What is the mood in the streets of India on August 14, 1947? If you expected cheering crowds and processions of jubilation on the eve of Independence, here’s the sobering truth: not everyone is celebrating.

For some princely states, accession to the Indian Union is not a natural choice. Punjab, Sind and Bengal, cloven by Partition, witness scenes of horrific violence and the displacement of millions. The birth of our nation, as the facts reveal, is not without its share of labour pangs.

In the season finale of The India Project with Josy Joseph, we observe the awakening of India as an unstoppable idea whose time has come. With memorable sound-bites from the leaders of a newly free nation, we end Season 1 on a note of nostalgic introspection.

Thank you for joining us on the journey so far.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to Confluence Media for the letters in this episode:

Letter from CP Ramaswami Iyer replying to Indore’s invitation to be the Prime minister performed by Narayan Krishnaswamy

Letter from Mir Osman Ali, Nizam of Hyderabad, performed by Ranvijay Pratap Singh

Letter from Hamidullah Khan, Nawab of Bhopal, to Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, performed by Kafeel Jafri

View the full list of acknowledgements on our website: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university

Credits:

Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar

Co-host Seetal joins expert Josy Joseph in conversation in this penultimate episode of The India Project. As they unravel the story so far, they bring on stage the key characters for a curtain call.

What became of Travancore Diwan Sir C P ’s machinations in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on him? What were the moves being planned by the Nizam of Hyderabad? In the wake of the Japanese Army’s advance on the northeast, what were Governor Hydari’s options?

As they tie up the loose ends, the clock races towards the final days preceding Independence. A nation awaits its tryst with destiny.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to Confluence Media for the letters featured in this episode

YouTube | The Quint: The Battle of Imphal: When World War II was fought in India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH3kV5cOsSM

Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer’s letter read by Narayan Krishnaswamy

AI voice - Murf.ai

Credits:

Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar

In August 1947, as India took the final steps towards becoming an independent nation, numerous actors thronged the chessboard in the northeast of the country, contemplating their moves. Among them was the Governor of Assam, Sir Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari, who initiated talks with the respective princely states and ethnic dominions of the northeast, including the Naga Hills, Khasi Hills and Mizo Hills.

Tracing various documents and correspondences, reporter and author Josy Joseph reconstructs the history of how the northeast states — present-day Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur — were stitched into the fabric of the new nation.

Listen to Ep 5 - The Northeast on The India Project with Josy Joseph in conversation with Seetal Iyer.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to Confluence Media for the Letters in this episode.

Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari Letter to Pt. Nehru performed by Ranvijay Pratap Singh

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech - Tryst with Destiny https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrEkYscgbqE&t=58s

Audio used from: https://ncaa.gov.in/repository/search/displaySearchRecordPreview/IGRMS-MINI_DV_1081-MDV/Nagaland-Tour-(Vol.-X)

https://ncaa.gov.in/repository/search/displaySearchRecordPreview/CVI-SUR_R_4470-UMLB/Bamboo-Dance-of-Mizoram

https://ncaa.gov.in/repository/search/displaySearchRecordPreview/CVI-SUR_R_1489-UMHB/Lifestyle-of-Khasi-Community-(Vol.-V)

Tripura folk song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEVDCrEIRIk

Credits:

Akshay Ramuhalli, Beej, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar