ದೇಶ ವಿಭಜನೆಯ ದುರಂತ ಕಥೆ

by H.V. Seshadri, K.S. Nagaraja (translation)

Talks about the tragedy of Indian partition after Independence.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

273 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book on partition.

Real history cannot be summarized into a few bullet points. It is a lot more detailed, nuanced and complicated. Over simplification often doesn't give the complete picture. The fixation of historians to push the narrative that only Congress, Nehru and Gandhi gave us Independence needs to be end. And this book is for those keep coming up with the narrative of "British divided us". This book doesn't indulge in hero worshiping of any leader. It gives the insight into the different situations and scenarios that lead to the partition of India at the time of Independence. I am glad that this book doesn't only focus on Congress. It shows various point of view, be it Jinnah, Muslim league, Britishers and non congress leaders. It details about the lack of clear vision of then leaders of Indian National Congress about united India and the mistakes which lead to division of Indian population based on the religion. The seeds our leaders sowed before Independence will help you understand the complexities of present-day politics in India. I am not going to go in detail. Read it, you will understand what exactly i am talking about.

Nations weaken not because of their past but, rather, when they are prevented from remembering it. For seventy years we have been prevented from remembering our past. And now they want us to forget even the horrors of Partition. NEVER.

For lucid account on partition of Bharat, do read this book. Writer doesn't flinch from highlighting the faults of the players involved. Well referenced and yet not cluttered at all. Its a good book that chronicle events culminating in the partition of India in 1947. It is sad that the book has not been widely publicised and the general public continue to believe the half baked stories about partition which suppress more than they reveal. Unbiased and highly recommended. This book is also available in Kannada, Gujarati, Hindi and Malayalam.

So far I have read 3 books on Partition.
1. Pakistan Or Partition Of India by B.R. Ambedkar
2. The Tragic Story of Partition by H.V. Seshadri
3. Those fifteen days by Prashant Pole

Now I have eyes on Creating a New Medina by Venkat Dhulipala.

[Guruprasad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Partition has been one bloodiest and gruesome history of India where lakhs of people lost their lives, land, and loved ones due to decisions and agreements made by a handful of leaders who took the entire existence of people for granted. We need to read this book to know real faces and real values cared for by the national leaders and in a sense real history of the nation when it was a weaker state. reading certain parts of the book makes us numb and in meantime fills us with rage and anguish. Read, learn and prepare is all I can say.

[Nishu Thakur · Rating 5 out of 5]

भारत विभाजन पर एक शानदार पुस्तक. पूरी पुस्तक जानकारी से भरपूर है| पुस्तक में कुछ गंभीर चिंताओं, मुद्दों और ऐतिहासिक भूलों पर प्रकाश डाला गया है, जिसके कारण भारत के विभाजन की दुखद कहानी सामने आई है।

[Devanshu Vashishtha · Rating 5 out of 5]

by HV Sheshadri was a journey to the time of partition in 1947 .HarshIt discussed what were the consequences which led to partition of united India into Muslim majority province as Pakistan and Hindu majority province as secular India. And what are the adverse effect of those decisions taken in hustle of independence and forming government we face till now.

[Lasic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on Partition.

[Utkrisht Fella · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most comprehensive and honest accounts of the Partition of India. Sri H.V. Seshadri presents not just a chronological history of events but a layered narrative that explores the deep political, cultural and ideological fault lines that led to one of the most traumatic chapters in Indian history.

What sets this book apart is its rigorous research. The author backs every assertion with references from reliable and varied sources, lending the book a level of credibility that many popular histories lack. It doesn’t rely on emotional rhetoric or revisionist narratives, instead, it presents facts, debates, and consequences with remarkable clarity and restraint.

Seshadri offers a nuanced look at the roles played by the British administration, the Congress leadership, the Muslim League, and key individuals during the run-up to August 15, 1947. The book goes beyond the event of Partition to examine its far-reaching aftermath - demographic shifts, refugee crises, communal violence, and the shaping of political discourse in post-independence Bharat.

This is essential reading for anyone who wants to move past textbook history and understand the real political and civilizational cost of Partition. It is especially valuable in today's context, where historical clarity is often clouded by ideological convenience.

Highly recommended for students of history, policy thinkers, and anyone committed to understanding India’s national journey from truth, not narrative.

[Hemant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author succeeds in capturing the overall picture of actions of congress, Gandhiji, British government and Muslim League. Although there are some misquotes and some out-of-context excerpts but the book is a good read in spite of them. It certainly helps to answer some questions like "was partition unavoidable", "did the League really had so much public support to warrant parity with the Congress". It also contains some excerpts on heroic deeds of often critisized RSS swayamsevaks (volunteers) also.
One should read historical events from multiple points of view. It has so oftened that V. P. Menon painted Mountbatten as angel for independent India (in Story of Integration of Indian States) while H. V. Sheshadri also draws or attention to misdeeds of Mountbatten which proved deleterious to Indian and Hindu interests.

[Vijay Dhuri]

The book is an excellent reference for those who want to study the complete history of Indian Independence struggle starting from 1857 national revolt leading up to the Partition of Bharat. Author gives various relevant references to show how the events unfolded and who were the actors behind those events.

[Ajay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if you want to understand the partition.

[Ajay Thakur · Rating 5 out of 5]

परिचय और पहला अध्याय ही आपकी बंद आंखें खोल देगा। आपको पता चल जाएगा कि भारत के साथ क्या किया गया है। अधर्म के खिलाफ जागने और एकजुट होने का समय।

[Ishaan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Primary source for my thesis, just a mishmash of historical fact and fiction. bleh.