LoveReading4Kids Says
A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain
Written by Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhatt, with expert consultancy input from by Rajbir Hazelwood, historian of South Asia and Modern Britain, Lands of Belonging is a sumptuous, lucidly-told book that will illuminate young readers on the complex histories of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Britain, and South Asian cultures.
Published for the 75th anniversary of the Partition of India in August 2022, this stunningly illustrated book (kudos to illustrator Salini Perera) is framed in the context of there being multiple ways to tell a story, depending on your point of view and experiences. It also poses big questions ¬¬¬– what does it mean to belong? What makes you, you? ¬– with a relatable example taken from the life and family history of one of the authors.
Through these beautifully laid-out pages, we learn of ancient India’s innovations and inventions, its multi-faith society, its powerful empires, how the British East India Company ruled India by force, and the unfair deployment of Indian soldiers in WWI. We move then to learn about the partition of India, the birth of Pakistan, and India’s independence, with the complexities of this history conveyed in a highly readable style.
The book also relates the history of migration from South Asia from the 16th-century through to the 20th-century, with accounts of migrants’ achievements and cultural contributions to Britain alongside information about the racism migrants experienced, and the uprisings against it.
Finally, a joyous section on South Asian culture covers food, festivals, customs and language, plus profiles of amazing South Asians, a timeline of historic events, and a calendar of South Asian celebrations.
Joanne Owen
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Lands of Belonging Synopsis
Publishing for the 75th anniversary of the Partition of India in August 2022, this book is a unique exploration of the rich and complicated history of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain.
There are many ways of telling the same story, and how you tell it depends on your point of view. Some stories are so complicated, or difficult to explain, that they're not often told at all. Like the story of how a company ended up running a country, or how one man drawing a line on a map could change the lives of millions of people forever. This book aims to piece together the interesting, surprising, and sometimes very sad story of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain, and how these countries have shaped one another over the centuries. From exploring the vast empires and amazing inventions of ancient India, to revealing the challenges faced by South Asian migrants to Britain - or celebrating the amazing culture, innovations, inventions, and achievements of British people of South Asian heritage today - this book shows how the past, present and future of these four countries will always be intertwined.
Written by Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhatt who were inspired to write this book for their two young sons, with consultancy by Rajbir Hazelwood, historian of South Asia and Modern Britain, Lands of Belonging includes an exploration of the impact of British rule over India (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were all one country at the time), from the foundation of the East India Company to India's involvement in supporting Britain during both World Wars, to India's fight for independence and the British government's decision to Partition the country, resulting in the largest migration of people in history.
About This Edition
About Donna Amey Bhatt, Vikesh Amey Bhatt
Donna Amey Bhatt writes both fiction and non-fiction books for children. She writes the kind of things she loves reading; funny stories, books about people completely different to her, and collections of facts that can be used later to impress both friends and strangers at any social occasion. Donna lives in East London with her husband and co-author Vikesh, their two boys and their dog. You can keep up with Donna on Instagram @doonkris
Vikesh Amey Bhatt is a Creative Director with a background in design who has worked in advertising for over 18 years. He loves exploring the past and retelling the somewhat strange stories from his childhood, and is passionate about accurate cultural representation in children's books. He lives in East London with his wife and co-author, Donna, their two boys and their dog. You can keep up with Vikesh on Instagram @vikesh and follow him on Twitter @MisterBhatt
More About Donna Amey Bhatt, Vikesh Amey Bhatt
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