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Jallianwala Bagh: Literary Responses in Prose & Poetry
Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the butchering of unarmed innocents, is a historic event that haunts the human mind even after the lapse of a century. 1650 rounds fired in a matter of ten minutes, the blocking of exits, preventing help reaching the injured are all acts of unmitigated bestiality.
Through a selection of prose and poetry – the direct outcome of this horrific event and an introduction that traces the history of events leading to the massacre – Rakhshanda Jalil, a literary historian and translator from Urdu and Hindi, attempts to open a window into the world of possibilities that literature offers to reflect, interpret and analyse events of momentous historical import. The selection offers ways of ‘seeing’ history, of exploring how an incident that stirred the conscience of millions, found its way through pen and paper to reach the nooks and crannies of popular imagination filtered through the mind of the creative writer.
The acknowledged doyens of Indian literature featured in this volume include Saadat Hasan Manto, Mulk Raj Anand, Krishan Chander, Abdullah Hussein, Bhisham Sahni, Ghulam Abbas, Subadhra Kumari Chauhan, Sarojini Naidu, Sohan Singh Misha, Muhammad Iqbal, Josh Malihabadi, Nanak Singh, to name a few. A collection that can pave the way for further research.
Through a selection of prose and poetry – the direct outcome of this horrific event and an introduction that traces the history of events leading to the massacre – Rakhshanda Jalil, a literary historian and translator from Urdu and Hindi, attempts to open a window into the world of possibilities that literature offers to reflect, interpret and analyse events of momentous historical import. The selection offers ways of ‘seeing’ history, of exploring how an incident that stirred the conscience of millions, found its way through pen and paper to reach the nooks and crannies of popular imagination filtered through the mind of the creative writer.
The acknowledged doyens of Indian literature featured in this volume include Saadat Hasan Manto, Mulk Raj Anand, Krishan Chander, Abdullah Hussein, Bhisham Sahni, Ghulam Abbas, Subadhra Kumari Chauhan, Sarojini Naidu, Sohan Singh Misha, Muhammad Iqbal, Josh Malihabadi, Nanak Singh, to name a few. A collection that can pave the way for further research.
- GenresPoetry
228 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2019
12 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Rakhshanda Jalil
50 books36 followersRakhshanda Jalil is a writer, critic and literary historian. Her published work comprises edited anthologies, among them a selection of Pakistani women writers entitled, Neither Night Nor Day; and a collection of esssays on Delhi, Invisible City: she is co-author of Partners in Freedom: Jamia Millia Islamia and Journey to a Holy Land: A Pilgrim s Diary. She is also a well-known translator, with eight published translations of Premchand, Asghar Wajahat, Saadat Hasan Manto, Shahryar, Intezar Hussain and Phanishwarnath Renu.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 10, 2019
On 13 April, 2019 massacre of Jallianwala Bagh will complete its 100 years. We all have read about this incident in school and I think every Indian feel sadden about this. On the day of 13 April, 1919, General Dyer, ordered his soldiers to open fire on the unarmed civilians who were gathered in Jallianwala Bagh where people were celebrating Baishakhi. More than 500 hundreds people lost their lives and majority people suffered from grave injuries. This miserable incident shook the humanity and many of the renowned poets and authors have written about this. This book is an excellent collection of these stories and poems.
Read more such reviews on https://www.haloofbooks.com/
Summary:
This book is divided into two sections of fiction and poetry. The book starts with an informative introduction by the authoress Rakhshanda Jalil, where she has summarized literary take by the authors in an effective way.
The first story ‘An incident from 1919’ by Saadat hasan Manto tells a story where a co-passenger narrates the horrifying act imposed by government and how a boy has to die from the hands of British.
‘The Weary Generation’ by Abdullah Hussein gives an insight of the history of Jallianwala Bagh and the time of 1919 from the eye of a fisherman.
‘Inqilab’ by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, depicts a story of two friends from different caste who tried to help each other in the massacre.
‘Morning Face’ by Mulk Raj Anand, shows a story of people and how they have to deal with the Angrezi Sarkar.
