Midnight's Descendants: A History of South Asia since Partition 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

This is a superbly informative book, as impressive in the rich, well-documented detailed narrative as it is in its historical sweep. A thread runs through the book, connecting the partition of the Subcontinent in 1947 (and the events, politics and decision-making leading up to it) with the political consequences of partition, not only for India, Pakistan and Bangladesh but also for Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and even -- with appropriately less detail -- Sikkim. Keay is authoritative on the history and, for me at least, surprisingly, on the current politics and international relations. While it could be argued that the violence evinced over the decades in virtually parts of the region is endemic and culturally tolerated, the evidence and reasoning developed in this book make a strong case for it being in some part a lasting byproduct of the way Partition was implemented. It is not necessary to accept that argument or, for that matter, every detail in the book to gain a solid comprehension of the political and international history of the region.
Martin O. Heisler, Professor Emeritus of Government and Politics, University of Maryland

A very well done book on the complex history of South Asia. A must read for policymakers, students and historians.

Keay does a great job explaining the history of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. However, he jumps from subject to subject with little concern at the reader's ability to follow. Overall a good read, but anyone reading needs to be ready to jump country to country.

This is a great book if you want an overview of South Asia since 1947 that doesn't get bogged down in details. Instead of only focusing on only India and Pakistan, it also covers Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

The author demonstrates a deep knowledge of and affection for South Asia. He is able to put events in context and compare the developments in several countries, to give the reader a broader sense of events. I highly recommend this book to those wanting to better understand this vital region.

BOOKS:
Midnight's Descendants, John Keay - 2014, 352 pg. text (Three Stars)
Midnight's Furies, Nisid Hijari - 2015, 262 pg. text (Four Stars)
While trying to choose a recent book on the history of the India-Pakistan partition these two came up frequently (along with Yasmin Khan's Great Partition written in 2007). It was difficult for me to determine the differences between them, so I decided to read and review both. I haven't had an opportunity to read the Khan book yet, which looks like a more scholarly alternative. Similarly, Indian historian Ramachandra Guha has written about "India after Gandhi". He is quoted extensively by Keay, and I wonder: why not just read Guha? I am unable to answer that at this time, and will have to find out later.
AUTHORS:
Keay-
- British journalist and long-time popular historian of India, not an academic
- Didn't grow up in India, but has spent time in the region as a reporter, researcher and radio presenter
Hajari-
- Indian-American journalist and foreign affairs analyst, not an academic
- Didn't grow up in India, but has spent time in the region, and has won an award as a first-time author
SOURCES:
Keay-
- All English language, by British as well as Indian/Pakistani authors
- Almost all sources are secondary; little original research seems to be done
Hajari-
- All English language, by British as well as Indian/Pakistani authors
- Secondary and some primary sources: letters, diaries, speeches and reports
CONTENTS:
Keay-
-Only the first hundred pages are about the Partition proper, the rest retells India's history to the present
-Covers events in Punjab, Kashmir and Bengal; afterwards India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka
Hajari-
-Includes history leading to and during the Partition only, with the exception of a brief chapter on the legacy
-Covers the Great Calcutta Killings, the riots in Bengal, and events in the Punjab, Kashmir and Hyderabad
VIEWS:
Keay-
- It was an oversimplified solution to divide Hindus and Muslims by area, arrived at by mutual distrust and in a rush to resolution
- There was no regional homogeneity of the various religious and ethnic groups; large minorities lived side by side with majorities
- Pakistan could have been organized as constituent states with Muslim majorities inside India; Calcutta-Bengal & Delhi-Punjab
- The Princely States were never fully integrated into the Raj and resisted ceding their hereditary rights to the new nation-states
- The responsibility for the Partition falls more or less equally to the founders Nehru and Jinnah who failed to foresee the results
- Gandhi was against it, and the main goal of Mountbatten was to leave as quickly as possible with the least trouble for Britain
Hajari-
- Aims to show how the violence that the Partition created defines the relationship between India and Pakistan until today
- Ongoing conflicts in Kashmir and elsewhere have renewed the relationship of antagonism between Muslims and Hindus
- Responsibility for events is placed on both Nehru and Jinnah for ineptitude, arrogance, prejudice and personal animosity
- Nehru is praised for his later performance as Prime Minister, while Jinnah's successors' after 1948 are criticized as weak leaders
- Internal conflicts and misadventures with India would lead to control of Pakistan by the military and the loss of Bengal in 1971
- The military junta would join with the mullahs to rally around religion, instead of to the secular society envisioned by Jinnah
SUMMARY:
Keay- If you want a general, mostly uncontroversial history of India from events leading into the Partition until recent years this book is a good choice. The writing may not have won any awards, but it is intelligent and entertaining. Keay takes a measured view without prescribing what should have been done in order to have averted the crisis of Partition. While his analysis of South Asia after the events of 1947 is somewhat superficial, it does show that the Partition should not be seen in a time capsule.
Hajari- If you are looking for an exciting account focused only on events shortly before and during the Partition you may prefer this book. It is written in an engaging way, and it almost reads like a dramatization at times. This can feel slightly sensational, depending on your personal preferences. Hajari argues that fear of Indian aggression has lead Pakistan towards authoritarian regimes and covert support of terrorism, and an easing of tensions is needed to avoid future conflicts.

If you say that my view is required I am telling you that I liked the book, but that I don't like your attitude telling me that my view is required! Period!