Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain
Publishing for the 75th anniversary of the partition of India (15th August 1947), ‘Lands of Belonging’ is a unique and balanced exploration of the complex history of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain. This is a much needed addition to school bookshelves for many reasons.
The book starts by exploring some fundamental questions about what it means to belong, what makes you, you and how you define where you are from, challenging the reader to pause and think before reading, using one of the author’s personal history as a relatable example. It challenges historical recording, bias and viewpoint, reminding the reader to consider what has been written about the past in the light of who it was written by.
Beautifully illustrated pages explore the history and inventions of ancient India (the book explains that when referring to India before 1947 it means the lands of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), its multi-faith society and the empires it was divided into. It is a fascinating read, full of interesting details, building a picture of a vibrant, thriving land.
The book then recounts the rise of the East India Company, its role in the slave trade, its eventual rule of India and the ‘Time of the British Raj’. The succinct text explains the role of significant historical figures of this time as well as giving an overview of events through the World Wars, India’s independence and Radcliffe’s partition. This very complex and significant period of history is clearly explained, including the devastating human cost of these events.
It continues by relating the history of migration from South Asia from the 16th-century through to the present day, with accounts of the achievements and cultural contributions to Britain of these migrants as well as considering the racism they faced and the uprisings- not ‘rebellions’ or ‘riots’- against this treatment.
The book concludes with a section celebrating the culture, customs, language and famous peoples of South Asia. For someone brought up at a time when R J Unstead’s Anglo-centric text books were still widely used in schools, this is the type of history book I always longed for and am now proud to be able to add to the school library. Attractive and informative, it is sure to inspire children to discover more about this period, perhaps by reading some of the excellent fiction available, for example, ‘Never Forget You’ by Jamila Gavin, based on the life of Noor Inayat Khan or ‘When Secrets Set Sail’ by Sita Brahmachari which draws on the experiences of cruelly abandoned ayahs.
Essential reading.
Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain
Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhatt, illustrated by Salini Perera
Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839944680
Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.