The 1947 partition of British India created two new countries: Pakistan and independent India. This event had severe consequences, culturally, socially, politically, as well as economically. It displaced about two crore people, of which around two to ten lakh people lost their lives. Several books have since been written that attempt to articulate the impact of partition on human lives. Here are a few such must-read books for anyone wanting to gain an understanding of the devastating effect of the partition. 

Train to Pakistan 

Train to Pakistan is one of the most well-known books to have been published on the partition. It was released in 1956, only nine years after the tragic events that took place due to the partition. As someone who, along with his family, had to leave his home in Lahore, Khushwant Singh is not alien to the grief and suffering that the time brought on. In the book, he does not mince words and holds everyone, whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Indian or Pakistani, responsible for the violence and carnage that unfolded. The principal setting of the book is a village called Mano Majra, a village in Punjab that happened to fall on the Indian side of the border. At the beginning of the book, Sikhs and Muslims live together peacefully, unaffected by the growing violence around them. However, as the novel progresses, a first-hand look at the violence in the form of a ghost train carrying dead bodies of people travelling from West Punjab to India begins to poison the minds of those in the village. Outsiders, who begin to live there, view the local Muslims with anger and create suspicions against them. These events change the peaceful atmosphere of Mano Majra and threaten to fill it with bloodshed. The novel looks at the effects of violence on ordinary people and how they respond to it and leaves the readers with feelings of despair, anger, doubt, and grief.  

Victory Colony, 1950 

In this fictional book, author Bhaswati Ghosh tries to recreate the events following the partition of Bengal and examines the lives of refugees who had to deal with the traumas of violence, of leaving their land, and of setting up a home in a place that did not necessarily welcome them. The story is about Amala, a young girl who, along with her brother, survives the violence that kills the rest of her family and flees to Calcutta. However, she loses her brother at the railway station. In this state, she meets some volunteers at a refugee camp, and among them another main character, Manas Dutta. They take her to the camp, where she has to learn how to live and sustain herself in the city. She and the other refugees deal with the frustrations resulting from the apathy of authorities who do not do much to help them. These feelings of frustration give rise to some residents taking over a vacant piece of land which they name Bijoy Nagar or Victory Colony and begin living there. In the book, the author also covers the cultural differences between the east and west Bengals and talks about how food and the recipes they brought with them connect them to their homeland. As indicated by the title, the book showcases the resilience of the refugees who continue to work hard and live their lives despite the many challenges they face. 

Borders and Boundaries 

In this 1998 non-fiction book by Ritu Menon and Kamla Bhasin, the authors explore women’s stories during the event and how they reacted, were affected, and were changed by them. Early partition history and literature only speak about women’s experiences in the context of honour and as bodies who had to suffer violence. While modern partition literature has moved beyond this, Ritu Menon and Kamla Bhasin were among the earliest voices to not look at these women as passive victims of the partition but as people who had things to say about the lives they have lived. The book also looks at the role of women in helping other women escape from captors, placing them in camps, and their attempts at rehabilitating them. The book presents the stories of the women in their voices, in the form of transcripts of interviews, and weaves them along with data, facts, and other historical documents.  

Remnants of Partition: 21 Objects from a Continent Divided 

Aanchal Malhotra, the writer, is an oral historian and co-founder of the Museum of Material Memory (an online space that captures the shared material culture of the Indian subcontinent). In her book, she looks at 21 objects across India and Pakistan, each with its own stories. The owners of these objects, or their family members, narrate the stories. A few things mentioned in the book are letters, jewellery, photographs, utensils, and so on. In the stories, we see glimpses and reflections of lost homes, of a time in the past when the cities of their childhoods were still their own, of old tears and old wounds. Malhotra was inspired by her own family’s history of migration from Lahore to Delhi and the objects they had brought with them: a vessel used by her great-grandmother to churn milk and a yardstick used in her great-grandfather’s clothing store. These objects brought about conservations and stories about their lives in Lahore, something that wasn’t frequently mentioned. This inspired her to look for objects and their histories which eventually led to this book. On reading the book, readers will be sure to identify a sense of shared culture and mutual loss that resides on both sides of the border. 

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–By Srinidhi Murthy

Sunil Gangopadhyay – Kakababu 

Born on 7 September 1934, Sunil Gangopadhyay was an Indian novelist and poet. He often wrote the pseudonyms Nil Lohit, Sanathan Pathak and Nil Upadhayay. The author of many short stories, novels, poems and plays, Sunil Gangopadhyay was born in Faridpur, Bengal Presidency (now in Bangladesh). He obtained his Master’s degree in Bengali from the University of Calcutta. Gangopadhyay is widely known as the author of 36 detective stories in the popular Kakababu series, where his fictional character Kakababu alias Raja Roy Chowdhury solves mysteries. Sunil Gangopadhyay wrote the Kakababu series mainly for children and teenagers. In 1979, the author wrote the first story of Kakababu titled Bhoyonkor Sundar (Fiercely Beautiful) for the Durga Puja edition in Anandamela, a magazine for children. Since then, Kakababu has attained legendary stature in Indian children’s literature. The series continued to be in demand for the next 33 years until the death of Gangopadhyay in 2012.  

