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Intelligence Squared

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

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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Quick takeaways

  • Mishal Husain's narrative in 'Broken Threads' highlights the personal trauma and dislocation experienced by families during India's partition in 1947.
  • The podcast underscores the importance of understanding heritage and how individual stories of migration and identity foster connections across generations.

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