Javed Akhtar recommends these books to rethink India's past and politics

Indian Express

6 hours ago

In an interview, Javed Akhtar, one of India's most influential lyricists and public intellectuals, revealed he is simultaneously engrossed in two books. Far from light reading, Akhtar's selections are a testament to his ongoing engagement with the country's political and historical tensions.
At a time when public memory is fiercely contested, Akhtar, in an interview with Lallantop, revealed that he has turned to two works: Muslims Against Partition of India by Shamsul Islam and The New Icon: Savarkar and the Facts by Arun Shourie. One excavates the erased history of Muslim leaders who resisted Partition; the other critically reexamines the contested legacy of VD Savarkar, the Hindu ideologue.
This account that brings to light the largely forgotten Muslim individuals and organisations who opposed the creation of Pakistan before 1947. Drawing on archival records, Urdu poetry, and political speeches, the book challenges the dominant narrative that portrays the Partition as a unanimously Muslim demand. It documents the efforts of leaders and groups who actively fought for a united India. It also revisits significant events like the 1857 War of Independence and the Azad Muslim Conference of 1940, offering evidence of a secular, inclusive Muslim nationalism that was ultimately sidelined by both colonial policies and dominant communal politics. The second edition of the book includes rare photos and newly unearthed material from the National Archives of India, offering a nuanced counter-history of the independence movement.
The books is a critical investigation into the life and legacy of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, one of the most controversial figures in India's nationalist history. Shourie examines Savarkar's writings, statements, and actions, as well as British government archives, to question the mythology that has built up around him. The book looks into claims such as Savarkar's escape attempt in Marseilles, his alleged friendship with Mahatma Gandhi, and the controversial mercy petitions he submitted during his incarceration in the Andamans. It also explores his ideological stances on Hindutva, Hinduism, and the kind of state he envisioned. With sharp analysis and a historian's skepticism, Shourie raises pressing questions about Savarkar's role in the freedom struggle, his cooperation with the British, and his influence on current political narratives. The book seeks to separate fact from fiction at a time when Savarkar's image is being revived and rebranded in Indian politics.