The 12 Books of Christmas | Mishal Husain on Family, Empire and Why Partition Still Matters

6 snips

Dec 23, 2024

Mishal Husain, an acclaimed journalist and host of BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, shares her family's journey from the British Empire to independence in her book 'Broken Threads'. She poignantly reflects on the traumatic effects of the Partition, recounting personal stories like that of her Catholic grandmother, a nurse in Britain, and her grandfather, a Sandhurst cadet. Husain emphasizes the enduring scars of this history on diasporic identities and relationships, making a compelling case for remembering and understanding the past.

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ANECDOTE

Wedding Shawl

Mishal Husain's cousin gifted her a shawl embroidered with a sari border.
This sari was a wedding gift from Husain's grandparents' 1940 wedding, surviving the 1947 partition.

ANECDOTE

Family Archives

Husain's grandfathers, Mumtaz and Shahid, both wrote books, one published and one unpublished.
Her grandmother, Thaira, left audio tapes, giving deeper insight into their partition experience.

INSIGHT

Limited Decision-Makers

Partition decisions rested with few British leaders, primarily Clement Attlee and the Viceroy.
This limited involvement significantly impacted the lives of those in India.

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To celebrate 2024, we’re taking a look backwards, and diving into the standout thinkers who have taken to the Intelligence Squared stage in the past 12 months. You might still be on the hunt for that perfect gift for the avid reader in your life, or perhaps you’re after some food for thought over the festive period. Either way, this 12 episode mini series will highlight the books that shaped 2024. We hope you’ll join us in 2025 for more events that intrigue, fascinate and entertain.

Exploring the acute sense of loss brought on by partition, the rupturing of cross-border relationships, and the scarring legacy of violence that still reverberates today

Mishal Husain’s family lived through the mayhem of a botched partition. In June 2024 Husain, the acclaimed journalist and BBC Radio 4 Today Programme host, came to Intelligence Squared to tell her family’s story and shed light on this remarkable period of history. Drawing from her new book Broken Threads: My Family From Empire to Independence, she told stories like that of her grandmother Mary, a devout Catholic of Anglo-Indian parentage who leaves a struggling family to train as a nurse in Britain. Or her grandfather Shahid who finds purpose and success in the British Army as a Sandhurst cadet. Husain confronted the acute sense of loss brought on by partition, the rupturing of cross-border relationships, and the scarring legacy of violence that still impacts the descendants of empire living in Britain today.

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