This Is Not That Dawn: Jhootha Sach

Jhootha Sach is arguably the most outstanding piece of Hindi literature written about the Partiton. Reviving life in Lahore as it was before 1947 the book opens on a nostalgic note with vivid descriptions of the people that lived in the city’s streets and lanes like Bhola Pandhe Ki Gali Tara who wanted an education above marriage Puri whose ideology and principles often came in the way of his impoverished circumstances Asad who was ready to sacrifice his love for the sake of communal harmony. Their lives-and those of other memorable characters-are forever altered as the carnage that ensues on the eve of Independence shatters the beauty and peace of the land killing millions of Hindus and Muslims and forcing others to leave their homes forever. Published in English translation for the first time Yashpal’s controversial novel is a politically charged powerful tale of human suffering. About the Author Yashpal (1903-1976) began to write while serving a life sentence for his participation as a comrade of Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad in the armed struggle for India's independence. What he wrote formed his first collection of short stories Pinjare ki Udan published in 1938. After his release Yashpal dazzled Hindi readers with the political journal Viplava which he founded and published with the help of Prakashvati a revolutionary whom he later married in prison. He wrote more than fifty books including collections of short stories novels essays a play and memoirs of his revolutionary days.