‘The Crown and the Loincloth, depicts a story of General Dyer and how he taught his soldiers to fire rapidly. This story also shows Dyer’s little knowledge in regard to the Indian mythology, which is sometime humorous to read.
‘In transit’ by Venu Chitale is a story which compares this incident with Mahabharata.
‘Amritsar before Independence’ by Krishan Chander gives an account of four women who died for not following the orders of British soldier.
‘Those Who Crawled’ by Ghulam Abbas is a story about the rule imposed by British government to crawl in a particular street as a punishment for abusing a English lady.
‘Colour My Robe Saffron’ by Bhishma Sahni is drama depicting the moaning and pain of Ratan devi, whose husband lost his life in Jallianwala Bagh.
‘Massacre at Jallianwala’ by Stanley Wolpert is a story where General Dyer has to confront his act in front of Judge and his take on the whole incident is very hard to read.
‘Jallianwala Comes to Life’ by Navtej Singh is a heart touching narration of people who have lost their live on that fateful day.
The other section has 11 poetries, each is better than other. The poets have penned the sorrow of Jallianwala with utmost care.
Writing style:
This book is compilation and mostly all the stories and poems are translated hence each story has different writing style. However, translation is excellent and gives a perfect essence to the readers.
My perception:
For me, this book was hard to read and many a time I have to stop reading because I felt the pain of the people who have lost their life on that day. I never knew that many renowned authors and poets have written about Jallianwala Bagh, so a big kudos to the authoress of this book for her immense work and detailed research. Each story and each poem will take back to you to those colonized time where, Indian have to live on the mercy of British government. Jallianwala Bagh is one of the saddest incidents in the history of India and I think we all need to take time and read about how the people suffered and cope with that situation. Not just, Jallianwala Bagh, there are many more information in this book which need to be known by every Indians.
This book is heart touching, informative and at the same time very thoughtful. Do not miss this book.
Read more such reviews on https://www.haloofbooks.com/
Summary:
This book is divided into two sections of fiction and poetry. The book starts with an informative introduction by the authoress Rakhshanda Jalil, where she has summarized literary take by the authors in an effective way.
The first story ‘An incident from 1919’ by Saadat hasan Manto tells a story where a co-passenger narrates the horrifying act imposed by government and how a boy has to die from the hands of British.
‘The Weary Generation’ by Abdullah Hussein gives an insight of the history of Jallianwala Bagh and the time of 1919 from the eye of a fisherman.
‘Inqilab’ by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, depicts a story of two friends from different caste who tried to help each other in the massacre.
‘Morning Face’ by Mulk Raj Anand, shows a story of people and how they have to deal with the Angrezi Sarkar.
‘The Crown and the Loincloth, depicts a story of General Dyer and how he taught his soldiers to fire rapidly. This story also shows Dyer’s little knowledge in regard to the Indian mythology, which is sometime humorous to read.
‘In transit’ by Venu Chitale is a story which compares this incident with Mahabharata.
‘Amritsar before Independence’ by Krishan Chander gives an account of four women who died for not following the orders of British soldier.
‘Those Who Crawled’ by Ghulam Abbas is a story about the rule imposed by British government to crawl in a particular street as a punishment for abusing a English lady.
‘Colour My Robe Saffron’ by Bhishma Sahni is drama depicting the moaning and pain of Ratan devi, whose husband lost his life in Jallianwala Bagh.
‘Massacre at Jallianwala’ by Stanley Wolpert is a story where General Dyer has to confront his act in front of Judge and his take on the whole incident is very hard to read.
‘Jallianwala Comes to Life’ by Navtej Singh is a heart touching narration of people who have lost their live on that fateful day.
The other section has 11 poetries, each is better than other. The poets have penned the sorrow of Jallianwala with utmost care.
Writing style:
This book is compilation and mostly all the stories and poems are translated hence each story has different writing style. However, translation is excellent and gives a perfect essence to the readers.
My perception:
For me, this book was hard to read and many a time I have to stop reading because I felt the pain of the people who have lost their life on that day. I never knew that many renowned authors and poets have written about Jallianwala Bagh, so a big kudos to the authoress of this book for her immense work and detailed research. Each story and each poem will take back to you to those colonized time where, Indian have to live on the mercy of British government. Jallianwala Bagh is one of the saddest incidents in the history of India and I think we all need to take time and read about how the people suffered and cope with that situation. Not just, Jallianwala Bagh, there are many more information in this book which need to be known by every Indians.
This book is heart touching, informative and at the same time very thoughtful. Do not miss this book.
April 19, 2019
13 April 1919, a date that has been engraved in the hearts of million citizens of India. On 13 April 1919, the British Indian Army, under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer fired rifles into a crowd who had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. The estimated number of casualties was more than 1500 injured with approximately 1000 DEAD.
It’s been a century since the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place and it still breaks my heart into a million pieces thinking about the gruesome and merciless killing.
Jallianwala Bagh, translated by Rakhshanda Jalil is a collection of prose and poetry that opens gates to what stirred the mass shooting and how it tormented lives for years. The short stories & poems are by famous writers like Sadat Hasan Manto, Mulk Raj Anand, Sarojini Naidu, to name a few. The book opens up with an introduction by Rakhshanda throwing light on the events that stirred the deadly massacre, something that most of us aren’t aware of.
The first prose An Incident in 1919 by Sadat Hasan Manto transports you back to the streets of Amritsar in 1919, the market lanes, the time of curfews and how just a nudge was enough to start a riot during the sensitive time. All prose, despite being a work of fiction, feel so real and connect with you on an entirely emotional string.
While some stories made me weep, the other made my blood boil and I mentally strangled General Dyer, even though he’s been long dead. It is beyond imagination what plight the people of Amritsar had to go through and throughout the book I could only think what could have been done to avoid the fatal shooting and how different lives would have been. I guess, no one will ever know.
Nevertheless, this is a brilliant book that you all must pick up that will transport you back to Amritsar, 1919 and give you a first hand account of what really happened back then.
It’s been a century since the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place and it still breaks my heart into a million pieces thinking about the gruesome and merciless killing.
Jallianwala Bagh, translated by Rakhshanda Jalil is a collection of prose and poetry that opens gates to what stirred the mass shooting and how it tormented lives for years. The short stories & poems are by famous writers like Sadat Hasan Manto, Mulk Raj Anand, Sarojini Naidu, to name a few. The book opens up with an introduction by Rakhshanda throwing light on the events that stirred the deadly massacre, something that most of us aren’t aware of.
The first prose An Incident in 1919 by Sadat Hasan Manto transports you back to the streets of Amritsar in 1919, the market lanes, the time of curfews and how just a nudge was enough to start a riot during the sensitive time. All prose, despite being a work of fiction, feel so real and connect with you on an entirely emotional string.
While some stories made me weep, the other made my blood boil and I mentally strangled General Dyer, even though he’s been long dead. It is beyond imagination what plight the people of Amritsar had to go through and throughout the book I could only think what could have been done to avoid the fatal shooting and how different lives would have been. I guess, no one will ever know.
Nevertheless, this is a brilliant book that you all must pick up that will transport you back to Amritsar, 1919 and give you a first hand account of what really happened back then.
April 15, 2019
4.6/5★
This book is divided into two part’s first talks about all those amazing fictional work written around the Event. You can read translated work of Saadat Hasan Manto, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, Mulk Raj Anand and many more.
Each story, giving us different details of what happened on that evening.
I loved reading (snippet of) Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh by Stanley Wolpert, which talks about the committee of inquiry that was set on General Dyer for the Massacre. Though the final verdict didn’t make this book, but I surely now want to read the original.
Second part consists of those amazing weapon words in form of Poetry. As the massacre took place in Amritsar, there are many translated poems from Punjabi and some from Urdu.
Though I feel, some of them had left the essence of being a poem in translation but the core feeling still remains, the pain still remains.
