the Mountbattens and Making of Modern India

The Mountbattens and the Making of Modern India by K.Z. Islam, edited by Munawar Karim: analyze one of the most significant events of the contemporary history, namely the partition of India in 1947, this well-researched work is focused on the various roles of the last viceroy of India, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and his wife, Edwina Mountbatten, in guiding the subcontinent to independence. Spinning a rich tapestry out of the massive range of historical writings, personal correspondence and eyewitness testimony, the book discloses the tangled political maneuvering, friendship and family, and deeply disputed decisions that led to the creation of India and Pakistan. Starting with the appointment of Mountbatten and his dealings with Nehru, Jinnah and Gandhi through to the boundary decisions of Sir Cyril Radcliffe, the work explains the ambition, rush and human cost to partition. It is an interesting read to historians and history lovers because it determines the role of the legacy of the Mountbattens in contemporary South Asia.