On this page: Independence | Historical Fiction
independence
📖 Gandhi by Demi. This lovely picture book biography traces the life of Mahatma Gandhi from his days as an unhappy student to his role in the fight for Indian independence and ultimately to his assassination in 1948. An excellent addition to a study of Modern India. – Elementary • Middle
📖 A Taste of Freedom: Gandhi and the Great Salt March by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel. Here is a nicely illustrated picture book account of Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March, as recalled through the eyes of a young follower. Or check out Alice McGinty’s Gandhi: A March to the Sea, another nice account that covers similar ground. – Elementary
📖 The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art by Barb Rosenstock. Here is a lovely picture book biography of Indian folk artist Nek Chand, whose famous Rock Garden of Chandigarh draws thousands of visitors a day. While learning about Nek Chand, kids will also get a glimpse into daily life in a mid-century Punjab village and the impact of the 1947 partition on the Indian and Pakistani people. – Elementary • Middle
🔗 Content Connection: Modern British Isles. Learn about British Imperialism.
🔗 Content Connection: Ancient India. Learn about the history of India and Hinduism.
▶️ Decolonization from Crash Course. “In which John Green teaches you about the post-World War II breakup of most of the European empires. In most places, the end of empire was not orderly, and violence often ensued. While India was a (sort of) shining example of non-violent change, in places like The Congo, Egypt, Rwanda, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, things didn't go smoothly at all.” – Middle • High
historical fiction
📖 The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani. “It's 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders. Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn't know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it's too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home.” This 2019 Newbery Honor Book brings to life the human consequences of the 1947 partition. – Middle
📖 Ahimsa by Supriva Kelkar. “In 1942, when Mahatma Gandhi asks Indians to give one family member to the freedom movement, ten-year-old Anjali is devastated to think of her father risking his life for the freedom struggle. But it turns out he isn't the one joining. Anjali's mother is. And with this change comes many more adjustments designed to improve their country and use "ahimsa"—non-violent resistance—to stand up to the British government.” This is a good introduction to Indian society, life in India under British occupation, and the independence movement. – Elementary • Middle
📖 A Beautiful Lie by Irfan Master. Bilal lives in a small town in Northern India in 1947, and he’s trying to keep the news of the impending Partition from his dying father. The novel weaves in descriptions of daily life in an Indian town, and the back material includes a glossary, a map of India before and after Partition, and an endnote that provides historical context. – Middle
