The Struggle for Pakistan: A Muslim Homeland and Global Politics

The Men Who Ruled India is a compelling collection of biographical sketches of the British men who held the reins of power in India during the colonial period. Philip Mason examines the lives and legacies of figures such as Lord Curzon, Lord Lytton, and others who shaped the policies and events of British India. The book explores how these men navigated the complex political and social landscapes of the Indian subcontinent, often balancing imperial interests with local realities. Mason’s engaging narrative offers an insightful view of the personalities and decisions that defined British rule in India.

On a dark evening in November 1862, a cheap coffin is buried in eerie silence. There are no lamentations or panegyrics, for the British Commissioner in charge has insisted, ‘No vesting will remain to distinguish where the last of the Great Mughals rests.’ This Mughal is Bahadur Shah Zafar II, one of the most tolerant and likeable of his remarkable dynasty who found himself leader of a violent and doomed uprising. The Siege of Delhi was the Raj’s Stalingrad, the end of both Mughal power and a remarkable culture.

The End of India is a provocative and thought-provoking work by Khushwant Singh. In this book, Singh offers a candid and critical analysis of India’s socio-political landscape, focusing on issues such as communalism, corruption, religious extremism, and the fragmentation of the national identity. Singh reflects on the growing divisions within Indian society, both between communities and within the political system, and speculates on the consequences of these issues for the future of the nation. His writing is sharp, candid, and often controversial, offering a unique perspective on the challenges facing contemporary India.