Hyderabad (The Partition Trilogy-2)-Manreet Sodhi Someshwar

Book: Hyderabad (The Partition Trilogy-2)
Author: Manreet Sodhi Someshwar
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Have you heard stories of the partition through your family?

Hyderabad (The Partition Trilogy-2) by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar explores the aftermath of the Independence, and the Partition on the Largest Princely State of the Crown-Hyderabad.  Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, is the Nizam of Hyderabad. It sits in the belly of newly independent India to which Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel want Hyderabad to accede. The Communists have concurrently mounted a state-wide rebellion. The Nizam's family has ruled Hyderabad for 200 years, and as the wealthiest man in the world, he will not deal with two-penny Indian politicians! An ancient prophecy, however, hangs over the Nizam -the Asaf Jahi dynasty will last only seven generations. So, he keeps his jewel-laden trucks ready for flight even as he schemes with his army of militant Razakars. Meanwhile, in the palace thick with intrigue, the maid Uzma must decide where her loyalties lie: with the peasantry or the Nizam. Among the Communist recruits, Jaabili finds love in unexpected quarters. Violence escalates and lawlessness mounts. Caught between a volatile Nizam and a resolute India, what price will Hyderabad pay?

While the first book in the trilogy focused on the partition of the country and its impact as people rediscovered their identities across a line drawn on a map, the second one focuses on the individual identity of the state and how lines can create discord among people, whether they are being drawn or removed. The plot of the story has been crafted in detail with due importance and time given to the central characters. The focus of the plot stays on the Nizam and the steps he takes to maintain his stance, and how elements, both inside and outside of the state attempt to change the status quo. I liked the fact that the plot maintains its rhythm throughout the book and that while there are smaller stories moving in tandem with the big picture, they connect back to it at multiple points. The book spans almost a year and through that period we are presented a picture of not just a young country in turmoil, but a Princely State at crossroads, having to consider options that could very well decide the ultimate fate of not just the kingdom, but also of the dynasty. While Lahore was more fast-paced and interactive, Hyderabad is a more sober, slower book that aims to highlight that while some choices can have long term impacts, the impact of non-decisiveness can be even longer. What I didn’t like about the book was the fact that the middle was a bit slow for me and I felt that the plot could’ve been moving at a better pace as the characters seem stuck in the same rut. I also felt that the part about the Communists was left underexplored and felt as if it was acting as a filler for the gaps in the timelines about the actual events. The climax, however was interestingly done and the ending of this book was quite satisfactory.

The primary characters of the book have their footings in History and I am not commenting on them, however I was hooked by the way Manreet uses the historical narratives and events to add substance to these historical figures she puts in this fictionalized account of the Independence and the partition. The power she imparts to each of her characters in the story is impressive and I liked how she has empowered the female characters in this book, be it Uzma or Jaabili. Another aspect I liked about the book is that Manreet creates an image of the Nizam that is easy to comprehend and the manner in which his character evolves over the course of a year is an interesting study. I personally loved Uzma’s character and with the backstory that is presented, as a reader, you cannot help but empathize with her, given the hardship she had faced.

Overall, this book is an interesting story of the events that took place in the country just after the Independence, and the efforts it took to create the country we see today. I am looking forward to the final book in the trilogy to see what remains to be told from the annals of history. This book scores a 4.5/5 for me.

I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Get your copy of the book from your nearest bookstore or on Amazon India.

Read my review of Lahore (Book 1 of the Partition Trilogy)