India is all set to celebrate its 75th Independence day. The government has organized multiple events under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The initiative is dedicated to people who have contributed to the evolutionary journey.
With this very special day in sight, Let us look at the books that will enlighten you about India's struggle for freedom. Every Indian should read these books to find out more about our country.
1. An Era of Darkness – Shashi Tharoor [2016]
Shashi Tharoor received the 2019 Sahitya Akademi Prize for his book – "An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India."This book corrects many misconceptions about this period. Shashi Tharoor talks about all the harm done under British rule. Tharoor makes this book worth a read with his gifted writing, well-summarised ideas, and sharp debating style.
2. India Wins Freedom – Abdul Kalam Azad
This book tells the story of partition like never before. It is an autobiographical narrative that traces the events that led to partition. The book also highlights the mindsets of key figures such as Nehru, Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose. For its controversial take, the book was sealed and was released to the public after almost 30 years.
3. Freedom at Midnight – Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre (1975)
Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre is about events around the independence movement and partition. It gives details of the last year of the British Raj in India.
The book starts with Lord Mountbatten of Burma as the last viceroy and ends with the funeral of Mahatma Gandhi. The narrative style immerses readers in the visual landscape of the fall of the British Raj.
4. A Republic In The Making – By Gyanesh Kudaisya
This book gives a view of the challenges faced by the country in the early years after independence. It gives an account of the hopes, aspirations, and dilemmas of political leadership. This book provides a view of the challenges faced by the country in the early years after independence.
5. Makers of Modern India – Ramachandra Guha (2012)
The book written by Ramachandra Guha was published in November 2012. It gives a biographical sketch of key figures such as Ram Mohan Roy, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Tarabai Shinde, Mahatma Gandhi, Jayaprakash Narayan, C. Rajagopalachari, Verrier Elwin, Periyar, Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, B. R. Ambedkar, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, M. S. Golwalkar, Rammanohar Lohia, and Hamid Dalwai.
It is a detailed source of information about India's political traditions from the freedom movement to the following years of Independent India.
6. India: A Portrait – Patrick French (1912)
The book follows how India has evolved from its turbulent past. Written by Patrick French, there is a detailed character sketch of various Indian individuals, which makes it an impressive study of India since independence.
The author has skillfully organized this complex material. The narrative starts with a painful separation in 1947.
7. India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra (2016)
The book provides an in-depth and detailed overview of the Independence movement. It is a well-documented history of the strugle against British rule.
Written after thorough research, it helps you understand the chronology of events. The book details history from 1857 until the period after independence.
8. Jallianwala Bagh, 1919: The Real Story – Kishwar Desai (2018)
It has been over 100 years since the brutual massacre at Jallianwala Bagh, but memories of the shocking incident are still in people's minds. Kishwar Desai documents little-known facts before and after the massacre.
This day marks the rise of India as an Independent nation and the end of British rule. Here are the various books that give you an insight into the journey. Read these books to remind yourself of the sacrifices and contributions of freedom fighters.