Full review at
https://smileaturself.wordpress.com/2...
This book is divided into two part’s first talks about all those amazing fictional work written around the Event. You can read translated work of Saadat Hasan Manto, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, Mulk Raj Anand and many more.
Each story, giving us different details of what happened on that evening.
I loved reading (snippet of) Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh by Stanley Wolpert, which talks about the committee of inquiry that was set on General Dyer for the Massacre. Though the final verdict didn’t make this book, but I surely now want to read the original.
Second part consists of those amazing weapon words in form of Poetry. As the massacre took place in Amritsar, there are many translated poems from Punjabi and some from Urdu.
Though I feel, some of them had left the essence of being a poem in translation but the core feeling still remains, the pain still remains.
Full review at
https://smileaturself.wordpress.com/2...
July 14, 2019
I visited Jallianwalah Bagh some 13-14 years back and I remember being horrified at the bullet marks which still riddle the walls of this park. And there was this foreigner who was sitting there sketching and trying to capture the now of that brutal incident.
And so I couldn’t say no to reading this Anthology curated and translated by Rakshandha Jalil. She has taken literary pieces(poetry and prose) from that time period which talk directly or indirectly about Jallianwalah Bagh. While I did not understand the poetry much, I really really liked the prose selections.
The stories talk about the incidents which led up to the massacre, the cruelty, and horror of the day itself, the aftermath, and there is a story which narrates what General Dyer’s thoughts would have been. And yes, it made me hate him even more if possible.
This is a great collection and I am so glad I got to read it. It is not just about horror. It is also about the bravery and heroics of men, women, and children alike. Also, it has a lovely cover. Black as the heart of people who perpetrated that cruelty.
A must read.
And so I couldn’t say no to reading this Anthology curated and translated by Rakshandha Jalil. She has taken literary pieces(poetry and prose) from that time period which talk directly or indirectly about Jallianwalah Bagh. While I did not understand the poetry much, I really really liked the prose selections.
The stories talk about the incidents which led up to the massacre, the cruelty, and horror of the day itself, the aftermath, and there is a story which narrates what General Dyer’s thoughts would have been. And yes, it made me hate him even more if possible.
This is a great collection and I am so glad I got to read it. It is not just about horror. It is also about the bravery and heroics of men, women, and children alike. Also, it has a lovely cover. Black as the heart of people who perpetrated that cruelty.
A must read.
January 21, 2022
4.25*
April 15, 2019
ZOYA EJAZ / EDIT
Compiled by Rakhshanda Jalil , a writer, translator and literary historian has very beautifully captured the wave of tumultuous emotions that Indians were going through after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Through the proses and poetry in the book she has revealed the storm of emotions that the bloodiest chapter of indian history produced. One of the gravest mistakes the British made in colonial India was the doomed day of April the 13th, 1919.
The massacre which General Dyer orchestrated upon a peaceful gathering of unarmed peasants will be remembered forever.
Ranging from prose by Manto , where An Incident in 1919 is a recasting of the terrible slaughter visited upon the city of Amritsar as the result of an aftermath of the Jallianwala incident. To If You Wish to Learn Mercy which reflects the anguish and horror evoked by the incident even in those outside Punjab. The book shows us the incident through the eyes of various protagonists. The brother of prostitutes, generally a person considered by society as scum is made a hero in Manto’s An Incident in 1919 while there are some lines from Ahmaq Phaphoondvi's poem which are dripping with sarcasm and satire as they are emblematic of a rising nationalistic consciousness that is a direct outcome of the barbaric action in Punjab.
The poets were not far behind. Leaving topics of love longing and desire they marched straight into the freedom struggle with pieces like A Complaint to The Hunter, The Tyrannies in The Punjab, and Bloody Baisakhi.
Jallianwala Bagh instead of subduing Indians brought about a tornado of literature which in turn captured the imagination of people. There was no one unaffected by it. The bloodbath ensured a struggle to obtain complete independence from the crown and Swaraj.
