M J Akbar - Doolally Sahib and the Black Zamindar: Racism and Revenge in the British Raj

DOOLALLY SAHIB AND THE

BLACK ZAMINDAR

DOOLALLY SAHIB AND THE

BLACK ZAMINDAR

Racism and Revenge in the British Raj

M.J. AKBAR

BLOOMSBURY INDIA

Bloomsbury Publishing India Pvt. Ltd

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Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070

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First published in India 2022

This edition published 2022

Copyright M.J. Akbar, 2022

M.J. Akbar has asserted his rights under the Indian Copyright Act to be identified as the Author of this work

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ISBN: HB: 978-93-54355-27-1; e-Book: 978-93-54355-28-8

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For Gazala and Lokesh Sharma,

my sister and brother-in-law,

with more love than words can express

This is a masterly book, with fresh insights and sound conclusions. It is judgmental in a very sophisticated way. Finally, no similar book has ever been written.

K. Natwar Singh, author and former Minister for

External Affairs, in Hindustan Times

The book intricately explains the events leading to partition between 1940 and 1947, by conducting a thorough investigation from archives and original sources.

By doing this it also contrasts the ideological belief of Gandhi (who believed in faith, civilizational harmony) and Jinnah (who believed in a nation based on religion). I am enjoying reading your book.

Sharad Pawar, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Union

Minister for Defence and eminent national leader

The book tells history as if it were a story. The heavy underpinning of information from various archives and primary sources makes the reader familiar with facts that are frequently ignored by professional historians in their writings on the events of the Partition of India.

The Tribune

M.J. Akbars book is a labour of love suffused with enviable erudition.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, Professor Emeritus of Political Science,

Stockholm University, Daily Times

M.J. Akbars latest book, Gandhis Hinduism the Struggle Against Jinnahs Islam, offers a unique perspective, laced with interesting anecdotes, of a largely familiar narrative, by juxtaposing the contrasting roles of Gandhi and Mohammed Ali Jinnah in...

Deccan Herald

The book analyses both the ideology and the personality of those who shaped the fate of the region, and spells out the blunders, lapses and conscious chicanery that permeated the politics of seven explosive years between 1940 and 1947.

India Today

In this tale, there are no heroes; only villains. The British justification for Partition was that pre-Partition Indian leadership could not agree among themselves. That, in essence, was why it happened. Akbar breaks idols and shreds received wisdom in this authoritative book.

The Statesman

Akbar tells this story with his usual diligence about facts and facets and his customary lucidity.

Business Standard

Akbars latest book, Gandhis Hinduism the Struggle Against Jinnahs Islam is a brilliant read and offers some of the most interesting, exclusive details of events leading to Indias independence.

Sunday Guardian

The pandemic of the last two years has been shadowed by a constant ache: Mallika and I have been unable to meet our delightful and loving grandsons Julian and Kayan, our beautiful (if occasionally stern) daughter Mukulika and her husband Carl Nordenberg who has become such a good friend over many a spirited evening. They live in Singapore. Technology has elided across time and space, but, paradoxically, the net effect is also a reminder of the warmth we have missed because of distance. Hopefully, 2022 will release us from the fetters of contagion.

The great enchantment of these years was watching our third grandson, Agastya, turn from an infant into a child whose innate intelligence began to filter into observation, perspectives, and conversation, while his emotions matured into love for his Papa, Prayaag, his Mama, Shanta, his Didi Pushpa, and for his grandparents. Is there any phase of life more exciting than the transition from 18 to 42 months? For Mallika and me, being with Agastya, Shanta and Prayaag at our home in Goa was a joy. It helped hugely in the making of this book as well.

All through the painful pleasure of the writing process, Mallika was a continuous reference point. When she did not like a passage she was candid with her softly spoken and sharply effective remarks. Mallika is the anchor of love which sustains our family in an embrace which includes my beloved elder sisters Sajda Baji in Patna, Wajda Baji and Saadat Baji in Kolkata, and Mallikas brother Dr Madhu John in California.

I cannot sufficiently thank Paul Vijay Kumar of Bloomsbury for his quiet persistence and assistance in the evolution of this book; and am beholden to Rajiv Beri, who heads Bloomsbury in India, and the gracious Prabir Bambhal, for their trust and encouragement. Ravi Mishra gave invaluable help from one of the finest libraries in Delhi.

I am deeply grateful to my sagacious elders Ajit Doval and Nripendra Mishra for their affection and their advice. This has meant more to me than perhaps they realise. Each of my regular conversations with Kunwar Natwar Singh, who has always indulged me with a benevolent and affectionate eye, left me with greater knowledge and more understanding. Thank you, sirs.

Friends are the nurture of life, and one feels blessed thatcovid notwithstandingthe circle has grown: Habib Rehman, Sunil and Geeta Gujral, Tapan Chaki, Rani Mitra, S. Prasannarajan, Tony Jesudasan, Arif Vazirally, Y.S. Chowdary, Kiran Vadodaria, Subhash Chandra, Rajeev Shukla, Chuti Ray, Rajni and Vidya Gupta, Devesh Kumar, Manjushri and S.M. Basu, Mohandas Pai, Suman Bhattacharya, Freddy Svagne, Gopal Hosur, Naresh Gujral, Satpal Malik, Satish Gupta, Ranjan Bhattacharya, Jamshed Zaidi, Anil Bhasin, Veenu Sandal, Ranjan Mukherjee, Anil Shetty, Tariq Mansoor, Bilahari Kausikan, K.P. Nayar, Preet Malik, Ashok Swarup, Praveen Saini, Rajinder Chaudhury, Manoj Arora, Darren Rickards, Lakshman Menon, Rahul Bhatia, Gautam Kapoor, Prof. Dheeraj Sharma, Jawid Laiq, Pankaj Mehra, Partha Mitra, Shashi Shrivastava, Apurba Jasraj, Omer Haider, Alok Banerjee, Abdul Khaliq, Virendra Kapoor, Surya Prakash, Majeed Memon, Tayyab Khan, Joyeeta Basu. There are so many friends to whom I owe a particular debt, and each will know why: Shobhana Bhartiya, Raian Karanjawala, Rajiv Nayar, Sanjiv Goenka, Geeta Luthra, Sandeep Kapur, Ram Madhav, Rajiv Kapoor, Tejinder Singh, Naem Nizam, Akash Chopra, Awanish Dwivedi, Vishveswar Bhat.