Prelude to Partition


Book Description

This volume traces the changes in the Muslim League from 1920 to 1932. It does not seek to question the part played by religion in the formation of Pakistan, but concentrates on the formal structure of politics during this period.




Prelude to Partition


Book Description




Partitioning Palestine


Book Description

Partitioning Palestine is the first history of the ideological and political forces that led to the idea of partition—that is, a division of territory and sovereignty—in British mandate Palestine in the first half of the twentieth century. Inverting the spate of narratives that focus on how the idea contributed to, or hindered, the development of future Israeli and Palestinian states, Penny Sinanoglou asks instead what drove and constrained British policymaking around partition, and why partition was simultaneously so appealing to British policymakers yet ultimately proved so difficult for them to enact. Taking a broad view not only of local and regional factors, but also of Palestine’s place in the British empire and its status as a League of Nations mandate, Sinanoglou deftly recasts the story of partition in Palestine as a struggle to maintain imperial control. After all, British partition plans imagined space both for a Zionist state indebted to Britain and for continued British control over key geostrategic assets, depending in large part on the forced movement of Arab populations. With her detailed look at the development of the idea of partition from its origins in the 1920s, Sinanoglou makes a bold contribution to our understanding of the complex interplay between internationalism and imperialism at the end of the British empire and reveals the legacies of British partitionist thinking in the broader history of decolonization in the modern Middle East.




Partitions


Book Description

Studies of partitions have usually focused on individual cases. These innovative volumes use comparative analysis to fill the gap in partition studies.




Being Hindu, Being Indian


Book Description

In popular imagination, Lala Lajpat Rai is frequently associated with Bhagat Singh, who, by assassinating J.P. Saunders, avenged Rai’s death, caused by a police lathi charge, and was hanged for it. Lajpat Rai is also remembered for his fervent opposition to British rule. In recent decades, however, historians have converged with the Hindu Right in rediscovering Lajpat Rai as an ideological ancestor of Hindutva. But what then explains Rai’s wholehearted approval of Congress–Muslim League cooperation, and attempt to endow Hindus and Muslims with bonds of common belonging? Why did he reinterpret India’s medieval history to highlight peaceful coexistence between Hindus and Muslims? Have our hasty conclusions about Lajpat Rai’s nationalist thought concealed its complexities and distorted our understanding of nationalism in general? Meticulously researched and eloquently written, Being Hindu, Being Indian offers the first comprehensive examination of Lajpat Rai’s nationalist thought. By revealing the complexities of Rai’s thinking, it provokes us to think more deeply about broader questions relevant to present-day politics: Are all expressions of ‘Hindu nationalism’ the same as Hindutva? What are the similarities and differences between ‘Hindu’ and ‘Indian’ nationalism? Can communalism and secularism be expressed together? How should we understand fluidity in politics? This book invites readers to treat Lajpat Rai’s ideas as a gateway to think more deeply about history, politics, religious identity and nationhood.




Partitions


Book Description

Partition—the physical division of territory along ethno-religious lines into separate nation-states—is often presented as a successful political "solution" to ethnic conflict. In the twentieth century, at least three new political entities—the Irish Free State, the Dominions (later Republics) of India and Pakistan, and the State of Israel—emerged as results of partition. This volume offers the first collective history of the concept of partition, tracing its emergence in the aftermath of the First World War and locating its genealogy in the politics of twentieth-century empire and decolonization. Making use of the transnational framework of the British Empire, which presided over the three major partitions of the twentieth century, contributors draw out concrete connections among the cases of Ireland, Pakistan, and Israel—the mutual influences, shared personnel, economic justifications, and material interests that propelled the idea of partition forward and resulted in the violent creation of new post-colonial political spaces. In so doing, the volume seeks to move beyond the nationalist frameworks that served in the first instance to promote partition as a natural phenomenon.




The History of India


Book Description

From the ancient civilizations along the banks of the Indus to the vibrant, modern democracy that thrives today, India’s history is a rich saga told through diverse cultures, monumental achievements, and profound spiritual insights. Explore the dawn of Indian civilization, witness the rise and fall of mighty empires, from the Maurya and Gupta dynasties to the majestic Mughal Empire, each leaving an indelible mark on the subcontinent’s cultural and architectural heritage. Discover the confluence of diverse religious traditions and how they shaped the moral and ethical fabric of Indian society. Travel along the Silk Road, where trade and cultural exchanges introduced new ideas and innovations, enriching the Indian civilization. The book also casts a spotlight on the resilience and courage of India’s people in the face of colonialism, culminating in the remarkable story of the struggle for independence. As you turn the pages, you will encounter the complexities and challenges of post-independence India, a nation striving to balance tradition and modernity while emerging as a global powerhouse. This is more than a history book; it is a celebration of India’s enduring spirit and an invitation to understand the forces that have shaped one of the world’s oldest and most influential civilizations. Meticulously researched, this book is an essential read for anyone intrigued by the epic saga of India. Join us on this journey and discover the timeless echoes of India's past that continue to resonate in its present and future.




Bengal Partition Stories


Book Description

Through oral histories, interviews and fictional retellings, 'Bengal Partition Stories' unearths and articulates the collective memories of a people traumatised by the brutal division of their homeland.




Korea


Book Description

A broad history of Korea, with a particular focus on key twentieth-century events. Particular attention is given to the dispute over North Korea's controversial nuclear development programme. This issue is profiled in the context of the post-Soviet world, and against such crucial modern events as the Japanese colonization of the Korean peninsula, the US partition, the resulting Korean War, and the subsequent development of North and South. The detailed information both supports a succinct history and encourages an interpretation that transcends Western propaganda.




Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence


Book Description

The issues concerning the Partition of India in 1947 have long been debated both by Indian and Pakistani historians, but now a leader directly responsible for the Defence and Foreign Affairs of India has come forward with a historical appraisal that helps both countries come to a better understanding of the contentions between them. Jaswant Singh has not written a hagiography of Jinnah, but focused on him as a key figure in the final deliberations preceding Independence.