Freedom at Midnight

This is an excellent book about nations, states, people, ethnic and religious tensions, and violence versus non-violence. Anyone seeking not only to understand modern India but indeed the post modern post colonial world must read this long and detailed book. The insights reflect the over three years of research and incredible access that the authors had to both primary sources and participants in the process of dissolving Britain's Indian Empire. The book starts with a violent prequel to Britain's decision to leave India. Two events collided--Britain, the exhausted and spent `victor' of World War II could no longer afford the Empire, and India, may of its men having fought and died for liberty elsewhere in the Commonwealth, wanted their own domestic freedom. Events, tensions and bloodshed started to spiral out of control until Churchill was forced to admit "It is with deep grief that I watch the clattering down of the British Empire with all of its glories and services that it has rendered to mankind. Many have defended Britain against her foes, but none can defend her against herself." (p. 53) The challenge for the British, Indian and would be Pakistani leaders and planners was to fix a date and a process that would not be perfect, but would somehow be better than Gandhi's incantation to "leave India to God." Mountbatten and Jinnah--the lead Brit and lead Pakistani--held a series of meetings that were crucial to the carving up of Empire. At the same time Mountbatten had to deal with Nehru and Gandhi on the other side of the equation--a prequel to `shuttle diplomacy' if ever there was one. Despite the fact the most prudent planers wanted no partition, Jinnah--secretly being consumed by a tuberculosis he knew would kill him soon--drove himself and everyone else to achieve the dream of a independent and separate Pakistan. Knowing that you will not long live to inherit the consequences provides a freedom of thought and action that is liberating in the present, but holds dire results for the later generations. (pp 102-111) While everyone was trying not to let the emotions and dogs run loose and wild, more and more ethnic and religious incited violence continued to leave hundred and indeed thousands of dead in wide swaths across India (Kahuta, Peshawar, Punjab, Kashmir). Seeking to calm the tempers and stay the killings, instead the British were left with almost no choice but to draw an almost arbitrary set of map lines that guaranteed the violence would accelerate before it would abate. Mountbatten traveled tirelessly, his perceptive wife at his side, from refugee camps to destroyed towns and burnt bodies--and ever more frantically realized that he had to set a date soon and then drive everyone remorselessly to achieve it as perfect as it could be, not as perfect as it should be. Ironically, it was the Armies--Pakistani, Indian and British--that had to be brought back into to instill discipline and restore some semblance of order, al

I was spellbound by this book and just could not let it go without finishing through. Here is my take: Pros: This book has an excellent and gripping narrative, is exhaustively researched, gives a vivid account of 1947 in India as if one were living in that time and truly worthy of its best seller status. Cons: These are very minor points and I do not know whether they are entirely avoidable in a work of this magnitude. There are a small number of inaccuracies such as Indian names of people, organizations and festivals wrongly spelt, some numbers inaccurate etc. Also, sometimes this book dwells too much on the peculiarities of Hinduism - I am not sure whether this was just an integral part of this literary work and if it was really required in this book. All in all this book is one of the best accounts of the momentous year 1947 in India's history.

