Punjabi Century, 1857-1947

by Prakash Tandon, Maurice Zinkin (Foreword)

An important document in the social history of India, this volume presents the autobiography of a Punjabi family over the three tumultuous generations that spanned years from the Mutiny to Independence. The book provides an absorbing view, from within, of what British rule meant for the educated elite of the province. In its descriptions of the changing customs and values of the educated Indian in the early twentieth century, the book affords a memorable account of a critical period in modern Indian history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, India, Pakistan, Humanities

276 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 1968

Reviews

[Aditya आदित्य]

Tales from another Punjab

The partition of India. One of the greatest human tragedies of the past century. Coincident with the India's freedom from British rule. The Republic of India, being thoroughly forward looking, chooses to focus on the great feats it has achieved since, and plans to achieve in the future, year after year, in its annual celebrations of the Independence Day. And there is some sense to this. After all, why dwell on the painful past?

An anthropological study. An ethnographic research. A family history. A personal autobiography. This book is many things. Moving across the length and breadth of pre-partition Punjab, then to the English North and Swedish Isles in the Baltic, Prakash Tandon elaborates his life experiences, from early childhood to middle-age, without ever setting a motive behind his writing. The flow of his narrative, however, is as smooth as it is natural. At several occasions the author shows flairs of descriptive genius, whether it is the layout of Punjabi towns and villages, or the perennial sociological cycles of the people of Punjab. Proving to be a repository of knowledge on the agrarian economy, urban culture, social structure, architecture and city planning, festivals and celebrations in the region. The book lays attention on the changes brought about by the British rule with surprising objectivity, but does not venture into religious or political struggles, mentioning the Arya Samaj and Hindu-Muslim tensions only in passing. By deliberately avoiding the politically charged events and movements, it instead concentrates on the subtle substance that makes up the relationships, families and communities. And these moments in the book make it valuable as a history of Punjab. A Punjab now lost to time. Lost to partition.

Mr. Tandon was the first Indian Chairman of Hindustan Lever. Born in an upwardly mobile Punjabi household in which educational and professional distinction were a family legacy, he was bound for success, though he does not mention this himself. An incredible volume of information and level of detail in this book is a testament to his skill as a writer. Akin to the thick descriptions used in qualitative methodology of research in the social sciences, he attempts to interpret and extrapolate the causes and pathways behind his observations. At the same time the book is brutally honest, but never prosaic, voicing his independent thoughts that were pruned and sheltered by a foreign education. Perhaps that is where his sympathetic view of the British rule in India stemmed from. Many times it even seemed that he held favourable views of the British. He certainly lacked any kind of revolutionary fervour or political convictions. At the very best, he appeared to be an Indian Anglophile who mildly identified with labour politics. In hindsight, only such a person could have hoped to climb high up in an Anglo-Dutch firm in that era. Or any era for that matter.

The final third of this book is his personal biography, describing his years abroad, him meeting his future wife (a European women of course), his search for a job, and a chapter or two on the partition. While the Eastern and Western flanks of India tore themselves apart, the author was living in Bombay. But for him, and many other like him, the loss of Punjab was very intimate. Something that they don't wish to ponder about. And thus, it is understandable the the stories he does relate are brief. Yet their shortness does not preclude the feeling of sickness one feels in the stomach.

[Anie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very nicely scripted. This is related to an emotional story of a Punjabi family with the memories of Punjabi family traditions and the life of residents in those times. It depicts the real culture of Punjab. There was a 'charm in the old ways, the true intensity of family life. It's a delight to read that covers the wonderful culture, customs, traditions, people and the memories of Punjab on and before the times of partition.

[Sandeep · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great journey into a bygone times from a former Indian CEO of Unilever, and not a professional writer, based on memories of the previous generation. Our generation can still connect to the `Real´culture, but future ones will forget facts like even Hindu women west of Indus river used to wear real veils, Burqas, not the silly transparent Dupattas, which became populater later, mainly to convince themselves that they are veiled.

[Conrad Barwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good social history especially of the rural society in late 19th century Punjab. One has to note the conservative bias of the author in praising orthodox customs and the subtle but ever-present anti-Muslim bias.

[Appu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Punjabi Century
This book is largely forgotten now. It is not even in print. However it is available as part of a three volume omnibus edition published by Roopa. When I was in college, almost two decades back, this book would often be recommended for general reading. Having read it, I have to say that this is a brilliant book.
Prakash Tandon, the author, was born in 1911, he went on to become the first Indian CEO of Hindustan Lever and later occupied many important positions in the Indian public sector. This is a memoir of his childhood and youth in undivided Punjab. It is also a vivid nostalgic paean to colonial Punjab. The culture, religion, seasons, cities, weddings and funerals of undivided Punjab are all described with a breathless lyricism that captivates the reader.
The Punjab Tandon describes is the Punjab under colonial rule. The British took over Punjab in 1849 after defeating the Sikhs. They gave almost 100 years of peace and good government to the Punjab. The highlight of the British project was the building of an extensive canal system on the Indus and its tributaries. Through these canal works the British made arable 1000s of acres of desert land. New canals colonies were set up and new towns such as Lyallpur, Montgomery and Sargodha came up. Under the British a Punjabi professional class grew up which was culturally Indian but loyal to the British. Tandon’s father, a civil engineer with the Irrigation department, who spent a life time building and maintaining Canal works in Punjab, epitomised this class.
The Tandons are Khatris, a Kshatriya caste. Originally from the pre-colonial city of Gujarat, the family moves to various cities of Punjab based on the postings of the elder Tandon. After a peripatetic childhood, the author graduates from Government College Lahore and then moves to UK to qualify as a CA. He returns to a changing India 8 years later with a Swedish wife. By now the elder Tandon has retired and is settled in a new part of Lahore city called Model Town. However their idyllic life comes to an end with Partition. The whole family is forced to leave West Punjab (now Pakistan) and move to India. The book ends with death of the elder Tandon in India.
What makes this book interesting are the thoughtful reflections it contains about various aspects of Punjabi culture, language, religion, politics and about life in general. It goes beyond an anecdotal account of one family to the story of an epoch. I found it to be a truly remarkable book. And it is beautifully written.

[Kabir Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, because it gave the glimpse of Punjab in transition from a pre-modern monarchy to a modern colonialism and democracy. This gives names to the countless lives that inhabited that epoch of flux

[Sam Davison · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting insight into a vanished world. As well as the details of the Punjab I found the writer's experience in England in the 20th century gripping.

[Vikram Bawa]

Nice

[Les]

An important document in the social history of India, this volume presents the autobiography of a Punjabi family over the three tumultuous generations that spanned years from the Mutiny to Independence. The book provides an absorbing view, from within, of what British rule meant for the educated elite of the province. In its descriptions of the changing customs and values of the educated Indian in the early twentieth century, the book affords a memorable account of a critical period in modern Indian history.

[simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is incredibly slow, but really beautifully scripted. It's got an emotional recollection of the Partition, and the way it unfolded on to residents of the Punjab at the time. Don't read it all in one night, savor it over the long run.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome! I don't remember many details, but it sure was sweet and very interesting about a couple of generations of this Punjabi family living in Lahore during a crazy time.

[Rahul Khanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is description of customs and way people were living in this period.