The Great Divide : Muslim Separatism and Partition

Contents: Preface. 1. The great divide. 2. British bias. 3. Opting out of struggle. 4. From concept to reality. 5. Partition. 6. And its Agony. 7. Pakistan Divided. 8. Secularism in action. 9. Leaders and the led. 10. An "Islamic" Frankenstein. 11. Unrequited love. Appendices: Index.

"The Great Divide: Muslim Separatism and Partition takes a fresh look at the perennial problem of the divide between the Hindus and Muslims and the partition of India it led to. Historical reasons have been analysed in the study in considerable depth and conclusions have been drawn.

"It debunks the efforts made by some apologists of Jinnah to shift the blame for partition on to others\' shoulders and delineates the growth of separatism from the earliest times. How the separatism assisted the dark forces which led to the partition of the country is dealt with in some detail. That India has been able to salvage its unity despite the partition and the threat to it have been examined with candour.

"The doctrine of two nations led to the creation and division of Pakistan and the inevitable division of the Muslims of the sub-continent into three nations. Historical forces which helped in the creation of a separate nation have been studied. The lesson of not sweeping under the carpet the threat while looking at the bright side of the picture is driven home." (jacket)

[S.C. Bhatts books include Scholar-Statesman Shanker Dayal Sharma : A Biography, Satellite Invasion of India and Broadcast Journalism: Basic Principles.]