On the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, this book is worth reading and gifting. The new age Indians need to be aware of their history , especially in the current political scenario when we need to make wise decisions and choose our leaders wisely.
It was a harmless, couple of British who were allowed to practice their trade in the country and who ultimately enslaved us for two hundred years. Often seemingly harmless things can turn out to be the reason of our doom.
Compiled by Rakhshanda Jalil , a writer, translator and literary historian has very beautifully captured the wave of tumultuous emotions that Indians were going through after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Through the proses and poetry in the book she has revealed the storm of emotions that the bloodiest chapter of indian history produced. One of the gravest mistakes the British made in colonial India was the doomed day of April the 13th, 1919.
The massacre which General Dyer orchestrated upon a peaceful gathering of unarmed peasants will be remembered forever.
Ranging from prose by Manto , where An Incident in 1919 is a recasting of the terrible slaughter visited upon the city of Amritsar as the result of an aftermath of the Jallianwala incident. To If You Wish to Learn Mercy which reflects the anguish and horror evoked by the incident even in those outside Punjab. The book shows us the incident through the eyes of various protagonists. The brother of prostitutes, generally a person considered by society as scum is made a hero in Manto’s An Incident in 1919 while there are some lines from Ahmaq Phaphoondvi's poem which are dripping with sarcasm and satire as they are emblematic of a rising nationalistic consciousness that is a direct outcome of the barbaric action in Punjab.
The poets were not far behind. Leaving topics of love longing and desire they marched straight into the freedom struggle with pieces like A Complaint to The Hunter, The Tyrannies in The Punjab, and Bloody Baisakhi.
Jallianwala Bagh instead of subduing Indians brought about a tornado of literature which in turn captured the imagination of people. There was no one unaffected by it. The bloodbath ensured a struggle to obtain complete independence from the crown and Swaraj.
On the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, this book is worth reading and gifting. The new age Indians need to be aware of their history , especially in the current political scenario when we need to make wise decisions and choose our leaders wisely.
It was a harmless, couple of British who were allowed to practice their trade in the country and who ultimately enslaved us for two hundred years. Often seemingly harmless things can turn out to be the reason of our doom.
December 12, 2020
📚Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the butchering of unarmed innocents, is a historic event that haunts the human mind even after the lapse of a century.
1650 rounds of fired in a matter of a ten minutes, the blocking of exists, preventing help from reaching the injured are all acts of unmitigated bestiality.
"Through a selection of prose and poetry, the direct outcome of this horrific event and an introduction that traces the history of events leading to the massacre." 🔰
#blurb
This book posses the whole segment of great Introduction, fiction and poetry. Through the introduction we get to know "why, how and when" this event occurred. 📚The Rowlatt Act, dubbed the 'Black Act', caused widespread outrage among Indians of all religious and political dispensation and led to the first "satyagrah" under Gandhi's leadership on 6 April 1919. On 10th April 1910 two Congress leaders who had been asking for repeal of Rowlatt Act were arrested in Amritsar– Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew― culminating in the worst bloodbath and the country had yet known: the Jallianwala massacre 3 days later.
Though authorities initially claimed that the massacre wa triggered by the assault of Sherwood but regimental diaires that this was merely a pretext.
Instead, Dyer and Sir Micheal O'Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, fearful and an imminent mutiny in Punjab not only wanted to crush any possible insurrection but also wanted to punish the people of Amritsar for the attack on Miss Sherwood and the killing of 5 Englishman.
📚On 13th April 1919, Dyer reached the Bagh by 5:p.m. He was accompanied by 50 Gurkha and Baluchi soldiers.
When Dyer entered the Bagh, placing 25 soldiers each on either side of a raised strip near the entrance, Dyer ordered his men to fire: 1650 rounds of 303 marks were fired for 10 minutes. He issues no warning and continued firing.
1650 rounds of fired in a matter of a ten minutes, the blocking of exists, preventing help from reaching the injured are all acts of unmitigated bestiality.
