cost the lives of so many.
Mishal seamlessly weaves her grandparents story within time and events of India that led to Partition, some well known events and some smaller but deeply consequential.
At times it almost felt like Forrest Gump, where he is in the midst of major events, this mainly applies to Mishal's grandfather Shahid who was Auchinleck's secretary, and was on the side line of many events.
Through her grandparents we slowly see neighbour turn on neighbour and the violence that ensued. Where religion became more important than humanity and lives were not held to be worthy.
I don't read a lot of non-fiction but Broken Threads kept me gripped and I leant so much more. The British don't always admit the role they planned in this important part of history but their decisions directly impacted all of it. I personally loved reading about Mishal's grandparents story and was touched by Mumtaz and amary's forbidden love story.
I would recommend all history lovers to read this for historical reference. We are yet 100 years away from these events! Thank you to 4th Estate books for a copy of this incredible story which can be very hard to tell but which Mishal approaches with love and understanding.
Favourite Quote:
It was a time, he said, of some remarkable leadership and also of 'small men playing g with the destiny of millions'.
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
April 7, 2025
(3.5*) A fascinating look at Partition through the author’s grandparents. A strong writer, Husain traces the lives of her an ancestors with curiosity and compassion, painting a rich picture of what life was like in colonised, pre-Partitioned India, and then the challenges that Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs all had to battle when faced with the prospect of new states. I particularly enjoyed the insight into the Army, as both her grandfathers served, and the issues of Indian soldiers in the British controlled forces. For the most part the book is quite balanced but there are large parts solely dedicated to the history and political situations, which of course is essential context, and so there were moments were I almost forgot I was reading a book about her family and it was as if I’d picked up a pure history book. I wish we’d gotten a bit more about her grandparents life in the years after the Partition and how they adapted to the new world they found themselves in, but overall this was a good way of telling the history of the Partition through the real, human stories.
July 28, 2025
A moving memoir about two families during the pre-partition era leading up to the formation of India and Pakistan. This was a first hand account of the events and the emotions that stirred behind it. Honestly much before the partition, the brotherhood and secularism was far more existent than the countries we see today and that should tell one that we’ve regressed eons later. The partition, however changed that and those residual splinters are affecting the countries even today for worse. Reading the facts that entail such a massive upheaval was eye-opening. Mishal’s grandparents were one of the more prominent and privileged ones that were familiar within the highest level of those times but I can’t even imagine the plight and the mental strength required among such tumultuous times. Totally worth reading this piece of history and a resounding reminder that even today, people at the highest level of governance only live for their personal interests inflicting all sorts of religious biases among their own.
December 15, 2025
I enjoyed this book immensely/ it was an excellent mix if the personal stories of Mishal’s own family back to her great grandparents and the concurrent history of Indía from the British empire with its various riots and revolts through the furst and Second World Wars and the horrors of Partition. Tgd times her families okay, the religions and cultures they share and explore and the fears sbd tragedies of separation between Hindu and Muslim states . It also shows Mountbatten to be the dangerous manipulator that he was ( which has always been downplayed by the British state - as exemplified in Ghandi, though it’s a bit more nuanced in The Viceroys house).
I now understand so much better the disasters of dividing the Punjab, the role played by the Sikh population there and the disgraceful cheating over Kashmir. My goodness we British have a lot to answer for , not least responsibility for the catastrophic militarism of the governments of Pakistan almost from its inception ….
Everyone should read this - it’s very readable and seemingly so lacking in (imo justifiable) bitterness
I now understand so much better the disasters of dividing the Punjab, the role played by the Sikh population there and the disgraceful cheating over Kashmir. My goodness we British have a lot to answer for , not least responsibility for the catastrophic militarism of the governments of Pakistan almost from its inception ….
