This Is Not That Dawn

झूठा सच #1-2

by यशपाल, Yashpal, यशपाल, Yashpal, Anand (Translator)

Jhootha Sach is arguably the most outstanding piece of Hindi literature written about the Partiton. Reviving life in Lahore as it was before 1947, the book opens on a nostalgic note, with vivid descriptions of the people that lived in the city’s streets and lanes like Bhola Pandhe Ki Gali: Tara, who wanted an education above marriage; Puri, whose ideology and principles often came in the way of his impoverished circumstances; Asad, who was ready to sacrifice his love for the sake of communal harmony. Their lives—and those of other memorable characters—are forever altered as the carnage that ensues on the eve of Independence shatters the beauty and peace of the land, killing millions of Hindus and Muslims, and forcing others to leave their homes forever.

Genres: India, Fiction, Classics, Indian Literature, Pakistan, Asia

1152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

See also यशपाल

Yashpal (3 December 1903 – 26 December 1976) was a Hindi-language author who is sometimes considered to be the most gifted since Premchand. A political commentator and a socialist who had a particular concern for the welfare of the poor and disadvantaged, he wrote in a range of genres, including essays, novels and short stories, as well as a play, two travel books and an autobiography. He won the Hindi-language Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel, Meri Teri Uski Baat in 1976 and was also a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.

Yashpal's writings form an extension to his earlier life as a revolutionary in the cause of the Indian independence movement.

Reviews

[Zaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yashpal’s Magnum Opus is called ‘War and Peace of Hindi Literature'. Originally written in Hindi, it was published in two parts, in 1958 and 1960. In 2010, its English translation was done by Yashpal’s son, Anand and Penguin India published it. In 2011, Javed Boota did its Punjabi translation and Suchet Kitab Ghar, Lahore published it. In 2017, with the help of Munira Soorti, its ‘urdu translation’ appeared in the special edition of Aaj, Karachi. This ‘Urdu translation’ isn’t actual translation from Hindi, but just a change of script, from Devanagri script to Turko-arabic script. I tried reading 'urdu version' first, but couldn't continue due to frequent use of Hindi expressions. So, had to read 1119 pages long English version. 

Yashpal spent his youth in Lahore. A revolutionary who was a comrade in arms with Bhagat Singh and Chandra Shekar Azad. He used all of those experiences to tell the story to two Hindu families from Lahore, the members of which got settled in Delhi and Indian Punjab after the catastrophic events of 1947. 

The novel doesn't cover the political aspect of partition only, but also the social life before and after the partition. He skillfully depicted how that social life was disrupted and got transformed. The society which was open and inclusive before the partition became close and exclusive. Different communities which were living side by side for hundreds of years suddenly became enemy and started attacking one another. Just like Manto's stories, this novel deals which the psychological aspects of human life which were behind all those upheavals. One religion or one class or one group of people wasn't behind all those crimes. It was a 'collective madness'. Yes, you can say it was the politics based on the religious lines which orchestrated those riots but politicians alone cannot be blamed, these were the common people who carried out those attacks and these were the masses who became the victims. There was just change of rulers after the "independence" or "revolution". In fact, those rulers could easily exploit with more impunity in the name of independence and the same capitalist exploitative system kept on working under the rule of local leaders.

One of the fascinating aspects of this novel is that it highlights the systematic exploitation of women. The partition served to bring it into the spotlight. Women were tortured, raped and killed just like the property of other community and their only crime was that they were in relation with the male members of the other community. Even during the ordinary times, they were the victims of the regressive, decadent norms of our society. Sheelo loved her cousin but couldn't collect the courage to openly declare her love because she thought it is her religious duty to keep serving her husband. Tara expressed her love but was forced even by his "educated" brother to marry a rogue. Kanak had to face resistance because her lover belonged to the different class, and even when she wanted to rescind her marriage, these class conscious people opposed her. Kanta knew that sometimes she had to do things opposite to her wishes, but she kept on budging because she wanted her marriage to continue. Sita and her partners did things just for fun, but at the end it was only she who had to face the music. Similarly, Mrs Agarwal belonged to the elite and "educated" class but she also had an abusive relationship. The most heart wrecking story was of Banti. She did everything to get back to her family but when she went to see them, even her husband did not accept her because she became impure after getting raped.