"Through a selection of prose and poetry, the direct outcome of this horrific event and an introduction that traces the history of events leading to the massacre." 🔰
#blurb
This book posses the whole segment of great Introduction, fiction and poetry. Through the introduction we get to know "why, how and when" this event occurred. 📚The Rowlatt Act, dubbed the 'Black Act', caused widespread outrage among Indians of all religious and political dispensation and led to the first "satyagrah" under Gandhi's leadership on 6 April 1919. On 10th April 1910 two Congress leaders who had been asking for repeal of Rowlatt Act were arrested in Amritsar– Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew― culminating in the worst bloodbath and the country had yet known: the Jallianwala massacre 3 days later.
Though authorities initially claimed that the massacre wa triggered by the assault of Sherwood but regimental diaires that this was merely a pretext.
Instead, Dyer and Sir Micheal O'Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, fearful and an imminent mutiny in Punjab not only wanted to crush any possible insurrection but also wanted to punish the people of Amritsar for the attack on Miss Sherwood and the killing of 5 Englishman.
📚On 13th April 1919, Dyer reached the Bagh by 5:p.m. He was accompanied by 50 Gurkha and Baluchi soldiers.
When Dyer entered the Bagh, placing 25 soldiers each on either side of a raised strip near the entrance, Dyer ordered his men to fire: 1650 rounds of 303 marks were fired for 10 minutes. He issues no warning and continued firing.
April 6, 2019
Publisher- Niyogi books
Translator- Rakshanda Jalil
My views-
"The past never dies or goes away, we carry some part of it inside us"
Its been 100 years to this dreadful massacre,but still we feel angry and sad hearing or reading about it.
I remember reading a small chapter about this incideng in School. I hardly understood anything that time.
But reading this book made me understand the hardships people faced. The revolts they did, the price they paid, the lives lost for the freedom of this countrh are all their in the book.
The book is a collection of prose and poems by some well known people and beautifully translated by Rakshanda Jalil.
The book basically tells how lives changed after the incident and also, what all happened before it.
The stories that stayed with me, were from Manto and Mulk Raj Anand. Gandhiji was denied the permission to enter Punjab, peopel were agitated, they gathered for a meeting, unarmed, more than 1000 were killed and injuired. General Dyer was a mad man and this incident proved it.
The book's insight,research and use of words is powerful. Also, the poems by Babu Firoz Din Sharaf and Sarojini Naidu leaves an imprint on your mind.
With these stories, the book also provides you with a lot of information before and after the incident with a very thoughful introduction.
Translator- Rakshanda Jalil
My views-
"The past never dies or goes away, we carry some part of it inside us"
Its been 100 years to this dreadful massacre,but still we feel angry and sad hearing or reading about it.
I remember reading a small chapter about this incideng in School. I hardly understood anything that time.
But reading this book made me understand the hardships people faced. The revolts they did, the price they paid, the lives lost for the freedom of this countrh are all their in the book.
The book is a collection of prose and poems by some well known people and beautifully translated by Rakshanda Jalil.
The book basically tells how lives changed after the incident and also, what all happened before it.
The stories that stayed with me, were from Manto and Mulk Raj Anand. Gandhiji was denied the permission to enter Punjab, peopel were agitated, they gathered for a meeting, unarmed, more than 1000 were killed and injuired. General Dyer was a mad man and this incident proved it.
The book's insight,research and use of words is powerful. Also, the poems by Babu Firoz Din Sharaf and Sarojini Naidu leaves an imprint on your mind.
With these stories, the book also provides you with a lot of information before and after the incident with a very thoughful introduction.
August 27, 2019
Author Rakhshanda Jalil has brilliantly put together bringing a collection of how the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is reflected in literature in the form of prose and poetry. In her foreword, the author says ‘Politics and history are said to be interwoven but not commensurate. The same can be said for politics and literature,’ setting the tone for the stories that are included in the collection. Comprising of two parts: fiction and poetry, the sum total of this book is a deeply poignant capture of the moods and sentiments as inspired by the real life event.There are short stories and excerpted chapters from novels besides a play.
