Orphaned at Freedom - A Subcontinent's Tale

About the Book: In the middle of August 1947 two nations – the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan – came into being through a Partition of the British Indian Empire. The Princely States which owed their existence to the British acceded to either of the two Dominions. Jinnah as Governor-General of Pakistan and Nehru as Prime Minister of India took the oath of office swearing allegiance to George VI who was still the King of both the Dominions but no longer the Rex Imperator or King-Emperor. The Dominions eventually emerged as the Republic of India in 1950 and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1956. Twenty-five years on in 1972 a third country – the People’s Republic of Bangladesh – was born out of the liquidation of East Pakistan. A United India – if it had been preserved – may have been an equal militarily and economically of the People’s Republic of China. Arun Bhatnagar’s Book is an engaging and absorbing account of a Subcontinent that passed through the High Noon of Empire saw unity dissolving into division and experienced euphoria and despair progress and tragedy victory and defeat. The narrative during the years 1911-1999 traverses (by way of the life-story of an Indian member of the ICS later a practicing Barrister and Politician) various dimensions of history politics economy culture and administration. The Afterword conveys the reader into the twenty-first century when unfriendly neighbours are in alliance to thwart New Delhi’s interests. About the Author: Arun Bhatnagar was born in New Delhi in June1944 The eminent scientist Sir Shanti Swarup (SS) Bhatnagar FRS Founder- Director CSIR architect of the chain of National Laboratories Secretary Ministry of Education (1947-49 and 1953) and first Chairman of the University Grants Commission (1953-55) is his paternal grandfather.