At the beginning of the novel, the reader is sympathetic with both Tara and Puri but at the end it is Tara who turns out the real hero. Her love was opposed by her family including her 'progressive' brother, got married against her will, got raped by a Muslim scoundrel at the first night of her marriage when she was running away her abusive husband, harassed by people who apparently came to her help, even when she became the civil servant by dint of hard work people were calling her names became she wanted to remain an independent woman. The worst part was that she couldn't talk about her rape and had to torment all the pain alone. Her rape had a long lasting impression on her and she became afraid of all of those who showed her affection. Regardless of all these sufferings, she kept on struggling and helping all the destitute around her.

Kanak is another brave lady who showed one should revoke one’s marriage if that marriage loses its meaning, even if one had to fight the whole world to get into that marriage.

Pandit Gidhrilal also played an exceptional role of an ideal father. He showed what it is truly meant to stand with one's daughters during good and bad times. He taught them principles; to stand on your own feet and to take the decisions of your lives your own.

Puri is another character which showed how some educated and progressive looking man can be chauvinistic when he actually takes the reigns. He kept on having feelings for two ladies who loved him and he wanted to be with both of them but ended up with neither of them. Before coming to power, he was having all those socialist ideas, but when he had the power to implement those ideals, he became the part of same exploitative system.

Yashpal ended the novel on a positive note that the real change could only be brought by people, not by some politician or some political party. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to name it one of the finest works ever produced in the South Asian literature and one of the best works on the Indian partition.

[PS · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best novels I’ve ever read. I need to collect my thoughts before I can even attempt to write a review. There is far too much to unpack in this novel, and all I can say for now is: read this.

[Tariq Engineer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read. A sprawling, majestic story that skillfully combines the horrific and giant events of the partition of India with the minutiae of the lives and family dramas of its main characters - Tara and Jaidev Puri (sister and brother), and Kanak.

The epic - and it is no less than an epic - touches on all things that make up Indian culture: the obligations of wives and husbands, the treatment of women, the relationship between parents and children, communal harmony and disharmony, the lust for power and corruption. Through it all the story never flags except towards the the end when the grand sweep of events is over and the need to settle the stories of the characters takes over.

But that is only because one feels the worst is over and therefore the reader is no longer on the edge of his or her seat, wondering what misfortune might next befall the characters. However, before the ending can be reached, there is one final, and unexpected (to me) twist.

The novel is also populated with a plethora of secondary and tertiary characters through which the traditions and outlook of the time are reflected. It is a deep, thoughtful and thought provoking book. One that is well worth the many hours it takes to read it.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read, may deserve to be called the War and Peace of Hindi Literature (but I'd have to read War and Peace). Long but doesn't drag on at all. Plays with the reader's expectation of who the protagonist is and whose judgement is worth listening to.

Has a cast of characters sometimes hard to keep track of, but who are nonetheless all fully realized individuals.

Lastly, proves Salman Rushdie quite wrong.* As well, I'd say that This Is Not That Dawn/Jhoota Sach is better than Midnight's Children is nearly every way.



*"The prose writing - both fiction and non-fiction - created in this period by Indian writers working in English, is proving to be a stronger and more important body of work than most of what is being produced in the 16 'official languages' of India, the so-called 'vernacular' languages, during the same time: and indeed, this new, and still burgeoning, 'Indo-Anglian' literature represents the most valuable contribution India has yet made to the world of books."

[Ambar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gem. I've been putting off a full review for too long but I really really need to get it.

Suffice to say, it's an absolute must read. Particularly if you're Indian (or Pakistani or Bangladeshi)

