‘Freedom Struggle and Beyond’ contains essays and features which stress on the work of the freedom fighters and actual builders of our nation. Yes, the stalwarts and ‘architects’ who worked endlessly and tirelessly to build a nation with strong secular values and commitment for the welfare and well being of all communities and groups.A book review by Humra Quraishi
I had been meeting Captain Praveen Davar on several occasions and he’d come across as an intense person, talking earnestly about today’s grave political situation engulfing us, and how the situation ought to be not just focused on but saved from any further setbacks and looming disasters.
In this recently published book, ‘Freedom Struggle and Beyond’, Captain Davar’s essays and features which he’d been writing over the years for the various publications, stress on the work of the freedom fighters and actual builders of our nation. Yes, the stalwarts and ‘architects’ who worked endlessly and tirelessly to build a nation with strong secular values and commitment for the welfare and well being of all communities and groups.
Reading this book, I was reminded of our glorious past. Holding sway were those powerful personalities who played such a vital role in our freedom struggle and also in building modern India. Stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad, Subhas Chandra Bose…the list is long of those earnest- sincere- genuine leaders.
This book could be of great significance, not just for students and researchers but also for us all, the citizens of this country. After all, the Davar’s essays are laced with facts and factors to the political build-ups and also to the leaders of the years passed by. Several essays also focus on wars and warfare. Not to be overlooked the fact that Captain Davar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasala, and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He was Commissioned in the Deccan Horse in 1971. But he resigned from the Army in 1980 to join the Indian National Congress.
Leaving you to introspect on with these lines of Dadabhai Naoroji, from Captain Davar’s essay on him, tucked in this book: “Let us always remember that we are all children of our Mother country. Indeed, I have never worked in any other spirit than that I am an Indian, and owe duty to my country and all my countrymen. Whether I am a Hindu, a Muslim, a Parsi, a Christian, or any other creed, I am above all an Indian. Our country is India, our nationality is Indian.”
Book-Review
Title of the Book – Freedom Struggle and Beyond
Author- Praveen Davar
Publishers – Aakar Books
Pages –322
Price- Rs 995
