Freedom at Midnight!

[the_kaur]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

@muqawwee123

Thats why political parties in both countries still chant slogan 'asal azadi nahin mili' :p

That is very well true for us, before this Chaiwala became PM :)

[muqawwee123]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

@the_kaur

That is very well true for us, before this Chaiwala became PM :)

Chaiwala?

[the_kaur]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

@muqawwee123

Chaiwala?

Narendra Modi is ex-chaiwala :)

[muqawwee123]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

@the_kaur

Narendra Modi is ex-chaiwala :)

Interesting. Waiter or tea-garden owner?

[the_kaur]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

@muqawwee123

Interesting. Waiter or tea-garden owner?

Moving tea stall?

[muqawwee123]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

@the_kaur

Moving tea stall?

you mean ReRhi wala

[the_kaur]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

@muqawwee123

you mean ReRhi wala

Yes. after PV Narsimha Rao, He is the second person from lowest strata of Indian society

[Arleitter]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

I read this book in 1997-1998 period.

Over all a very good one with some exaggerations(?).

The chapter that impressed me most was Gandhi's assassination.(Two Brahmins from Pune).For years I wanted to visit Delhi's Regal theatre for some reasons..

Then I acquired another book pertaining to the assassins of Mr.Gandhi.Interesting they had an image of the flight ticket booked in the name of Mr.Godse.

[Arleitter]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

@muqawwee123

Have you read this one of the best and most popular books on India’s partition in 1947?

Freedom at Midnight - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](Freedom at Midnight - Wikipedia)

Do you think that writers did justice with the topic?

Whats your favorite part from the book?

I read this book in 1997-1998 period.

Over all a very good one with some exaggerations(?).

The chapter that impressed me most was Gandhi’s assassination.(Two Brahmins from Pune).For years I wanted to visit Delhi’s Regal theatre for some reasons..

Then I acquired another book pertaining to the assassins of Mr.Gandhi.Interesting they had an image of the flight ticket booked in the name of Mr.Godse.

[muqawwee123]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

I read this book in 1997-1998 period.

Over all a very good one with some exaggerations(?).

The chapter that impressed me most was Gandhi's assassination.(Two Brahmins from Pune).For years I wanted to visit Delhi's Regal theatre for some reasons..

Then I acquired another book pertaining to the assassins of Mr.Gandhi.Interesting they had an image of the flight ticket booked in the name of Mr.Godse.

Do you know about Godse's will related to Sindhu?

[Arleitter]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

Do you know about Godse's will related to Sindhu?

Yes.That his ashes should only be scattered only when India and Pakistan unite.

[Arleitter]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

Again Muqa Bhai... according to Freedom at midnight,moments before Nathuram's and Narayan Apte's hangings(the first two assassins of Mr.Gandhi),Nathuram exhibited a much courage and Apte was fluctuating.

But according to real eye witness(as told by Mr.Karan Thapar),Nathuram was in a state of shock and Apte was braver.

[Kraft_Dinner]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

So far I've read about half of the book and at this point, find two sections particularly entertaining.
**
The miniature trains that delivered dinner to the prince's guests:**

"The passion of the Maharaja of Gwalior, who ruled over one of the best run states in India, was electric trains... [His] [train] [set] was laid out over 250 feet of solid silver rails set on a mammoth iron table at the centre of the palace banquet hall. Special tunnels cut in the palace walls prolonged the tracks into the royal kitchen... One evening, in the midst of a formal banquet in honour of the Viceroy, the prince's control panel short-circuited. While their Excellencies looked on aghast, his electric trains ran amok, racing from one end of the banquet hall to the other, indifferently sloshing gravy, roast beef and a purée of peas over the Maharaja's guests. It was a catastrophe without parallel in the annals of the railway." (pp. 171-172 of the 1997 edition)

**
Ruttenbhai Jinnah and Lord Reading:**

"At a luncheon in New Delhi in 1921, she was seated next to the Viceroy, Lord Reading, who was lamenting the fact that, in the atmosphere engendered by World War I, it was quite difficult for him to visit Germany. But why, asked Ruttie Jinnah, was it so difficult?
'Well,' explained Reading, 'the Germans don't really like us British. I can't go.'
'Then,' Ruttie quietly asked, 'how is it that you British came to India?'" (p. 283 of the 1997 edition)

As to whether the book is biased or neutral, I can only come to a full conclusion once I've finished reading it.