Samaresh Basu – Gogol 

Samaresh Basu was born on 11 December 1924 in Bikrampur, Bengal Presidency, British India. Basu wrote his first Bengali novel titled Nayanpurer Mati (Soil of Nayanpur) at the age of 21. Since then, Samaresh Basu wrote more than 100 novels and 200 short stories in the Bengali language under the pseudonyms Kalkut and Bhromor. His most famous creation was his fictional teenage detective, Gogol. Gogol stories were targeted towards children and most of them were published in children’s magazines like Shuktara, Anandamela, etc. Many of Samaresh Basu’s novels were also adapted into movies. Some of them include Nirjan Saikate (1963), Nater Guru (2003), Bibar (2006), Goyenda Gogol (2013), and Honeymoon (2018). He won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel, Shamba. Basu breathed his last on 12 March 1988, at the age of 63. 

Kalpana Swaminathan – Lalli 

Born in 1956, Kalpana Swaminathan is an Indian writer and surgeon from Mumbai. She co-authors some of her works with fellow surgeon-writer Ishrat Syed as Kalpish Ratna. Swaminathan is known for creating the popular female detective character Lalli. Lalli, a retiree from Mumbai police, is in her 60s but has a youthful enthusiasm. Swaminathan portrays Lalli as an observant detective who solves crimes and mysteries using her deductive skills and is often accompanied by her niece Sita, on her adventures. The author writes her characters to relate with her readers and takes a nuanced approach to represent human relationships and psychology in her Lalli series. Swaminathan is also the winner of the 2009 Vodafone Crossword Book Award for her novel Venus Crossing: Twelve Stories of Transit. 

Devan – Thuppariyum Sambu

Mahadevan alias Devan was an Indian author who wrote his novels in Tamil. Devan was born in 1913 at Thiruvidaimarudur in Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu. Inspired by authors like PG Wodehouse, Devan used a humorous writing style in most of his stories. Devan was the managing editor of the popular Tamil magazine, Ananda Vikatan, where he worked for 24 years. During his lifetime, Devan wrote 31 books in a plethora of genres including novels, short stories, comics, thrillers and historical fiction. He also wrote under various pseudonyms like Arem, Dasarathi, and Samabadhi. One of the popular creations of Devan is his amateur fictional detective Sambu in the novel Thuppariyum Sambu (Sambu Who Reads Clues). Sambu solves mysteries purely out of serendipity but is always seen as an intelligent detective by the police department. The short story series of Sambu is popular for its distinctive humour and was made into a television series in the late 1980s.

Hemendra Kumar Roy – Jayanta and Manik 

Born on 2 September 1888, Hemendra Kumar Roy was a Bengali writer. He was known for his contribution to the development of the genre of children’s literature in the Bengali language. Roy captured the attention of the young readers with his detective stories. He created the popular detective duo, Jayanta, and his assistant, Manik. Roy wrote around 30 stories about this private detective duo of Kolkata, who take the help of science to solve their cases. His stories introduced young readers to a world of adventure and mysteries and showed the importance of using courage with intellect and integrity. Roy wrote around 80 books for children and numerous novels, short stories, and essays for adults. He also wrote stories about another duo, Bimal and Kumar. 

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Rabindranath Tagore is considered one of the pioneers of the Bengal Renaissance, which took place during the 19th century. He has given Indian literature numerous unforgettable characters, a lot of whom were women. Tagore’s heroines were complex and fierce while also being flawed and vulnerable. They fought for equal status in society and refused to bow down to the expectations of society in a way that was rare for the time. Read on to learn more about some of Tagore’s most compelling heroines. 

Mrinal from Strir Patra (A Wife’s Letter)

Set in the late 19th century, Strir Patra is the story of Mrinal, a woman married into a zamindar household. Mrinal is depicted as an intelligent and observant woman who feels stuck in mundane, domestic life after marriage. Her intelligence is seen as a disadvantage and her beauty seems to be the only thing society values. As the story progresses, she is introduced to Bindu, the widowed cousin of Mrinal’s sister-in-law.  Bindu’s plight makes Mrinal even more aware of the patriarchal and oppressive nature of her in-laws. After Bindu commits suicide, Mrinal becomes completely disillusioned with the idea of family and marriage. In her letter to her husband, she explains her decision to leave him, in order to finally find her freedom. 

Kalyani from Aparichita (The Unknown Woman)

Kalyani is the protagonist of Tagore’s story, Aparichita. In the tale, Kalyani is set to marry Anupam, but her father breaks off the match on the wedding day due to demands of dowry from the groom’s uncle. After a few years, a guilt-ridden Anupam proposes marriage to Kalyani again.  However, the independent protagonist rejects his proposal and tells him about the new direction her life has taken. Instead of letting her cancelled marriage be an impediment, Kalyani ventures into the world to find her purpose and identity. She dedicates her life to educating underprivileged women and helping them lead a life of dignity.  Through Kalyani, Tagore shows a woman choosing to find meaning outside of marriage without letting patriarchal traditions dictate her significance in society.

Giribala from Maanbhanjan (Fury Appeased)

Giribala, the protagonist of Maanbhanjan, is married to a wealthy zamindar. However, unknown to her, her husband falls in love with a theatre actress and plans to leave Giribala for her. While spying on her husband, Giribala is introduced to the world of theatre and finds herself fascinated with the art.  After her husband leaves her, the heroine decides to emerge stronger than before. She reinvents herself and pursues a successful career as a theatre actress. Through Giribala’s story, Tagore highlights how women can find success in their chosen fields too. The protagonist is special since she does not choose to become an actress to regain the love of her husband. Rather, she does so for her own love for theatre. 

Mrinmoyee from Samapti (The Conclusion)

In Sampati, the protagonist is a young, fun-loving woman, Mrinmoyee, who enjoys her freedom. However, everything changes for her when she is married off to a wealthy and educated gentleman, who falls in love with her strong, unique personality. However, on the day of the wedding, Mrinmoyee questions her husband. She confronts him about her lack of choice in the decision to get married and thus refuses to reciprocate his feelings. Over the course of the story, she slowly begins to accept her husband and return his affection, but by her own choice, taking her own time. Through Mrinmoyee’s story, Tagore alludes to women being made voiceless and not having any say even in their own life choices. 

Kamala from  Musalmanir Golpo (The Story of a Muslim Girl)

In a short story set in the 19th century, Tagore introduces us to Kamala, an orphaned girl raised by her uncle and aunt, who resent her as a burden. Soon, Kamala’s marriage is arranged with the son of a wealthy man. However, their wedding procession is attacked by robbers. To her surprise, her fiancé and other relatives all flee, leaving her at the mercy of the attackers. She is rescued by Habir Khan, a respected Muslim gentleman, who takes Kamala to her house. When her aunt and uncle refuse to take her back, Kamala ends up staying with Habir Khan. She finds a better life, full of respect, at her new home, where she has the freedom to practice her own religion and make choices for herself. When the robbers attack Kamala’s cousin Sarala, she is no longer afraid. She saves her cousin with help from Habir Khan, and delivers her safely to her house. Through the story, we see the evolution of Kamala and the effect freedom and respect has on her personality.

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Poetry is one of the oldest forms of literature and has a rich oral and written history. Indian poetry, in particular, can be dated back to the Vedic times with Sanskrit poems crafted around more than 3000 years ago. Here is the list of must-read poetry books written by talented poets who marked their unique influences on Indian poetry in modern times.

Madhushala – Harivansh Rai Bachchan (1935)

Madhushala (The House of Wine) is a famous Hindi poetry book that has 135 quatrains (i.e. a poem consisting of four lines), written by poet and writer Harivansh Rai Bachchan. The publication of this book in 1935, gave instant fame to the poet. One of the unique features of this poetry collection is that the poet ends every quatrain with the word Madhushala. In this book, Harivansh Rai Bachchan tries to explain the complexities of life with the four instruments i.e. Madhu (wine), Saaki (server), Pyaala (cup) and Madhushala. With some of his metaphorical lines, the poet also explains that the reader is the wine and he (the poet) is the cup. By filling the cup, the reader will become an alcoholic. Hence, the author concludes with this metaphor that Madhushala is incomplete without both the poet and reader. Due to its popularity, the original Hindi version has been translated into English, Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi. The book is one of the first pieces of Hindi poetry that has been set to music with its CDs and cassettes. The poem also has been choreographed for stage performances.

Kamayani by Jaishankar Prasad (1936)

Kamayani, written in Hindi by Jaishankar Prasad, was published in 1936. Born in January 1889, Jaishankar Prasad was a novelist, poet, and playwright. In Kamayani, the poet sheds light upon the Vedic story of Manu and Shraddha, the first man and woman to survive the Pralaya (deluge) that was meant to end the world. Due to the incredible writing style of the poet, Kamayani emerges as an amalgamation of history and imagination for the reader. The book also explores the interplay of human emotions, actions, and thoughts with the help of mythological metaphors. There are fifteen sargas (cantos) mentioned in Kamayani namely faith, worry, hope, joy, lust, intellect, joy, struggle, philosophy, mystery, logic, shame, jealousy, action, and renunciation. The epic poem is considered one of the greatest Hindi literary works written in modern times. 

Magadh – Shrikant Verma (1984)

Magadh, a poem written in Hindi by Shrikant Verma, was published in 1984. Considered as the crowning achievement of the poet’s life, Magadh has been established as one of the important works of Indian poetry in the late 20th century. The book consists of 56 poems written in 1979 and 1984. The poems in Magadha emerge as a reminder of the past that encounters the present and also provides the reader with a glimpse of the future. The poet Shrikant Verma presented a different style of writing in Magadh which connects the present to the history of the various historical and mythical cities. The tone of the poem is remarkably confessional and changes from nostalgic to ironic to sorrowful. Shrikant Verma was presented with the Sahitya Akademi Award posthumously for Magadh in 1987.

The Collected Poems of A.K Ramanujan – A.K.Ramanujan (1995)

A.K. Ramanujan was one of the finest English-language poets of modern India. The Collected Poems of A.K. Ramanujan was published posthumously in 1995 after the demise of the author. The book consists of the three volumes of poems published during the lifetime of the poet and also includes the fourth volume which was left unpublished at the time of his death. Some of the famous poems of A.K. Ramanujan, such as The Striders, A River, Still life, Extended Family, and Astronomer are added to the poetry collection of this book. The poems published in this book reflect the lifelong interest of the poet in structuralism, anthropology, folklore, and biculturalism.

Mera Kuch Samaan: My Poetry Collection – Gulzar (2014)

Mera Kuch Samaan: My Poetry Collection was published in English on 1 August, 2004. The book contains the selected poems of the Indian lyricist and poet, Gulzar. The book is a collection of four volumes which includes the original Hindi poems with their translated English verses. The three-hundred-page book also includes the collection of poems known as the Green Poems, which celebrates the poet’s innate connection with nature, along with the lesser-known poems hand-picked by him. The book also features hundred memorable lyrics of Gulzar along with the beautiful illustrations by the poet himself.

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Most of our history talks about valiant kings and wise rulers, but very little is known of their other halves. The royal women lived highly guarded lives, always surrounded by maidens and living behind curtains, becoming voiceless in the larger narrative of Indian history. However, after years, curiosity got the best of our minds and many accounts, both fictional and factual, were written about these elusive yet powerful women. Here are some of our favourite books about Indian queens:

A Princess Remembers: The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur by Gayatri Devi and Santha Rama Rau

Gayatri Devi was the daughter of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar, who went on to become the Rajmata of Jaipur. The memoir gives us a peek into the life of a royal who witnessed the change in status of royalty in India, as the autonomy was stripped away from them when India became a democracy. The autobiography takes us through the opulence and grandeur of the queen’s life as a princess, and then as the third queen of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The narration is interspersed with anecdotes, introspections and descriptions of the unspoken rules that India’s royalty lived by. 

Taj Mahal Trilogy by Indu Sundaresan

The Taj Mahal Trilogy comprises three books – The Twentieth Wife, The Feast of Roses and Shadow Princess. The first book chronicles the life of Mehrunnisa, the daughter of a nobleman, who goes on to become the twentieth, yet most remembered, wife of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The second book deals with her life as an empress and the brewing romance between her husband’s son Khurram and her niece Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The third book delves into the life of Princess Jahanara Begum, who, at 16, is deemed empress by her father Shah Jahan after the death of his wife. The trilogy is full of details about the oft-unknown history of the Mughal queens and what went on behind the veil that hid them from the rest of the world.

The Queen of Jhansi by Mahasweta Devi

As one of the most iconic leaders in the Indian War of Independence, and perhaps the most well-known queen in India, there are a lot of books about Rani Lakshmibai. Veteran writer Mahasweta Devi’s take on this brave queen’s life is deeply personal and multi-faceted. The book reveals many sides of Lakshmibai – the child, the wife, the queen, the warrior and the mother. Mahasweta Devi’s approach towards the same history from the eyes of the brave queen, gives it a unique perspective and makes it a must-read.

Queen of Ice by Devika Rangachari

Queen of Ice is a slightly fictional retelling of the story of Queen Didda of Kashmir. Born as the princess of Lohara, the Rajatarangini refers to her as ‘Charanahina’, meaning lacking a foot – lame. Both the author’s voice and the character are refreshing, for Didda is one of the rare Indian queens who are known for their ruthlessness and political acumen, rather than their beauty or grace. The book weaves through the personal and political seamlessly, to tell the story of the queen whose identity is often reduced to that of being a tyrant and nothing more.

The Ivory Throne by Manu S. Pillai

The Ivory Throne is a well-researched historical work by Manu S. Pillai. While it largely gives an overview of the Royal House of Travancore, starting from the arrival of the Portuguese in Kerala, the book mainly deals with the life of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, the senior Maharani of Travancore. The book meticulously records everything from the queen’s regency, political reforms and the conflicts between the Maharani and her sister Sethu Parvathi Bayi, the Junior Maharani, which eventually leads to the struggle for power between the two. The book is a riveting read, rich in historical detail as well as royal secrets.

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The science fiction genre is evidence of the infinite potential of the human imagination. The unique human ability to weave ideas and stories around things that we have never seen, touched or smelled is reflected in this genre. It is a genre of speculative fiction, containing imagined elements absent from our world, and often encompasses stories that revolve around otherworldly elements such as space and time travel, galactic exploration, extraterrestrial life forms, parallel universes, technological and scientific developments and their subsequent consequences. Thus, science fiction, or sci-fi as it is popularly called, is rightfully cited as the literature of ideas.

While the genre has still not been explored thoroughly in India, we still have many sci-fi gems to offer. Here are some of the most popular Indian science fiction books.

Sultana’s Dream by Begum Rokeya

Sultana’s Dream is about a woman that is transported into Ladyland, where being a woman is to be privileged and free and to be a man is to shut in and shackled. It is a piece of parallel universe science fiction literature, written by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain in 1905. The story follows the protagonist as she wakes up in Ladyland and is slowly introduced to its lore and laws. This story was revolutionary for its time and reveals the logical fallacies in the arguments supporting the way of the patriarchy in a witty and humorous manner. It peels back the patriarchy’s veneer of disliking anything ‘frivolous’, that only barely hides its actual disdain for everything ‘feminine’. Rokeya explores the condition of Indian womanhood by juxtaposing it with the liberated life the women of Ladyland live. Sultana’s Dream may justly be considered regressive by today’s standards of feminism, however, it is important we acknowledge that it was conceived during a time when feminism was in its beginning stages and women weren’t given even a fraction of the rights as they are today.

The Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh

The Calcutta Chromosome is a medical science fiction thriller written by Amitav Ghosh, in 1995 and received the Arthur C. Clarke award. Ghosh brilliantly braids the characters within each other’s lives as we follow each of them through a mix of different timelines, making the plot incredibly complex and intricate. We, as readers, follow the enigmatic L. Murugan on his search for the ‘Calcutta Chromosome’. His deep fascination with the Nobel Prize–winning scientist, Ronald Ross, who found out that malaria is spread through mosquitoes allows him to unearth an underground movement that has the potential to grant eternal life. The Calcutta Chromosome’s various twists and turns ensure a captivating and thrilling reading experience. 

The Simoqin Prophecies by Samit Basu

The Simoqin Prophecies is the first novel in the GameWorld trilogy, it is followed by The Manticore’s Secret and The Unwaba Revelations. The story revolves around the realization of two prophecies, the first one foretelling the rise of great rakshas ‘Dahn Gem’ and the subsequent prophecy that comes as a beacon of hope that reveals a hero would arise to defeat Dahn Gem. The story follows the hero as he is faced with a moral dilemma, where he must commit terrible acts in order to save the world from the rakshas. 

It is written by Samit Basu and was published in 2004. It is a kaleidoscopic mix of eastern and western mythical elements beautifully blended to create an enthralling universe that enchants the readers and makes them invested in the series. 

Oftentimes, the genre is reduced to a means for escapism rather than being the effective social tool it has proven to be over the years. Pioneering authors of this genre have used it as protest literature, usually in the form of dystopian world stories. These stories highlight the pressing issues of our time that are slowly turning into the norm and turn our attention to the problems we have the privilege to divert our gaze from in order to retain our comfort. Science Fiction or Sci-Fi, through the efforts of authors like Begum Rokeya, Amitav Ghosh and Samit Basu, continue to inspire our ‘sense of wonder’ and provide us with much-needed glimpses into dystopian futures that could become reality.

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We keep hearing more and more alarming news about climate change and its impact on our environment. There are some authors out there who have made it a point to use their works as a medium for change. Here is a list of five must-read titles for budding eco-warriors! 

Trash: On Ragpicker Children and Recycling

Based on the real-life experiences of street children in Chennai, Trash is a unique combination of fiction and facts. The story revolves around Velu, a runaway village child, who ends up as a ragpicker in a big city. While he makes ends meet, he must also face the harsh realities of life on the streets. ‘Trash’ breaks down complex issues such as child labour and rag-picking into much simpler terms and gets its readers to question their everyday habits and understand that which is invisible, collateral damage to their waste. The story is accompanied by facts and arguments, interlinking complex issues that collectively hamper society’s growth.

The book is written by Gita Wolf, Anushka Ravishankar, and Orijit Sen. It evolved from a series of workshops they conducted with ragpicker children. 

The Hungry Tide

Written by Amitav Ghosh, the story of ‘The Hungry Tide’ is based in the Bay of Bengal that is home to the Sundarbans, a collection of tiny islands linked by rivers. For settlers there, life is extremely precarious. Attacks by deadly tigers and other animals are fairly common. Unrest and eviction from home are constant threats. Tidal floods tend to rise and surge over the land without any prior warning. This water only brings with it utmost disaster and devastation.

The novel is narrated from two different perspectives; First from Piya’s perspective who is an American scientist researching river dolphins, and second from Kanai’s perspective who is a New Delhi translator on a trip to see his aunt. The Marichjhapi massacre of 1978-79 forms a backdrop for some parts of the novel, which explores topics like environmentalism and humanism, especially when they come into a conflict of interest with each other.

No Room for a Leopard

Narrated by the master storyteller himself, Ruskin Bond; ‘No Room for a Leopard’ first appeared in ‘A Bond with the Mountains’ in 1998. The story is about a group of hunters who set out to kill a very trusting leopard. Leopard skins are a rare artefact that sells for an exorbitant amount of money and hence is illegally traded due to the ban on its export. Due to such unscrupulous acts, the leopard, like many other members of the cat family, is nearing extinction in India. While the story is engaging, it also helps to understand the norms of the society in which we live, with many life lessons skillfully woven into the plot.

The Six Spellmakers of Dorabji Street

‘The Six Spellmakers of Dorabji Street’ by Shabnam Minwalla is set in a lazy gully in Mumbai. The story revolves around a young girl, Nivi, who moves to the gully with her family and soon befriends other children. Their favourite pastime is sitting in a large bimbli tree and watching the neighbors’ comings and goings. However, conflict arises when an individual from the neighbourhood declares that the children under the tree are troublesome and starts a campaign to chop it down. Now it’s up to Nivi and her friends to save their beloved tree. The book is a perfect mixture of entertainment and moral messaging. Magic can happen anywhere is perhaps the biggest takeaway of this story. Svabhu Kolhi’s black and white illustrations magnify the magical aspects of the story.

A Cloud Called Bhura

Written by Bijal Vaccharajani, ‘A Cloud Called Bhura’ explores climate change and the havoc it can create, as well as themes like friendship, trust, and community. The story is about four youngsters who are on a journey to decode a deadly cloud called Bhura that has apparently taken over Mumbai’s skyline. Bhura Cloudus, as the media calls it, contains noxious gases, causes scalding acid rain, makes birds flee the city, and suffocates every living thing in its path. It’s now up to the tweens to solve the problem of this gloomy cumulus nimbus! The book is filled with beautiful illustrations and the situations and characters are very relatable

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Celebrated for her indomitable courage, Chenamma, the queen of Kittur, was a warrior who valiantly fought against the British East India Company. In the first round of battle against the British, the Rani of Kittur put up such a tough fight that the British faced a tremendous defeat, with many of their soldiers being captured as hostages. In order to get their hostages freed, they agreed to all the terms put forth by Chenamma. However, the British saw their defeat as abject humiliation, especially the fact that their opponent was a woman, that too from a small village. They did all they could to subjugate the Kittur queen, including bribing two of her soldiers, eventually launching a surprise attack to regain their lost power. 

Written by Rajalakshmi Raghavan and illustrated by H.S. Chavan and Dilip Kadam, this Amar Chitra Katha title beautifully weaves through the story of Chenamma

During the reign of Maharaja Balarama Varma, his appointed Diwan was a money-grubbing sort who placed unfair taxes on the people and harassed them. However, his power was such that even the young king could do nothing but watch on helplessly. It was against this setting that the fierce rebel, Velu Thampi, took charge of the situation, overthrowing the corrupt Diwan. Pleased with his action, the king appointed Velu as the new Diwan of Travancore (now a part of Kerala). While the people of the kingdom were duly pleased by this decision, major trouble was yet to come from the British East India Company, who came to rue the day they made Velu an enemy.   

Read the tale of his bravery through the words of Radha M. Nair in the Amar Chitra Katha title ‘Velu Thampi’. The action-packed illustrations by artist M. Mohandas are bound to leave you amazed. 