Everyone should read this - it’s very readable and seemingly so lacking in (imo justifiable) bitterness
May 24, 2024
A blockbuster of a book, packed full with historical events and the author’s family background. Historical novels are generally not my choice, but the subject matter of the political situation in India in the 1940s, giving rise to the Partition was a great attraction. I found at times the reading a little heavy-going because of the complexities of the subject (not being an academic), but I certainly got thrust of this period of Indian and Pakistani culture and history. I can only imagine the weeks and months Mischal spent researching and her dedication to this task has paid dividends to bring this important part of history to the table.Perhaps this book also raises a considerable number of questions regarding the part played by British politicians. A second reading is definitely needed.
My thanks to NetGalley and publishers for this ARC . The views expressed in this review are solely mine.
My thanks to NetGalley and publishers for this ARC . The views expressed in this review are solely mine.
January 13, 2025
Firstly, thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the proof.
I really enjoyed this beautiful memoir written by Mishal Hussain about the various generations in her family who were affected by the British colonisation and partition of India and Pakistan. She weaves through stunning vignettes of her families loves and losses and I learnt so much about the Indian sub continent through this book.
For me, there was a midway lull as the narrative shifted from the accounts of her family, through which the contextual history would spill out gorgeously, into what felt like a history textbook. It was around the middle and featured a few chapters that lost my engagement as this memoir worked SO well when Hussain would give us the history of the region through her families eyes.
In saying that, it is still a beautiful piece of work that highlights the strength of people, family, and the importance of oral histories/storytelling.
Thanks again for the proof!
I really enjoyed this beautiful memoir written by Mishal Hussain about the various generations in her family who were affected by the British colonisation and partition of India and Pakistan. She weaves through stunning vignettes of her families loves and losses and I learnt so much about the Indian sub continent through this book.
For me, there was a midway lull as the narrative shifted from the accounts of her family, through which the contextual history would spill out gorgeously, into what felt like a history textbook. It was around the middle and featured a few chapters that lost my engagement as this memoir worked SO well when Hussain would give us the history of the region through her families eyes.
In saying that, it is still a beautiful piece of work that highlights the strength of people, family, and the importance of oral histories/storytelling.
Thanks again for the proof!
June 19, 2025
This was certainly an interesting and slightly different read from the books I've read this year. I've been itching to dip my toe into a book that talks about Indian/Pakistan history ever since I read Judgement at Tokyo by Gary J Bass. I enjoyed following the family lines and details of what happened to them, their circumstances and the context.
However, I have rated it lower, mainly because its construction was confusing. It was clear at first which family members we were looking at, but as things progressed, it was swapping from family to family making it confusing as to what happened to whom. I also believe that a lot of the history was simply glazed over rather than thoroughly discussed and that meant we didn't really get a proper understanding of exactly why the partition happened. I think for those who don't know too much about the partition and the reasoning behind the politics, this would make for a challenging read.
Whilst writing style was intriguing, I think it was a confusing layout and introduced key figures in a non-explanatory way which made following it rather muddled- I had to look several things up! Regardless, I did find myself engrossed in the book and thankfully it wasn't a particularly long read like Judgement At Tokyo was.
However, I have rated it lower, mainly because its construction was confusing. It was clear at first which family members we were looking at, but as things progressed, it was swapping from family to family making it confusing as to what happened to whom. I also believe that a lot of the history was simply glazed over rather than thoroughly discussed and that meant we didn't really get a proper understanding of exactly why the partition happened. I think for those who don't know too much about the partition and the reasoning behind the politics, this would make for a challenging read.
Whilst writing style was intriguing, I think it was a confusing layout and introduced key figures in a non-explanatory way which made following it rather muddled- I had to look several things up! Regardless, I did find myself engrossed in the book and thankfully it wasn't a particularly long read like Judgement At Tokyo was.
August 1, 2025
I gave this 30 minutes and put it down — not out of boredom, but out of sheer disbelief that this passed for serious nonfiction. Mishal Husain, a broadcast journalist (not a print one, and it shows), offers an indulgent account of her family history.