[KKF]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

@Kohinoor Diamond

So far I’ve read about half of the book and at this point, find two sections particularly entertaining.
**
The miniature trains that delivered dinner to the prince’s guests:

“The passion of the Maharaja of Gwalior, who ruled over one of the best run states in India, was electric trains… [His] [train] [set] was laid out over 250 feet of solid silver rails set on a mammoth iron table at the centre of the palace banquet hall. Special tunnels cut in the palace walls prolonged the tracks into the royal kitchen… One evening, in the midst of a formal banquet in honour of the Viceroy, the prince’s control panel short-circuited. While their Excellencies looked on aghast, his electric trains ran amok, racing from one end of the banquet hall to the other, indifferently sloshing gravy, roast beef and a purée of peas over the Maharaja’s guests. It was a catastrophe without parallel in the annals of the railway.” (pp. 171-172 of the 1997 edition) **
**
Ruttenbhai Jinnah and Lord Reading:**

“At a luncheon in New Delhi in 1921, she was seated next to the Viceroy, Lord Reading, who was lamenting the fact that, in the atmosphere engendered by World War I, it was quite difficult for him to visit Germany. But why, asked Ruttie Jinnah, was it so difficult?
‘Well,’ explained Reading, ‘the Germans don’t really like us British. I can’t go.’
‘Then,’ Ruttie quietly asked, ‘how is it that you British came to India?’” (p. 283 of the 1997 edition)

As to whether the book is biased or neutral, I can only come to a full conclusion once I’ve finished reading it.

i’ve been to the palace of Madhorao Scindia’s palace in Gwalior on an escorted tour. it was an amazing experience.

the train serving food on the table was also featured in Michael Palins’s Around the world in 80 days’ movie/documentary.

btw, Madho Rao Scindia was killed in a plane crash. he was Indian Railways Minister for a number of years. he was pretty young. he died at age 55. he served in the Lok Sabha for 9 terms. he was unbeatable in any elections. he is known as a great prince who took care of his people.

he was revered by his people as a saint. he was also a close friend of Rajiv Gandhi.

his mother, **Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia, was also a political figure and a member of both the Lok Sabha [Lower House] and the Rajya Sabha [upper House].
**
this is the famous food train at Scindia Palace in Gwalior that was featured in the documentary.

[muqawwee123]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

@Kohinoor Diamond

So far I’ve read about half of the book and at this point, find two sections particularly entertaining.
**
The miniature trains that delivered dinner to the prince’s guests:**

“The passion of the Maharaja of Gwalior, who ruled over one of the best run states in India, was electric trains… [His] [train] [set] was laid out over 250 feet of solid silver rails set on a mammoth iron table at the centre of the palace banquet hall. Special tunnels cut in the palace walls prolonged the tracks into the royal kitchen… One evening, in the midst of a formal banquet in honour of the Viceroy, the prince’s control panel short-circuited. While their Excellencies looked on aghast, his electric trains ran amok, racing from one end of the banquet hall to the other, indifferently sloshing gravy, roast beef and a purée of peas over the Maharaja’s guests. It was a catastrophe without parallel in the annals of the railway.” (pp. 171-172 of the 1997 edition)
**
Ruttenbhai Jinnah and Lord Reading:**

“At a luncheon in New Delhi in 1921, she was seated next to the Viceroy, Lord Reading, who was lamenting the fact that, in the atmosphere engendered by World War I, it was quite difficult for him to visit Germany. But why, asked Ruttie Jinnah, was it so difficult?
‘Well,’ explained Reading, ‘the Germans don’t really like us British. I can’t go.’
‘Then,’ Ruttie quietly asked, ‘how is it that you British came to India?’” (p. 283 of the 1997 edition)

As to whether the book is biased or neutral, I can only come to a full conclusion once I’ve finished reading it.

didn’t you like expenditure incurred by a maharaja on dogs and their weddings. dolly ki aae gi baarat

[the_kaur]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

Actually book is more from Mountabatten's perspective, as he was the only character alive for their personal interview. Rest of the players were already dead.
Book is good on Nehru but very harsh on Jinnah, possibly Mountabatten never liked Jinnah. Jinnah was resolute and cannot be charmed while Nehru was exactly opposite :)

[Arleitter]

Re: Freedom at Midnight!

This book seemed to me ,a more `pro-India'..