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jhootha Sach by Yashpal- novel- Hindi- The book throws light on the circumstances leading to and incidents which happened before and after India's partition in 1947. The book is a real account of that historical period. The reason of authenticity of the description is because the author was himself was a member of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association led and operated by Chandra Shekhar Azad and thus, he had been a close associate of Bhagat Singh. After the martyrdom of these revolutionaries, Yashpal left the path of violence and devoted himself to literary work. He wrote many good books consisting of both novels and stories and was bestowed upon the Gyanpeeth Award. Literary critics are of the opinion that this novel is best work because this epic novel scribes a true account of the country's partition and the subsequent decline of the national character in India. This novel is best realistic novel ever written in Hindi. Jhootha Sach is an epic novel written in two parts - 1. Watan Aur Desh (the motherland and the nation), 2. Desh Ka Bhavishya (future of the nation). While the first one gives an account of the things taken place between 1943 to 15/08/1947 with the backdrop of Lahore, the second one accounts for the events starting from 15/08/1947 to January 1957 when the results of the second general elections of India came out. It gives an insight into the people's thought patterns and psyche in the pre-partition as well as the post-partition days and very naturally describes how the so-called idealists and nationalists of dependent India became the men not able to look beyond their vested interests after the country's political independence. The story begins in Lahore City. Babu Ramjivaya and Master Ramlubhaya are brothers. Babu Ramjivaya is Parcel office clerk in Railways posted at Lahore. He retired after 26 years of service. He purchased a dilapidated house in Uttchi gali. He has constructed a three story house for his family. His son is married and he lives in this house with his wife. Half of the house have been raised on rent with tenants for his additional income. Master Ramlubhaya is teacher in DAV Arya Samaj School. He is not as affluent as his elder brother. He lives on the first floor of a rented house in Bhola Pandhey Gali. Their mother was staying with the younger brother. She could not tolerate the winter and expired on a winter night. Wives of both brothers wailed at her death. In the night, their neighbours Meladei, Lallo, Kartaro, Sant Kaur, Pitamdei, Jivan came immediately to share their grief. All after death rights have to performed from the residence of the younger brother. Still Master Ramjivaya takes charge of the expenses. Ramlubhaya thinks that according to Arya Samaj havan should be organized. But elder brother plans for detailed ceremony. In Lahore, sisters of Budha Samaj arrive. They suggest that devotional Bhajans related to God should be sung. They are against unnecessary show off and closing old traditional ceremonies. But no one listens to them. On 4th day of death and small ceremony is organized for their neighbours and relations. Ramjivaya’s daughter Tara and Ramlubhaya’s daughter Sheelo participate and help. Sheelo’s marriage has been fixed six months earlier. Tara’s marriage has yet to be fixed. Ramjivaya’s elder son Jaidev has gone to attend college. Jaidev participates in National movement for independence of the country. He is imprisoned and jailed. Jaidev Puri gets released from jail alongwith several other prisoners detained in the wake of the Quit India Movement. The other protagonist of the novel is his sister Tara who is a woman of principles. At the start of the story, she is a nineteen years old teenager who is proud of her brother who is a freedom-fighter. Things move politically and socially in India, leading to new developments for the brother-sister duo. Tara falls in love with her classmate Asad who is a Muslim whereas Jaidev Puri succumbs to the charm of his student, Kanak whom he gives tuitions for English and who belongs to a well-off and reputed family of a known and respected political figure of Lahore. Tara gets married to a loafer, Somraj against her will and then only she realises that her so-called patriot brother is, in fact, a hypocrite who maintains double standards and is scared to do anything worthwhile for anybody else or for the cause of any principle or ideals. The house of Tara's in-laws is attacked by the Muslim rioteers on her wedding night itself and while fleeing for her life, she has to undergo much trauma before she is rescued from a brothel and carried to Amritsar as a refugee. Jaidev Puri gets stuck in a rioteer attack on a train and circumstances take him to Jalandhar where he happens to meet his political senior in jail, Sood Ji. Thus the brother-sister duo loses its Watan (motherland) which is Lahore but now they are in their Desh (nation) which cannot be Lahore, for it is a part of Pakistan now. Here ends the first part.