At the ripe age of 75, with the resolve to liberate his country, Kunwar Singh led an army against the British troops in the First War of Indian Independence. This rebel travelled everywhere including Sasaram, Rewa, Ramgarh, and Atraulia inspiring a nationwide awakening, but the British could never get hold of him. The septuagenarian changed his war tactics after every other battle. The legends around Kunwar Singh were the stuff movies are made of. Once, when his troops were caught by a surprise attack from the British, a shot hit his left wrist. Realising that the bullet was only spreading infection in his body, he chopped his hand off and threw it in the river! 

Illustrated by veteran artist Souren Roy and written by Rajendra Sanjay and Subba Rao, this Amar Chitra Katha title is a must-read for Independence Day. 

Chinnaswami Subramania Bharathi was an activist who fought with the mightiest weapon, the pen. His writings were an inspiration to millions and a fierce message to the British rulers. People from all sections of Tamil Nadu sang his songs during mass gatherings. His vision was one India and his mission was to unite the people to share this vision. Subramania rightly earned the title of Bharathi for his well-revered patriotic compositions. 

Co-authored by Kalvi Gopalakrishnan and Luis Fernandes, this Amar Chitra Katha book retells the courageous life of the iconic writer. The fantastic artwork by Dilip Kadam truly brings the characters to life. 

A revolutionary leader against the British Raj, Rash Behari Bose gave 40 years of his life to the Indian freedom struggle. Wanted by the British police, his life was one of escapades and adventure. He was a key organizer of the Ghadar Mutiny and the Indian National Army, which grew into a formidable force of 40,000 soldiers. 

Written by eminent writers Professor Satyavrata Ghosh and Luis Fernandes, this Amar Chitra Katha title has been illustrated by the legendary artist, Souren Roy.

The founder and leader of the Swaraj Party in Bengal, Chittaranjan Das gave up his comfortable life for the dream of a free India. A lawyer, writer, and an activist, Das earned the title of Deshbandhu meaning ‘Friend of the Nation’ for the tremendous amount of selfless love and sacrifice he showered upon his country people. Giving up his entire life earnings and himself in the service of his nation, Deshbandhu left an indelible mark in the history of India. 

Written by legendary writer H. Atmaram and illustrated by Souren Roy, this Amar Chitra Katha comic offers a concise take on the great man’s life. 

Lost in the pages of history is the story of a man whose courage was applauded by his enemies, the British Raj. Charles Tegart, the former Intelligence Chief and Police Commissioner of Bengal, once said to his colleagues, “If Jatin were an Englishman, then the English people would have built his statue next to Nelson’s at Trafalgar Square.” Zero tolerance to injustice and a burning desire for a free India, Bagha Jatin’s life was full of incidents that echoed his principles. His very motto “We shall die to awaken the nation” echoed in millions of Indian hearts marching for freedom. 

Co-authored by Shanta Patil and Subba Rao and illustrated by Souren Roy, this Amar Chitra Katha will awaken the patriot in even the most cynical of us. 

A school teacher by profession, Surya Sen or Surjya Sen was fondly called ‘Master Da’ by his friends and students. Together, they attacked British armouries in Chittagong and unfurled the national flag here, willing to give up their very lives. This action effectively cut off this area from British-controlled territory. Unfortunately, his team was eventually routed, vastly outnumbered by British forces, but their efforts spread a patriotic wave across the nation, inspiring millions to march for Indian independence. 

The illustrations by Arijit Dutta Choudhury and script by Shalini Srinivasan takes you back in time, giving you a ringside view of the Chittagong uprising as it happened. 

The mighty warrior king of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, received not just the throne but also a wealth of martial knowledge from his father, Hyder Ali. His determination to expel the British from Indian soil was stronger and fiercer than his father’s. He had a special admiration for tigers which was visible in his striped, tiger-shaped throne, the badges of his troops, and the name he acquired as the Tiger of Mysore. Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was inspired by Tipu Sultan’s war rockets, a rare technology at the time.

This Amar Chitra Katha book will take you through the mighty adventures of this military genius. The vivid illustrations by artist G.R. Naik beautifully complements writer Subba Rao’s script. 

From marching with an army of eighteen thousand men against the British to fooling the enemy by disguising bayonets as stumps, Beni Madho’s role in the freedom struggle is filled with inspiring anecdotes. Similarly, another legend to reckon with was the humble bookseller Pir Ali, who sacrificed his freedom while taking on the British. Ali was sentenced to death with the option to go free if he chose to give away crucial information. His befitting reply and his ultimate sacrifice earned him a spot in the golden pages of Indian history.

Co-authored by Rajnikanth Verma and Meera Ugra, and illustrated by legendary artist Ram Waeerkar, this Amar Chitra Katha title perfectly captures the lives of these two unsung heroes of the freedom movement.

How many have you read? Plug the gap by logging on to the ACK Comics app now.

The post 10 Rare ACKs About Our Freedom Struggle appeared first on Amar Chitra Katha.