The stories and the poetry in this collection will take you to the narrow lanes leading to Jallianwala Bagh, the nationalist stirrings amongst the people of Punjab and other parts of the country, the events that led to the massacre and the trauma of loss and anger over the incident. Recommended.
The stories and the poetry in this collection will take you to the narrow lanes leading to Jallianwala Bagh, the nationalist stirrings amongst the people of Punjab and other parts of the country, the events that led to the massacre and the trauma of loss and anger over the incident. Recommended.
May 11, 2019
A great collection of works by very eminent writers and poets. It is a pity that a great deal of emotional nuances are lost in translation. For those of us who are very familiar with the tragic details of Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the idiom of Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, it is not difficult to reconnect with the imagery of what is detailed in these accounts. To others, the contents might just provide an uncomfortable to digest narrative.
June 19, 2020
What a great collection of stories about the horrific events of April 13th 1919 at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. I wish I could read the original versions but the translation were heart breaking never the less.
April 15, 2019
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April 30, 2020
"The truth is never wounded
The ideals never die
These are not bullet marks,
It is our history
Written on the walls of Jallianwala Bagh" -- Sohan Singh Misha
13th April, 2019, marks 100 years to the barbaric Jallianwala Bagh Massacre that rendered hundreds dead, and many more injured. The wounds, deep and brutal, have stayed with us even after the lapse of a century. This act of unmitigated bestiality forever rings, haunting and reminding us of the daylight butchering of unarmed innocents. 1650 rounds were fired under the regime of General Dyer. The cold blooded massacre was a historic moment, one defining the course of the Indian National Movement. Not only did it spur the spirit of brotherhood and nationalism, it is also significant from a literary perspective. .
Rakshanda Jalil, writer, critic and literary historian, in her introduction writes, ' I was curious to see how an incident that stirred the conscience of millions, one that had far reaching implications for the national freedom struggle, that made British colonial interests in India morally untenable, found its way through pen and paper to reach the nooks & crannies of the popular imagination filtered through the mind of the creative writer '. And that's exactly what this book offers. It gives the readers an eye to view from a literary perspective the seriousness of the situation, to reflect and interpret the impact of the massacre. .
Through a collection of literary prose, and poems, this book aims to help us understand the events leading to the massacre and its implications. From Mulk Raj Anand's visceral prose to Sarojini Naidu's poem, this book explores history and shows us how in times of immense pain, there were a few who turned to pen and paper to express their desire for the freedom movement and it's struggles. .
Which is your favorite book on Indian History?
The ideals never die
These are not bullet marks,
It is our history
Written on the walls of Jallianwala Bagh" -- Sohan Singh Misha
13th April, 2019, marks 100 years to the barbaric Jallianwala Bagh Massacre that rendered hundreds dead, and many more injured. The wounds, deep and brutal, have stayed with us even after the lapse of a century. This act of unmitigated bestiality forever rings, haunting and reminding us of the daylight butchering of unarmed innocents. 1650 rounds were fired under the regime of General Dyer. The cold blooded massacre was a historic moment, one defining the course of the Indian National Movement. Not only did it spur the spirit of brotherhood and nationalism, it is also significant from a literary perspective. .
Rakshanda Jalil, writer, critic and literary historian, in her introduction writes, ' I was curious to see how an incident that stirred the conscience of millions, one that had far reaching implications for the national freedom struggle, that made British colonial interests in India morally untenable, found its way through pen and paper to reach the nooks & crannies of the popular imagination filtered through the mind of the creative writer '. And that's exactly what this book offers. It gives the readers an eye to view from a literary perspective the seriousness of the situation, to reflect and interpret the impact of the massacre. .
Through a collection of literary prose, and poems, this book aims to help us understand the events leading to the massacre and its implications. From Mulk Raj Anand's visceral prose to Sarojini Naidu's poem, this book explores history and shows us how in times of immense pain, there were a few who turned to pen and paper to express their desire for the freedom movement and it's struggles. .
Which is your favorite book on Indian History?
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews