Paradox of Partition (5 Vols-Set)

Contents: Vol. I. Paradox of Partition of India: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Communalism and the Partition of India. 3. Partition of India: a fresh appraisal. 4. Genesis of Partition. 5. Partition: a well-planned imperial design. 6. Borders and boundaries in Partition literature. 7. Punjab, Partition and Pakistan. 8. Social roots of Partition process. 9. Economic irrationality of the Partition of India. 10. The Partition of India. 11. Retrospect. 12. The 1947 Partition of India: a paradigm for pathological politics in Indian and Pakistan. 13. Misreading Partition road signs. 14. Toba Tek Singh. 15. Shattered dreams. 16. C.H. Philips on independence and Partition. 17. Evolution of responsible Government. 18. Timeline leading to partition. 19. Partitions, memories and reconciliation.

Vol. II. Partition A Tragedy and Triumph: Preface. 1. India 1935-47. 2. Federal negotiations in India 1935-9 and after. 3. The Cabinet Mission Plan. 4. Prospects for a United India after the Cessation of British Rule. 5. Mountbatten\'s Counsellor. 6. The role of Lord Mountbatten. 7. The Indian problem. 8. Indian in American eyes. 9. The Congress and the Partition of India. 10. Economic problems and Indian Independence. 11. Gandhi during Partition. 12. Mahatma Gandhi and the Partition of India. 13. Communist Party of India and the Revolution Lost. 14. Impressions, 1938-47. 15. The Partition Debate. 16. Tragedy and triumph: the last days of Mahatma Gandhi. 17. Building bridges.

Vol. III. Partition and Kashmir Imbroglio: Preface. 1. The Raj and the Partition. 2. British Policy and the Indian problem. 3. Jinnah\'s Pakistan Scheme. 4. A Third Force in India 1920-47: a study in political analysis. 5. The development of Muslim League Policy, 1937-47. 6. The Cabinet Mission and its aftermath. 7. Jihad and Imperial responsibility. 8. The Parliamentary Delegation to India. 9. Lord Mountbatten\'s Viceroyalty. 10. Nehru\'s rise to power. 11. The Pakistan Movement. 12. The Muslims and the Hindus. 13. The Partition of the Indo-Pakistan Sub-continent. 14. The Kashmir Imbroglio. 15. Some thoughts on British Policy and the Indian States, 1935-47. 16. Keeping the Peace in India, 1946-7. 17. A historic twilight. 18. At the UN: The Kashmir Imbroglio.

Vol. IV. Partition of India and the British Strategy: Preface. 1. Partition: a historical perspective. 2. The background of the Partition. 3. The British strategy. 4. The making of federation. 5. Jinnah-Linlithgow understanding. 6. Elections to provincial legislatures. 7. The seeds of Partition. 8. Jinnah and his political strategy. 9. The Cabinet Mission. 10. The Dismissal of Lord Wavell: Lord Mountbatten Appointed. 11. Nehru, Congress and the Partition. 12. Wavell the Soldier Viceroy. 13. British Policy towards the Indian States 1940-47. 14. 1937-47 in retrospect. 15. The end of empire. 16. Factors leading to the Partition. 17. Imperialism retreats. 18. Postscript.

Vol. V. The Partition Plan A Destiny\'s Judgement: Preface. 1. Destiny\'s judgement: the Partition Plan. 2. The transfer of power. 3. Bengal in disaster. 4. Devastation of the Punjab. 5. Muslim Politics. 6. The fate of the frontier. 7. The world of princes. 8. Genesis of Partition. 9. The Commonwealth Manoeuvres. 10. Raja of Mahmudabad. 11. Games Leaders Play. 12. The Partition of India in retrospect. 13. Epilogue. Appendices. Chronology, 1935-47.

"Extensive and scholarly research have been conducted by renowned authorities from India and abroad on the subject of Partition of India. The event still remains a paradox. Partition of India was successfully manoeuvred and materialised by Mountbatten while perpetuating the butchery of hundred and thousands of Indians on both sides. Was Jinnah, who accepted the Partition of "Moth Eaten Pakistan" only after Churchill\'s note to him, a creation of British Imperial designs? Who was responsible for partition? How was it carried out? Could the bloodshed be avoided? Could the problem of exchange of population not be settled amicably? Above all, why the partition?

These and similar questions have been argued and debated in a number of seminars, workshops and conferences. Yet we are nowhere near the truth on this subject of vital importance and the confusion has been worst confounded.

The aim of compilation of this series of volumes is: (a) The selection of innovative and important material on the subject; (b) To highlight the new sources brought to light by the scholars; (c) To present new trends in research on the subject; with the object to (i) provoke further research on the subject, and (ii) enable our readers to formulate their own opinion on this subject of great importance.

As history is written not as an essay to win the applause of the moment, but as a passion for all time." (jacket)