INDIA’S PARTITION The story of imperialism in retreat D.N. Panigrahi § Also available as a printed book Tee CLES Lm dL MILL)INDIA’S PARTITION Why did the partition of India take place? Was it the inevitable result of continent divided by religion and facing a power vacuum at the end of the Raj, or was it a chance occurrence arising from unique set of historical circumstances? And what were the roles played by men such as Churchill, Attlee, Jinnah, Gandhi and Nehru? In this erudite account of the momentous events surrounding Indian independence, D.N. Panigrahi argues that the split was not a foregone conclusion. The British had always entertained a grand vision of Indian unity, not merely in a geographical and politcal sense, butalso a cultural one In fact, nobody seemed particularly keen on partition, yet it happened anyway. A convergence of complex socio-economic reality and political compulsions in the wake of an intense and troubled colonial encounter provided a setting for the climactic event of partition and independence at the tailend of the Raj Based on new material collected in England and India, Panigrahi demystifies the roles of the towering political figures of the day and seeks to explain why India headed towards division ~ a political outcome that continues to affect the world today Of interest to scholars of the British empire and the subcontinent, this illuminating text poses key questions for students of history and current affairs D.N. Panigrahiis a leading historian of Indo-British connection and was Senior Lecturer/Reader at the University of Delhi before joining the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library as Duputy Director. His numerous publications include Quit India and the Strugele for Freedom (1984), He is now retiredBRITISH FOREIGN AND COLONIAL POLICY Series Editor: Peter Catterall ISSN: 1467-5013 “This series provides insights into both the background influences on and the course of policy making towards Britain's extensive overseas interests during the past 200 years, WHITEHALL AND THE SUEZ.CRISIS Ended by Saul Kelly and Arahony Gort LIBERALS, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND APPEASEMENT “The Liberal Party, 1919-193 Richard S. Gacgson BRITISH GOVERNMENT POLICY AND DECOLONISATION, 1945-1963, Scrutinising the official mind Frank Helen HAROLD WILSON AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Britain's second application to join the EEC Esled by Oliver Daddow BRITAIN, ISRAEL AND THE UNITEDSTATES, 1955-1958 Beyond Suer Oma Abmog ‘THE BRITISH POLITIOAL ELITE AND THE SOVIET UNION, 1937-1939 Lowise Grace Shaw BRITAIN, NASSER ANDTHE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1952-1967 From the Egyptian revolution to the six day war Robert McNamara BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARIESSINCE 1974 Eukled by Kevtu Theakston ‘THE LABOUR PARTY, NATIONALISM AND INTERNATIONALISM, 1939-1951 RAM. Douglas INDIA'S PARTITION “The story of imperialisi in retreat DN. Panigrahi