Freedom at Midnight

Till date I never read a book consecutively twice. But I had to; in this case. When I completed reading the book first time I was too lost in facts to miss the emotions. I felt hatred, devotion, anger and a confused feeling towards British, Indian Leaders, Mohammed Ali Jinnah and Gandhi in that order. I was surprised how little I knew about my mother land.

The Empire was 'heavy with gold, black with industrial soot, and red with the blood of conquest.' Collins and Lapierre open the book on New Year's Day, 1947 -- London awakes to filth of its own country. The reader is taken on a journey of significant events that lead to the independence of India. On the way you will be introduced to many brilliant characters that shaped the history of India and have left a mark that is still evident.

The authors’ attempt to justify everything done by the British Indian Empire by concealing the atrocities brought about by them during their so-called Raj in India. Collins and Lapierre skip over the virtues of Indian masses, their accomplishments and virtually anything besides the facts such as their squatting habits, religious extremisms, being ignorant, illiterate and incompetent. One who may be unable to objectively read this book would be left with a great impression of the Englishmen and especially Louis Mountbatten. As a result the reader may develop distaste towards Gandhi and his principles.

The flow of the book is like reading an epic. The book gives the most intimate accounts of the most venerated figures in the world's history, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi aka Mahatma Gandhi, his approach, position, attitude towards the British Raj, the Indian Congress, the political and social blueprint that he dreamed of the Independent India. It gives detailed account of final days of Gandhi and who, why and how of the assassination of this revered leader. His murder as Bernad Shaw said, “Shows how dangerous it is to be good”.

Sir Cyril Radcliffe’s vivisection of Punjab was the cruelest act. His pencil strokes changed lives of many Indians and claimed thousands of lives. Going through the difficulties the people suffered; the worst that happened was the train laden with corpses reaching Amritsar saying “This train is our Independence gift to Nehru and Patel".

To end up; I belong to those set of persons who admire Gandhi. But then after reading this book I felt certain things could have been avoided or taken up in a better way by a human whose voice had the power to move the whole nation. “No one is perfect "and that includes Gandhi too. But still I remain the most ardent and devoted admirer of Gandhi.