More often than not, biographies are victim of personal glorification and uncanny dramatization.

Most of them end in a yawning disappointment. But, India Wins Freedom traverses through a
different path and stick to the guns till the end. A book which is sublimely unbiased and
unstintingly sincere introduces us to the cross-currents of different ideologies and political
realism in the era of freedom struggle. India Wins Freedom throws glimpses to the glimmer and
the gloom. It leads us to the roads and the cross-roads of the freedom struggle. The book scores
high in its tone of narration which sounds unloosened from any hint of hypocrisy and
parochialism. This book put some leaders through the lenses for their controversial role during
partition- seemingly an adventurous intellectual pursuit, especially in a time when our politicians
had acquired the cult status.
Maulana Azad who unfortunately finds only few lines of meager mention in our history books
was in fact a towering personality a fierce nationalist, a pragmatic visionary. He was a
luminous star who kept dazzling the political horizon of India during freedom struggle. India
Wins Freedom lays bare the untamed genius of Maulana Azad. His expansive erudition
surprised Gandhiji who described him as Emperor of learning- a person of the caliber of Plato,
Aristotle and Pythagoras. Nehru complimented him as A man of luminous intelligence, a
mighty intellect with an amazing capacity of piercing through a problem to its core. Even
though he was privately tutored to become a Maulvi, his insatiable thirst of learning and
indomitable nationalist fervour led him to the pedestal of presidentship of Indian national
congress only at the age of 36 - youngest ever president of Congress and during the most
tumultuous period of 1939-1946 he was honoured to hold the president-ship of Indian national
congress in good faith. Congress was brimful of leaders of gigantic stature, but Maulana
squeezed out his own space with his untiringly selfless commitment for the national cause. He
deliberately adopted the name Azad or Free to indicate his breakaway from his ingrained
familial religious orthodoxy. Although initially enamoured with revolutionaries ideology of Shri
Aurobindo Ghosh he later changed his trajectory. In order to shake off some sections of Muslims
from their political inertia he founded Al-Hilal press. He was stridently critical of some
influential Muslims being used as political pawn of Britishers. He was unapologetically
forthcoming in highlighting their ambivalence and hypocrisy. Soon Al-Hilal became a rage
among the Muslims. After the confiscation of Al-Hilal press Maulana established Al-Balagh to
carry on his unfinished works and kept on igniting the flickering embers of nationalism. But his
political career took wings when he came within the fold of Indian national congress. It was here
his political ideology got a definitive mould which still appears freshly coated with relevancy.
Maulana was a man of political wisdom and a discerning observer of someones psychological
character He was never a rank follower within the congress circle. Come what may he held on to
his convictions and never resorted to sycophancy. Perhaps, this unfettered status gave him the
liberty to judge the unfolding saga of freedom struggle in an unprejudiced manner.
The book is rhythmically scratchy to start with, but after few vapid pages it picks up the
momentum. The trysts with a whirlpool of different political creed and ideologies make it
increasingly gripping. Uncommon truthfulness and courage spread across its pages make it a
compelling read. A flurry of both pre and post independence activities are so delicately
interwoven that ploughing through the book becomes an enriching experience. It defines a
perspective and cut away some of the stereotypes. India Wins Freedom presents an unblurring
account of independence struggle seen from the unblinking and steady eyes of Maulana Azad.

Any reader has every right to agree or disagree with the forthright views expressed by Maulana
Azad, but to grasp the essence of the book a reader must first suspend, although temporarily, any
ideological leaning and also the prejudiced notion that our leaders during independence struggle
were infallible. The book is critical but not caustic against any leaders. It is an intellectual
inquiry into the circumstantial pulls and pressures and human judgmental errors which caused
the demographic dislocation of India.
