In this episode we read the book A Bend in the Ganges by Manohar Malgonkar.

It is a powerful novel set against the backdrop of India’s turbulent fight for independence from British rule. First published in 1964, the book explores the years from the 1930s to the partition of India in 1947—a period defined by political upheaval, civil disobedience, and violence.

Through the lives of its three central characters—Gian Talwar, a devout Gandhian; Debi Dayal, a revolutionary who believes in armed resistance; and Shafi Usman, his Muslim friend and comrade—the novel confronts the ideological divides that shaped India’s destiny. Their personal journeys mirror the nation’s moral and political dilemmas as they navigate the tragic irony of seeking freedom through violence and sacrifice.

If you haven’t read it yet, consider it a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the moral conflicts that shaped South Asian history.