The first time I read this book was years ago when I was in Graduate school, and since then I have taken out and read my copy frequently, at times to breeze through a chapter or a reference point, but twice to read it cover to cover all over again. Setting out at the point when (a reluctant) Lord Mountbatten is assigned the task of dismembering the empire from its proudest colonial possession, the book proceeds to delve deep into the principal characters involved in one of the most remarkable events in human history. Through a combination of exquisite prose, meticulous research and skillful narrative, Collins and Lapierre brings to life these men and women, who with their life's work played out an irrevocable part first in the subjugation and subsequently, centuries later, to the liberation of millions in the sub-continent. Portrayed thus in those highly textured and vivid images are the personalities of Mahatma Gandhi, breathtakingly simple in philosophy and excruciatingly complex in what he does; Jawaharlal Nehru, loyalties divided between his affection for the Mahatma and (what he considered) pragmatic solutions for India's problems; Sardar Patel, the man who many consider the "real hero"; Jinnah, unscrupulous and unflinching in his demand for Pakistan; and Mountbatten, flamboyant, savoir-faire, and as the authors would have us believe, ever empathetic towards India. (This last part being driven in at times with a bit too much fervour to the liking of many who look at it from the East's perspective). Added in good measures, in deference to the west's fascination perhaps, are revealing accounts of the Maharajas and their larger than life existences with their elephants and their harems. Significant no of pages are also devoted to the run-up to the Mahatma's assassination, and the people involved in this act. To the authors credit, the book makes no pretences of being a historic commentary on the Indian Freedom Struggle. Those who want to formulate their ideas on the Indian freedom motion are better advised reading other available works on the subject first, and then dig into this book for an entirely new flavour of history telling, which none of the others attempts to. Given this, excessive criticism directed at "Western leanings" in the narrative seems out of context. In conclusion, a gripping work, eminently successful in what it sets out to achieve and a highly recommended read for any interested in the travails of "a fifth of humanity"

I found this book captivating. Since I work with more than 20 Indians and one Pakistani, I was able to discuss the events in the book at length with them. One of my friends' father barely escaped death on one of the trains fleeing Pakistan. He and his brother have bullet wounds to show. The Pakistani's father also narrowly escaped death while leaving India for Pakistan. Two of the Indians decided to read the book with me. All agree that the book is accurate. It was very emotional for me to read of the atrocities and understand the personalities involved. My Indian friends experienced even more intense emotion as the read of the experiences of their parents. One of the other customer reviews stated that the book made Montbatten look too good. My Indian friends disagree. Montbatten was a great man. The book might have underrated him, if anything. The book also shows several sides of Gandi that most Westerners are not exposed to. He is still a great soul, though. This book will change you. At least read the first 100 pages before you make a decision -- it'll draw you in.

Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre have managed to capture one of the most important years (1947) of world history in their book. Freedom at Midnight is possibly one of the most outrageously enthralling works of writing based on real events that I have ever read. This book is an account of the year 1947 in context to the freedom of India from the British Raj. It opens on New Year's Day, 1947, London and takes the reader on a journey of significant events that lead to the independence of India. On the way, the reader is introduced to many brilliant characters who shaped up the history in that part of the world and have since left their mark that is still evident. The decisions made by these people defined the future of millions of people. Freedom at Midnight is an intimate account of the reasoning of these historical figures that lead to the independence and division of India. Why did Prime Minister Clement Atlee who took office dedicated to break the Empire apart choose Louis Mountbatten, a member of the royal family to be the last viceroy of India? Why was he the man to administer India's freedom operation? This book is one of the most intimate accounts of the most venerated figures in the world's history, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi aka Mahatma Gandhi. His approach, position, attitude towards the British Raj, the Indian Congress, the political and social blueprint that he dreamed of the Independent India. And vice-versa. As the book flows like an epic, it gives detailed account of final days of Gandhi and who, why and how of the assassination of this revered leader. The reader is also introduced to Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Mohammad Ali Jinnah.What happened to the Maharajas, the palaces, the tigers, the jewels and the harems? What lead to the demise of fantastic royalty in India? The authors have devoted a whole chapter to recounting the opulence enjoyed by the Maharajas and their magnificent indulgences. How was the line drawn that divided the nation? Who initiated the idea and why was the idea initiated? Collins and Lapierre show poignant picture of the greatest migration in history. The religious division left an estimated 250,000-500,000 people dead. One of the unsolved matter since than that still afflicts both nations (India and Pakistan) and have since lead to three wars, Kashmir, is devoted a whole chapter. The valley that was once described as "heaven on earth" by the last Mogul Emperor of India today is contradicting the emperor's statement in every way possible. This book discloses the history behind the conflict. One of the most appealing qualities in the writing of the authors was their effort into giving some personal accounts into the lives of the common people. I recommend this book to anyone who is a student of world history and precisely history of India. This book takes the reader through the year that lead to the birth of three nations, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.