In the mutiny of 1857 Hindus and Muslim fought shoulder to shoulder against the British. They
were driven by common objective to uproot the British Raj from Indian soil. Insult to their
religion had evoked the commonality of their goal. But by the turn of the 20th century the
religious identity of both Hindus and Muslims had gone through the metamorphosis. Religious
identity had stretched and manifested in vigorous pursuit of political supremacy. Exposure to
modern education led to the awareness of cultural chauvinism. Muslims were wary about their
future after the Britishers. Before the Britishers Muslims had the reins of power but after English
Raj they fear slipping into power vacuum. They demanded the safeguards for their safety. But
some zealots overplayed their demands. The dichotomy of Muslims aspirations came to light
when M.A.Jinnah joined Muslim League and started playing with the fear psychosis of the
Muslims. He was a master tactician and convincingly exaggerated some of the lapses of
Congress. In form of Pakistan he promised a elixir for all kinds of malaises faced by the Muslims
Community. A significant chunk of Muslims got swayed but, Maulana Azad never yielded to the
political maneuvers of M.A.Jinnah. Two giant leaders of Muslim society with contrasted
ideologies pulled the strings of Muslims aspirations in two different directions. Maulana who
was often accused by Jinnah as Show-boy of the Congress had a nationalist approach to
everything whereas M.A.Jinnah saw everything through the prism of Muslim interest. Maulana
Azad was a nationalist first and remained a nationalist till the last. He affirmed
I am a part of the indivisible unity which is the Indian nationality. I am indispensable to this
noble edifice and without me this splendid structure is incomplete.
Maulana warned the Muslims about the impending catastrophe if they ever accepted Partition
but, those who took fancy to the mythical lure of Jinnah were in fact eclipsed by the defeatist
mindset. He exhorted Muslims not to abandon their claim on the Indian soil of their forefathers,
but their senses were lulled by the delusional allure of safe haven called Pakistan.
Jinnahs unfounded deep distrust of Congress leaders and overzealous protectionist demands for
Muslims created the logjam for the negotiations. For his devious stratagems and call of Direct
Action Day India Wins Freedom tumbled out Jinnah as the main political villain of partition.
But, at the backdrop there were so many ideological villains who had vitiated the atmospheres of
1930s by propagating exclusive Hindu nationalism and treated Muslims as the alien import. They
were as much responsible for the partition as was Jinnah. Maulana Azad shows remarkable
courage in highlighting the incoherence in Muslim aspirations. He doesnt shy away from
criticizing the political mistakes of Nehru and Patel but doesnt shed much light on those
ideological foes of the composite nationalism who were unaccommodative - perhaps, this is the
only quibble about the book. Nonetheless, India Wins Freedom is a seminal work which tries to
uncover some facts which have been swept under the rugs.

When Labour Government in England set a deadline for the transfer of power to India, to
solve Indias communal problem was of utmost priority before it. Cabinet Mission Plan
suggested dividing India into three Zones A, B and C and confined three subjects only Defence,
Foreign Affairs and Communications compulsorily to the central Government. This scheme was
so devised to give assurance to both Muslims and Hindus that they would have their say on
provincial matters where they are in majority. After much deliberation Muslim League which had
so far created the bogey of Partition accepted the plan. Congress working committee too passed
the cabinet mission plan. Maulana reminisced The acceptance of Cabinet Mission Plan by both
the Congress and Muslim League was a glorious event in the history of the freedom movement
in India...We rejoiced but we did not then know that our joy was premature and bitter
disappointment awaited us. Maulana was candid enough to admit his own blunder when he did
not re-nominate himself for the presidentship of congress in 1946 which was later termed by
Gandhiji as Himalayan blunder. Sardar Patel had a strong lobby to be elected as the president
but Maulana intervened and proposed the name of Jawaharlal Nehru as the later was much akin
in political ideals and principles to Maulana. This was Maulanas second mistake. Little aware
was he that just within a year India will witness a calamitous slide of its fortune. Nehru as
Congress president bungled and made the unfortunate remark at Shimla that Congress is
completely unfettered by agreements and free to meet the situations as they arise He
emphasized that Congress is free to change or modify the Cabinet Mission Plan. This
embarrassed the Congress and paranoid the Muslim League at the same time. This proved the