The writing is sentimental, self-important, and intellectually thin. I had no prior interest in Husain or her family, and the narrative did nothing to earn my engagement.
It’s the literary equivalent of being cornered at a party by someone who insists on showing you their scrapbook from a recent vacation — page by page, without context or invitation.
That it was picked for my book club only adds insult to injury. If we’re going to read memoirs, let’s choose ones that offer something beyond genealogical navel-gazing.
Worth noting: fewer than 510 Goodreads ratings more than a year after publication. For a book with mainstream backing and media buzz, that kind of lukewarm response should be a clue.
The writing is sentimental, self-important, and intellectually thin. I had no prior interest in Husain or her family, and the narrative did nothing to earn my engagement.
It’s the literary equivalent of being cornered at a party by someone who insists on showing you their scrapbook from a recent vacation — page by page, without context or invitation.
That it was picked for my book club only adds insult to injury. If we’re going to read memoirs, let’s choose ones that offer something beyond genealogical navel-gazing.
Worth noting: fewer than 510 Goodreads ratings more than a year after publication. For a book with mainstream backing and media buzz, that kind of lukewarm response should be a clue.
November 26, 2024
I have read many books on Partition especially those written by scholars and academics. I was largely fascinated by this British Pakistani journalist's story of her Pakistani family because her paternal grandmother Mary was half Telugu (my Indian immigrant parents are Telugu) and half Irish. Mary was from what is today modern day Andhra Pradesh, and the cities of Vizag and Anakapalli are close to my Mom's native place. Her maternal granpdparents are from the cradle of South Asian Islam - Aligarh and Lucknow. Classic story of muhajir migration from North India to Pakistan. She did a good job of going over the major politicians (Jinnah, Nehru and Gandhi) and events that led to the eventual Partition and creation of India and Pakistan. Overall good read.
December 8, 2024
The Partition of India, a tragic event that displaced 15 million people and claimed countless lives, is celebrated for its vivid depiction of violence, human suffering, and injustice. Mishal Husain's memoir, "Broken Threads: My Family from Empire to Independence," is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Indian subcontinent and the enduring impact of partition. The memoir, inspired by her grandparents' wedding sari, explores the lives of her four grandparents and their personal experiences, providing a deep examination of the lasting impact of partition. Husain's background as a journalist enhances the clarity and precision of her storytelling, making it a "spectacular achievement" in understanding the enduring legacy of colonialism and partition.
March 2, 2025
Brilliant to understand recent history of Indian subcontinent
I loved the way this book revealed the history of the Indian subcontinent from WW1 to the 2000’s through the lives of Mishal Hussain’s parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Using this device was a great way to help one understand the tensions and decisions that were made at local, national and international levels. Because of the positions some of her ancestors held and the diaries they left, as well as exceedingly careful research, the roles of government ministers and army chiefs are revealed, which is fascinating. I listened to some sections on Audible and Mishal Hussain’s voice is mesmerising. A great read.
I loved the way this book revealed the history of the Indian subcontinent from WW1 to the 2000’s through the lives of Mishal Hussain’s parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Using this device was a great way to help one understand the tensions and decisions that were made at local, national and international levels. Because of the positions some of her ancestors held and the diaries they left, as well as exceedingly careful research, the roles of government ministers and army chiefs are revealed, which is fascinating. I listened to some sections on Audible and Mishal Hussain’s voice is mesmerising. A great read.
March 29, 2025
I found the world history lesson in the book interesting. It's about the 1947 creation of Pakistan from India as British rule stepped away and Muslim & Hindu religions dominating certain areas created new countries. The commitment of the author to tell her grandparents story and family heritage is moving and it is definitely interesting to consider what pursuit of education, marriages and building of a family (or preserving a connected family) required in the 40s and 50s. While I felt I got to know some of the relatives and their lives, it was hard to deeply follow all the connecting points and politics. I would definitely read some historical fiction about this tumultuous time and hope my rating doesn't deter others from reading about this important part of our world history.
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