Munshi Premchand was one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, who wrote several plays, novels, and short stories in Hindi and Urdu. He used his stories as a medium to address issues in the society such as patriarchy, caste barriers, injustice to women, and untouchability.

“Beauty doesn’t need ornaments. Softness can’t bear the weight of the ornaments.” – Munshi Premchand 

The beauty of Premchand’s stories lay in its simplicity. He would take everyday characters and build a world around it, shining a light on the vagaries and hypocrisies of various social practices. Most of his characters were never truly evil, instead, they were a product of their circumstances, sitting firmly in the grey area. Here are five of his short stories that we love.

Buddhi Kaki

As the title suggests, this story is about an old lady who is forced to depend on her selfish nephew to survive. Kaki had trusted her nephew and handed over all her property to him. However, after acquiring the property, her nephew, Pandit Buddhiram, starts to ill-treat her. Though the nephew and his family enjoy Kaki’s property, they don’t even bother to give her full meals. As old age catches up with Kaki, her food cravings grew. One day, when a function was hosted in the house, Kaki can’t control her hunger and decides to go to the kitchen in search of food. On seeing this, Buddhiram gets really angry and insults Kaki in front of the guests. Fortunately for Kaki, there is one sympathetic soul in the household who feels sorry for her plight. 

From deteriorating health issues to ill-treatment by family members, this story will make you empathise with the numerous struggles of old-age. The story is so simple and real that everybody can easily connect with it.

Eidgah  

Eidgah is a sweet story about a four-year-old boy, Hamid, an orphan who lives with his grandmother. Despite being poor and not having sandals on his feet, Hamid is always happy. On the day of Eid, while the rest of his friends are buying clay toys, drinking sherbet, and eating delicious sweets, Hamid controls his temptations and saves his money till he finally comes across a hardware shop. Here, Hamid buys a tong for his grandmother, so that her fingers won’t get burned when cooking. 

In this story, Munshi Premchand successfully brings out the best qualities a person can hope to have, through the eyes of a child. Compassion, maturity, and pure goodness are demonstrated through Hamid’s actions. Another take away from his story is one should be content with what they have. Hamid’s didn’t have much but he was happy with all that he had.

Thakur Ke Kuan 

The story revolves around Jhokhu and his wife, Gangi, who were from a low-caste family. When Jhokhu falls ill, Gangi fetches him water but soon realises it smells. Their only option is to get fresh water from a well, but the owners of the nearest wells won’t let her draw water because she is an ‘untouchable’. With no other way out, Gangi decides to sneak some water from the Thakur’s well. She is fully aware that if she gets caught, then Thakur’s men would probably beat her to death, but she still decides to risk her life, because she doesn’t want her husband to drink spoilt water. 

This story highlights the perils of the caste system, where people were deprived of basic necessities and looked down upon based on their caste. This story also features how women were treated in a patriarchal society, seen as sub-servant to the males in the family and outside. 

Poos Ki Raat 

Halku, a poor farmer and his wife, Munni, owe money to their landlord. Halku was saving up for a blanket so that he no longer had to shiver while guarding the fields at night. However, when the landowner comes to demand his money, all that Halku saved up had to be given away. Halku is then forced to spend the cold winter night in the field. Not able to bear the cold at all, Halku decides to light a fire to keep himself warm. After great difficulty, Halku falls asleep. Unfortunately for Halku, he wakes up to find his fields destroyed by the very fire he lit to save himself. 

This story depicts the tough life of a farmer. Even after an immense amount of hard work farmers are unable to pay off their debts. Their lives are taken for granted by many. Despite producing food for everybody, they are not able to provide basic necessities for themselves.

Do Bhel 

This story is about two oxen, Heera and Moti, who are best friends. Both are hardworking and very loyal to their master Jhuri. However, Jhuri sends them away to his brother-in-law’s farm. There, both the oxen are ill-treated. Thus, they try to run away. After several attempts of leaving the farm, they finally find their way back to Jhuri. Although Jhuri is happy to see them, his wife does not like it. She no longer cares for them and starts feeding them dry hay instead of the rich grains and green grass they would get earlier. Eventually, Jhuri is forced to drop both oxen back at his brother-in-law’s place, who decides to sell them. Will the oxen escape their fate? 

Both the oxen in this story give us a sense of loyalty that is there amongst animals. Heera and Moti were loyal amongst themselves as well as to Jhuri. This story also highlights how humans neglect the feelings of animals and abuse them. 

Amar Chitra Katha’s adaptation of Premchand stories ‘Two Oxen’ is available on the ACK Comics app, as well as Amazon, Flipkart and other major e-tailers.

The post Premchand Stories We Love appeared first on Amar Chitra Katha.