I love reading about history, especially the history of the Indian freedom struggle has always fascinated me. I have read a few books on the subject and look forward to books documenting the history of freedom struggles and challenges. Maulana Azad was one of the prominent leaders of the freedom struggle and the book “India Wins Freedom” is an autobiographical narrative of the Indian independence movement.
An interesting fact about the book is that it was written in 1957, but some contents were sealed as per Maulana’s instructions. Maulana Azad deliberately did not include it to avoid any conflict or controversy, as the book talks in detail about political hypocrisy and highlights the mindset of his contemporaries. The complete book was released in 1988, 30 years after its first publication as per Maulana Azad’s instruction.
The book starts somewhere in 1935 and covers the events from the point of view of Maulana. He talks about his tenure as the Congress president and decisions taken under his presidency. India Wins Freedom looks at India’s freedom struggle from the perspective of the author, Maulana Azad. He captures the period from WWII to India’s freedom. The readers get to know his insight on WWII and its impact on the freedom struggle, the internal workings of Congress, and the conflicts of ideas within Congress on various issues.
The author provides details about the failed Cripps mission of the British, the Quit India movement, the general elections, the demand for partition and the role of Jinnah and other leaders, the interim government, and the partition. The book captures the disagreements of Maulana Azad on various issues with leaders like Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nehru. In the book, he expressed his forthright views with honesty and courage. This is the reason some sections of the book were sealed when the book first came out. The book provides a unique perspective on India’s freedom struggle and various historical events in the last decade of the freedom struggle. Also, many untold truths will surely make you think and change your mind about many events and leaders of the freedom struggle.
It is a must-read for all history lovers, especially those interested in the history of India’s freedom struggle. The book provides a unique point of view and the reader will come out as more informed after reading this book.
About the Author
M A K Azad or Maulana Azad was an Indian political leader and scholar. He was the newly independent India’s first Minister of Education. He was a crucial proponent of the Indian Independence Movement and is credited for laying the foundation of the Indian educational system and enhancing it. He established the IITs all over the country. He was the youngest president of the Indian National Congress and was posthumously awarded with the Bharat Ratna.