Empire in retreat : the story of India's partition / Rabia Umar Ali.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ali, Rabia Umar.

Contributor:

Dr. Craig Baxter Memorial Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

India--History--Partition, 1947.

India.

History.

India--Politics and government--20th century.

Politics and government.

Pakistan--History.

Pakistan.

Physical Description:

xii, 190 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2012.

Summary:

Empire in Retreat: The Story of India's Partition

The Indian subcontinent of 1947 became the burial place of the British Raj. The struggle for freedom and independence had culminated in the creation of two new and sovereign states, India and Pakistan. But the dawn of liberty brought with it a human tragedy of colossal magnitude of which contemporary history has no parallel. The violence, mass migrations, rape, arson and killings that accompanied partition, all spoke of the stupendous price that was paid by millions to drive the British out and attain the choice of self rule.

The hasty British departure wrecked the partition of India and made a farce of planning for one of the most significant developments of the twentieth century. It was by no means given the priority and attention that such an enormous event deserved. Moreover, the imperial inclination towards the Indian National Congress in all matters of planning, consultation, decision making and implementation do not speak of a fair and neutral arbitration of Indian destiny. The 'swing speed' with which the plan was put together, the unbridled haste with which the day of freedom was announced, the unpardonable rush in which a land of millions was dissected, the hurried retreat that betrayed a dying Raj and the injudicious distribution of the goods, resources and assets of the subcontinent all contributed to a huge disaster.

The results of such a planning failure were carnage, disruption and a complete break-down of law and order, as was manifest in the final implementation. The gloom and sorrow that sullied the down of independence could not destroy the will and hope of the national freed from long bondage, yet it helped little in embarking upon an auspicious new journey of sovereign existence. The 'Plan', inherently flawed both in making and content, which was so proudly carved out by the 'best surgeons of India', carried within it the seeds of protracted conflict and violent friction. The legacy of mutual hate and distrust thus initiated between the two states became the burden of a forced baggage that has made the peace and prosperity of the region a lost dream. And the blame rests mainly on the departing authorities, for which there is possibly no redemption. Book jacket.

Contents:

Introduction

British approach to Partition : the reluctant concession

Evolution of the Partition Plan : the hurried scuttle

Radcliffe Award and its dictates : the scalpel at work

Implementation : the final pandemonium

Conclusion

Appendices: Indian Policy, Prime Minister Clement Attlee's statement of 20 February 1947

The 3 June plan

Radcliffe Award.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [175]-185) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Dr. Craig Baxter Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

9780199066087

0199066086

OCLC:

806438250

Publisher Number:

99950670015