History

Some events are remembered, taught, and commemorated. Others are quietly buried, their lessons left untold. The caste-driven violence of 1948 belongs to the second kind—an episode that scarred communities but slipped through the cracks of official memory.

The year 1948 is etched in India’s memory for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and the challenges of Partition. Yet, hidden beneath these national headlines, a different fire raged — the caste riots. These were not just clashes of communities but struggles where power, politics, and prejudice collided. Agnitandav of 1948 brings these forgotten events back to life, showing how ordinary families bore the brunt of caste-driven violence while extraordinary acts of compassion flickered in the darkness.

But why do these stories matter today? Because the wounds of caste continue to shape our society — and remembering 1948 is not just about the past, but about healing for the future.

Why I wrote Agnitandav

Every book begins with a question. Mine was simple but heavy: What happens when stories of pain are silenced for too long?

Growing up, I had heard fragments about the caste-driven violence of 1948. They were whispers, half-told tales, often avoided because they carried discomfort and shame. Over time, I realized that these silences weren’t just about the past — they shaped how we understood ourselves today. And that realization became the seed for Agnitandav of 1948.

Why I Wrote Agnitandav of 1948

I grew up listening to fragments of memories of riots of 1948. But they were often spoken in hushed tones, as if wrapped in shame or fear. Writing this book became my way of giving voice to those silences, so that the next generation does not inherit only shadows or false narrative where history should have stood. Couple of years ago, my father and I discussed writing about these events. We started compiling such events from various places and families. Thus the first book (in Marathi) got published. Over the period, we got more information which I included in this English edition for broader audience.

“This book is not just another story of Mahabharat!”
The very first line of this book warns you of what you will not
find in the pages ahead.

From the author who brought to you a well-researched book
‘Ramayan Retold with Scientific Evidences’, Smt. Saroj Bala
now brings to the table an even more interesting dating of the
events of Mahabharat, 

Go beyond defining mountains only by their height, though the summit of a peak is nothing more than the point where it gives way to clouds and the sky; next, ponder over a paradigm shift in ancient Indian history in the modern day search for the mythical Sarasvati river; and finally, make your way through an emphatic and enhanced collection of stories about Tibetan refugees starting anew in India.