last straw for Congress and Muslim League reconciliation. The whole issue of partition was
reopened. Congress scrambled to come out with a resolution to save the situation but Muslim
League already had rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan now citing Congress equivocal stand on
the scheme. Smelling the partition in the offing they resorted to obstructionist tactics in the
interim Government. Maulana blame Patels insistence on keeping the Home portfolio with
himself for this situation. Almost everybody in Congress wanted to give Home to Muslim
League but, Patel threatened to quit the government rather leave the Home. Despite Congress
having some eminent economist they had to offer Finance to Muslim league thinking Muslim
League would not be able to handle this technical department and ultimately this would return to
congress. But this decision boomeranged on Congress. Liyaqat Ali, who was Muslim League
choice for Finance deliberately created all sorts of obstacles to clear finances for each and every
department. The atmosphere in the constituent Assembly had turned acrimonious. Out of
frustration Sardar Patel became the first advocate of partition within the Congress. Afterwards
almost all the responsible leaders got carried away by his persuasions and arguments. Those who
yet opposed the partition, because it was against the Congress ideals were reduced to
minority. Indias destiny was sealed with the resolution of Partition being passed with 29 votes in
support and 15 votes in against at AICC meeting on 14 th June 1947. That was an end of a dream.
For some it was only true solution in the existing circumstances and for some it was a harsh
reflection of our political failure in keeping India united. Whatever the arguments, Partitioning
India was a fraud on the dreams of those hundreds of brave martyrs of the soil who had laid their
lives for a better tomorrow of India.
When the gloom of despair was all around, dashes of hopes played across too. But we failed to
seize those flickers of chances. Reasons could be many; be it the frustrations with the
obstructionist tactics of Muslim League, be it the lure of power or simply be it the tantalizing
beacon of freedom. But, Maulana Azad was critical about the remarkable hurriedness shown by

our leaders in becoming amenable to the idea of Partition. When opposition needed to be further
steamed up our leaders gave in before the frustrating stubbornness of Jinnah. The suave
persuasive power of Lord Mountbatten who actually had the deadline to meet for the transfer of
power to India was another robust reason for their sudden precipitation. Maulana was of the
opinion to delay the de-jure transfer of powers to India till a better solution of the communal
problem is found through dialogues and negotiations. He held the view that a year or two is not a
long period in nations history. But, Maulana Azad was disillusioned at the malleability of our
top leaders at a critical juncture of freedom struggle. Maulana wrote Till Perhaps, the very
end Pakistan for Jinnah was a bargaining counter, but in fighting for Pakistan he had overreached
himself. Maulana Azad might have felt suffocated but never broke ranks. The cruel inevitability
of Partition hung over in the riotous air, but he hoped against hope, ran from pillar to post. His
influence had waned as he was no more the President of the Congress. Distraught was he, yet did
his utmost to save Partition. But destiny had a different plan for India.
Crippled and crestfallen India hobbled to gain its independence but with a costly price. On one
side years long political struggle culminated in independence; on the other a dark and ominous
fate befell in the terrible wrench of partition. The euphoric mood of the nation was subdued with
the pain of horrendous division. The nation was plunged deeper into the throes of despair and
indignation. Hysteria of hatred and mistrust gripped the nation. Fifteen million were resettled or
displaced and one million lost their lives in the ensuing communal riots. Much water has flown
since then. How much has changed? How much has not changed? Dust of partition is still to
settle down. Vestiges are still noticeable. Partition of India, which was hailed as only available
solution to the communal problem proved to be an anathema. Was Partition inevitable or
avoidable? We would get to hear different answers depending whom do we listen to. We could
have stopped it. We couldn't have stopped it. Preventing Partition was like chasing ones own
shadow. So near yet so very far. Causes and effects of Partition are obvious yet so complex.
Demystifying the inscrutable reasons of Partition will never be an easy task. But India Wins
freedom nudges us into an insightful engagement with somewhat obfuscated history. By the
time the book is finished a number of questions start swirling around the mind about the quantum
of role played by our leaders in avoiding or accelerating the Partition.