More than seven decades after the Partition of India in 1947, the burden of grief in the hearts and minds of those affected still bears heavy. With a mere stroke of ink on a map, a nation was divided into two, affecting families from one generation to the next, the resultant wounds of which run painfully deep even today.

People on either side of the dreaded Radcliffe line that divided India and Pakistan experienced unimaginable trauma. The horrific events which led to the displacement of millions of people is forever etched in the memories of those who survived this nightmare. Yet, despite the widespread devastation, there were also some uplifting stories of humanity, grit and determination, along with the memories of all that was lost and those who were lost. Through these real stories of Partition, Rajeev Shukla has captured inspiring tales of love, kindness and perseverance of the human spirit.

There are stories from people who went on to become prime ministers, presidents, industrialists, medical researchers and more. In the decades following Partition, these stories of how families rebuilt their lives from scratch are worth remembering.

From the stories of figures like Manmohan Singh and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to Gauri Khan’s grandmother and Avtar Narain Gujral, Scars of 1947 is a moving and nostalgic collection of a journey back in time, of an unforgettable period that left two nations scarred forever.