1947: A Memoir of Indian IndependenceIndia gained independence from the British Raj in 1947 but the country had to be divided into India and Pakistan, a divide which resulted in unspeakable violence with the death of close to two million people. The author of this book was then ten-year- old. His father was a doctor in a small town in Punjab which was the epicenter of the religious violence. Caught on the wrong side of the dividing line between India and Pakistan, Zahir's family tried to leave by train for Pakistan. The train was ambushed and almost all the Muslims were killed on the spot. Miraculously, a young Hindu put his life in grave danger to save most of Zahir's immediate family. Zahir, a Rhodes Scholar and now a retired doctor living in Canada, remembers the events which happened over sixty years ago. He describes how an ancient multicultural society was utterly destroyed within a few months due to the machinations of its leaders. Zahir writes with incredible impartiality. You may not enjoy this unique book but you will never regret reading it. |
What people are saying - Write a review
Outstanding memoir of harrowing events of 1947 when India was partitioned in to India and Pakistan. The associated bloodshed led to death of over a million civilans. This meticulously rememberd memoir is written forom the point of view of a ten year old boy who saw it all. Numbing and sobering. Extremely well-written by one who subsequently became a physician and a Rhodes Scholar. Utterly impartial. Please read it. .
Other editions - View all
Bibliographic information
| Title | 1947: A Memoir of Indian Independence |
| Author | M. Zahir |
| Publisher | Trafford Publishing, 2009 |
| ISBN | 142698278X, 9781426982781 |
| Subjects | › › Biography & Autobiography / General History / Asia / India & South Asia History / General Political Science / World / Asian |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |