List : Independence Day Reads - Unsung Stories
Today (August 15) is Indian Independence Day, the day India got Independence from the British colonial rule. This year marks the 77th year of Indian independence. Here are a few books that are around the theme of the Indian freedom struggle to create awareness and have discussions with our children. The popular stories from our independence struggle are well known and will continue to be told. The struggle for independence was a lot more and the unsung stories need to be told. These books strive to do this and we love them all.
Songs of Freedom Series
This is one of our most favourite series of all time. An amazing collection of six books, so far, which explore stories of lives of children across different parts of India during the struggle for independence. The books give a unique perspective of how children must have perceived the rule of the British and what freedom meant to them. What makes it exciting for children to read these books is to think of children like them doing their bit and playing a part in the historic events that took place during the course of the freedom struggle. Each of these books are centred around not so well known facets of certain key events that took place such as the secret people’s radio, the protest against Begar system, Indians joining the British Indian army to fight in world wars, women’s participation and so on. If only history was taught in an interesting way like this!
In “The Chowpatty Cooking Club”, the three children Sakina, Mehul and Zenobia who are trying to be a part of Indian freedom struggle in Bombay of 1942 while their mothers are just running a cooking club of all things. “That Year at Manikoil” has protagonist Raji and her family being sent off to the fictional village of Manikoil in Tamilnadu in 1944 amid WWII and rumours of Japanese army drawing closer to Madras. “The Train to Tanjore” features a riveting coming of age story of twelve year old Thambi from Tanjore set during the Quit India movement in 1942. “A Conspiracy in Calcutta” is the story from 1928 of ten year old Bithi who desires to join in the struggle for her motherland’s freedom and fight injustice in all its forms. “The Letter to Lahore” tells the compelling story of three children Luxmi, Bhola and Umesh from the village of Sarchi in Himachal Pradesh who decide to show up for their country in the fight for freedom by undertaking a risky mission. “Postcard From the Lushai Brigade” is an endearing story of thirteen year old Bawiha and his family whose lives get affected by the British presence in the Lushai Hills (present day Mizoram).
Moving on from how children might have been involved in the freedom struggle, let’s take a look at what sparrows might have been up to. Yes, you read that right! An epic written by that Nibble Prize worthy sparrow warrior poet Blatherquill chronicling the events when he served with five other sparrows as Mahatma’s guards during the Dandi Salt March in 1930. The sparrows have made a resolution to protect Gandhi from any kind of foe be it a bird, a mutt or a Britisher.
A gripping story paying tribute to the brave soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj particularly the Rani of Jhansi regiment under the befitting leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Sixteen year old Kayal is a freedom fighter without the knowledge of her law abiding family. When she finds out that her aunt Uma is a soldier of the INA (Indian National Army), her desire to contribute more to the freedom struggle becomes a reality as
she gets to go to Burma to join the INA. Packed with action and adventure, the book gives us a glimpse into the military boot camps that were set up in Burma and the lives of the soldiers.
Of Revolutionaries And Bravehearts
When it comes to reading history, most of the accounts and books talk about the prominent people and the main events that took place. But we need to know more about the common people and how they were faring in these times. This book has eight stories featuring ordinary people which tell us about their thoughts, beliefs, ordeals that they faced, livelihood, culture and language. These tales have protagonists of the likes of sweepers, sculptors, robbers, merchants, sailors and even pirates. This being our current read, we are getting to know these bravehearts through themes like class conflict, symbols, language and so on. Each tale ends with a section talking about connecting the story with the world around us and finding the history hidden in the story making it an unusual book.