Inquilab - Khwaja Ahmad Abbas

 KA Abbas wrote 73 books, directed, wrote, produced films like Saat Hindustai, Awaara, Mera Naam Joker, Bobby, wrote the longest continuing column in India called 'The Last Page' and has a story that is far bigger than one can capture here. I am incredibly grateful to Chandrahas for giving me this 1955 copy of Ínquilab' which was published in 1955 by Jaico Publishing and is called the first great novel of the Indian Revolution. His grandfather was one of the key figures in the 1857 revolution and was they say, shot from a cannon.

'Inquilab' begins with ten year old Anwar Ali pondering over life in Delhi, growing up with his widowed father Akbar Ali, sister Anjum, and his father's friends and business partners - Rameshwar and others. A visit to Amritsar coincides with the Jalianwala bagh incident and Anwar finds himself escaping it with his friend Ratan, a Sikh, who loses his father in the shootout. The story takes off like a shot from there on and Anwar is dragged into the politics of India's freedom struggle as he is forced to choose between the freedom fighters, the Hindus and Muslims, those who are with the government and so on. He had brief encounters with Tilak, Gandhi, Nehru and many others as he grows up, finds his father changing from a loyal Congressman to a Muslim separatist, finds Ratan joining Bhagat Singh and others. Anwar himself finds love and his voice at Aligarh Muslim University (and loses his love because she wants him to give up his political convictions for her). The days at the University are lovingly described as are the debates he participates in. 

Anwar finishes his graduation and instead of opting for the Civil Services route takes on the job of translating the Indian freedom struggle to a famous American  journalist Robert Mills which once again puts him in the middle of the action. He travels to Bombay meets many more political figures, meets many young and brave Indians dying for the cause, and stays true to his convictions. The end is a filmi twist but it makes sense because it makes him fully own his birth his story as a son of India.

I wondered why books like these were not part of our education because it gives a first hand account of the freedom struggle, the environment, the Hindu-Muslim bhai bhai days. It would be an eye opener for the youth of today to know a bit of the history (I would have greatly benefited by reading it in school or college). KA Abbas describes Delhi and the Aligarh Muslim University so well that I now feel like visiting the AMU sometime, just to see it. Superb read.

And then what can one say when you hold this book, a 1955 edition, bought in 1956 by one PB Naidu for Rs 3 at an AH Wheeler store most likely on a railway station and to know that it was published by Jaico, The quality of the book, the pages hold firm even now and don't fall off loosely. Overall one can see that people were made of a different mettle then - writers, publishers, readers. Beautiful. Thank you Chandrahas. Just for this, you're welcome to come and visit again.