The second part shows the transformation of the Indians from the all sacrificing patriots to the people interested in and taking care of their vested interests only. Here comes the change in the principles and ideals of the brother who was, in fact, a pseudo-nationalist and now moves like a fan with the direction of the wind. He proves himself a hypocrite in the eyes of not only his parents but also his sweetheart Kanak also who is now his wife. He becomes a corrupt publisher cum businessman working in association of Sood Ji who is now encashing his so-called sacrifices made for the country prior to its independence. The sister Tara, on the other hand proves that her principles and ideals were not just for the fair weather. She has to bear and foster them for her entire life. First, her parental family gets the news that she got burnt when the rioteers set her in-laws' house to flames but later on her escape and the fact that she is alive, is known to all including Jaidev Puri. She faces all odds and comes across all kinds of people but with her determination, courage and perseverance, she is able to carve a niche for herself in the cruel and the selfish world. She becomes a civil servant by clearing the Indian Civil Services Exam. Having seen a lot of things in her life, she is not ready to marry just anybody. Then Dr. Praan Naath who is now the economic adviser to the Govt. of India and who was her tutor in her Lahore days, comes as a pleasant surprise in her life. Despite the age difference, they decide to get married but Jaidev Puri manages his sister to be charged for bigamy which is a punishable crime for a government servant. In the ending scene, the marrying couple gets exonerated in the enquiry whereas Puri's mentor Sood Ji loses his seat in the general elections in January 1957. The story has several sub-plots and several characters. The historical events as well as the historical characters have been woven in the fictional plot with finesse by the legendary author who has used his own freedom-fighting experience skillfully in authoring the book. The book spells out the riots and the Hindu-Muslim psyche in detail, yet it is nowhere biased. Neither the bashing of any community, nor the undue support to any community's prejudices towards the other. All the characters whether the lead ones or the supporting ones, are completely human. The novel shows that a human-being is a product of the circumstances prevailing at the particular moment or in the particular time. It describes crowd behaviour, the socio-political understanding of the educated Indian masses and the prejudices and stereotypes deep-seated in the psyche of the people of both the religious faiths with utmost sincerity and truthfulness. Dr Ramvilas Sharma, noted critic has praised the contents of this novel. It is classic. It is a good read book for all. I live in Lucknow near the author's house.

[Pep Bonet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best novel about the Partition, Jhoota Sach is a long book that tells the history of Hindustan since the last months of the Raj to the mid-50s. Following the lives of two siblings, a brother and a sister, from Lahore, their misadventures, their difficult escape from Pakistan into Hindustan, their worsening mutual relations, the author gives us a pugnant image of the massacres produced under the Partition, blames all sides of all the barbaric acts, criticises the immorality of Indian politics and depicts a society which is far from being exemplar. He is particularly supportive of women's rights and against arranged marriages. The story is catching, even though very long, almost 1200 pages. Such a long story allows for hundreds of characters, the count of which one can easily lose after a while. But action always comes back to siblings Puri and Tara, as well as their in-laws and a handful of others.
I have always found difficult that Indian books are not easy to reads because of the many specific terms used. While, by now, I already understand quite some of them, I still get lost in names of dressing parts, food or, especially, treatments (bhai, bet, bua, etc.).
It is surprising that a book published by Penguin contains so many typographical problems. It is far from the best edited book that I have read in my life.

[Vijay Gaurav · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Yashpal Book I have ever read and I was pretty impressed. This tells the story of 1940s, but how relevant this novel is to our times!! Every page in it is brutally honest commentary on India's social, political and Moral system. The characters represent the values in everyone's being as writer gives relatable insight in both Men and Women's thought processes in typical Subcontinental society. Lahore very much represents the modern Indian semi-urban cities we still live in. The futility of partition and utter disregard to human life is remarkably indicated. One can have a better understanding of the social aspects of the reason for partition from the first Part. Hypocrisy of Gandhian Values under the circumstances, though subtly pointed out, was the highlight of the Novel for me. recommended reading for any dweller of the Subcontinent.

[Kookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engrossing and harrowing. Well worth the effort and investment.

[Hamood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly more suited to the old reader than today. The book really reads like a soap drama due to its simplicity and vivid imagery.
It contains grotesque details about the treatment of women, hindu-muslim communal tensions and riots. It is a poignant tale about the youth of Lahore and how their lives change after the partition.
More than two-thirds of the real estate in Lahore was owned by non-muslims so Lahore could've went eitherways. Life at Bhola-Pande Gali was never perfect, but it was about to turn into a desolation.
Really interesting characters such as Tara, Asad, Kanak and Puri really made the book worth reading.

[Rizwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing novel. Really like that. Particularly the partition scenarios he created with his writing. little bit disappointed with the ending but must read novel. Neutral opinion of Hindu Muslim disputes in partition.

[Srijita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I'll ever forget this book. It's remarkable.

[A.K. Kulshreshth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of the two-volume Hindi version is here

[Gaurav Bhatnagar]

A good story on partition

This novel is very interesting in describing the period before and immediately after partition. Situation in Lahore and elsewhere has been described with graphic clarity. However, events a few years after partition appear to be rather superficial.