THE MAP AND THE SCISSORS BY AMIT MAJMUDAR

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BOOK NAME:  THE MAP AND THE SCISSORS

NAME OF THE AUTHOR: AMIT MAJMUDAR

GENRE: LITERARY AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION

PUBLISHER:  HARPERCOLLINS INDIA

BOOK BUY LINK : Amazon India


For the love of historical fiction, this is my first ever book on partition!! I have read a lot about it in school but nothing out of syllabus. I am glad that this is my first ever book to the start of this genre.

I honestly thought that it would be a sour, prejudiced take on the partition with two groups distinctly labelled as good and bad. But for the first time ever, it felt so good to be wrong.



The book is about two resolute leaders, Gandhi and Jinnah who are strikingly similar in personalities but are also polar opposites.

The book presents as a banter between Gandhi, the persistent, resilient and self reliant leader and the charismatic, confident and persuasive Jinnah. The former wants a peaceful undivided India free of British’s rule and the latter dreams of a divided nation with autonomous powers in the hope of having a ‘pure land’. But little did they realise that leaders can only take decisions, while the consequences rely entirely on its people and the middlemen.


PROS: The book was such a delight in terms of literary creativity. I could not classify or hate any persona completely and that is solely because of the writing.

It was so fascinating to read about the personal lives of Jinnah and Gandhi who were both great law makers turned political influencers.

The book was such a fine balance between everything - Gandhi’s wits, Jinnah’s charm, Fathima Jinnah’s confidence, Ruttie’s innocence, Patel and Nehru’s bravery, Sarojini and Manu Gandhi’s sacrifice and also the love and hatred of millions of their followers.

There was a clear line of distinction between the fictional and original elements. The inclusion of fictional writing involving humour, power and screenplay was beautiful.

It was the author’s knowledge on all religious preachings and practices that took me by surprise.


CONS: I might have found a few, but couldn’t remember them by the time I finished it.!

Simply, this is the best ever book on partition that could be.


MY REVIEW: 5/5


#penbooksandscalpel

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